They came all the way from Changsha (长沙）

I never thought the first time I saw Shu Yeye (叔爷爷, Grand Uncle), Shu Nainai （叔奶奶, Grand Auntie), Zhigang Shushu ( 叔叔, Uncle), Pengbin Ayi (阿姨, Auntie) and Binyu Jiejie (姐姐, Sister) was in Boston. Nor I thought that the first time I tried authentic Hunan dish was in my house despite that Mama is from Hunan. Mama cooks nice authentic home Chinese food but not typical Hunan dish. Shu nainai is the one who knows how to do it even with all American resources. Her secret was Old Dry Mom (老干妈).

After Mama picked them up at Logan airport, she suggested to go to a restaurant to have a lunch. Both Shu Nainai and Pengbin Ayi protested it immediately. "Let's cook at home because we have been longing for home-made food for a long time". Yes, indeed, this was already the second week they were in USA. Boston was their last stop of a two weeks "穷游" (traveling overseas by themselves) . They had been to New York, Washington DC, Philadelphia and Niagara fall, 走马观花 (look at the flowers while passing on horseback) which they summarized the tour. While they were enjoying their tour, they missed Huhan dishes very badly. Their only Hunan touch, a home-made hot pepper source was two bites away from being empty. Later, Mama told me that their home-made hot pepper source is the spiciest thing she ever tasted even back in Hunan, China.

Now, let's get start. Shu Nainai was the head chef and Pengbin Ayi was the Sous-chef who helped to get the ingredients ready, including washing and cutting. Where was Mama in this picture? Mama was the one who was responsible for 360-degree instructions, telling them where to find salts, soy sauce, plates, etc. She was also the one who was in charge of transferring a finished dish on a plate, because the wok was too heavy for both Nainai and Ayi. Mama is the one who got muscles.

Here you go! Flavorful spicy Hunan home-made dishes in our house, Framingham, MA, USA.

Hmm, the most yummy food we ever had in America.

Binyu Jiejie liked our toy room. She went with Mama to pick me and Lex Gege up from school every day when they stayed with us. Then we would play together in the toy room after authentic Hunan dinners (Actually, the last dinner was made by Baba, no Hunan dish, but they enjoyed eating it). Shushu and Ayi were impressed with me quietly eating my food in a different room on a high chair. They did not know that it was a show I put together for them. Hahaha!