Why did I start this blog? I have been having episodes of inflammation in my hands and fingers, feet and toes, and joints for some time now. I’ve consulted the doctor and have had tests done. It’s not rheumatoid arthritis and my uric acid is normal (tho at times borderline normal). In an effort to determine which food triggers the inflammation, I have been systematically eliminating certain foods from my diet and then bringing them back. After several years, I have now come to the conclusion that I seem to be reacting to animal protein in general (like some sort of allergic reaction). Different animal proteins affect me to different degrees; some cause inflammation faster than others. So I have decided to reduce my intake of meat. No, I am not going vegetarian; maybe semi-vegetarian if there is such a thing. I will be adding interesting and not too difficult recipes here as I find them. I will also include arthritis management tips that have worked for me.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

The Grandma’s - Hangzhou China


The hubby and I visited our son who is based in Hangzhou. We had been to this charming city several years ago and were excited to see how the place had changed. We had chosen a hotel at West Lake district and our activities were mainly centered around the lake area. Among the must-visit places on our list was the restaurant called “The Grandma’s” – the reviews we had read about the place convinced us to give it a try.


We had taken the tourist bus that circled the lake and got off at the stop closest to the restaurant; it was just a short walk to The Grandma’s. It was lunch time and, as expected, we had to wait a while. We were still lucky though because when we got there, there was still no line outside. At the lobby, we were given a number then sat down to wait; customer’s could help themselves to free tea and watch tv while waiting. The restaurant itself was on an upper level and customers had to take the lift. It seemed to me that customers coming out of the lift looked happy and satisfied – that was encouraging. Finally our number was called . . .


In keeping with the “less meat” diet that I was following, these were the dishes we ordered . . .


Home-made pickled vegetables


Honeycomb tofu

Fish-vegetable bowl

Yipin dumpling pot

Kung pao chicken

Vegetables braised with mushrooms

Fried rice with soy sauce


The meal was totally yummy and satisfying . . . and the price was something to smile about. No wonder the customers left The Grandma’s looking that way . . .