Local chef Liu Xiaohong invites the international travel lovers to his home on Dec 17 to taste some of Quanzhou's traditional flavors. [Photo/mnw.cn]

Local chef Liu Xiaohong invites the international travel lovers to his home. They share dinner together and Liu tries to teach the guests a few words of Fujian dialect. [Photo/mnw.cn]

Special southern pancakes

Quanzhou spring pancakes differ from their northern and western counterparts. Known as run bing the local type is sweet, as opposed to other spicy or savory varieties. They are traditionally eaten during the Tomb Sweeping Festival.

Run bing are filled with a wide variety of ingredients including seaweed, peanuts,and carrots. The peanuts are often blended with sugar.

The pancakes are both exceptionally tasty and easy to make, as Julie, a young French woman who was invited to Quanzhou, can attest. Julie had the chance to roll up her own pancakes under the guidance of Fu Guozhong, who runs a local store.

Fu claims the trick to a perfect roll is to not stuffing too much filling into the pancakes- certainly easier said than done when one is confronted with piles of delicious ingredients. With time and careful tutelage, Julie was able to make a tight and crispy pancake and delight in her hard work.