Never-ending nonsense
Hi there! Pickle Deli Square is a collection of my experiences living, eating, and traveling the world. Currently an expat based in Valencia, on the Mediterranean coast of Spain.
All in Shanghai
Post-Lockdown Day 4: Scallions!
Finally! I can eat all of the scallions I want. And my first use is this
Post-Lockdown Day 3: Dragon Boat Festival, and a bike ride throughout town in search of...
Zongzi 粽子, from a government delivery, for Dragon Boat Festival 端午节. And back to making preparations in case of another lockdown, visiting IAPM’s Citysuper twice, IKEA,…
Post-Lockdown Day 2: The high of the anticipation of my first non-home-cooked meal in 2 months, turning sharply downwards with a 1am PCR test
I craved a hamburger and fried chicken throughout the lockdown, but sometimes the real thing doesn’t live up to the anticipation. And it seems an urgent situation has caused a return to compound-wide PCR testing.
Liberation Day!
Free, but already needing to do a PCR test.
Lockdown Day 61: Falafel sliders on the last day of lockdown(?)
A proper meal on the balcony.
Lockdown Day 60: Signs we're near the end - last PCR test (organized by the community)
From here on out, we’re on our own taking the PCR tests. Later in the evening, there was a revolt against taking the antigen tests.
Lockdown Day 59: Paella de raciones alimentarias
With green beans and chicken from the government delivery in hand, together with saffron, chicken broth, tomato, rice from Spain, paprika, beans, and olive oil, I could finally make an approximation of paella valenciana, a paella de raciones alimentarias (paella of government food rations).
Lockdown Day 58: Walking a lap around central Shanghai!
I took advantage of my 3 hour free pass outside of the compound, so I hit up a couple viewpoints to see the city awakening.
Lockdown Day 57: Snacks!
Another government delivery of ready-to-heat and ready-to-eat food, including mung bean cake.
Lockdown Day 56: Super tired...
A quick but delightfully varied lunch, perfect for a very long day.
Lockdown Day 55: Not so easy!
Two days ago, the gates magically opened with no announcement, and I just went out without asking for permission, to take a walk. Well, the rules have come down now… Plus I finally received the water I ordered exactly two months ago.
Lockdown Day 54: Magical green beans
Last weekend, I wished for green beans to magically appear in my life, and…
Lockdown Day 53: ...and just like that?
All of a sudden, the gates of our compound were opened. No notice. No one has even confirmed or denied that we are technically out of lockdown.
Lockdown Day 52: Spanish tapas on the balcony
Summer’s here.
Lockdown Day 51: Dim Sum Time! Learning a new technique making daikon radish pastries 萝卜丝饼
I wish there were Chinese pastry making courses, just as there are Western pastry making courses. It’s really a different world to explore.
Lockdown Day 50: Quarantine hotel breakfast redux
Have I become nostalgic for the meals of quarantine hotels?
Lockdown Day 49: Quick lunch and dinner
Frozen dumplings and easy-to-reheat dishes make weekdays a lot easier.
Lockdown Day 48: Two fish pastas in 10 hours, and THREE COVID tests in 6 hours!
Only in our absurd world could we do a PCR test, where our antigen tests are checked, followed up immediately with another antigen test (brand of test does not matter), and yet another antigen test (brand does matter this time) 6 hours later.
Lockdown Day 47: Ready-to-heat food from government deliveries
Today we got a delivery of ready-to-heat and ready-to-eat food, and I had the ready-to-heat zongzi 粽子 from a previous delivery for lunch. Plus, an oddly specific request for tonight’s midnight antigen test.