Chengdu, Sichuan

54. Our Cook, Xiao Yang, Chengdu -- 1984-5

This is our cook, Xiao Yang. He loved to surprise us with his food carving. He did it for the sheer joy of pleasing us. He would spend the time between meals carving out birds and flowers from carrots and radishes. They are made out of radishes and carrots. He sometimes would mount them on a plant. He took great delight when Bernice would gush over the wonders he had carved. I enjoyed them too. Some meals he would cook an American dinner. French fries, hamburgers and such would arrive with a grin. We appreciated him and gave him Sundays off even though the boss paid him for seven days a week.