Lotus Food Company

China, one of the oldest cultures in the world, has claimed its place in Pittsburgh. In order to demonstrate its power, its cultural and economic superiority. To reach out for its people abroad, far away from home.

That gentle touch of the “central country” manifests itself in the form of a Chinese supermarket. Squeezed in between football merchandise, fresh fish and frosted cookies. Just like there is the small Republic of China (commonly known as Taiwan) next to the People’s Republic, the Lotus Food Company is not alone in the business district “The Strip”. One block down Penn Avenue, Wing Fat Hong also offers Chinese produce.

Nini, a Taiwanese co-student of yours, is all smiles about the Chinese stores. Like the Indians in the MBA program, the East Asians also struggle with the American cuisine and the assortment of local grocery store.
Both stores are small, tightly packed with products and people. But neon lighting and air conditioning prevent any bazaar-feeling from arising. The huge range of products mocks every Asia-food-corner that you can find in the Giant Eagles and Tescos of this world. Soy sauce. Soy sauce? There are more than one hundred different soy sauces. What German would like to stand in front of a single type of beer in a supermarket?

A few non-Asian Americans stroll down the aisles, either out of curiosity of sinophilia. It is recommended to take the Mandarin class beforehand, though. For many products on display no one even cared to put English labels on.
But already the outward appearance of many products seems mysterious. Even Nini does not know some of the vegetable and fruit varieties for sale. For example melons: You can Korean ones there, looking like mutated giant candy with their yellow-white stripes. Or bitter melons, that Nini dislikes due to their taste: Unhandy, like light green fire extinguishers.

The fresh meat section is creepier. Besides premium meat suitable for European-American taste, you can find the “left overs”: Pig ears, tails, liver, tongues. The Chinese way of Asset Management.

The multi-lingual cacophony adds to the exotic ambiance. The people around you speak Chinese with its different varieties, Thai, Hindi, Vietnamese, you and your friends guess. Snoopy toddlers, busy cashiers, live crabs – except for the shelves, everything seems to be in motion.
The stream of Saturday shoppers carries you out onto the street, into the glistening midday sun above Penn Avenue. A scene, which you have not seen before in Kansas City: Sidewalks full of people meandering between stands, beggars, honking cars. As if all those endless suburbs, broad highways and dead downtown districts would not exist.