Friday Nights at Pizza Hut!

To celebrate the end of the work week, Carol and I go to Pizza Hut! We take the shuttle bus downtown (it takes about 45 minutes) and then walk for about 10 minutes. Soon, we are at Pizza Hut. It is what I look forward to all week, for both the familiar food and what the meal symbolizes: another five days of teaching survived!

It's interesting...they have hostesses at the door, and they say "Welcome to Pizza Hut!" in thick accents, and lead us to a table. Pizza Hut is very popular, and is more than a fast food pizza joint here. I think it's seen a piece of Western culture, so a trip to Pizza Hut is an event, not just a quick meal.

The Pizza Hut is in a plaza that houses upscale stores. There are designer stores selling house brands and other well-known luxury brands like Dolce and Gabanna, Versache, and Louis Vuitton. So, the neighbourhood is top notch. I never thought I'd see Pizza Hut presented alongside famous fashion house outlets. So, Pizza Hut is highly esteemed here in China!

Just like Carol and I, people seem excited to be at Pizza Hut. Like the Pizza Huts in Canada, there is a salad bar. Unlike Canadian franchises though, there is no pizza or dessert buffet. On the menu, you can order a salad, which you make yourself at the bar. The menu states One Trip Only. There are the basic salad ingredients, along with pineapple chunks and peach halves. I didn't see anyone enjoying salad mainstays though...everyone was taking advantage of the fruit. Since you only get one chance, you must make it worth your while!


This is the best example of taking advantage of one trip to the salad bar that I've ever seen! It was incredible! She expertly built an igloo out of pinapple chunks to maximize her available space. She then filled it up with peach halves, using the igloo's stability to her advantage. She called upon all her available archeological expertise, and dressed it in beauty. It was a culinary masterpiece! When the work was finished, she brought it to her table of 4, and they all shared in her accomplishment. They finished it all.

Her methods were not frowned upon by the wait staff, and nobody else gave it a second look either. I guess it's just the way things go here - you go to Pizza Hut, and make your fruit towers. Maybe next week, I'll make one of my own.