Renaming of Chinese food for Olympics

Looks like the Chinese government is encouraging Beijing hotels to rename some of China's more strange food tems in preparation for the Olympics. It has put down more than 2,000 proposed English language translations of oddly named Chinese food items in a 170-page book, according to the state media.

Apparently, the Chinese like to name their food by focusing on its appearance rather than taste or smell. But Westerners (and I really think pretty much all other people) are more accustomed to food names that describe the ingredients and how they are cooked - like tandoori baked wild salmon .

Some examples of quirky Chinese local dishes include names such as "Husband and wife's lung slice", "Chicken without sexual life", and "Bean curd made by a pock-marked woman".

I don't know about you, but names such as the ones above do not evoke an appetizing appeal. So to those of you cry shame on the Chinese government, or speak of western hegemony, let's just get real. You are in a foreign country surrounded by foreign people speaking a foreign language.

Would you feel more comfortable ordering "Husband and wife's lung slice" or "Beef and ox tripe in chili sauce."?

Those Chinese hotel restaurants who follow the government's proposals are merely making a pragmatic decision. They'd get more orders, and more money, if their foreign visitors are more comfortable eating in their restaurants than running to Beijing's McDonalds.