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Gold-medal grub

Olympic fatigue is setting in and the games haven't even started yet. What goes on in the sporting stadiums of Beijing over the coming month holds little interest to me and many other Asian food bloggers. The food, on the other hand, is a year round obsession and Beijing is brimful with goodies you won't find on Ching-He Huang's seasonal hit or on Gary Rhodes topical foray east.

The eating Olympics starts 600 miles south of Beijing in Shanghai. It is at the Huang Cheng Lao Ma Restaurant you'll find one of the most intriguing menus on the planet. Rather than spoil the fun, just go and take a spin through the offally good goodies on offer with those extraordinary dietary explorers at the Deep End Dining blog.

South-west of Shanghai is Erhai Lake in Yunnan Province, home to one of the most original dining spots in all China. On an island in the middle of the lake you'll find stalls selling tiny deep fried fish and prawns fished straight from the lake.

Not that all the athletes in Beijing will be eating any of these, The Chinese chefs are too busy rustling up English classics...

Back in Beijing, street food is king and Jiaozi and Baozi dumplings are everywhere although a quick delve into the market scene will soon reveal more exotic fayre.

Meanwhile, West Lake Restaurant in southern central Hunan province is the world's largest restaurant. With a staff of nearly 1000 - including 300 chefs - and 5000 seats, West Lake is a combination mini-theme park and eatery, featuring live entertainment and landscaped pools and pavilions.

If that's enough food tourism for you, head direct to Appetite for China. Blogger Diana Kuan takes you deep into the Chinese kitchen experience without the 'sleb chef shortcuts or soft focus photography. From classics like Kung Pao chicken, the official Olympic dish, to Saturday night faves like Sweet and sour pork. She's been blogging for just over a year and is rapidly becoming a one-stop shop for Chinese recipe help.

Not that all the athletes in Beijing will be eating any of these treats. The Chinese chefs are too busy rustling up English classics... Finally, when you are sick to death of sporting feats, live pollution updates and medal tallies try a real endurance test - a slideshow of over 2,000 images of Beijing street food.

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