Steamed Drunken Shrimps

When my Grandma was still with us, her birthday party was one of the many annual events where the big family came together to celebrate. It was a noisy affair, with as many as four to five big tables full of aunties and uncles and cousins all huddled together for a feisty evening dinner.

Drunken shrimps was one of the family favorite menu, but I particularly remember this one time where a waiter brought out a glass bowl with live prawns in it. She then poured some alcohol, covered the lid, then vigorously shake the bowl for maybe 30 seconds or so. When she stopped, the shrimps were kind of limp, no longer jumping around. She lit a match, opened the lid, tossed the match into the bowl, quickly covered the bowl while the entire thing caught fire. When the fire died down, all the shrimps have turned pink. Alcohol was the first thing I smelled when the lid was opened. I was about 10 years old, not sure if I should be excited or horrified, but the shrimps were good. ♥