Wok on the Wild Side

I have no idea what makes this a “California Wok” as opposed to any other kind of wok. Can you figure it out?

I see the “California” appellation on a lot of foods here, veggies mostly, but I can’t figure out what it means. Sunnier? Sexier? Smoggier? What do they think we do to our vegetables back in California??

I remember a massive number of moons ago taking The Tube in London when I crossed paths with one of yer classic English eccentrics, a white-haired waxed-mustachioed gentleman sporting a tweed coat and hat and a mischievous glint in his eye.

He said to me, “I can tell by your accent you’re not from here.” “I’m from California!” I said. “California!” he exclaimed. “Do you belly dance?” And we laughed and I said no and we went our separate ways.

But later on the train I remembered that I actually had taken a belly-dance class once before.

Were bellydancing Californians as stereotypical to him as his Colonel Pickering tweeds and mustache were to me?

Pity he didn’t ask me about vegetables.