JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Finally, tofu, a food that is much- loved in Hong Kong. But in one neighborhood, residents are fuming over the bean curd fumes. More from CNN's Hong Kong bureau chief Mike Chinoy.</s>MIKE CHINOY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It is, to some anyway, one of the great Chinese delicacies: chou doufu. Literally, "stinky bean curd" -- fermented, deep fried, served with chili or black bean sauce, eaten on a stick. To its devotees, its taste is as unforgettable as its odor. "I love it," says this man. "Those who aren't used to it think it smells. But it's really great." (on camera): But for some in this neighborhood, the stinky bean curd got a little too stinky, which is why it landed the owners of this shop in court. (voice-over): Mr. And Mrs. Mo have run this chou doufu stall for years. But in one of Hong Kong's most crowded districts, the neighbors complained that bean curd fumes were spoiling their laundry and their apartments. A police summons accused the Mo's of "air pollution," and led to a modest fine. "These people who complain, sure they can smell the bean curd," says Mr. Mo. "But they can't prove it is harmful. And if you're talking about pollution here, what about all those car exhaust fumes?" The Mo's spent thousands on a new ventilation system, but the pungent odor is still there. "I don't like it." says this woman. "It stinks." Fans say that's just the point. "The smellier it is, the better, " says this man. Adds his friend, "I wouldn't mind if there was a stinky doufu shop where we lived." Indeed, since the court case, the customers have been pouring in. Causing a stink seems to be good for business. Mike Chinoy, CNN, Hong Kong.
Residents in Hong Kong Neighborhood Fuming Over Tofu Fumes