If you were hoping to get a taste of Fido, you're now out of luck.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7501768.stm

Quote:China has ordered dog meat to be taken off the menu at its 112 official Olympic restaurants in order to avoid offending foreign visitors.

Restaurant workers are advised to "patiently" suggest other options to diners who order dog.

Any restaurant found violating the ban would be black-listed, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Dog - known as "fragrant meat" - is eaten by some Chinese for purported medicinal properties.

The ban, issued by the Beijing Catering Trade Association, forbids all designated Olympic restaurants from offering dog and urges other food outlets to remove the meat from menus.

"If a customer orders dog meat, restaurant staff should patiently suggest another entree," said Xiong Yumei, deputy director of the Beijing Tourism Bureau told Xinhua.

Act of respect

The measure has been implemented to "respect the habits of many countries and nationalities," the Beijing News quoted the municipal food department as saying.

The BBC's James Reynolds says the ban is one of several steps taken by China to avoid foreign visitors being amused or offended by local customs.

Authorities have also told people to queue up politely, to smile and not to spit on the streets.

During the 1988 Seoul Olympics, South Korea also banned doggie dishes from menus. Officials invoked a law banning the sale of "foods deemed unsightly".

Dog meat is eaten in some other Asian countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines and Laos.

Dog gone it.

and don't forget to take your gas mask. Beijing is reportedly on of the most polluted cities in the world.

I guess I'll have to brown bag it when I go to Beijing.

dog meat is the least of they're problem, the air is filled with doggy doo doo

My family is headed to Bejing at the end of the month. I've been there a number of times so we know the gig. We are spending 4 weeks over there, so I think I'll get a good start on the diet.

I know many people who could care less about the Olympics, but I think it's the best event I've ever attended. I've been to the Final Four, Super Bowl, World Series, and BCS Championship game and none come close to the Olympics. To see the USA come out in the opening ceremony is a life altering experience.

You cant wok your dog any more? Damn............

Can I at least order it and put it in a doggie bag?