Papaya, Fig, and Pork Bone Soup with Dried Chinese Almonds

PETER: When you walk into a Cantonese restaurant, especially a smaller one that caters to locals, it is very common to be served a complimentary bowl of lòuh fó tōng, a Cantonese style of soup made from simmering fresh or dried vegetables, fresh or dried fruits, meat, herbs, and grains, at the start of the meal. The direct translation for “lòuh fó tōng” is “old fire soup,” referring to the traditional way of cooking soup on low heat for several hours, a method that is belie