Colonna's Pizzeria - Covington, Louisiana

Last month I went on vacation and met up with my best friend and his wife in New Orleans.  I knew that for me, it would be a trip of net positive calories, as I was on a mission to try as much of the cuisine as possible. 

Day one we decided (okay, I decided, and they came along for the ride) to go to Colonna's Pizzeria in Covington, Louisiana.  (I had actually planned on visiting later during the week, but I had a craving, so we went earlier.) To get to Covington from New Orleans, we had to drive across a 26 mile bridge that spans Lake Pontchartrain. (Incidentally, until 2011, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest bridge in the world.)  

Covington is just a short jaunt from the far side of the bridge, and it was easy to find the restaurant right off the road.  The neon sign at the door illustrated the true Italian roots of the restaurant and the owner, Bobby Colonna, and the artist deserves every bit of credit. 

When we entered, we were immediately greeted as family, although it had been a couple of years since I last saw Bobby Colonna.  We were taken to a table and his son suggested the Frank's Special and some of the pepperoni pizza bread.  Who were we to reject such advice?

When the pizza bread arrived at the table, I immediately knew it would be tasty.  The dough surrounding the pepperoni and cheese was baked to a perfect crunch, well browned, and tasty.  The ratio of cheese to pepperoni was also good, as there was not too much of any one ingredient.

The Frank's Special showed up shortly after, and because I had ordered a large, we had to make some serious room for the pizza.  It took up nearly the entire table top.  The Frank's Special was a pizza that had been made with literally every topping available on the menu.  The vegetables were fresh, with crunch still in them even after baking, and the meats available were mountainous.  The crust was perfectly baked as well, and it tasted great!!

Being from San Antonio, I got to enjoy a Colonna's Pizza regularly, and in fact, it was my usual request for a birthday meal.  I can definitely say that Bobby's version did not disappoint.  I joked with him that I would love to see him and his brother go head to head in a pizza contest, and I would be more than happy to be a guest judge.  I have yet to have a Colonna's Pizza that I did not like. 

New Orleans is an 8 hour drive from San Antonio, and I can't wait to go back.  When I do, I know that Colonna's will definitely be on the itinerary.

Next up... K-Paul's, Margaritaville, and Herme's.



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Paesano's - a taste of Italy

Rated as the best Italian cuisine in San Antonio, who were we to question such acclaim?  We did, however, want proof.

It was a good start at Paesano's.  Having never dined there before, I was pleased with the bread selection that was offered. Paired with olive oil and a good white wine (Kendall Jackson Chardonnay, vintner's reserve 2006) it was a great start to the day,

The menu offers an impressive selection including pasta, seafood, chicken, beef, and veal. Of course, you can’t visit Paesanos without trying out their classic Shrimp Paesano, a lightly breaded, savory shrimp in a white wine lemon butter sauce.

The only criticism I might have is one that my Regional Manager voiced: We aren't supposed to get sand in our scallops.

This was the daily special... very tasty. 2 stuffed shrimp, 2 shrimp paesano and 2 broiled scallops.  I could have done without the stuffed shrimp.  It had an overly strong aftertaste from the herbs used in the crab and cheese mix.  Otherwise, the meal as a whole was good.  I would definitely go back... 

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Mongolian Grills, Texas style.

A couple of weeks ago, a couple of good friends wanted to take us out to dinner.  Their suggestion was a Mongolian Grill with a unique name: HuHot.  I had never been there before, but the concept was not new to me.  I love the idea of creating my own meal, so I was looking forward to the visit. 

The search for true "Mongolian Dining will not end in truth there; bring a native to the restaurant and he’ll likely 1) wonder why there’s no mutton, camel, horse or yak meat; 2) comment on the pitiful lack of fat on the available meat; 3) recoil at the sight of any vegetables; and 4) inquire as to the nature of “samurai teriyaki sauce.”

The point is this: There’s very little that’s Mongolian about HuHot Mongolian Grill, though the shack’s brass will tell you that Genghis Khan and his marauding band of conquerors, lacking “traditional cutlery,” used their swords to slice thin strips of meat and vegetables, then used their shields to sear them over an open fire.

Then again, such inaccuracies are symptomatic of many Asian restaurants not only here in San Antonio, but in Ulan Bator as well. Yes, it seems that Mongolian barbecue has finally spread to the land of Mongols — BD’s Mongolian Barbeque (a HuHot rival) opened a franchise in the Mongolian capital last year. So be it, I guess. Why settle for authenticity when imitation will do just fine? Anyone up for mutton fat cooked inside the stomach cavity of a deboned marmot? I didn’t think so. Japanese teppanyaki it is, because that’s essentially what HuHot serves up.

The name itself is a bastardization of Inner Mongolia’s capital, Hohhot, which, in native tongue, means “Blue City” — a reference to the burg’s cloudless skies. HuHot replicates the effect here by suspending blue disc lights resembling vinyl 45s from the ceiling. Everywhere else, the décor is ablaze with fiery reds, oranges and disturbingly humorous murals of sinister beasts eating other beasts, a true representation of our carnivorous tendencies.

On to the rapacious extravaganza. Your nomadic journey begins as first you grab a bowl from a food station where an assortment of meats — chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, calamari, mussels and scallops and that quintessential Mongolian delicacy, alligator (alligator? just kidding) — lie partially frozen in metal trays. Then pile on your choice of noodles — ranging form udon style egg noodles to thin rice noodles and even Japanese yakisoba.   Head to the next station and dump any number of stir-fry–friendly vegetables into your bowl before pouring multiple combinations of the 20-plus sauces sitting in station No. 3. Five to seven ladlings of such sauces as “mild samurai teriyaki” and “spicy kung pao yow” are recommended for the fullest flavor. The penultimate stop before your journey’s end is the grill (a large, circular, heated steel tablet), where a trio of perspiring chefs cook up the contents of your bowl.

As we waited for them to meet us there, I wandered around the restaurant to familiarize myself with their set up. They had a plentiful supply of proteins available, including a great selection of seafood. (I had tried to give up red meat for lent, so this idea was working out well.) My favorite part of the seafood offering was the mussels, still in the shell. They had good fish and tasty calamari.

The results for me were mixed (in more ways than one).  At the very least, strips of meat should be offered, but in the name of cooking expediency, density is sacrificed. In addition, as much as I love sugar snap peas, their sweetness didn’t mesh well with the dish at all, though the sauce did pack a sufficiently peppery wallop.

Finding the right flavor combinations can be a challenge, and the suggestions HuHot provides don’t always work. So back I went into the fray, having lost the first battle, but determined to win the war. Round two featured more seafood, broccoli, yakisoba noodles, green beans, asparagus, celery and a mishmash of sauces — spicy barbecue, ginger, Szechuan and garlic chili. Again, the mealy texture of the formerly frozen vegetables sealed the fate of this dish, and the overabundance of greens even made it a tad mushy.

Ironically, this haven for meat-lovers will please vegetarians (a class of diners completely unbeknownst to most Mongolians), given the variety of fresh vegetables on hand.

Their vegetable selection left a little to be desired, as many of the choices were clearly vegetables that were put on the line in a frozen state, then allowed to thaw in their own water.  This left the green beans and asparagus tips a bit mushy.

The sauce choices were so numerous that I was not able to replicate my sauce profile on different dishes, despite going back 3 times. 

It was fun watching the cooks grill my meal, and I was able to keep an eye on it the entire time.  (No hidden or surprise ingredients when eating...)  I was also able to strike up a conversation with another diner who had taken a generous portion of mussels.  It was her second visit to the restaurant, and she was giving them another try, as her first visit was not as good as she had hoped.

Overall, I was happy with my meal.  I got full, and there were no objectionable flavors to the meal.  The only concern I had with the entire visit was the cleanliness of the location.  We were there around 6 p.m. on a Friday evening, and they were not yet busy.  However, the floor area around the grill and food bar was filthy.  There was mashed up food that had been stepped on, sauce and water puddles, and the staff did not seem to mind walking through it.  The catch tray around the grill was also full of burnt and spilled food.

From a food safety standpoint, one of my concerns also involved cross contamination of the dishes.  The cooks around the grill use the same spatulas the entire trip around the grill.  They scrape the spatulas against the catch pan, then move around the grill to the next dish.  If a diner were to have a seafood allergy, or potentiallly some other type of food allergy, they would have been in trouble, because the cooking process does not eliminate the food residue.

Conversely, at Genghis Grill, as an example, each bowl cooked on the same round grill gets its own set of cleaned, sanitized cooking sticks.  If you express a food allergy, the Grillmaster annnounces it to the rest of the cooks and they use a second set of sticks to segregate your bowl from the rest of the dishes.

I might go back.  I might be alone when I go back, but I might go back.  Overall, it wasn't bad.  Not terrible, not great, but not bad. 



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In the last couple of weeks, I have had the pleasure of dining with some wonderful friends at restaurants that I have not been to before.  Hu Hut, a Mongolian Grill, and Paesano's, an Italian bistro.  The food that I ate was good, if not memorable.

I can't wait to actually dissect the visits, because boy, oh boy, do I have some strong opinions on the matter.

Stay tuned...

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Happy National (Chinese?) Pancake Day!!

Apparently I missed National Pancake Day. This epicurial delight did wonders for the national chains that feature pancakes as part of their every day menu or have the word Pancake somewhere in the name of their restaurant. How anyone can claim to be a multinational abode of the famous flapjacks is beyond me, when their menus have so much more than that.

A “pancake” has little prominence in the world of Asian Cuisine. It can be used to describe the wrapper for Mu Shu Pork, but in reality, it is a simple egg-noodle based wrapper. (Many times these pancakes can be found filled, or wrapped around a sweet red bean paste.)

The real “Chinese Pancake?” It is neither the type of Chinese pancake used for cradling pieces of Beijing Ducks nor is it a fluffy dessert that made from milk and baking soda. Instead, it is a member of the dim sum family found in some Cantonese restaurants. It is the kind of snack that I also like to have as a light meal at home because ultimately it is a kind of starchy staple that goes well with a protein rich diet.

Cooks who love this Chinese pancake should have their own preferred recipe, I believe.

The pancakes I make are thin, soft but slightly crispy on both sides when hot. They are however less stiff than those served with Beijing Ducks and, are usually eaten alone without any fillings, toppings or sauces. Shrimp is one of my most used ingredients in making this pancake, actually I would also be satisfied if there is only spring onion. Variations for making this pancake could be endless, ranging from adding chopped chives, and/or ham to mixing different amounts of flours. For ease of operation, notice that there is an easy ratio for the flours to use. If you prefer a chewier pancake, then add more glutinous flour. Or, reduce the amount of water for a thicker version.

• Batter
• 60g rice flour
• 40g glutinous rice flour (aka sticky rice flour)
• rice flour : glutinous flour = 1.5 : 1
• 60ml egg, beaten (~1 egg)
• 1 tsp oil
• 140ml water
• 7-8 tsp oil for frying
• Seasonings
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp sugar
• 1/4 tsp ground white pepper
• Ingredients into Batter
• 1 tbsp dried shrimps, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp spring onions, finely sliced
Yields 6 to 7 pieces 14cm pancakes

Method
1) Rinse and soak dried shrimps for 5 to 10 minutes or until they are softened. Discard water. Rinse spring onions (about 2 sprigs) and finely slice them.

2) Sieve the rice flour and glutinous flours, add water, mix well. Add beaten egg, oil, seasonings, chopped dried shrimps and spring onions, mix well again. The batter is a bit runny but that is fine for making into thin pancakes.

3) Heat a pan over medium heat. When heated, add one tea spoon of oil. Just before the oil starts to smoke lightly, lower heat to medium-low, pour in about 3 table spoons of batter into the pan to form a round shape. Let it set until the downside become golden yellow. Flip to the other side, drizzle into the pan a few more droplets of oil if the first side has taken up most. Again wait till the downside turns golden and dish up.

4) Add in another tea spoon of oil, and repeat doing the same for the remaining batter. Serve hot and enjoy.

You may choose to fry into larger pieces of pancake and then cut them into sectors like most dim sum restaurants would do. In Chinese it is called 薄罉, literally meaning a thin slice on a cooking vessel.

So, how about calling it a Chinese Crepe?

Until Then, Good Eating, Friends...

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Five Minute Meal II

Using the exact same ingredients a last night, presenting a black pepper baked tilapia.

It was a great meal, again... until I had a sauce bottle malfunction. Sriracha bottle. It did an "explode all over the food" thing on me.

So the moral of the story is that less than $10 worth can make 2 separate, very tasty meals.

Next up, hot dogs. (Just kidding...)

Until then, Good Eating, Friends...

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5 Minute Meal

Steamed rice, mushrooms, bell peppers, eggs, tilapia filet, vegetable oil, salt & soy sauce. Super easy. Yumm...

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Jeri Ryan's Healthy Birthday Wish!!

Jeri Ryan’s birthday was yesterday. Jeri vaulted to fame with her role as the popular Seven of Nine on the Star Trek series Voyager. I rarely celebrate celebrity birthdays, but given my high level of respect for her acting and parenting abilities, this was a date I gave some importance to. Jeri, like our family, has 2 kids. She has a teenaged son and a younger daughter who is about to graduate from the toddler stages. The age gap between the two children is very much like ours, and it makes for an interesting meal event, as balancing the nutritional needs of 2 kids who may have very different tastes presents an every day challenge. Jeri has a considerable advantage when it comes to eating and feeding her kids a wholesome, healthy meal; she is married to Christoph Eme, head chef at Ortolan, a wonderful restaurant in Los Angeles which has since, sadly, closed. A typical meal for her might include crepes for breakfast, and lunch of lamb with kale.

Celebrity moms, and celebrity parenting in general have been generating a lot of attention lately. This may be due in large part to the First Lady, Michelle Obama, who has launched a major Healthy Eating Initiative for children called “Let’s Move” as she attempts to generate a platform to base her legacy on. Unfortunately, her personal eating habits demonstrate a bit of hypocrisy, as she has been seen repeatedly enjoying a high fat diet, the likes of which have included a meal of ribs and French fries, when a healthier diet was potentially a better option. The First Lady’s defense is that "She's never told people to cut out junk food; she's suggested they eat junk less and exercise more."

The root of the problem, as it applies to childhood obesity, starts not with a government mandate, but with the parents. Parents play a big role in shaping children's eating habits. When parents eat a variety of foods that are low in fat and sugar and high in fiber, children learn to like these foods as well. It may take 10 or more tries before a child accepts a new food, so do not give up if your child does not like a new food right away.

Parents have an effect on children's physical activity habits as well. You can set a good example by going for a walk or bike ride after dinner instead of watching TV. Playing ball or jumping rope, or even taking the dog for a walk with your children shows them that being active is fun.

With many parents working outside the home, child care providers also help shape children's eating and activity habits. Make sure your child care provider offers well-balanced meals and snacks, as well as plenty of active play time.

If your child is in school, find out more about the school's breakfast and lunch programs and ask to have input into menu choices, or help your child pack a lunch that includes a variety of foods. Get involved in the parent-teacher association (PTA) to support physical education (PE) and after-school sports.

Your child's friends and the media can also affect his or her eating and activity choices. Children may go to fast food places or play video games with their friends instead of playing tag, basketball, or other active games. TV commercials try to persuade kids to choose high-fat snacks and high-sugar drinks and cereals. When parents help their children be aware of peer and media pressures, youngsters are more likely to make healthy choices outside the home.

Just like adults, children need to eat a wide variety of foods for good health.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently updated the food guide pyramid. Their new Web site, http://www.mypyramid.gov/, now features food guidelines that can be customized for men and women of all ages, including children.

Parents can use the MyPyramid Plan box to enter their child's age, gender and activity level and receive an estimate of what and how much they should be eating.

When you help children build healthy eating habits early, they will approach eating with a positive attitude—that food is something to enjoy, help them grow, and give them energy.

I often surprise a lot of people by suggesting that Chinese food is a healthy option for a family. Some people will write Chinese food off as fatty and full of MSG (Mono Sodium Glutamate). Saturated fats and excess salts are considered bad for the heart and so it follows that Chinese food is unhealthy, right?

Wrong. Many Chinese dishes, corrupted to become popular to western palates, are breaded, fried, over-sauced and thus fit this bill. (I have written about this often…) Authentic Chinese food is not fatty, and MSG, if used at all, is used sparingly. In fact Chinese food has a long history of being directed towards promoting health; a much longer one than any local 'fad' in the west.

Although united 2000 years ago, China never developed a state system for healthcare until recently. Citizens had to take their own measures when sick, and since these were often too expensive, that meant avoiding sickness in the first place if at all possible.

The first principles of food therapy were established nearly 4000 years ago, though it was only during the Tang Dynasty (608-906 AD) that this form of knowledge became really popular. Four 'pillars' were identified as crucial to staying healthy: lifestyle, diet, exercise and mind. Of these diet was considered the most important, probably as it was the one over which people had the most control.

Food plays a central role in Chinese culture. Cooking healthy food for the family is a lifelong profession for most women. Children are brought up with some knowledge of the health properties of their food and dietary restrictions are commonly understood and observed. Eating healthily is almost an obsession and forms an unspoken bond between family members.

Traditionally, foods are classified in 4 groups:

Grains are for sustaining

vegetables for filling

fruits for supporting

meats for enhancing

Using modern terminology we can identify Grains as equivalent to carbohydrates, vegetables as roughage, fruits as vitamins and minerals and meats as protein.

A balance of 40:40:10:10 is considered ideal, with perhaps some variation in the balance between vegetables and meats.

Note that dairy products do not feature here. Most Chinese do not eat any dairy foods after childhood and, in fact, become intolerant to them as young adults.

Bearing just this little bit of knowledge in mind it is possible to order better and more healthy Chinese food. By definition that will also be more authentic Chinese food.

Steamed rice, preferably brown, is the staple of choice at any Chinese meal and if cooked properly should be tasty. Forget the various forms of fried rice and try it next time.

Avoid dishes in which meats have been coated and deep fried. The batter soaks up fat whereas fat used to stir fry meat and vegetables forms only a thin film. A little bit of fat is fine (and indeed necessary) but keep it reasonable.

Avoid dishes with sauces. These are laden with sugar and are often the culprits if excess MSG is being used.

Finally, watch what you are drinking. Boiled water and tea are traditional, though usually only before and after a meal not during the actual eating.

In honor of the Birthday Girl, here is a simple recipe that can be modified to decrease the level of spice.

Happy 29th Jeri!! And here is to many more…

Until Then, Good Eating, Friends...

Spicy Mango Chicken Stir Fry

Ingredients:

1 almost ripe mango, peeled and cut into thick slices

4 ounces boneless skinless chicken breast, sliced thinly

1 Tablespoon sesame oil

1 green chili (this can be substituted with a bell pepper), seeded and sliced thinly

1 red chilli, seeded and sliced thinly

2 large garlic cloves, sliced

2 Tablespoons vegetable oil

dash of salt and white pepper

1 Tablespoon rice wine

2 Tablespoons cornstarch with a like amount of cold water

1 teaspoon bean paste

1 Tablespoon thin soy

1 teaspoon sugar

Preparation:

1. Mix mango, chilies and sesame oil and set aside.

3. Saute garlic in the vegetable oil then add chicken and mango mixture and fry until the meat almost loses it pink color.

3. Add salt and pepper and rice wine, stir well and then remove from the pan and serve.

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Paid to Blog??

Recently, Pei Wei held a bloggers contest to see who would become their professional traveling blogger.

Yes, I applied. I created a profile, submitted my blog, and got started. Sadly, I never heard back. Not so much as a peep.

Their winner received a stipend of sorts as well as free travel around Asia. The only condition? She has to blog about her experiences throughout her travels.

I have yet to read her blog, but I wonder if her writings will whet my appetite to try to blog professionally. I also wonder what kind of hands on experience she has in the food service industry. Getting ones hands dirty in the business tends to lend a little more credibility behind the words that end up on paper, or on the screen.

Recently, a couple of my friends were discussing a little Chinese restaurant (China Garden) that delivers locally. The place is not a favorite of mine, as I find it lacking in the flavor department. The food that is supposed to be spicy is not. The food that is labeled as a sweet sauced food is simply soupy. While the serving size is generous, the portion size does not make up for the lack of depth in flavor.

I often wonder how well another restaurant would do if my entire family got on board. My wife is a great accountant and she could handle the financial side of the business with her eyes closed. Our older daughter has MAD customer service skills, and she made lots of spending money when helping me out at Chino's Cafe. I would handle the operations side of the business, so the successes we had before could certainly carry over for another try.

Unfortunately, due to the continuing crisis and legal issues surrounding the loss of our last restaurant, it may only be a pipe dream to have another go at it.

For now, we will continue to explore the local eateries and find out what kinds of offerings they have.

Until then, Eat Well Friends...

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Oh My Gosh!!! I just ate there!!!

So after having JUST complimented Phoenix Cafe on their Crispy Duck, I was a bit horrified to learn that their restaurant was issued 40 demerits on their latest Health Inspection.  I saw the report here, and it taught me a lesson:  Always go to the restaurant once before ordering anything to be delivered.  At least this way, I will know what I am getting myself into.  (San Antonio has a requirement that makes it mandatory for restaurants to post their latest health inspection results where diners can see it.)

I may not order anything from them for a while...



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Il Song Garden

Another restaurant that I visited recently, after a doctor's appointment, Il Song Garden, really got the salivary glands and the digestive juices flowing.  This was a little restaurant that did a good job getting me an authentic bibimbap.  The food was served super hot, with lots of the available sides.

The restaurant was clean, and the staff very attentive.  We got there towards the end of their business day, and while we were enjoying our meal, I saw some of the staff sitting in a side room eating something that they had thrown together in the kitchen.  I was 99% sure it was something off the menu, but as they walked past me with the plates of steaming hot food, I could tell that it was something delish...

I can't wait to go back.



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Year of the Rabbit, Hare, Jumping Thing...

So now we enter into the Year of the Rabbit... until some astronomer or astrophysicist-whatever decides that in the last 2 millenia, the stars have changed their alignment and now we have to add another animal, maybe the capybara to the calendar...

but I digress...

China, with its five thousand years of recorded history, has many traditions and festivals. People of Chinese heritage, no matter where they live, follow these traditions and observe their special festive occasions. Although January 1st is the recognized legal New Year holiday in the United States, the Lunar Chinese New Year or Ying Li Shing Nian, which generally falls between the end of January and the beginning of February, is the one that is traditionally celebrated. It is the most popular and important of all Chinese festivals. Most people will celebrate this happy holiday starting the first day to the fifteenth of the first Chinese lunar month. Deeds that are honorable and good are mentioned and emphasized during this holiday.


New Year's celebration started with a grand feast on New Year's eve, called Tuan Nian when all family members would gather for this happy occasion. On this evening before the New Year's day, children were allowed to stay up and enjoy the last hours of the old year, a custom called Shou Swei, literally meaning 'guiding the year out.' This, according to the old beliefs, would bring long life to their parents.

For the New Year, besides chicken, duck, pork, and fish, there were also pastries specially prepared for this festival. They were and still are called Nian Gao or 'New Year Cakes.' Those made of sweet rice were a must.

All the food and fruit displayed and served at a New Year's celebration have their own special significance. Red is the dominant color. It symbolizes life and happiness. Of course, there are a wide assortment of other colors on display, too. Tangerines are as important as the New Year Cake.

When we visit our relatives to wish them a Happy New Year, we have to bring along a Nian Gao or New Year Cake because it leads to the expression Nian Nian Gao Sun which means 'May your family be prosperous and successful every year.' We also bring along two tangerines, because they are called Gum which in Cantonese also sounds like the word for gold. They are, therefore, a good omen.

The pomegranate, which is sometimes misnamed a Chinese apple, symbolizes fertility with its many seeds. Lotus root symbolizes long life and strong family ties because even after it is cut with a knife, there can be many attached strings between the two cut pieces. Peanuts, because they grow and propagate underground and have long roots, are known as long life fruit. Water melon seeds, which people crack and eat as they sip tea, signify the expression: 'May what you say be harmonious and pleasant.' All of these can be found at New Year celebrations, too.

In Northern China, the most popular food enjoyed by rich and poor alike is jaotze or dumplings. These have a shrimp, beef, or pork stuffing cooked in a wheat dough-skin wrapping. Often the meats are used in combination and with a vegetable such as Chinese cabbage.

I didn't get a chance to celebrate in my regular gastronomical way, enjoying someone else's kitchen, so I decided that today was as good a day as any to make it up.

It is still cold.  Last week's freak weather decided to rear its ugly head again, even though I had canceled my order of winter weather. 

Consequently, I decided I didn't want to drive anywhere, so delivery it would be.  Chinese food, delivered.  The idea kind of makes me shudder even now, after having eaten.

I decided to choose Phoenix Cafe, which I had tried before and not enjoyed. 

Last time I ordered their lunch special of Kung Pao Chicken with hot & sour soup, an egg roll and steamed white rice, since they don't have brown rice.  The dish was bland, overly saucy, and the pieces of chicken seemed to be little more than knuckles and bits of cartilage.  The only good thing about the meal was the fact that the hot and sour soup was indeed hot (temperature-wise.)

Thankfully, when they gentleman delivered this first order, I was smart enough to ask them for their "authentic Chinese" menu, which they were more than happy to provide.  The difference in offerings was like night and day.  Rice noodle soup, duck feet, fish balls, you name it... it was all available.  But I was not in the mood to really go out on a limb, given that I was going to be lunching in my office.

So it was with a bit of trepidation that I decided to give them another try, because I REALLY did not want to drive, much less step foot out in the cold, and I was craving Chinese food.  So I ordered their crispy duck.

And duck, I did get.  Half of a duck, with steamed rice and duck sauce.  (I will leave all the inappropriate jokes for everyone else to come up with...)

The duck was well cooked, tasty, and filling.  The pieces were cut into HUGE chunks that required the use of more than 2 fingers on both hands... always a good sign.

So, I may give them a second chance.  No promises, may not be soon, but maybe. 

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