2012 News Jan. 5
After the water aerobics class, I decide to get some soup from the Fantastik Wok. About two months ago I discovered I was allergic to all things milk. Now I realize that my favorite foods, in "regular restaurants" seem to have milk or cream added. CREAM of mushroom soup, CHEESE on everything imaginable, and MILK in ice cream, coffee and smoothies. Chinese food seems relatively free of anything cow's milk! Even the soup...So that is where I go. A HOT cup of soup sounds just right after working out in the pool.
This restaurant is owned by neighborhood friends of my children. They went to school with these boys for the last years, and now they work in the business evenings and weekends. When they were younger we would see them playing at the mall, while their parents and older brother worked. Now they join in the work. We enjoy giving them the orders and asking what the food might be. It is hard to understand the older generation, not the younger boys who speak both languages, but seem a bit embarrassed by us knowing this. They should be proud. I think it is always hard to be divided by cultures and generations of expectations.
I ask for the special. Older generation owner pushes 11 by 13 inch sheet of fine print menu in front of me.
"Which one?????"
I answer with a smile, "Oh, there are a lot!" I pause to consider what to do. I decide to NOT take the regular. Yes, a NEW YEAR, and I will do something unheard of, I will try something new. Not an egg roll, chicken cashew, white rice. NO!!!
I consider the menu. I will make it simple. I will begin at the beginning. Why is there a number one? There is a reason. I will find out.
"I will have a number one, lunch special with soup."
"Not egg roll?"
"NO."
"Sweet and Sour?"
"Yes." I had no idea what this might be, but I would go out of my comfort zone, and give it a try. A New Year, a new me.
A line formed behind me. "General Tzao's."
"Shrimp fried rice."
"Two lunch special, General Tsao's. We want two yellow chicken soup."
The two ladies were talking when one looked up. "OH NO, not that dark soup! I wanted the yellow soup you always give me!"
The owner took another container, dished out the yellow stuff, and showed her she was getting the right stuff. He put the dark dish into a bag and handed it to me.
"I don't know what I'm in for." I said, "I decided to try the Sweet and Sour for a change. I always get the egg drop soup."
"You never know," one lady replied, "It may be your next favorite thing!"
At home I unpack the dark soup, and the delicious smell wafts up as I see dark brown clear broth. A spoonful from the top suggests nothing really sweet, but also nothing sour. I love the large slices of mushroom, and I meet some bean sprouts. There are soft rectangles of tofu and julienne slices of carrots. I taste some spices that I cannot describe, but as I continue down the dish, I notice a tangy aftertaste, which is quite biting as I take my last spoonful. It is spicy to my lips, more than sour or sweet. I will have this again, but I do prefer the egg drop soup. The noodles that come in a little bag are crunchy and delicious.
The main course is julienne cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts, chicken, white sauce, green onion, with fried rice. Mild in flavor, so I add some soy sauce, which makes a filling lunch. I will go for the second menu entree the next time I am unsure about what to order.
Open New Doors in the New Year. When one door closes, another one opens. Sometimes we need to actively open new doors, and to seek out new experiences. But this requires courage, even when ordering item one on the menu of the Chinese restaurant.
This restaurant is owned by neighborhood friends of my children. They went to school with these boys for the last years, and now they work in the business evenings and weekends. When they were younger we would see them playing at the mall, while their parents and older brother worked. Now they join in the work. We enjoy giving them the orders and asking what the food might be. It is hard to understand the older generation, not the younger boys who speak both languages, but seem a bit embarrassed by us knowing this. They should be proud. I think it is always hard to be divided by cultures and generations of expectations.
I ask for the special. Older generation owner pushes 11 by 13 inch sheet of fine print menu in front of me.
"Which one?????"
I answer with a smile, "Oh, there are a lot!" I pause to consider what to do. I decide to NOT take the regular. Yes, a NEW YEAR, and I will do something unheard of, I will try something new. Not an egg roll, chicken cashew, white rice. NO!!!
I consider the menu. I will make it simple. I will begin at the beginning. Why is there a number one? There is a reason. I will find out.
"I will have a number one, lunch special with soup."
"Not egg roll?"
"NO."
"Sweet and Sour?"
"Yes." I had no idea what this might be, but I would go out of my comfort zone, and give it a try. A New Year, a new me.
A line formed behind me. "General Tzao's."
"Shrimp fried rice."
"Two lunch special, General Tsao's. We want two yellow chicken soup."
The two ladies were talking when one looked up. "OH NO, not that dark soup! I wanted the yellow soup you always give me!"
The owner took another container, dished out the yellow stuff, and showed her she was getting the right stuff. He put the dark dish into a bag and handed it to me.
"I don't know what I'm in for." I said, "I decided to try the Sweet and Sour for a change. I always get the egg drop soup."
"You never know," one lady replied, "It may be your next favorite thing!"
At home I unpack the dark soup, and the delicious smell wafts up as I see dark brown clear broth. A spoonful from the top suggests nothing really sweet, but also nothing sour. I love the large slices of mushroom, and I meet some bean sprouts. There are soft rectangles of tofu and julienne slices of carrots. I taste some spices that I cannot describe, but as I continue down the dish, I notice a tangy aftertaste, which is quite biting as I take my last spoonful. It is spicy to my lips, more than sour or sweet. I will have this again, but I do prefer the egg drop soup. The noodles that come in a little bag are crunchy and delicious.
The main course is julienne cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts, chicken, white sauce, green onion, with fried rice. Mild in flavor, so I add some soy sauce, which makes a filling lunch. I will go for the second menu entree the next time I am unsure about what to order.
Open New Doors in the New Year. When one door closes, another one opens. Sometimes we need to actively open new doors, and to seek out new experiences. But this requires courage, even when ordering item one on the menu of the Chinese restaurant.
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