Monday, July 15, 2013

Column A or Column B?

When did my love affair with Asian cuisine begin?  At birth, I suppose...I am Jewish.
The stereotype of Jews at a Chinese restaurant on Christmas day, completely true.
I don't know it is the shared disbelief in Jesus as the lord, or the only place taking reservations that day.

Growing up, I spent many at Sunday evening choosing from Column A and Column B.
And I never met a sparerib I didn't like, bad Jew.

Let's start with memories of a bowl of greasy fried noodles and sickly orange sauce to douse them in.
Or what about the crunch of a delicious egg roll, doused in the same sauce,
mixed with a dollop of spicy mustard.
But, my favorite thing ever invented, the combination plate.
I got to stuff my chubby face with three different things!! Heaven.

Asian cuisine has come a long way.  Now we have so many choices, and I do not know what I love more. Is it the savory Thai dishes like Pad Thai? Or is is a spicy Tuna roll at my favorite Sushi spot?
Or how about a Bahn Mi sandwiches, sprouting up everywhere at Vietnamese joints?
So much Asian, so little time.

Recently in Hawaii, I had one of the best meals of my life.
I dined at Iron Chef Morimoto's restaurant.
A six course meal, that ranged from Whitefish Carpaccio to Waygu beef.
Absolute perfection. A long way from a PuPu platter.

Tonight I dined at Chicago's newest upscale Chinese restaurant LAO18.
Hints of old school Chinese (spare ribs) mixed with the new (Ginger Chilean Sea Bass).

I love that the world of food had evolved so much, and I am living in it.
But there is a spot on Lincoln Ave here in Chicago...where a bowl of greasy noodles and a syrup holder filled with orange sweet sauce awaits you..

Til next time..