Five Things People Don't Know About Me - [Crazies]

Both Wandering Chopsticks and Ben & Suanne from Chow Times have tagged me for the "Five Things People Don't Know About You" meme that's been going around. Thank you guys for tagging me for this. It was a lot of fun.

Here goes:

(Guess which one I am.)

1. Certain readers have emailed me asking me if I'm Chinese or Japanese, since my blog icon is a samurai panda. I'm an American citizen, born and raised, but I'm ethnically Taiwanese-Chinese. I'm also a nine-year practitioner of the Kashima Shinto-Ryu and Katori Shinto-Ryu styles of Iaido, the modern day antecedent of Battoujutsu, which began as battle techniques centered around drawing and striking with the sword in one fluid movement. My current heavy work schedule, and the fact that the dojo I used to attend decided to switch sword schools after our sensei retired, has limited my ability to train in the past few years. However, I still run through kata at least once a week in our company's racquetball court. My brother drew the samurai panda picture on a whim a few years back. I liked it so much, I decided to use it as my blog icon.


(Friend and team mate, TC, and I at the Stanford Invitational in 1996.)

2. In high school, I was captain on the Speech & Debate team. As a result, I have a tendency to enjoy argument for argument's sake. I've been known to argue positions that I don't believe in simply for fun. I enjoy the battles of wits and the verbal repartee. This is a bad habit I've been trying to break for years.


(Even Cat's shadow is sexy.)

3. Before university, I only dated Asian girls. This wasn't by design, since there were a number of non-Asian girls I was attracted to. It just seemed to work out that way. Ironically, while attending the University of California, Irvine, which is known for its high percentage of Asian students, my girlfriends were all Caucasian. Since one of those girlfriends is now my lovely fiancée, Cat, I have no complaints.


4. I'm the first son of the first son, and the oldest of my generation in a very very large, extended family. Loosely translated, my Chinese name means "origin of the source", which pretty much tells you what my grandfather expects of me. My job is to have lots and lots of kids and lead the family after my grandfather and father. Since Cat and I aren't sure we want kids right now, this places quite a bit of pressure on us. However, I'm determined to avoid having a child for the wrong reasons.


(UCI's Humanities Instructional Building at night.)

5. My interest in food and food history was really ignited at UCI, when I had the opportunity to take a class on food history with Professor Yong Chen. A respected expert in food history and Asian American studies, Professor Chen ignited a lasting passion in me for all things food. If you're interested in Chinese-American history, I highly recommend his book, Chinese San Francisco, 1850-1943: A Trans-Pacific Community. It's a great read. I should note that Professor Chen and I became good friends while I was at UCI, and continue to maintain our relationship. As such, my opinion of his book may have been influenced by my respect for him.

Since a number of my blogger buddies, such as Kirk from mmm-yoso!!!, Elmomonster of Monster Munching, and Rasa Malaysia, have already been tagged, I thought I'd tag a few more of my favorite bloggers whom I would love to learn more about. If I'm not mistaken, I only get to tag five, otherwise I'd just tag everyone on my blogroll. I love you all!

1. Kathy of A Passion for Food - She's cute, smart, vivacious, and destined for great things in the world of corporate finance. What dark secrets lurk within her candy-coated shell of perkiness? The truth is out there.


2. KT of Gastronomy 101 - Litigating defender of the elderly by day, passionate food enthusiast and student of Oenology by night. I'm dying to read more about this sexy LA lawyer and food blogger. That is, assuming she doesn't hunt me down and kick my ass for this intro.


3. Henry of henrychan's Food Videos - Youtube sensation and food blogger extraordinaire, Henry isn't afraid to show the public his handsome face as he and his giggling camerawoman explore the tasty treats available in Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley. Time to spill the beans, Henry. Your fans await!


4. Steen of Side Order of Ham - Delicious recipes with a quirky side of humor, Steen captivates me on a weekly basis with her homey and decadent dishes. I must know more.


5. Tokyoastrogirl of Tuna Toast - Her food is gorgeous, her writing is innocent and sweet, and her hubby plays in a band. This rockin' bombshell must have a tale or two to tell. Time to share, honey. Dish! Dish!

Thanks again to Wandering Chopsticks, Ben, and Suanne for tagging me. I had a blast. As a side note, I just ate three tubs of che from Banh Mi Che Cali and I'm incredibly wired, which should explain some of those intros. Darn you, Kathy!!!

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Fierce Food (Book Review) - [Reading]

(Pictures for this review taken with my Canon Rebel XTi.)

Four months ago, Eddie Lin of Deep End Dining turned me on to the then newly published book, Fierce Food: The Intrepid Diner's Guide to the Unusual, Exotic, and Downright Bizarre by Christa Weil. After reading Eddie's review, I picked up a copy from my local bookstore and tore through the entire book in one sitting; not because it was that good, but because it was that short. Cover to cover, reading Fierce Food only took me an hour.



This trade paperback is far from an intellectual feast, weighing in at slightly over two hundred, double-spaced pages. Formatted as a guide for the adventurous diner, Fierce Food presents each featured food in a short essay that briefly covers history, cultural significance, and flavor.

Although the articles are informative, the problem with Fierce Food lies in its brevity. Few of the chapters are longer than two pages, giving Ms. Weil little room to cover a topic in anything approaching satisfactory detail. In addition, the list of foodstuffs seems almost random in its selection, with little focus or theme. Botfly larvae and human placenta are mixed in with foie gras and coconuts. The result is a book that feels shallow and incomplete.



My biggest issue with Fierce Food is that it seems like nothing more than a Dummies version of Jerry Hopkins' definitive Extreme Cuisine, the book Tony Bourdain himself refers to for all of his experimental eating. Some of the chapters in Fierce Food seem to be summations of chapters presented in Extreme Cuisine, often with disturbing similarities between articles.

On the other hand, Fierce Food isn't a bad book. Ms. Weil's prose is entertaining and occasionally engaging. She does a fair job providing the casual reader with a sampler of the delights this genre has to offer. If you're trying to open someone's mind to sampling exotic foods, Fierce Food may be the book you've been looking for. Just don't be surprised if it leaves them wanting something more.



Bottom Line: The book's structure and brevity make Fierce Food a decent addition to your bathroom or coffee table. It's an excellent conversation starter and would probably be a fun gift. The $14US price tag is also quite affordable. However, keep in mind that for $22US, you can pick up the highly detailed Extreme Cuisine, which you're sure to find much more satisfying.

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Hemisphere North Lounge - Richmond, BC [Eating]

or...

I'm Not Dead (although it sure feels close)

(Pictures for this review taken with my Canon Powershot SD100.)

Halfway through another hellish work week. My body is worn and my spirit is sore. Deadlines abound. There aren't enough hours for all the tasks. At least the bruise on my jaw has started to fade. Took a softball to the chin last week. A punch is easier to duck, easier to see coming. There are telltale signs. Dipped shoulder, shifted feet. The eyes give it away. Can't tell when a grounder will pop up. Can't always get your mitt up in time. Just gotta roll with it. Try not to take it straight on.


(Beer nuts, 'cause I'm classy like that.)

Project management is like trying to catch a ground ball. Sometimes the ball slides into your hand, smooth as silk. Sometimes you miss it entirely. The shortstop is your backup. He'd better have your back. The gods help you if he doesn't.

The worst are the ones you can't catch; can't avoid. You gotta take that hit. Gotta take it for the team. Grope for the ball, scrabbling and fumbling. Fight through the pain. Get it in your hand. Get the throw off. Get it to first/second/third/home. Get it where it needs to go.

I'm on the company team. Cat wants me to quit. It's too easy to get hurt.


(White Chocolate Martini. Cherries are strong medicine.)

After a tough game you need to recharge. Gather together what shreds of comfort you can against the chill of an unforgiving night. Bless the hotel bar; nondescript, undemanding, unremarkable - anonymous. Time to lose yourself.


(Grilled "Prawns". They look like shrimp to me.)

Gotta eat something. Food is fuel. Your body needs to rebuild. Doesn't really matter what you order. It's not going to be good here. Just don't wanna be one of those guys. The quiet ones in the corners drinking with dark purpose. You’re not that far gone. You're just here to ruminate and regroup. Sip. Don't gulp. Eat. They never eat.


(Lumpia. Burnt, bloated, and burst.)

In a little while, you'll forget. In a little while, you'll feel better. In a little while, you'll remember. In a little while, you'll feel hungry. In a little while, you'll order more.

In a little while...

But for now, silence. Tomorrow is another game.


Bill (for one):

Just charge it to the room. It doesn't matter tonight.


Flavor: C
Ambience: A-
Service: B+
ROI: C-

Overall: B-


Hemisphere North Lounge
@ the Delta Vancouver Airport
3500 Cessna Drive
Richmond, BC
V7B 1C7
1-604-278-1241
1-877-814-7706
Hotel Website

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Roscoe's House of Chicken 'n Waffles - Long Beach, CA

(Pictures for this review taken with my Canon PowerShot SD100.)

It was 1998. Chubby(college)panda was sitting in a theater with some friends watching Rush Hour. As Jackie Chan cooled his heels in front of the Foo Chow restaurant, a pair of Japanese tourists approached and asked a fateful question.

"Excuse me, do you know where is Roscoe's Chicken n' Waffles?"

Puzzled, young Chubbypanda leaned to the SoCal native on his left and whispered, "What's that?"

"What's what?"

"Roscoe's Chicken 'n Waffles."

A look of stunned disbelief.

As his friend's impassioned descriptions of fluffy, golden waffles topped with tender chunks of Southern fried chicken and drizzled with either syrup or hot sauce became louder and more graphic to the annoyance of the other audience members, young Chubbypanda's mind turned to thoughts of food lust, and to the delights he vowed to one day sample.


(I think that chicken could kick my ass.)

Fast forward nine years to last weekend.

Cat: "Can we visit this bridal shop in Long Beach? I want to see if they have the *** I'm looking for."

Me: "I'm not sure. Let me think about it." I hate driving. Don't wanna go. Long Beach... Long Beach... What's in Long Beach. I think I read something last year about- Roscoe's Chicken 'n Waffles! "Yes! We'll go tomorrow morning!" *gleeful cackle*

Cat: "Wha-"

Me: "Invite your parents! I'm buying brunch!"

A look of stunned disbelief.


(The after-church crowd.)

Legend has it that the original Roscoe's House of Chicken 'n Waffles began serving their trademark combination to cater to late night/early morning diners, some of whom wanted both dinner and breakfast in the same meal. This was my first visit to the small, Southern California chain. My saliva glands burst into overdrive the minute I walked through the door and the rich smell of fried chicken flooded my quivering nostrils.


($2 coffee! Ye flippin' gods!)

For my usual morning pick-me-up, I ordered this cup of coffee. It was a decent cup of caffeinated delight that kept me happy until I noticed the price. The waitress never even offered to bring me a refill.


(Leggo my Eggo.)

A quick chat with the waitress and I was good to go. I ordered an all dark meat Scoe's, a fried chicken quarter with two waffles. I have to admit to being a little disappointed when my dish arrived. The chicken didn't look like anything special, and the waffles looked like the packaged frozen kind.

The waffles weren't particularly interesting. Gummy and chewy, they also tasted a little like freezer aisle waffles, although they were certainly of higher quality. But the chicken... Oh gods, the chicken... Crispy on the outside with a flavorful crust that stuck firmly to the juicy meat within. It was like eating deep-fried stock. I had to keep myself from slurping because I was sitting directly across from my future father-in-law.


(Sex in a bottle.)

The real magic, though, lay in this innocuous bottle of Red Rooster Louisiana Hot Sauce You know how the sum of a dish can often be greater than its parts? Remember diners being offered a syrup or hot sauce, as they liked it?


(Oh- My- God!)

I never could make the tough choices.


Roscoe's House of Chicken 'n Waffles - The prices are high and the waffles suck, but slap on some of their amazing fried chicken, a little syrup, and a whole lot of Red Rooster Louisiana Hot Sauce, and you've got the perfect sinful indulgence for a sleepy Sunday.


Bill (my portion)

Coffee - 2.00
Scoe's - 9.10

Tax - 0.86
Tip - 1.73

Total - 13.69


Flavor: B+
Ambience: B
Service: B-
ROI: C

Overall: B-


Roscoe's House of Chicken 'n Waffles
730 E Broadway
Long Beach, CA 90802-5134
1-562-437-8355

Other Locations:
Hollywood, West L.A., Los Angeles, Pasadena


Read this review by Oishii Eats for a second opinion.



Enjoy this hilarious Roscoe's Chicken 'n Waffles song sent to me by Rhett and Link, part of the Alka Seltzer Great American Road Trip.

Also, check out Jackie Chan's latest animated epic, Kung Fu Panda!


(In production.)

Whoa... I know kung fu...

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Lotus Chinese Eatery (Save Our Faves 2007) - Huntington Beach, CA

I had a real time choosing which mom & pop favorite to highlight for Save Our Faves 2007. My first choice was my perennial favorite, New Shanghai. But, after hearing from Rasa Malaysia that the owners were looking to sell the restaurant, I decided that I should choose an eatery that would benefit from some additional exposure. It took several days of consideration and quite a few drafts, but here's my mom & pop recommendation for Save Our Faves 2007. Enjoy!


(View from my office window.)

Opened in September of 2004, Lotus Chinese Eatery serves Chinese Islamic cuisine that conforms to Halal dietary tenets, and incorporates many elements from Northern/Beijing Chinese cuisine. Dishes focus on meat with strong aromatics, such as onion and scallions, added for flavor. Since the climate in Northern China is cold and harsh, few vegetables are used. In addition, since rice can not be grown in Northern China, the staple starch used in Chinese Islamic cuisine is wheat, typically in the form of breads, noodles, and cakes.


(Classy decor.)

The restaurant is warm and inviting, with friendly wait staff that takes the time to learn a little about you so that they can chat with you on return visits. The food is above average, with a number of excellent dishes. I would avoid seafood as a general rule, since seafood isn't native to this style of cooking. There are a few exceptions, which I'll cover below. What surprises me about Lotus is the lack of lunchtime clientele for this excellent restaurant, particularly since it's located just down the street from the fifteen story Huntington Plaza office tower. Although the food is quite good, the restaurant is never crowded during lunch. Yet, almost every Chinese person in my company is a regular there. For me, Lotus is the perfect way to pick up an otherwise dreary day at work.


(Tummy is good for your tummy.)

One of my favorite starters at Lotus is the Ma La Niu Du (Spicy Ox Tripe). The tripe is braised to tender perfection in a soy-based broth. The gentle, numbing heat of this dish is tempered by the cooling cucumbers, while the scallions are a strong, refreshing presence. It's great for washing away fatigue and giving you the energy to spend another four hours staring at a computer screen.


(Each order contains over a dozen of these servings.)

If I'm in the mood for soup, I'll order the Shi Jing Sa Guo (Assorted Ingredients Clay Pot). Beef, shrimp, tofu, and chicken are slowly braised in a special clay pot with Napa cabbage and glass noodles. The resulting broth is light, clear, and packed with flavor. I usually don't order this without few other people to share it with. The portions are huge. However, it can be a good, light meal that won't weigh you down or burden you with a bout of food coma.


(They're wafer thin.)

Let's talk starch. Steamed rice at Lotus is complimentary. However, the savvy diner won't pass on the opportunity to try some of the Chinese Islamic cuisine's specialty starches. The Cong You Bing (Green Onion Pie) is a regular crowd pleaser. Often likened to the Chinese version of tortillas or paratha, Cong You Bing are crispy, chewy, and savory pancakes fried with green onions. Add a sprinkle of salt and eat them as it, or use them to wrap an entree up like a Chinese taco. They're delicious.


(Ba-Da-Bing!)

One of my personal favorites is the Zhi Ma Da Bing (Sesame Bread), which can be ordered with or without green onions kneaded in. Trust me, get the green onions. They add an amazing amount of flavor to the bread and make it suitable as a stand-alone dish. This is a traditional Chinese bread leavened with yeast and baked/fried in a wok, resulting in a crisp crust and fluffy crumb. The texture of the crumb is like a cross between focaccia and pan de mie. It's delicious.


(Baaa Ram Ewe!)

Nothing goes with green onions better than lamb. The best accompaniment for the paratha and sesame bread is this Suan Miao Yang Rou (Lamb with Leek). Tender lamb meat is flash fried with thinly sliced leeks and jalapeno peppers, imparting a savory, earthy heat. Wrapped in the paratha or eaten with the sesame bread, the lamb is a great accompaniment.


(Mess o' noodles.)

If you're in the mood for noodles, you can't go wrong with one of Lotus' Chao Dao Xiao Mian (Hand Cut Fried Noodles), that can be stir-fried with a number of different types of protein. This one is the "assorted" fried noodle dish, since I sometimes have difficulty deciding. However, the stars here are the handmade noodles, which kneaded by hand, then shaved into a pot of boiling water with a cleaver for a brief blanching before they're fried. The texture is wonderful; Resilient and chewy, yet meltingly soft. The unique shape of the noodles is designed to help hold onto the delicious sauce they're stir-fried in.



If you prefer your noodles in soup, the San Xian Chao Ma Mian (Assorted Spicy Noodle Soup) is very popular, with a fiery broth and tasty surf-n-turf ingredients. The hand cut noodles are excellent in this dish as well. Bring backup or you'll have enough leftovers for two meals.


(Veggies make mommies happy.)

My receptionist and friend, who we'll call "Pregnant Crazy Girl" out of love, is very fond of the Su Cai Ji Pian (Chicken with Assorted Vegetables). While it's a more generic dish and not traditionally part of Chinese Islamic cuisine, the high veggie quotient makes her happy. She orders this dish when she feels like eating something healthy, instead of the McDonald's "the baby" makes her crave.


(Gotta try them all.)

Cat's favorite Chinese dish in the whole wide world is Gong Bao Ji Ding (Kung Pao Chicken), which, despite what steam table places like Panda Express have done to besmirch its reputation in the States, is a classic Sichuan dish. The Kung Pao Chicken at Lotus is well done, although not quite as good as the one at New Shanghai. The chicken is tender and flavorful and there are no filler vegetables present. I'd like more nuts, but that's just a personal preference. This is another good wake-me-up dish to blast away the lunchtime sleepies.


(Mmm... Shrimp candies.)

Another non-traditional dish I like ordering is the He Tao Xia (Honey Walnut Shrimp), which was invented in Hong Kong. While I normally wouldn't order this dish at a Chinese Islamic restaurant, Lotus puts a highly appealing twist on it with the use of orange juice in the sauce. Overall, the dish is only so-so, but I really like the unique taste the added orange flavor imparts.


(Just add potatoes.)

My good friend, "Mr. Big", is a true carnivore. The only vegetables he'll touch are starches. To pander to his prejudices, I often order the Sha Cha Niu Rou (Beef with Satay Sauce) for him when we eat at Lotus. Thin slices of beef are stir-fried in a gravy made using Chinese satay sauce. He likes this dish just fine, although it tastes a little thin and sour to me. Still, if you have an American carnivore in your group, this inoffensive dish will surely satisfy them.


(A taste of home.)

San Bei Ji (Basil Chicken) is a very popular dish in Taiwan, and Lotus' version is excellent. I order this whenever I'm feeling particularly homesick. The tender chicken braised in Thai basil, soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil, and wine is delightfully rich and must be eaten with a big bowl of rice. This, and the next dish, are the "killer apps" at Lotus.


(Who needs meat?)

You might not believe it from reading this blog, but I try to limit my meat intake to two meals a week for health, ethical, and religious reasons. I pretty much only eat meat when I eat out, where I mostly stick to seafood. I'll pause now for disbelief.

...

Got it out of your system? Good. It's quite true. Don't get me wrong, I love meat. The problem is, meat loves me back, turns to fat, and just won't leave. So given my desire to avoid entangling alliances with it, one of my usual orders at Lotus is their Hong Shao Dou Fu (Tofu in Brown Sauce), which is the best one I've ever tasted. Cubes of fried tofu, whole shitake mushrooms, and slices of tender bamboo shoots are braised in a thick, soy-based sauce that's a real delight to eat. It's impossible to crave meat when eating this dish. The best part is, it's very healthy for you, given the essential nutrients and protein found in both bamboo shoots and tofu.


(Hi mom!)

Since my mom reads this blog, I need to throw in a healthy dish to keep her from giving me a lecture/scolding on eating properly. This item isn't on the regular menu, but if it's in season and they have it, I always get it. Kong Qing Cai (Chinese Spinach) doesn't remotely taste like spinach. Its crunchy texture and herbal flavor make it a tasty and nutritious side dish for any Chinese meal. Love you, mom!


Lotus Chinese Eatery - Delicious Chinese Islamic food at very affordable prices. If you're a professional in the area, stop by for lunch. You'll be back time and time again, I guarantee it.


Bill (multiple trips, so no total):

Spicy Ox Tripe - 4.50
Assorted Ingredients Clay Pot - 12.95
Green Onion Pie - 1.95
Sesame Bread - 7.00
Lamb with Leek - 8.95
Assorted Hand Cut Fried Noodles - 8.95
Assorted Spicy Noodle Soup - 7.00
Chicken with Assorted Vegetables - 8.95 (5.95 lunch)
Kung Pao Chicken - 8.95 (5.95 lunch)
Honey Walnut Shrimp - 13.95 (7.95 lunch)
Beef with Satay Sauce - 8.95
Basil Chicken - 8.95
Tofu in Brown Sauce - 6.95 (5.95 lunch)
Chinese Spinach - 6.95


Flavor: B+
Ambience: B
Service: A-
ROI: A

Overall: A-


Lotus Chinese Eatery
16883 Beach Blvd
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
1-714-848-4940


As part of Save Our Faves 2007, I'm asking my Orange County readers to try Lotus Chinese Eatery and post about their experiences here. Let me know if your experience was good or bad, and what you think of one of my favorite mom & pops.

Ok, tagging time! Within the States, I'm tagging:

• Kathy of a Passion for Food


• Eat, Drink, & Be Merry


• Jeni of Oishii Eats


• Passionate Eater


• Kirk of mmm-yoso!!!

For some international flavor, I'm tagging:

• Joanh of a Hungry Girl in Taipei (Taiwan)


• Ben of Chow Times (Canada)


• The Food Pornographer (Australia)


• Obachan of Obachan's Kitchen & Balcony (Japan)


• Yixiaooo of Some Like it Haute (Singapore)


• Mia of the Skinny Epicurean

Please introduce us to your favorite mom & pops for Save Our Faves 2007! Ask your readers for their impressions of your fave, and don't forget to tag at least five other bloggers for Save Our Faves 2007. Detailed instructions are in the Save Our Faves 2007 post I keep linking to. (^_^)

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Irvine Farmers Market - Irvine, CA [Supplying/OC Food Blogs]

It's too late for me to post my article for Save Our Faves 2007. However, my latest article for OC Food Blogs continues the theme of supporting local mom & pops.

-=Begin Excerpt=-


(Begging to be eaten.)

Any cook worth his salt will tell you that the foundation of a great meal lies in using the freshest ingredients. The simplest recipe can attain a startling degree of deliciousness with the use of properly selected raw materials. For me, the search starts at my local farmers market.

-=End Excerpt=-


Read the rest of the article on OC Food Blogs and keep supporting small business!

Finding the Good Stuff

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World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade Midnight Launch - Irvine, CA [Crazies]

(Not food-related, but will probably impact my review schedule for a little bit. If you're looking for a food porn fix, scroll down to the next post.)

After helping close out the Red Onion Cafe, Cat and I needed a bit of a spiritual pick-me-up. What better than the much anticipated release of the Burning Crusade expansion pack for World of Warcraft? Midnight launch, here we come!



11:40pm - Arrive at the local Game Stop and line up. We'd decided to skip the Blizzard-sponsored launch spectacle at the Fry's Electronics in Fountain Valley when we pre-ordered in hopes of getting to bed at a decent hour. Even with that, the line at this small, local video game store is huge and snakes around both sides of the building. There are actually two lines, one for Horde and one for Alliance. I obviously go with my first love.



12:03am - The line has started to inch forward. But with only two registers and so many people, it takes a while to process each person. We've still got a ways to go. The lines keep on getting longer behind us.



12:25pm - Two cop cars pull into the parking lot. Cat and I wonder about complaints from the neighborhood. Turns out to be a drunk driver. I'm glad they got his ass off of the road.



1:05am - Oh my gods. I just spent forty minutes traveling fifty feet. It feels like I'm in LA traffic.



1:12am - Ding! Boo-freaking-yah!

Cat's already installed and playing, but I'm going to bed. To all the WoW fans out there without expansion packs...

(^_^)

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Red Onion Cafe (Final Bow) - Irvine, CA [Crazies]

(I've got a great review ready for my Save Our Faves 2007 campaign, but I wanted to take a moment to honor a restaurant that's been a valued part of my rotation for over eight years. My Save Our Faves 2007 post will go up Tuesday night instead.)



Tonight, the Red Onion Cafe closed its doors for good. In a few weeks, it will be replaced by a new Korean BBQ restaurant that I look forward to sampling. Although I'll continue to mourn the passing of one of my favorite mom & pops, I should also give the new mom & pop that's opening in its place a fair shake.

This post, however, isn't about the end of a great Taiwanese eatery. Instead, it's about celebrating the life of a beloved, family-run establishment that nourished the bodies and souls of its patrons for over eleven years. Not a bad run in the Darwinian restaurant business.



Since it was the Red Onion Cafe's closing night, Cat and I decided to show our support and have a last dinner there. The cafe was offering meal sets of half-price as customer appreciation specials to thank their loyal clientele, many of whom had shown up to help close out. The place was hopping. The wait staff could barely keep up with all the orders.



As usual, we started out with the chitterlings. Deep-fried slices of pork intestines redolent with salt and pig-fat goodness. Artery-clogging, but what the hell? We weren't going to get another chance.



Cat really wanted to have one last taste of her favorite Taiwanese boiled dumplings, which were stuffed with chives and ground pork.



I got a triple order of the Red Onion Cafe's xiao long bao. Delightful morsels with resilient skin barely held back a tide of flavorful broth and pork filling in these amazing treats. The best xiao long bao in Irvine. I'm going to miss them.



Cat couldn't let the night end without an order of their Orange Peel Chicken. The use of Taiwanese fermented orange peel in this dish gave it a complexity and body unmatched anywhere else. Cat's been ordering this dish for close to eight years. Tonight's was as good as the first time she tried it.



The side dishes in Cat's meal set were the usual assortment of fresh, seasonal vegetables. Tonight's offerings were braised bamboo shoots and stir-fried Taiwanese cabbage.



I ordered the best noodle soup in the house. Thick dan dan noodles frolicked in a rich Taiwanese pork broth with bean sprouts and cilantro. Shrimp, a braised egg, a fish meatball, and a pork meatball provided tasty accents to this classic dish from the city of Tainan.



After our meal, Cat spoke with the manager, and he presented us with one of the cafe's embroidered aprons as a keepsake. I gave him one of my business cards as asked him to contact me when his family opened up their next restaurant. I don't know if they will, but I live in eternal hope.

The Red Onion Cafe may be gone now, but while it existed, it was a place of comfort and warmth. For me, it will always be the place where a homesick young panda took solace as he adjusted to his first year of college and life hundreds of miles away from his family. I'll always have a special place in my heart for it, along with pictures, an apron, and enough sweet memories to last a lifetime.

So long, old friend. Thank you and goodbye.


Previous Posts About the Red Onion Cafe:

• Red Onion Cafe - Irvine, CA [Eating]


• Farewell Red Onion - Irvine, CA [OC Food Blogs]

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Save Our Faves 2007! - [Crazies]

(Once Cathay Newport, favorite lunchtime spot of UCI staff and faculty, now a stripped shell.)

This has truly been a bad month to be an Orange Country food lover. First, my beloved Red Onion Cafe announces its imminent closure. Then, Thai food Mecca, Thai Nakorn, burns down to the ground in a mysterious fire. Now, fellow OC Food Blogs contributor ChristianZ is reporting that Cathay Newport, a Cantonese-style Chinese restaurant favored by the UC Irvine set, has suddenly shut its doors.

Cathay Newport Closed

Call it a visceral reaction to the vanishing of so many good restaurants in such a short span, but I think it's time for food bloggers and food lovers to give a little bit extra back to the plucky mom & pop food businesses that make our world such a wonderful place. It's meme time!



I'm happy to announce the launch of my "Save Our Faves 2007" food blogger campaign. The rules are simple.

1. Write a blog post about your favorite mom & pop eatery, grocery, or food supplier. If you've already written one, write another one. It's time to pimp your secret spot, drive some business to a place you think has been unfairly ignored, and help consumers vote with their dollars!


2. Ask your readers to visit your fave and leave feedback on your post about their experiences, good or bad. The food lovers get to be food bloggers for a day. Let's see if your fave is everything it's cracked up to be!


3. Tag at least five other bloggers for Save Our Faves 2007. I'd love to see this spread. Everyone has to have a favorite spot that they think is struggling. As responsible consumers and community-oriented food bloggers, it's up to us to do what we can to keep our faves open. Let's generate some buzz. We don't have to sit by and watch our beloved mom & pops close. We can do something!

My post for Save Our Faves 2007 will go up on Monday, January 15, 2007. I'm going to go ahead and ask my fellow OC Food Blogs contributors to join me.

• Elmomonster of Monster Munching


• Bee of Rasa Malaysia


• H.C. of L.A. & O.C. Food Adventures


• Christian Z of Orange County Mexican Restaurants


• Professor Salt of You Gonna Eat That?


• Julian Hsu of Julian's Weblog


• Wandering Chopsticks of Wandering Chopsticks


• elonweis of Fey Touched


• Joy of Joyful Eating

I'll also be tagging five more food bloggers at the end of my Save Our Faves post next Monday in the hopes that they'll also join me in presenting their favorite mom & pop eateries, groceries, or food suppliers to you. However, anyone reading this is welcome to participate.

Only food bloggers and food lovers like us can keep our favorite mom & pops from closing. Our support is particularly needed during slow periods like the post-holiday dining slump. These are quality, family-run businesses that deserve our patronage. By voting with our dollars can we save our faves. Blog Away and Good Eating!

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