January 2009
33 posts
Friday night my girl friend’s co-workers invited us to a traditional Chinese dinner for the celebration of the year of the Ox. We arrived at 42 Bowery Street, asked for the Chan party and were told to go downstairs to the first room on the right. Upon entering there were four tables with 10 guests at each, our table consisted of half of Nicole’s co-workers and a few members of Chan’s family. Our appetizer arrived shortly after we sat down, we were late, it was my fault. The tray that was served had boiled jelly fish rings, small deep fried fish, greens, pig vertebrae, jicama, and fried pig intestine. The meat on the pig spine was amazing, the deep fried fish (I’m going to guess minnow) were delightful. I didn’t care for the intestine. A large serving bowl of soup came out next, a chicken broth with an entire chicken inside, the pieces were all chopped, but I could identify to things in a heart beat, a head and feet. The broth was delicious, but I did not try any of the meat. The second tray came out, squid salad on a bed of asparagus and pan fried soft tofu topped with shrimp. AWESOME. Then came the lamb chops, I can’t tell you how succulent they were. That was followed by a deep fried steak, and a deep fried chicken that was chopped and plated, I gave Nicole the chicken butt (Insert your own joke there). Now the food starts to get weird. A large platter was placed in the center of our table, Geese Feet on a bed of bok choy and mushrooms. Nine inches long, from just below the leg meat to the tips of its webbed toes. After several minutes of deliberation, I manned up and tried it. Its gamy, goose foot is gamy, the best part was the half dollar sized ball of the foot, but it was too hard to get to andfull of tiny bones. The last two plates that came out were a whole lobster, and two full fish. I ate the lobster, but steered clear of the head intact fish. Dad if you’re reading this, you know why I didn’t touch that fish. It was something I had never experienced before, and given the opportunity I would do it again, in moderation. As a door prize we received a bottle of Johnny Walker Red Label, Happy New Year.
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