07/22/2005 Archived Entry: "Keys to a good Chinese Restaurant"
Well, not "good" but at least more authentic feeling.
- Chopsticks. If you're table is set with forks and knives, you're in deep trouble.
- Bowls. Chinese people don't eat from plates; chopsticks don't work well with plates.
- Tea. You must be served tea without having to ask for it. Bonus points if they ask you what kind of tea you want. My brother suggests Oolong, more specifically, I recommend Tikuanyin.
- Rice. Unless you ordered only rice and noodle dishes they have to give it with your meal.
I'm pretty sure I had a 5th point but I can't remember it at the moment. At one point I believed that tea and rice should be free with your meal but most restaurants don't really do that anymore, they charge some small token fee.
A bit more about teas. I've tried a large variety of tea and in my opinion, anything that isn't a black or green tea is a huge desecration of tea. Sure some of the fruity stuff smells nice but they drink horribly, there's always a bit of a tart aftertaste to them and they don't taste anywhere near as good as they smell. I like having a cup of steaming hot apple + cinnamon tea sitting around just for the amazing aroma of it, but drinking's it just a no-no. Similarily, adding milk and sugar to tea is just weaksauce!
Replies: 12 comments
I believe point 5 was free tea and rice. Another point should be to work out the "servings" for asians and not north americans.
i.e. "serves 6 people rice" that we finished and still needed more.
Posted by anonymous @ 07/22/2005 02:48 PM EST
uhm, confusing tea and herbal tea is "weaksauce" as you put it (that term just sounds weird..)
Something that's apple & cinnamon, or lemon, or whatever other fruity flavour is a herbal tea (technically a "tisane"). It's not real tea, it's not made with tea leaves, it's not caffeinated, and it certainly isn't a desecration. Think of it more as a hot beverage in a different class than tea. I love my Very Very Berry "tea" from England.. it's not bitter and tastes awesome.
heh, I wish all Chinese restaurants were like that, it would certainly make the experience more, er, authetic.
I think another few points I'd add to that list would have to do with the general decor & music -- Lai Lai's in Ottawa looks way too Western with its blue table cloths & classical music.. *shakes head*
Posted by Arshwana @ 07/22/2005 05:33 PM EST
Damn, i love white japanese tea. I'm so uncool. :(
With dinner, tho, green is really the best.
Posted by Étienne @ 07/23/2005 02:39 AM EST
I was told once by my sister living in Chinatown, Toronto, that the secret to knowing a good (although not necessarily an expensive one, as in Ottawa) Chinese restaurant before going in is whether or not they have duck hanging in the window. So far she seems to be right...
Posted by Kathleen @ 07/24/2005 12:00 PM EST
hahaha.... I have now defiled your blog.... hahaha
Posted by Kathleen @ 07/24/2005 12:00 PM EST
Foodwise, it is wether there are more chinese patrons than otherwise =P
Posted by Rayne @ 07/24/2005 03:07 PM EST
If they don't have fucking fried rice, it's over for them...
Posted by Dave @ 07/25/2005 10:01 AM EST
My parents just brought some of that stuff home last night. Sugoi!
White Japanese tea?
Posted by Rayne @ 07/27/2005 10:19 AM EST
milk and sugar in tea are a-ok, for your brit teas that is. traditonally, they needed the additions to make the tea drinkable. tea leaves just can't be nicely transported to britain while retaining the same flavour as where they originate. this is also the reason that british tea cups have handles (they needed the water to be a lot hotter to make an ok tea from the substandard tea leaves) ... ah, what you'll learn from attending bridal showers ...
Posted by melpie @ 08/04/2005 05:24 PM EST
people attend bridal showers to educate you on this kind of thing?
Posted by Rayne @ 08/06/2005 04:06 AM EST
one of the showers i went to was a tea theme and they had this tea lady come in and give a spiel about different types of tea and then we got to do some taste testing. i was only half listening though b/c during this whole time the bride-to-be was opening presents and me, the ever faithful best girl, was furiously scribbling down what presents came from what persons.
Posted by melpie @ 08/08/2005 12:44 PM EST
why were you scribbling these things down?
Posted by Rayne @ 08/09/2005 12:58 AM EST