Text 27017, 81 rader
Skriven 2009-08-04 18:38:32 av BURTON FORD (1:123/140)
Ärende: Picnic ...Friday Banquet
================================
Hi Folks     8/4/2009

Our motel Suite was great and cheap...$67 rate, clean and bright, new
looking, a dishwasher, big fridge, toaster, microwave, 2 burner stove, two
comphy wheeled computer chairs, sofa, and queen bed.  A *very* nice 'home'
for the duration.

Had breakfast at Greg's Diner and Deli, close to our Motel.  Clean,
patronized by variety of local worker and business types.  I had a
breakfast sandwich the was well equipped with FIVE slices of bacon.  Butch
had the sausage one.

Drove around a wide area, and back to motel to change.  Went to get M for
the Chinese Banquet.  NO parking.  Drove to South Garage to walk back to
M's.  Just got in Garage and the clouds burst asunder, driving rain that
precluded any walking.  Called M and he said to hurry there was a spot
right in front of his house.  I doubted it would still exist, but when we
got there it was as big as life and still empty.   Went inside and M opened
a lovely bottle of Layer Cake Shiraz, with a label that stated in scroll
that it was Guaranteed One Hundred Percent SHIRAZ.  Sat for a while and
absorbed an old, moneyed atmosphere, a bit spicy aroma wine, with a nice
rich taste that was great sipping.  What I call a nice strong wine.  See
Michael's note for a good description.  For him it was a great bargain @
$13, for us it was a step up in price... I usually opt for 8 or 9 dollars.  
[g]

We drove to a big Chinese place for the Banquet.   I think M has said it
was owned by the man who cookeda the 1996 Banquet.  The staff seemed to
function invisibly and flawlessly.  Not sure of the order but we had tasty
little rectangular scallion pancakes [new to us], fried dumplings with
wrappers thicker than we used to get home, but thinner than we can get now. 
The filling was much much tastier than we ever got at home.  There were a
lot of sauces and dips that I didn't use. [just tested on a bite]  But
there was one dish of thinnish red sauce choked with garlic bits that I
loved and used gently thru the meal.

A little waitress hidden beside M made up Peking Duck wraps, with perhaps a
little less skin and fat than I like to get, but tasty, and a delight to
watch her make.  This was followed, I think, by Lobster something or other
in what seemed like a black bean sauce [some garlic?] and had lots of pork
in it.  I'd never had the two together, so it was new and tasty to me.  I
like new.

There was a Ginger and scallion dish with noodles that were similar to the
chow mei fun noodles I get/love at home, but not as slim.  And not as
spicey.  There was also Cashew chicken, very good, also not very spicy.  

There were lovely pea greens with garlic, like my Aunt Ah used to make
[with perhaps a little bit of bacon specks in hers, not sure, yonks ago],
and that really took me back... almost a shock.

There was good mu shu pork, good, different, but I didn't know how so  

Michael quietly gifted [I think] us some good Ecco Domani Pinot Gregio,
Shirley's favorite white wine.  It's one Brand I have cellared a couple
cases of, including a nice red for spaghetti.  It was a very good, and
welcome accompaniment.   Thanks M.  

The restaurant gave us each a glass of plum wine, a nice touch.

A very nice banquet, well planed and executed.  It was steal at $25!  I
can't believe the price!   And I loved the way great tasting things kept
appearing almost like magic.  We should have at least one Chinese Banquet a
year.  [g]

A few dishes seemed Americanized... I think M got some pressure to not get
'too Chinese', for the greater good?

Isn't it great to have an Asian magician in our midst, who can juggle two
cultures so well?


 Burt  

  


          

--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5
 * Origin: Doc's Place BBS Fido Since 1991 docsplace.tzo.com (1:123/140)