Ling

Just came back from a fantastic lunch. I ate with montrachet and appreciator, so we got to sample quite a few dishes from the menu. We had: -aracini -arugula salad with candied pecans, gorgonzola, pear -crispy calamari with prawns -butternut squash and roasted fennel pizza -red wine risotto with wild mushrooms It's not often that I can heartily recommend each and every dish I try at a restaurant, but I honestly really enjoyed everything I had today. The crust on the pizza was amazingly light, very delicate, and almost cracker-like. The risotto was incredibly rich (and this was probably my favourite dish at lunch, if I really had to choose just one). The prawns that came with the crispy calamari was so fresh! And of course, the aracini was everything I hoped it would be--crispy crust on the outside, gooey cheese on the inside. Lunch was an incredible bargain (only $20, and that's including tax and tip!) It was definitely one of the best lunches I've had in the past year.

^Looking forward to it

I read an article where the restaurant (a European one...I forget the name) claimed that all your other senses are heightened when you are denied your sight. So I guess the restaurant hopes that the diner will more fully appreciate the smell and the taste of the food. Shelora, if I remember correctly, it is DV8 that offered this, as other members have suggested. The article mentioned some diners becoming less inhibited after the meal.

My favourite homemade breakfast pastries are raisin scones made with an ungodly amount of butter and cream. I also like homemade egg tarts, but store-bought ones from Chinese bakeries are also very delicious. I'm not yet adventurous enough (or talented enough) to produce my own croissants, though.

I use the 2:1 ratio with Philly cream cheese and butter, with a tsp of vanilla, just enough icing sugar for sweetness, and perhaps 3 tbsp. of orange juice. I didn't even know Philly cream cheese has salt!

^If you do, I recommend going early. I was there 3 times in 4 days, and on 2 occasions, I grabbed the last ones! The other time, I had to settle for a chocolate ganache tart (still tasty, but I definitely prefer the ganache cake!)

cinnamon rolls and croissants (plain, cheese, or chocolate--doesn't matter) are my favourites

^Have you tried the baked goods? The pecan buns looked really good.

Favourites: -fried oysters -onion rings (breaded, not battered) -french fries if they're crispy and served with mayo -fried chicken (only dark meat, though) -fish and chips -fried chicken wings -sweet potato tempura -"yao tew" aka "Chinese donut" (served with congee) -this type of Chinese donut that's round, filled with sweet red bean paste, and covered in sugar (dao sa yoong) errr...please excuse my poor Cantonese phonetic spelling I eat deep-fried food perhaps once a week. And pan-fried foods, like scallion cakes, more often.

I like both Miracle Whip and Hellman's, on different foods. I prefer the tang of Miracle Whip in chicken salad, tuna salad, and sandwiches etc. but there's no substitute for mayonnaise on burgers, fries, and baked salmon. edit: I've made aioli several times, but I'm too lazy to make it on a regular basis. I have both Miracle Whip and Hellman's in the fridge.

I had my first loaf of bread from Mix yesterday (the walnut scallion). It was delicious and I thought it was an interesting flavour combination. The crust was crisp, and the slices browned up nicely. Next up is the espresso rye bread that Mooshmouse recommended, available at Pane from Heaven.

Vacherin Mont-d'Or with scallion walnut bread braised lamb shanks chocolate ganache cakes

The menu offered at Chez Ling: Vacherin Mont-d'Or with walnut scallion bread braised lamb shanks (made with lamb stock and a $9 bottle of wine) chocolate ganache cakes

Did you know that they also have pasta for a dollar on Tuesdays or something? The Ikea breakfast deal is crazy-cheap--I found out about it a few months ago, but I've never woken up early enough to make it for breakfast there!

Oh, I totally forgot that you can get mochi from Chinese bakeries too. However, I don't know if they are "authentic"...they are very soft, and covered in shredded coconut. Yum...I had some for breakfast. The Japanese ones at T&T are much firmer, and chewier.

I had mochi covered with coconut.

^In my response, I said that I had unfairly assumed that most of the readers knew that I lived in the building. I've already admitted that I should have mentioned in my review that I lived in the building.

Oh right--you are closed for lunch on Mondays, I remember reading that on the website! I will be in later this week for lunch then. (now must go edit my iso post!)

Must.eat.this.tomorrow! Today: I sneakily stole all the crispy skin off my brother's Church's chicken. Shhhh.....I put the naked piece of chicken back in the fridge.

I was just wondering whether the regular menu is available for lunch tomorrow (I know you have the V-Day menu during the dinner service). After reading the reviews on the rissotto balls, I think I'll have to get down there for a snack!

I think my original review was unclear on the lack of wine thing. The waiter didn't even ask me if I wanted any wine with my main course. We managed to flag a server down towards the end of our main, but it would have been nice if he asked us if we wanted any in the first place. (I really wanted to try the Township 7 Merlot.)

Now I'm craving blueberries. Those ones in your picture look especially plump and juicy.

^ I saw it, but I've seen that episode before.

^I'm pretty sure it's the U.S. chain that's coming; I remember reading something about that a few months ago.

^Ahhh Fatburger. Anyone else hit up the Fatburger in Issaquah, then walk across the parking lot for Krispy Kreme donuts? I did...a few years ago.