Hest88

Oh gosh, Jschyun, when I'm up on Van Island this October I'm going to be holed up in our room *a lot* with bread and raw milk cheese. I love going to Canada.

Thanks for the review. I've seen a number of good reviews so it's nice to get the perspective of a "real person" as opposed to a critic.

Runny egg yolks. I only ate hard boiled and scrambled eggs. My husband likes his fried eggs, though, so I made them that way for him every weekend during the first two years of our marriage. Somewhere along the way I started getting used to the idea and now I like 'em runny as well!

2nd date with my now husband at my favorite Japanese restaurant. I had fallen hard and, after a relatively composed first date, was so nervous that I couldn't eat a thing. He remembers that meal as the one where I finally set down my chopsticks and confessed, "Listen, I'm so nervous right now that I don't think I can eat a bite. So, if you don't mind, I'll just listen to you talk and take my dinner to go."

Oh, I have fond memories of mu-shu pork. I never liked the filling, though, so I'd just eat the crepe thing. It's too bad; so many restaurants nowadays just use tortillas. I really miss those authentic wrappers.

Nah. It takes a lot more than that to keep me from my favorite food. I once saw a dead mouse floating in the moat of one of those sushi boat places. I didn't tell my companion for a year because it was our staple sushi lunch places. Granted, if the roach thing or mouse thing seemed indicative of a much larger problem I'd think twice about going, but the occasional visitor I'd just assume was an anomaly.

As Wongste said, it's one of the traditional "sauces" for ong choy. I use it for that and for stir-frying amaranth leaves.

The San Gabriel restaurants are indeed incredible. There are some HK style Cantonese restaurants here in the SF Bay Area that are as good, but we don't have anywhere near as many. Plus, they also have a lot of other regional cuisines. There are a lot more authentic Chinese restaurants here, particularly in the South Bay, then there were even 5 years ago, so hopefully we'll catch up soon. I was last in Toronto 10 years ago when they were just starting to build those HK style shopping centers, but if they've surpassed Vancouver now they must be quite something. Fred12fred, you must come back and try the higher-end HK style restaurants. I can't speak so much to the noodle dishes---that's not usually what I eat when I'm down in So. Cal.---but there are certainly seafood restaurants and dim sum that are very fine indeed.

I read the review and I don't understand your interpretation. It seemed like quite a positive review to me, from beginning to end. That's a pretty nice wrap-up, in my mind. They didn't say the restaurant was perfect, but overally it was certainly a glowing review.

My mother always talks about how these occasions were one of her favorites since it meant they would get to have chicken for dinner.

China Village is very good, though if you're further south I've tried most of the those Fremont and U.C. listed above and they're all good and authentic. I suspect there are many uptapped gems further south that the more recent Chinese immigrant population flock but that are virtually unknown on eGullet and Chowhound.

It's a nice thing to grow up with the Chinese traditions 'cause it means I know when I can break them! For instance, I use a soup spoon when eating noodles and never reach over to grab food on the far side of the dish only when I'm with strangers or people I need to impress. I never stab my chopsticks in rice in restaurants, but do it often at home. And while I'll use the "eating" end of my chopsticks to pass food to family and close friends, I'm conscientious about using the blunt end when I'm out with other people.

Yeah, I find that if you don't season your rice your sushi is going to taste quite bland. When I'm at a new sushi restaurant the quality of the rice is as important to me as the freshness of the fish. Otherwise the entire package is mediocre.

Thanks cxt! I'm really looking forward to it! I love museums and the idea of exploring outside the city. Question for you, because I like getting a sense of distance and I'm very bad with maps: how long would it take, at a normal pace and without lingering anywhere, to walk from Tivoli to Nyhavn? As I'm investigating hotels (though I'm starting to lean toward the idea of renting an apt) I've been trying to figure out how far is too far. I'm a big walker and I like going out on foot and just exploring. I'm also interested in trying "The Paul" restaurant, but I can't believe I have to wait a year!

I know it doesn't work for everyone, but I found when I was cutting things out of my diet that I had to go cold turkey. I took the "breaking a habit" approach. You know, the one where they say it takes something like 3 weeks to develop/change a habit? In your case, I'd suggest just eliminating the bread, fruit, nuts, and milk for the next few weeks. The first week is hell, the 2nd week somewhat better, but I found that at about the 3rd or 4th week I was no longer craving the forbidden food at all.

Okay, maybe "lunches" money. ;)

Certainly not for a mere $5000. After taxes that would be lunch money.

Oh, that's priceless!!!

Perfect, thank you! I do know Vien Huong so I should be able to find the bakeries very easily.

Okay Han, I remember the talk about Ruby and Napolean on Chowhound (where I post sporadically under a different username). Could you pls tell me what restaurants or markets these are next to? I never remember what streets are what in Oakland Chinatown and only go by landmarks. Would very much appreciate it!

When I filet a whole, cooked fish at the table I never flip over the spine. My mom always said it was bad luck. I don't really believe it, but better to be safe...

From the first link: Uh, have they never washed a heap of veggies before? Don't they know how to fill a *sink* with water?

Do you remember the days before they implemented the line? When everyone just jostled for attention in a big pack like most other Chinatown bakeries? It's a good thing they recognized that their popularity could no longer sustain chaos. Still, I had a roommate who was quite proud of how I taught her to squeeze to the front of the pack, and always sneered at those poor tourists who held back diffidently and probably weren't able to get their pastries for hours!

Hot damn! Wow, that's the most gorgeous thing I've seen in awhile!

Jewish ... same idea ... I'm convinced that's why three of my closest friends are Jewish!