NJ eGullet Dinner at China 46

[glenn]

First off, I think Rosie should be bringing the NZ & Australian stuff, NOT CHARDONNAY FOR FRIGGIN' TOMMY. Next, yes Rachel, anything for the cause, my hands just recovered from typing all that and I can finally use them again. Finally, I'll dutifully bring a bottle of dessert wine and conundrum as requested.

[Rosie]

Hey Glenn---I am bringing reisling and sav blanc just for Tommy. Too bad that Turley does not go with Chinese wine!

[glenn]

Can you make a suggestion what I can bring for tommy?

[Rosie]

Can you make a suggestion what I can bring for tommy?

Anything but Chard.

[tommy]

Can you make a suggestion what I can bring for tommy?

Walter Glatzer Gruner Veitliner Kabinett 2001

[Rachel Perlow]

I'll have some of that too please.

[jhlurie]

Okay. Looks like I CAN come. My indistinct family plans finally manifested on Saturday and not Sunday.

[tommy]

yaaaay!

[Rosie]

Okay.  Looks like I CAN come.  My indistinct family plans finally manifested on Saturday and not Sunday.

Glad you can come to the dinner. What are you bringing?

[Kim WB]

Rail Paul

Dee

Mark

Glenn

Rosie

Lowell

Kim

Tommy

Soba

Brodsky

Double O

Rachel Perlow

Jason Perlow

Bond Girl

jluhrie

waiting for confirmations from:  201,

updated. 15 confirmed, 1 waiting confirmation.

I'm bringing beer. Tsing Tao or Asahi.

updated. Tommy, I am getting some PM's of interested parties..(oh, how cool, I get to say that I am being PM'd..but are they EXPERTS??!! ) what is the seating capacity...there are 4 more interested.

KIM

[Rachel Perlow]

Since tommy isn't on, and we are already at 15, I'd say tell'm to come and we'll have two tables of 10ish.

[Kim WB]

Also, do they make salt and pepper soft shells here? I have a craving...

[Rachel Perlow]

They had soft shells last time we were there (~2 weeks ago I think). Hmm, they had a garlic sauce on them maybe? tommy, you remember? I think we had a few options as to the sauce. The salt & pepper shrimp are pretty good there.

[Fat Guy]

This is Sunday night, right? I think I'd like to bring my crew as well. Can we be accommodated?

[tommy]

Also, do they make salt and pepper soft shells here? I have a craving...

i do believe these were an option. although, they only get soft shells when they can and when they're good. i went last week, and they didn't have them. although, i can totally recommend the salt and pepper shrimp. mmmmmm.

[jhlurie]

Okay.  Looks like I CAN come.  My indistinct family plans finally manifested on Saturday and not Sunday.

Glad you can come to the dinner. What are you bringing?

I'll probably haul in some beer, since the wine seems to be taken care of (and I, at least, prefer beer with Chinese food).

EDIT yes, Kim WB sees the way. Although I may surprise her and bring something less "lemony".

Edited June 6, 2003 by jhlurie (log)

[Kim WB]

This is Sunday night, right? I think I'd like to bring my crew as well. Can we be accommodated?

Steven, great..how many in your "crew", homeboy?

[Kim WB]

Rail Paul

Dee

Mark

Glenn

Rosie

Lowell

Kim

Tommy

Soba

Brodsky

Double O

Rachel Perlow

Jason Perlow

Bond Girl

jluhrie

Steven Shaw

Steven Shaw's crew

coquille (Eden)

waiting for confirmation from 201.

updated. looks like we're past 15, so two tables of 10? Which means there is room for a few more. Also, we won't be at 25 people, so we won't be preordering, should we expect the pp range to still fall between $30-40? Just to keep people informed...

Edited June 6, 2003 by Kim WB (log)

[jhlurie]

This is Sunday night, right? I think I'd like to bring my crew as well. Can we be accommodated?

Steven, great..how many in your "crew", homeboy?

The two Jew crew?

(hey, normally I'd NEVER make that joke... but the setup...)

[Rail Paul]

Rail Paul

Dee

Mark

Glenn

Rosie

Lowell

Kim

Tommy

Soba

Brodsky

Double O

Rachel Perlow

Jason Perlow

Bond Girl

jluhrie

Steven Shaw

Steven Shaw's crew

coquille (Eden)

waiting for confirmation from 201.

updated. looks like we're past 15, so two tables of 10? Which means there is room for a few more. Also, we won't be at 25 people, so we won't be preordering, should we expect the pp range to still fall between $30-40? Just to keep people informed...

Dee and Paul are out. It sounds like a great event, I'm sorry we won't be able to make it. We'll definitely get there soon

Has anybody scouted the place lately? The original reason was the scarcity of customers. Have they returned as media attention seems to be much more "foreign" than local

[Rachel Perlow]

Just so there's no confusion on the day, would people prefer that the menu be preordered, or should we just have every couple or so pick a dish? If there's two tables, it would probably be better to at least preorder a couple things so we all get the same stuff and the appetizers going.

My suggestions:

For apps: pork soup dumplings, Pan Fried Shanghai Buns, Spicy Capsicum Cellophane Noodles (cold), and we could let Cecil surprise us with some other cold apps (the smoked chicken is good), hmm also Scallion Pancake Deluxe (as I don't think we've ever had that at China 46 yet)

Soup: Shanghai or Fish Head Casserole (soupy stew, I've never had the Fish Head casserole, could we order it, please? Those who don't want Fish Head (Jason) could order an individual soup, or we could order the casserole and another soup, like Pork w. Szechuan Pickle, yum)

Mains: Ruby Pork is a given (but maybe a half order per table, so it doesn't dominate the meal?) with Sesame buns to stuff it in, Soft Shell Crabs if they're in, a Sauteed Dungeness crab dish if they're not, or Famous Shanghai Style Crab (blue crab), Shrimp of some kind (salt & pepper or seaweed powder fried).

They do a good Peking Duck, but do we want to bother with that or get some of the more unusual dishes? Like Eel w. Fresh Garlic In Brown Sauce or Sea Cucumber & Pork Tendon in Shrimp Roe Sauce. And, of course, we could always do a whole fish and some greens are mandatory.

I'm getting hungry.

[Rachel Perlow]

should we expect the pp range to still fall between $30-40? Just to keep people informed...

No matter how extravagently we order (with the exception of Shark Fin soup or something), I can't imagine it going over $40 - 45 per person. It would be helpful if people could bring at least a five & five singles (in addition to their twenties) so we can more easily make exact change.

[Kim WB]

I would preder a basic pre-order, with the option to add on a few individual preferences. However, I thought that the owner was hesitant to do so for under twenty five people..but is that just for banquets, or pre-selections in general? I would think it would be helpful to know what to expect..makes no dif to me...I( leave it in yours and Tommy's capable hands! Salt and Pepper Soft shells or S and P shrimp a must, however!

[tommy]

let's skip the seaweed shrimp. i think the salt and pepper shrimp make much more of a statement.

[jhlurie]

Just so there's no confusion on the day, would people prefer that the menu be preordered, or should we just have every couple or so pick a dish? If there's two tables, it would probably be better to at least preorder a couple things so we all get the same stuff and the appetizers going.

My suggestions:

For apps: pork soup dumplings, Pan Fried Shanghai Buns, Spicy Capsicum Cellophane Noodles (cold), and we could let Cecil surprise us with some other cold apps (the smoked chicken is good), hmm also Scallion Pancake Deluxe (as I don't think we've ever had that at China 46 yet)

Soup: Shanghai or Fish Head Casserole (soupy stew, I've never had the Fish Head casserole, could we order it, please? Those who don't want Fish Head (Jason) could order an individual soup, or we could order the casserole and another soup, like Pork w. Szechuan Pickle, yum)

Mains: Ruby Pork is a given (but maybe a half order per table, so it doesn't dominate the meal?) with Sesame buns to stuff it in, Soft Shell Crabs if they're in, a Sauteed Dungeness crab dish if they're not, or Famous Shanghai Style Crab (blue crab), Shrimp of some kind (salt & pepper or seaweed powder fried).

They do a good Peking Duck, but do we want to bother with that or get some of the more unusual dishes? Like Eel w. Fresh Garlic In Brown Sauce or Sea Cucumber & Pork Tendon in Shrimp Roe Sauce. And, of course, we could always do a whole fish and some greens are mandatory.

I'm getting hungry.

Most of that sounds good for this crowd, but its got to be balanced out with one or two spicy dishes. For one, maybe that Spicy Capsicum Beef dish with all the ginger in it. For another, possibly that dish they do with the thin cut of pork fried up like bacon.

Also, rice noodles. Maybe those coin-shaped ones, whatever the heck they are called.