Let me start – I was sad.
I tried to visit Gu’s Bistro for lunch last week and they are on vacation for a few weeks. I really wanted fish and tofu in hot oil or something else fiery and comforting.
I thought about going to Chong Qing but noticed there was another place even closer I’d never heard of – China Village Restaurant.
Much different than those two chili-head spots, they specialize in Northern Chinese dishes, with an American selection in the back of the menu, which the one employee I saw working there desperately tried to steer me towards. I asked what was good on the Chinese side of the menu. She pointed at a dish called pork with pepper with dried tofu. “OK, I’ll try that.”
She shook her head. “No, Chinese people like that.”
Fantastic. I pressed on. I will show her! Just watch!
Food comes out, she hands me a fork and starts to remove the chopsticks from my table. I asked for them back, thank you very much. Just watch my two stick skillz as this round eye devours and loves this huge plate of…boring looking tofu with just a tiny bit of pork and bland peppers.
Yeah. I didn’t love it. Nothing wrong with it. Just bland, and it’s two meals of tofu strands. I left a few bites on the plate and she said, “oh, sorry you didn’t like it.”. God damnit, I ate more than I really wanted just to prove a point and I didn’t eat it all and now I’ve reaffirmed to her that I should have ordered General Tso’s.
As I pay I’m informed by the darling waitress, “Americans like Chinese food in sweet sauces.”
Yes ma’m, we like dumplings too. The pork versions here are good.