Chinese Dinner in June

Saturday, June 2, 2007

Eight of us again gathered at Duong Son's in Westminister for an evening of surprises. Henry really came through this time with some dishes we had not been tempted by before. He always has a list of what he is considering ordering (I can't read it because its in Chinese) but leaves it open to change after he talks with the owner about what is especially fresh and best that day.

We sat down and there was a plate of their roasted peanuts along with some very small dried fish that had a crunchy, sweet taste to them. Along came a "shrimpy crispy" thing. Looks like a slightly puffed flat bread made with ground up shrimp. Cora really likes this because it is similar to what she had as a child in the Philippines.

After receiving a "hot, steamy" washcloth to cleanse your hands with the dishes started arriving.

First was "Fried Oysters". I have had these before here but tonight they were especially plump and really outstanding. Served with fresh lime and grey salt.

Then a new dish ( for me) arrived. Whole shrimp (head and all) that were halved and served with garlic and chives. These guys were alive when we arrived so when the hit their demise at our table they were absolutely the freshest you could possibly get. You just picked them up and sucked them down. They were great.

Another old favorite arrived. Garlic green beans with sea bass. This is the only way to get Barbara to eat "green things". I bet her mother would have liked to have known the secret when Barbara was growing up.

Roast Pork - crispy skin and juicy meat. This was another new dish we had not had before. Not sure what part of the pig it came from (Henry explained that the Chinese have certain areas of the pig they are fond of), but I really didn't care because it was so good.

Chinese broccoli with chicken was next. Another old standby but always good. (No, Barbara does not eat broccoli)

A bowl came out with beef tendons and daikon radishes in a gravy. Several people raved about this dish, along with me.

I'm not a big fan of tofu, but every time we have it at Duong Son, I can't believe how good is is. This dish had a twist to it. It was the shrimp stuffed tofu we usually get but this time it was in a sauce with squid, shrimp, chicken, snow peas and carrots.

Then came a big plate of fat noodles, with bean sprouts and calamari in a shrimp paste. This was another twist for us. Great flavor.

Last but always best, was the barbequed ribs. I talked about them in my last post about Duong Son.

Dessert was some "soupy, warmish" liquid . Called "White Fungus with Aprodia Seed". Surprisingly enough it was tasty. Not too sweet or too filling. Then a plate of fresh papaya slices with dumplings filled with egg and coconut.

We had quite the assortment of wines tonight. I did take a list of them because certain people have asked me to list the wines we have at dinner.

2004 Abarbanel, Alsace, Gerwurztraminer
2005 McKeon-Phillips Sauvignon Blanc
2005 Rosenbloom Kathy's Cuvee, Viognier
2000 Beringer, Knights Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon
2000 Fife, Scarlet, blend
2001 Parkfield, Monterey County, Syrah
2003 Loring, Llama Vineyard, Pinot Noir
2005 Fritz, Russian River, Pinot Noir
2005 Alma Rosa, LaEncantada, Pinot Noir

The dinners we have at this restaurant are not for picky eaters. We like to have people at the table that are willing to try something different without turning their noses up at it and not even taking a taste. Those people should be very thankful they did not have me as a mother. They wouldn't have survived their childhood. My motto has always been, take one bite only and then if you do not like it you do not have to eat it. Eventually after "take one bite" several times they start to develop a taste for whatever it is. My granddaughter uses this method on her two children and they are not picky eaters at the ages of 2 and 4. When I come across adults who are "picky eaters", I always wonder why ?