China Garden

Old foodie blog, because I’m deleting that blog.

So originally…there was to be a post a few weeks ago. I spent a good amount of time on in it and my computer died and no – I didn’t think to save it. So now I’ve gotten over my frustration and have decided to dedicate my first post to the best meal I’ve had since moving to DC.

After scouring my iPhoto – I have decided that my penchant for taking food photos directly correlates with weight gain.

China Garden

Twin Towers – Mall Level

Rosslyn, VA 22209

703-525-5317

My Rating: 5/5

Ok while it’s technically not in DC – it IS metro accessible which is very important! I came here with my parents and my dad’s old high school friends. Yes, HIGH SCHOOL – from Vietnam! He hadn’t seen one couple since he left high school, over 50 years ago. Wow.

One of the couples knew the restaurant owner so we didn’t even look at the menus. The owner just said “OK I’ll bring out my best since you have friend’s in town.”

There were so many courses – I was too busy eating to take pictures of all of them. Though, most of my food pics are rushed because I’m so excited to start eating!

From What I Remember:

Crispy Scallops – not too battered, just crispy enough for texture, moist fresh scallops

Chicken & Mushroom Stirfry – not too greasy, just enough flavor – well done but in comparison to the other dishes, it didn’t really stand out.

Leeks & Calamari – One of my favorites of the evening. The sauce was really light and just a little bit sweet – but not to the point where you’re like “WTFrak – why is my squid sweet?” I don’t like leeks at all, but I gladly ate all these – overall a very “情” dish. (Clear~light)

Fried Tamarind Jumbo Shrimp – Another favorite. It’s fried well enough where you can eat the skin if you want (which I always do when I can – because I’m lazy like that – plus it keeps the flavor!) You can’t really go wrong with jumbo sized seafood – but add the tangy tamarind sauce to it and fry it up – delicious!

Black Bean Buffalo Fish? – I asked my parents what the name of the fish in English was – and I was told “buffalo fish”. Tastes like seabass – very slick, tender, juicy and the meat is a little bit sweet. But I wasn’t really a fan of the black bean action and there were way too many bones on this fish. High maintenance!

Crispy Taro Duck - One of two best dishes of the night. If you love taro (which I do) and duck (which I do) – you have to travel out to Rosslyn JUST for

this dish. It’s Peking duck, with the skin on, deboned and topped with a taro puree, crispy taro puff and some sort of sauce. Think those taro puffs you get at dimsum – but with duck attached to it. The taro puree is a lot like mashed potato consistency. I grabbed some and mixed it in my with rice for a nice taro-rice mashup. (Get it…mash..up?! Haha)

Crab Infused Rice – Number two of the best dishes of the night. I got you with the word “infused” right? It’s such a catchy word ahah. Anyway, they cook the rice with some crabby bits and crab juice. Despite that, the rice is not too crabby – just slighty so. It’s served in the crab shell and the waiter scooped it out for us into bowls. The leftover legs and claws were delicious as well.

Dessert – traditional Chinese mung bean & tapioca sweet soup & mung bean pastry. Both not too sweet – but sweet enough to satisfy your sweet tooth.

I heard their dimsum is good too so I’m going back this weekend so stay tuned for the report.

Well needless to say, I didn’t pay for this decadent meal so I can’t tell you how much it cost but from the website – it doesn’t seem like prices are too bad (Avg cost of entree ~$11.00)

Pink Toothbrush

I can’t bring myself to throw it out.

Protected: Transiet

Danger, Will Robinson!

Current Mood: Confused

What is it about human nature that makes us gravitate towards the things that are decidedly bad for us? Trans fat, reality TV, Twilight are some good examples.

“Don’t watch that horror movie. It’s gruesome and you’ll have nightmares for days after!”
“Don’t eat the deep-fried bacon-wrapped chocolate-dipped twinkie, you’ll get heartburn!”
“Don’t push that red button, inexplicable but catastrophic things will happen!”

But we do it anyway and for a brief moment, before the nightmares/heartburn/zombies kick in – it feels SO good! And why are things that are suddenly forbidden or dangerous exponentially more intriguing and appealing than 5 minutes ago when they weren’t? Maybe it’s because we are a society of doers/movers/activists/captains of industry and screw those who try to take away our freedom to make horrible mistakes! Yes, I am champion of action – “Hear me roar!” (and then bemoan my terrible lack of judgment).

Anti-social

Current Mood: Sickly

Friday night – most awkward night of my life. Have you been asked by someone you just met to join him and his “friend” to dinner only to find out when you get there that it was a date? No? Well I have.

Saturday night – Have you ever had to lie to your friend’s boyfriend that the guy she is exchanging numbers with a mere 10 feet away is “probably just work-related” and have to try and console him while your friend keeps disappearing throughout the night? No? Well I have.

Have you ever had a series of encounters SO terrible that it rendered you completely unable to stand human interaction? No? Well I have.

I don’t think I’ve recovered yet after a full day of seclusion in my room. But I did have to go to work today and it IS a new day, so we shall see.

Zombie Love

Current Mood: Playful

I’ve always liked zombies, but it wasn’t until recently that I discovered that I LOVE zombies.  Something about their incoherent mumblings, blank stoic expressions and heavy clambering  just tickles my fancy.  I’ve always been a fan of twisted, eccentric, fantastical things [see vampires, wizards, aliens, robots], so here is my tribute to zombies.

First, a haiku by yours truly:

A zombie’s first love:

I fell in love with your brain,

And then I ate it.

Secondly, a zombie pick up line (also by yours truly): Your brain is so sexy, I’d save you for last! (Inspired by all the hottie geniuses out there),

And some of my favorite zombie media:

The original zombie dance – Thriller by Michael Jackson

So You Think You Can Dance – Ramalama

Kayla & Jason – Zombie “Hip Hop” Dance – so disturbing, I love it!

Fluxx – already an interesting card game made better with..Zombies!

Shaun of the Dead – a mix of zombies, British humor and satire – what could be better? (Hot Fuzz is also good..)

Pride & Prejudice..& Zombies – saw this book at the bookstore the other day and read the first few pages – hilarious take on Jane Austen’s original.  It begins, “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.”  (The original reads, “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man of good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”) The first chapter goes on to describe how the Bennet girls prepare for a zombie attack in light of the arrival of a young and dashing Mr. Bingley (and of course…Mr. Darcy..bleh!).  I plan on picking it up after I finish the several books I have already.

Zombie Prom @ 2009 Artomatic.  I missed it, no one wanted to go with me.  My roommate and her boyfriend thought it was too weird.  The worst thing is not having anyone to go with to your own prom!  (BTW, I love Artomatic – 9 floors of art exhibits and performances for an entire month!)

I do have to note though – I’m actually really scared of horror films and don’t enjoy traditional zombie flicks at all!  And if I were in a horror film, I’d be the first to die.  So don’t count on me coming up with any clever ways to fight off zombies or other menaces – it won’t happen.

I’m Still Witty

Current Mood: Playful

Dustin: What time do you wanna meet there then?
me: whenever whereever
we’ll always be together…i’ll be here and you’ll be near and that’s the deal my dear
Dustin: hahaha
me: you’re over..i’m under(?) youuuuve got my head over heels
there’s nothing left to fear (?)
Dustin: um, I don’t think I know this song
me: if you feel the way I feel
what makes you think it’s song lyrics
what if i am professing my love to you over ghcat
Dustin: mostly the question marks
me: maybe i am questioning my love for you
esp in light of you brushing off my confession
Dustin: it also just seemed like an odd opportunity to confess your love to me
plus, it rhymes too well for you to just be saying it like that
me: I PUT THOUGHT INTO MY RHYMING CONFESSIONS YOU ASSHOLE
Dustin: you’re about to make me start feeling bad…
me: plus this month’s cosmo says that confessing to guys while they are hosting webinars is the best time
Dustin: that can’t be true. How many guys host webinars?!
me: more than you know, more than you know

Lovely yorkie puppy for re-homing – Dogs – Oodle.com

Lovely yorkie puppy for re-homing – Dogs – Oodle.com.

My attack dog!  And he’s free!  Too bad, I don’t have space for him.  Ideally, I would have a deceivingly cute attack dog that would attack people who annoy me.  And he only speaks Chinese….muahahahahaha.

Spring has Sprung!

I finally feel like I’ve settled in DC.  The more I tell people that, the more I find I’m not alone in taking a long time to adjust to DC.  Maybe it’s not a DC thing, but just a “picking up and moving” thing.  I feel like there are three stages of moving to DC:

1) Everything is new and wondrous – you’re still in the extended-tourist mode.

2) Getting into the rhythm of things.

3) Evaluation and maybe even dismay if your move didn’t bring you to where you thought you’d be.  “Where are all my new friends?”  “Why do I still feel like an outsider?”

4) This one could go either way a) Move to a different place or b) Stay

So now I’m in stage 4b – I finally feel somewhat right being here.  Now that I’ve adjusted, I’m going out more, meeting even more new people and thoroughly enjoying DC.  I just think it’s odd it’s taken me a year to get to that point.  Part of it can be that I was traveling so much last year, I didn’t really have a “normal” DC-life.

So now that I’ve decided that I like it here….here is my list of things I love and hate about DC.

List

1. Summer weather – so damn hot and humid
2. Winter weather – this cold is so dang bitter!  And where is the sun??
3. Egotistical people – people seem to love talking about who they work for.  It takes a lot more to get people out of their shell.  And it takes a lot more effort to find genuine friends.
4. Unpretentious food – I picked up a list of “Washington’s Bargain Eats” – everything averaged around $12.  I’m sorry $12 for a burger is not a bargain to me.
5. Ethnic food – sure there is a lot of great Korean, Vietnamese and Chinese food in Virginia and Maryland – but within the city – there really isn’t any good restaurants beyond the typical fusion/trendy Asian spots.  Also there is no Mexican food.  El Salvadorean – sure but not Mexican.

List

1. Fall & Spring weather – mild, breezy, sometimes rainy – but altogether pleasant.  And spring in the city means thousands of cherry blossom trees!
2. The plethora of things to do – whether it be the handful of music venues within a few blocks of my apartment, the dozens of free museums, the festivals every weekend, free jazz almost anywhere you go, briefings and lectures, endless happy hours and receptions – there is always something to do.
3. Living in our nation’s capital!  The Obamas live in the same city as me.  How cool is that?
4. Meeting all the brilliant passionate people working on a multitude of causes – all in one city.

Web/Online Identity

Current Mood: Confused

Between facebook, flickr, twitter, tumblr, xanga and this blog – I don’t know how to merge/combine or what to reveal to whom. So…yea this blog is not that updated while I’m trying to figure out what to update and…even…why I should update. Why are we such exhibitionists all of a sudden. Everyone must find my every thought fascinating…right???

In the meantime…I update my twitter almost every day. So in case you want to know (Samm)…that is what I am up to.