What's The Big Deal???
It's just a little dish... only 3 or maybe 4 pieces in it... but it's different than the one before it... where's the harm?? Try it... if you don't like it, there'll be another dish or 2 brought around in moments... crab puff... chicken dumplings... stuffed eggplant... what's the big deal??? It's only Dim Sum...
Yes Friends... I fell victim to one of my favorite meals yesterday at The Phoenix... the single best Chinese Restaurant in all of Chicago's Chinatown... which, by definition, makes it the single best Chinese Restaurant outside of Kowloon. You see... I woke with this craving for Dim Sum... it hits me usually 3 or 4 times a year... and usually I can count on my Family joining me. I told my Son that we were going on an adventure... called my siblings and told them to meet us... and off we went. A quick shout to my parents insured that my wallet was going to remain untapped for this extravaganza... seeing how Dad can't pass up Dim Sum either. An hour by train from the suburbs to Chinatown and we entered a land of exotic food and mystery pricing. No matter how many times I go...no matter how many dishes we order...we always wind up with a bill that's the same general total... I think they assess your net worth while you sit and enjoy the meal and they charge what they think you can pay.... one of these days I'll test this by showing up with a smaller party or dressed like a transient... but I digress...
Since the Phoenix is the best, you can expect a 45 minute to an hour wait - possibly even longer if you don't speak the language and have a Chinese passport... unless you have a secret weapon. Upon seeing that the Hostess yesterday was the eldest daughter of one of the owners, I sent my Son to get our name on the list. He went up and spoke to her for a second and somehow the expected wait turned into "I'll have a table for you in a second, Cutie." We were ushered upstairs to a table with a view of the Chicago skyline within 2 minutes and had the first dishes on the table within 2 more. My Dad looked at me and asked "How does he do that?" You know... I'm still trying to come up with an answer that works...
The only problem with going for Dim Sum yesterday was that I managed to miss the entire destruction of the Buffalo Bills by my UNDEFEATED Chicago Bears... but all things being equal - I enjoyed the day.
I hope you all get to enjoy your own views today...I'm doing my best to enjoy mine...
posted by Mr. G @ 10/09/2006 07:42:00 AM
Comments: 4
