TC Delight

Scott Hardie | March 2, 2004
Since I have just giddily rediscovered the best Chinese buffet in Tampa, I ask: What is on your ideal plate of Chinese food?

Mine has a little bourbon chicken, a little Thailand chicken (this soft chicken they serve that melts into a delicious mush as soon as you close your mouth), a pot sticker, some vegetable lo mein (with finely chopped vegetables), all topped with the coup de grace, some creamy crab rangoons. I would also include General Tso's chicken that was neither too hard nor too spicy, but it has been years since I have found that on a buffet table.

Also: If you have eaten alone at a restaurant, you know that sinking feeling when they seat you so that you're looking directly at another person who is also dining alone. You know you're in for 45 minutes of staring awkwardly down at your plate. Today I was seated opposite a middle-aged man, who left before I returned with my first plate. He was immediately replaced by a teenager who talked loudly into his cell phone and avoided me. The teen left late in my meal, and was replaced by a chubby twenty-something like myself. When he sat down and we locked eyes, I thought, Mark my words, boy; mark them well. I have survived your predecessors and I will survive you.

Anna Gregoline | March 2, 2004
Thailand chicken sounds good! I am not familiar. Love the pot stickers though, and crab rangoons are a must have for me.

Scott, you're funny. I just remembered going to China Buffett in Peoria with you and Kelly. Don't remember the food that well though. I think that was the only time I went there, or one of two times. Weird.

Lori Lancaster | March 2, 2004
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Anna Gregoline | March 2, 2004
I went to exactly one movie by myself, Jurassic Park 3. I went because I was living at home and was going stir crazy. I've definitely eaten by myself though.

Scott Hardie | March 2, 2004
If there's one thing I will never understand about some people, it's their reluctance to go to a movie theater by themselves. You sit there in the dark, silent almost the entire time, completely engaged in a moving picture show for two hours. What in the hell do you gain by having someone touching your elbow? I understand that it's nice to discuss the film with a companion afterwards, and given the choice I'd prefer to see every film with a partner. But if you want to see a film and you can't round up a friend, just go already. Trust me, there's no difference until the lights come up.

Anna Gregoline | March 2, 2004
There are several films since I've started living alone that I would have seen alone if it came to that, but all I managed to see with Jesse during visits. I just enjoy it more, I have no idea why.

Dave Stoppenhagen | March 2, 2004
Crab Rangoon, ah I can eat a ton and never get tired of them. The best I've had are at Szechwaun House in St. Charles.

Lori Lancaster | March 2, 2004
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Dave Stoppenhagen | March 2, 2004
While I was out there I focused mostly on mexican cuisine

Dave Stoppenhagen | March 2, 2004
Seafood as well. Great seafood out there

Lori Lancaster | March 2, 2004
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Jackie Mason | March 2, 2004
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John E Gunter | March 8, 2004
Mark my words, boy; mark them well. I have survived your predecessors and I will survive you.

Lol Scott, I can just picture you thinking or saying that!

For me, it's some egg drop soup, with an egg roll or two, some pork fried rice and then either chicken chow mein, moo goo gai pan, chicken with snow pea pods or honey chicken.

Only problem is, I haven't had any really good honey chicken since I moved back from Miami.

Scott Hardie | March 8, 2004
Honey chicken... Reminds me of the Honey BBQ Wings at KFC. They taste great, but does KFC have to make them rock-hard? I feel like my teeth are going to crack when I take a bite.

John E Gunter | March 8, 2004
Ah, but good honey chicken has just the right amount of breading on it, and melts in your mouth. Like I said, I haven't had good honey chicken since I moved back here from Miami. ;-)

Anthony Lewis | March 10, 2004
NYC is the mecca of Chinese take-out. Right now, I am dreaming of a boneless spare rib combo with pork fried rice and an egg roll. Maybe two. That's my usual order. If it wasn't so late, I'd go around the corner and get some. In fact, if I order over the phone, they'll pass the food over my backyard fence. It's a dream come true living behind a chinese restaurant.

I love and hate buffets. I love to eat there, but I never feel like I eat enough to justify what I pay. But I try. Recently, in Charlotte, I discovered the best chinese buffet ever. When I saw the sirloin steak, I was on Cloud 9. The next day, they had a HUGE roast on the carving board. I ate enough to block a colon. :-)

Anthony Lewis | March 10, 2004
Oh...

The worst chinese buffet in the world is Lucky Buffet, just off Callaghan Road in San Antonio, TX. Don't go there. You've been warned.

Melissa Erin | March 10, 2004
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Anthony Lewis | March 10, 2004
Would I eat at a place called "Crazy Buffet"?

HELL YEAH I WOULD!!!

Scott Hardie | March 10, 2004
Anthony: You... live... behind... a Chinese restaurant? ...Do you need a roommate? I can sleep in a closet!

Melissa: Aw yeah... Crazy Buffet (with that backwards z) is delicious. Sushi, Mongolian barbeque, duck roasts, big juicy steaks... But for $20 a dinner, I'll usually go elsewhere. :-)

Anna Gregoline | March 10, 2004
I guess I'm a snob, or something, but I'm always disappointed by buffets. I don't really like eating at them. It might be in part, too many choices (I'm obsessive-compulsive), but it's also food quality. I guess I've never been to a really good buffet. I always feel let down.

Melissa Erin | March 10, 2004
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Scott Hardie | March 10, 2004
It seems the technical term is Up-Scale Asian Fusion Buffet. (Notice the unnecessary hyphenation of upscale. I know I've gotten heavier eating there!)

Anthony Lewis | March 12, 2004
Scott: Believe me...living behind a chinese restaurant is overrated. That's probably because I don't take advantage of it enough. My favorite combo is $6.95. It adds up man. Maybe if I took a roommate, I can afford it. :-)

I'll tell you this...that Crazy Buffet looks insane!

Jackie Mason | March 12, 2004
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Anna Gregoline | March 12, 2004
See, the words "seafood buffet" automatically turn me off. Seafood that sits out in the open forever? Even with ice or heat on it, it just sounds unappetizing to me.

Melissa Erin | March 12, 2004
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Anna Gregoline | March 12, 2004
I've been turned off of seafood in the Midwest ever since I've had stuff from the Boston area. It's a shame, but I can no longer enjoy it here, except for the sushi, which, unfortunately, was better from the supermarket in Boston than here. Still, I have to have my sushi fix. I wish I had some tamago right now, actually. Should I brave the cold to reach the sushi place?

Dave Stoppenhagen | March 12, 2004
The best seafood I ever had was in Thailand. I've never seen bigger shrimp or lobster tails anywhere. Other than that, San Diego had some good seafood restaurants.

Melissa Erin | March 12, 2004
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Anna Gregoline | March 13, 2004
Does anyone think we've been talking about food a lot on here? It makes me hungry!

Erik Bates | March 13, 2004
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Steve West | March 13, 2004
If this isn't the number one rule in the restaurant biz it's near the top - "The seafood is always fresh, even in Kansas."

Melissa Erin | March 13, 2004
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Scott Hardie | March 13, 2004
I like the taste of the limited sushi I've tried, but I have trouble with the clamminess of it... My brain has trouble getting past the urge to get uncooked meat out of my mouth.

Anna Gregoline | March 13, 2004
SUSHI IS SO GOOD I WANT SOME RIGHT NOW.

Damn. Sorry. Sushi attack. Seaweed is in milkshakes sometimes. And salads are leaves too. And people eat cow butt all the time. I don't find anything sushi-wise to be gross. I even eat the eel. Fantastico!!!

Melissa Erin | March 13, 2004
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Anna Gregoline | March 13, 2004
COW BUTT COW BUTT COW BUTT!!!!

Oh well. I wish I could make the world like sushi but I know we all never will. More for me!!!!

Erik Bates | March 13, 2004
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