110784 Sat May 25 23:23:11 -0700 2002 2 7 Chicago Area 0 598608 As always, the dim sum eaten last, is the best dim sum. With Florida relatives in tow, we dim summed at Phoenix today. We went to Phoenix because we figured the carts would be easier and more dim summy. The great thing about Phoenix is the variety. Lots of things not found at the other (sheet) places. Fried cuttlefish with a hint of curry, rice with chunks of chicken and greens, spare ribs, hot dog buns (hugely authentic). There is just so much more to choose. Another thing that Phoenix does really good is bake. Their dim sum is more than steamed things. The mini sweet top buns with custard are especially yummy--hot, flaky, crusty, rich and sweet. The last thing I like about Phoenix is the way they take care of you. They have an array of servers who will swoop in to offer you specials just out, say some crepes stuffed with beef or shrimp, or more importantly, grab you whatever you want (if you by chance know what you want). All meal long Sophia had been pinning for "the yellow things". Meaning a rolled up (yellow) sponge cake cut into pieces, revealing a spiral pattern. When we finished multiple courses and had not seen them, I asked. Soon, but not real soon, they arrived. Perhaps, they steamed a batch of malaysian sponge cake just for us. When they finally came by, it was with a big wooden steamer tray filled with plates of the cake rolls as well as big hunks of the sponge cake and a few other things we had not saved tummy room. Needless to say, this finished off the meal quite nicely for Sophia. Given that we were a party of 8 at mid-day on a weekend, the wait was a short 20 minutes. The food on the table at Mountain View, Happy Chef, etc. may be as good or better, but no one gets the food to your table like Phoenix. Phoenix has some neat sounding family style dinners including a $60 per head option (almost Trio range?) that I'll post about later, probably tommorow. VI Sat May 25 23:23:11 -0700 2002 0 Vital Information 1 598653 Vitalinfo@aol.com wrote: --snip-- "Phoenix has some neat sounding family style dinners including a $60 per head option" --snip— Rob, Great Phoenix report, nothing better than dim sum at the Phoenix, unless it is dim sum at Tong Kiang in San Francisco or wherever I happen to having dim sum at the moment. (Smile) I have to agree on the service as well, they do a good job of taking care of the customer even during a busy dim sum morning, which was not always the case. Next time you are at the Phoenix for dinner you might want to try the jellyfish, which they do a particularly nice job with. I like to order a combo appetizer of jellyfish and duck, it is served with the duck encircling the jellyfish and strategic dabs of hot mustard ringing the plate. A real winner of a combo. (Tasty and delicious. –smile--) Another dish that I enjoy at the Phoenix is the squab. IMHO, in the Chinese restaurant category, the Phoenix has the best squab in the city. They marinate the legs and dry fry with a szechuan pepper, salt mixture and serve the breast in a stir-fry with the crispy, savory legs surrounding the breast meat. Both of these dishes have a nice point counterpoint of contrasting textures and flavors, which I find appealing. I was at the Phoenix last Tuesday for dim sum around 10am, this is slightly before they start rolling out the steam carts, in fact I ate at Demon Dogs and the Phoenix Tuesday morning. A friend was in from out of town and it's our tradition to have a Demon Dog before her flight. Demon Dog is the chosen spot mainly due to the fact that it opens at 6am and she usually has a morning flight. Since she was going back to McCormick Place for the finish of the NRA and we had to pass right by Chinatown, we thought that we might as well fit a little dim sum into the equation. Enjoy, Gary Tue May 28 16:09:23 -0700 2002 598608 0 G Wiv 1 598685 yep, they often ask if you seem to be waiting for something and then cook it. try their bass--the special hong kong style. expensive but unique. btw, shame for not getting a chinatown bakery string going!! Wed May 29 15:55:02 -0700 2002 598608 0 El Panzone