NY Noodletown Salt-Baked Question

[Treegap]

I've been going to Noodletown for a couple of years and have always enjoyed the salt-baked dishes for their delicious simplicity. Two or so months ago, I ordered the salt-baked eggplant and bean curd dish in which the pieces were stuffed with something (breading, fat, herbs?). Is this a change? Are all salt-baked items stuffed too, or is it just the bean curd and eggplant that is prepared this way?

[jen kalb]

I cant talk to noodletown, but these so-called saltbaked dishes shouldnt be breaded - that seems to be a bastardization that has crept in in the last few years, so disgusting.

what I cansider to be the classic versions may be LIGHTLY dusted with cornstarch with some 5-spice, maybe. Most restaurants deepfry the item, then finish the dish by throwing the item into an already-frying mix of salt, chopped ginger and chiles, maybe scallions . I tried this at home with some fresh flounder last week and it tasted lovely, but it is a trick keeping the cornstarch to a light dusting - the seafood must be dry.

[binkis]

I've enjoyed the various salt-baked fish items, and none of them are stuffed.

[Treegap]

Thanks! I had a huge craving and went last night. The shrimp was delicious and, thankfully, unstuffed!!

[meatme]

Another question, if I may piggyback on this thread: Are the salt-baked items "breaded" with anything other than plain cornstarch? That is, is there an egg wash, any wheat flour, or any seasoning other than salt, such as pepper?

Thanks.

[Chandavkl]

Depends on the restaurant as there are quite a few variations in how the dish is done, from crunchy to crumbly to hardly any breading, though pepper is typically added to this dish. I think when items are stuffed it has more to do with that item itself (e.g., tofu) rather than with it being salt baked.

[meatme]

Thanks. I'm asking specifically about Noodletown, with regard to a friend's allergies.

By pepper, do you mean ground pepper, as opposed to the sliced hot long green peppers that accompany the dish?

[Chandavkl]

Yes, ground pepper. I'm not sure if you'll ever find out about Noodletown specifically, except by reverse engineering.

[meatme]

Thanks again.

Maybe I'll work on my Cantonese and give them a call, though a couple of the waiters have pretty good English.