453390 Tue Oct 23 12:50:22 -0700 2007 6 14 Washington DC & Baltimore Area 0 3060106 Want to try something new. Which place should I go for dinner and what should I order. I'm on a mission to find better Chinese since eating through the San Gabriel Valley the other week with friends. Thanks! Tue Oct 23 12:50:22 -0700 2007 11227 nissenpa 1 3060240 If you are talking about Mark's Duck House, then I think there is no contest, A&J. Beef tendon, cucumber salad, pickled long beans and ground pork, mini xiao long bao. Hopefully Polly G will respond as well. She's a highly qualified A&J customer. Tue Oct 23 13:21:04 -0700 2007 3060106 10156 Steve 2 3063191 The nice thing about A&J is that the dishes, other than the Chinese Fried Chicken and the soups, are small, so you can order a ton of them. Think tapas. The pan-fried pork dumplings (8 to a serving, only dumpling served in 8s) are their top selling dish for a darned good reason. Be sure to try them with some of the white vinegar at the table, or ask the waitress for a bottle of black vinegar, which our ethnically Chinese table-mates taught us to do last time. All of the vegetable dishes are winners with the possible exception of the seaweed salad, which is just a bit dull. Their pig's ear is sliced almost paper-thin and seasoned with schezuan peppercorns for a tingly taste. The spiced boiled peanuts are a hit or miss. Either you think they're wonderful or they are not impressive, it must just be a matter of taste. The same goes for the spare ribs in roasted rice powder. Husband loves them, I find them a bit dull, though the turnip chunks are good. We still haven't figured out the "correct" way to eat the thousand-layer pancake, but it makes a nice starchy contrast to everything else. We just tear pieces off with our fingers. The schezuan wontons in hot oil are delightful to share. They're in a vinegary/peppery dish and look like little comets. A&J also serves darned good bubble drinks, considerably better than the Maria's Bakery that is in the same plaza as the Annandale location. Go for the passion fruit if you aren't in a caffeine mood. They will also prepare them without bubbles if you ask. A&J is also likely to be pretty quiet for dinner. They do most of their business at lunchtime. If I had to pick one dish at A&J, it would be the pickled long bean and ground beef. Limit me to 2 and give me someone to share it with, and I'd add the pan-fried pork dumplings. After that, it would probably be one of the vegetarian dishes, just for some balance. At Mark's, be sure to ask for the vegetable of the day/season with braised garlic. It may or may not be on the menu, but they will have it. This time of year it is probably spinach or watercress. Wed Oct 24 10:56:17 -0700 2007 3060240 10962 PollyG 3 3063247 I second the pickled long bean and beef. One taste of that instantly brought me back to the years I spent on Taiwan as a kid. My wife, who didn't live in Taiwan, didn't get it. Wed Oct 24 11:06:37 -0700 2007 3063191 22285 dpan 1 3060427 It depends on what you want for dinner. A&J's menu doesn't really have big dinner style entrees, just the noodle soups (the spicy beef or tendon with the hand made noodles are good) or the rice plates. If you like the assorted dumplings, potstickers and the small plates, then it's a good bet. Mark's has very good Cantonese dishes, including fresh fish and roasted meats. It's really hard to compare the different regional flavors, but just go with what you like. Tue Oct 23 14:05:06 -0700 2007 3060106 22285 dpan 2 3060833 What specific dishes would you recommend at MDH? I mean, aside from getting a platter of roast pig... any particular preparation for that fresh fish? Tue Oct 23 16:16:49 -0700 2007 3060427 10156 Steve 3 3061358 They have a tank full of live tilapia. The best way is to have it steamed and then covered with hot oil and soy sauce with sliced scallions and ginger. Ask for the fresh vegetables of the day such as pea sprouts or on choy. Some of the clay pots are good. Tue Oct 23 19:24:11 -0700 2007 3060833 22285 dpan