581717 Sat Dec 20 17:20:33 -0800 2008 71 12 Boston Area 0 4262731 I'm looking for garlicky beef tendon, shrimp noodle, weird, exotic stuff...not your basic kung pao chicken. I want hot, spicy, and unusual. Where to go? Sat Dec 20 17:20:33 -0800 2008 111487 Swankalicious 1 4263072 Go to Mary Chung in Central Sq Cambridge.....Mass Ave. GREAT stuff!!!! Sat Dec 20 20:50:39 -0800 2008 4262731 249439 sinned61 2 4264526 I preface this w/ saying that I love Mary Chung, but I don't know that "authentic" is the word I'd use. I think I'd say "american-chinese executed tremendously well" Sun Dec 21 16:16:37 -0800 2008 4263072 111910 jgg13 2 4265676 Great, if you stick to the Suan Lo Char Shou. Mon Dec 22 07:26:42 -0800 2008 4263072 14006 Baiye 3 4265796 A bit of wisdom I was told once which generally has held true (in both directions) is to stick wtih the specials that they list on the front of the menu. I've found some things there that I didn't like so much and some stuff outside of that list which I've enjoyed but it's a good start. Mon Dec 22 08:12:26 -0800 2008 4265676 111910 jgg13 3 4265965 Even the suan la chow show aren't reliable - I've been a fan since Mary's first opened, but the last time I ate there they were terrible, way too much chili heat with no other flavor at all. Mon Dec 22 09:06:57 -0800 2008 4265676 18512 Allstonian 1 4263120 You may want to specify which region of China you're interested in tasting... then you can get more specific responses. Sat Dec 20 21:32:22 -0800 2008 4262731 11275 Prav 1 4263583 Sichuan Gourmet in Framingham fits the bill. not sure what area you are looking for. Had the beef tendon a couple of weeks ago, good stuff. Sun Dec 21 07:58:28 -0800 2008 4262731 22725 AHan 2 4264661 I wouldn't know if chinese food was authentic. I can tell you that Shanghai Gate is excellent, generally full of Asian diners, and has a menu with wonderful odd stuff on it. The staff is always pleasant and I consider the food one of Boston's great treasures. Is it authentic? I've never eaten in Shanghai. Sun Dec 21 17:16:56 -0800 2008 4263583 14809 teezeetoo 1 4265084 For Sichuan, I'm a fan of Chili Garden in Medford. They have some really authentic Sichuanese dishes that veer towards the somewhat exotic (the spicy beef tongue is fantastic). Sun Dec 21 20:46:57 -0800 2008 4262731 12450 Sgt Snackers 1 4265350 Fuloon in Malden is just great - Many specific dishes mentioned in reports on CH. The menu is very large - so many interesting things. We've also found a number of highlights, so do some research here and I think you'll be very happy. Just one example: Many of us were introduced to Szechuan peppercorns here, and had our tastebuds (already pretty experienced!) transformed! Mon Dec 22 02:37:41 -0800 2008 4262731 16129 fredid 1 4265625 Sichuan Garden, 295 Wahington St. in Brookline gets my vote. I have taken colleagues from China to eat there, and they're thrilled to be handed a "Chinese" menu. No, not the English menu written in Chinese, but dishes geared towards the Sichuan Chinese palate. The staff is also very happy to help non Chinese speakers navigate that menu. Mon Dec 22 07:06:54 -0800 2008 4262731 170572 TheTrout 1 4265670 I second Sichuan Gourmet (Billerica and Framingham) and Chilli Garden in Medford. Both make a lovely tendon in chili sauce appetizer. I can't think of a place that has garlicky tendon, though. Mon Dec 22 07:25:05 -0800 2008 4262731 14006 Baiye 2 4266023 I third Chili Garden in Medford. (fyi they also have an "American" Chinese menu and even though it's nice to have some old fashioned American Chinese now and then, they don't do this food very well.) Their Szechuan food is great though. Mon Dec 22 09:25:28 -0800 2008 4265670 56815 pemma 3 4266204 I finally managed to get some Chili Garden fare, as they recently showed up on my Foodler listing (getting there has been such a roadblock that I've never managed. It also took me a while to figure out where it was, as the Chinese coworker who first pointed me there 7 or so years ago referred to it as "Spicy Garden"), and it was quite good. The only reason I haven't tried it again was that the first time I was thinking about ordering food was last night and I figured they'd shoot me in the face if I requested something delivered to Central Sq from Medford in the snowstorm. :) Mon Dec 22 10:21:12 -0800 2008 4266023 111910 jgg13 1 4266171 Everyone says CK's Shanghai in Wellesley is the best!.. Mon Dec 22 10:14:01 -0800 2008 4262731 154628 umami76 2 4266789 Not everyone, Ive been 2 times and both were very underwhelming. Wont make the mistake a 3rd time Mon Dec 22 13:20:10 -0800 2008 4266171 10597 hargau 2 4268289 On 2 visits to CK's, my wife and I were puzzled at how sweet the main dishes were, none of the food we ordered had pineapple, tangerine or mango. As a matter of fact, shrimp with Yu Shiang garlic sauce tasted like it was swimming in a candy flavored syrup. What's up with that? Has their food been 'dumbed down" to American tastes? Given the positive hype we'd heard, CK's failed our test for good, authentic Chinese food. Tue Dec 23 05:37:16 -0800 2008 4266171 170572 TheTrout 1 4266539 Jo Jo Taipei in Allston has become my go-to "in town" Chinese restaurant -- in addition to well-executed standards, they have northern dim sum-type items and generally convenient on-street metered parking. Sichuan Gourmet in Billerica is my absolute favorite, but JJT is a close second and much more convenient for me now that I no longer work near SG. Chili Garden is on my "to-try" list. Fuloon is also a good bet. CK Shanghai, alas, I was not very fond of on my one visit there. Mon Dec 22 12:03:10 -0800 2008 4262731 22926 newyorker1 1 4266748 Jo Jo Tai Pei on Brighton Ave. in Allston and Shangri La on Belmont St. in Cambridge are two of our favorites. Both have Americanized Chinese stuff, but both also have very good, much more authentic dishes. Both are consistently delicious. Mon Dec 22 13:06:38 -0800 2008 4262731 11404 gansu girl 2 4266813 Hi gansu girl, Shangri-La is near the top of my list as well, along with both locations of Sichuan Gourmet and Chili Garden. But to avoid any confusion for curious Hounds it's just over the Cambridge line in Belmont. Harp Mon Dec 22 13:30:11 -0800 2008 4266748 45436 Harp00n 3 4266832 I stand corrected! I guess there is *now* one place in Belmont I'd recommend to eat! Mon Dec 22 13:35:55 -0800 2008 4266813 11404 gansu girl 4 4268505 I'll third Shangri-La -- if you want northern dim sum on weekends, get in line before the open at 11:30am, otherwise you'll likely need to wait for the tables to turn over (it is filled with Chinese families on weekend mornings/early afternoons.... I've been less impressed with their dinner offerings but they can't be beat for dim sum. (though Jo Jo Taipei's XLB beats Shangri-La's bit a little bit IMHO.) Tue Dec 23 07:20:11 -0800 2008 4266832 22926 newyorker1 1 4270244 I'm sort of an innocent regarding Chinese food but my understanding (from Chowhound) is that Taiwan Cafe, Mulan, Sichuan Gourmet, HK Eatery, King Fung, Peach Farm, Wings, and others, are all quite authentic. Tue Dec 23 18:51:52 -0800 2008 4262731 18264 steinpilz 2 4270276 Those will all serve you well. I'd add Fuloon and you covered it pretty well..maybe China Pearl (this week) for dim sum and add New Shanghai as a possible contender..and you won't go hungry..:) Tue Dec 23 19:10:59 -0800 2008 4270244 10111 9lives 1 4272800 To recap and emphasize, for authentic regional cookery: all-around: FuLoon in Malden (gets raves for its Sichuan cookery, but arguably their Shandong and Cantonese cookery is even better, and one of the most impressive ranges of real deal Chinese cooking that I've seen on the East Coast. Sichuan (this is key for hot, spicy and unusual, in order of preference): Sichuan Garden in Brookline Village and Woburn Red Pepper in Framingham FuLoon Sichuan Gourmet in Framingham and B'rica Chilli Garden in Medford Zoë's on the Cambridge/Somerville line Northern Chinese: FuLoon; Qingdao Garden in North Cambridge Taiwanese (in no particular order) Jo Jo Taipei (by reputation only; haven't set foot there yet) in Allston Gourmet Dumpling House and Taiwan Cafe in Chinatown MuLan in Kendall Square Shangri La in Belmont Shanghai: Wing's Kitchen in Chinatown Shanghai Gate in Allston IMO, CK Shanghai and Mary Chung are OK for Americanized Chinese, but not my go to for something hot, spicy or unusual. Thu Dec 25 10:04:22 -0800 2008 4262731 14650 Dr.Jimbob 2 4273813 Chilli Garden pretty well kicked my butt the other night - "medium spicy" kung pao chicken (from the Szechuan menu) was full of peanuts, not a sniff of celery chunks, and those hell-acious peppers were somewhat chopped up to bring the heat. Also from the Szechuan menu, had the braised beef short ribs, which were coated in more chopped peppers - good flavor - could have stood to be braised a bit longer, but the chewy cartilege-y bits around the bone were not bad. Quenched the fire with the "crispy vegetables and garlic sauce" salad - odd but delightful assortment of green crunchy veggies in a flavorful creamy dressing. Fri Dec 26 07:10:52 -0800 2008 4272800 11172 Bob Dobalina 2 4274176 I agree with Dr. Jimbob's excellent post very much, although I want to add one addition: For northern style, although I do like Qingdao Garden, I find Wang's in Somerville to be the very best. I just had Christmas dinner there last night, in fact. We had the following dishes: xiao3 luo2 bo si1 (Sweet and Sour Shredded Turnip) liang2 mian4 (Sesame Cold Noodle) cong1 you2 bing3 (Scallion Pancake) su4 jiu3 cai4 shui3 jiao3 (Vegetarian Leek Dumpling) chuan1 wei4 la4 zi ji1 (Szechuan Style Bone-in Chicken) yu2 xiang1 niu2 rou4 (Yu Shang Beef) xiang1 gu1 you2 cai4 (Shanghai Cabbage with Black Mushroom) I'm sure the turnip comes from a jar, but it's still so terrific. The texture is snappy, the taste is complex, and the occasional sliver of ginger and hot pepper adds to the dish. The cold noodles are freshly made, served with cucumber and winter melon matchsticks. Tonight there was an addition that I'd never seen before --- a drizzling of hot oil on top. The dumplings at Wang's are nearly without comparison. Similar is style to Qingdao, but I find the Wang's dumplings just a little more delicate and the flavoring a little more robust. The scallion pancakes at Wang's used to be consistent and the very best in Boston. Unfortunately, they've lost that consistency, alternating now between "very good" and "the very best", but sadly more often the former. I think Jo Jo Taipei may do the best, consistently high range of Northern Style pastries now. The Szechuan Style Bone-in Chicken also used to be a better dish. Now there are many fewer peppers in the dish, the chicken pieces are a bit larger, there's some sugar water added to make a glaze and it's topped with sesame seeds. This change seems roughly consistent with this dish being listed in English translation under the house specialities, as well as on the Chinese language only portion of the menu on the "Northern Pastries Page" where it has always been. Yu Shang Beef may be an Americanized dish, but it's actually quite terrific here. Their "Yu Shang" sauce is light, a touch sweet, with chopped peppers and water chestnuts and miniature mushrooms. I prefer to have the pea pod stems there when available, but last night we had the shanghai cabbage and large black mushrooms. The mushrooms have a taste not to my liking, but the cabbage is excellent --- fresh and bright. I do feel that Wang's has slipped a bit, but they still rank as one of the very best in Boston. Fri Dec 26 11:28:36 -0800 2008 4272800 14328 lipoff 3 5129415 when CK is not busy, he can make the best food in Boston. But when things are busy, especially on a week-end night, the food is merely good. Most of the best dishes can only be gotten by requesting that the chef make something special using a particular base: such as make a duck dish or a pork dish. The glory days of their dumplings are a thing of the past. Sun Oct 25 10:46:06 -0700 2009 4274176 1119066 cambridgedoctpr 4 5129425 Here is a link to CK Shanghai Sun Oct 25 10:50:52 -0700 2009 5129415 1119066 cambridgedoctpr 5 5133420 here is the link Mon Oct 26 19:53:24 -0700 2009 5129425 1119066 cambridgedoctpr 2 5147070 Dr. J- what do you recomend at Fuloon of the Shandong and Cantonese variety? I absolutely love the Szechuan stuff. Sun Nov 01 11:30:09 -0800 2009 4272800 156718 drbangha 1 5134023 If you live near/can get to North Cambridge, Qingdao Garden (widely touted as the best hand-made dumplings in the area) is a hole-in-the-wall place. They always have a number of hand-written specials, in Chinese and English, usually comprising of exotic seafood and/or vegetables. They also have a whole section of the menu of more traditional dishes, rarely found at other Chinese-American joints. The majority of diners here are Chinese people and Asian American families, which is always a good sign. It's not much to look at, but the food is amazing and it's a family run business. Qingdao Garden Restaurant (617)492-7540 (617)492-7541 Address: 2382 Mass Ave. Cambridge, MA 02140 http://qingdao-garden.com/default.aspx Tue Oct 27 06:50:05 -0700 2009 4262731 196755 rpglancy 2 5140783 i buy frozen dumplings from Mu Lan in Cambridge and Gourmet Dumpling House - which are more expensive - in Chinatown. Are these dumplings better? I have been to Qundao Garden once - was unimpressed - and have not returned. Thu Oct 29 11:59:59 -0700 2009 5134023 1119066 cambridgedoctpr 3 5140820 You area pretty spot on with your dumpling purchasing. Also try Wang's Fast Food on Broadway in Somerville. Thu Oct 29 12:13:21 -0700 2009 5140783 10169 StriperGuy 4 5142765 it really depends on what type of dumpling (jiao zi) skin/wrapper one prefers. mulan's are made with egg whaite incorporated into the dough, qingdao and wang's have no egg. i prefer the latter, but many prefer the former. i'm pretty sure all of the above use ground, as opposed to hand minced, meat in their dumpling's, which makes a big difference, hand minced meat is the sign of good home made jiaozi, but alas, almost nobody in asia, let alone here, does this professionally any more. i haven't made it to gourmet dumpling house yet. Fri Oct 30 08:23:29 -0700 2009 5140820 104728 qianning 1 5143256 If you're willing to make the trip to Chestnut hill than you definitely have to go to Bernard's in the Chestnut hill Mall. It is definitely the best Chinese food I have had in greater Boston. It is on the pricey side for Chinese food but is definitely worth it. Fri Oct 30 10:54:08 -0700 2009 4262731 1120407 sb6 2 5143792 Bernards is very good Americanized chinese food but this thread is about authentic chinese food i thought. CK Shanghai on the other hand i have found to not be authentic or good. Have been a few times and always left very dissapointed. Fri Oct 30 14:10:40 -0700 2009 5143256 10597 hargau 3 5143851 FWIW I normally stick to the places we all know of as authentic (with a couple of exceptions and as the mood strikes me), but see my recent comment on CK Shanghai http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/659469 and I will stick with my impressions then that the dishes we had were mostly well executed and fit into the "authentic" category well enough to make me happy. Then again, it was my first and only visit there, and I'm not sure how they've done in the past. Fri Oct 30 14:40:43 -0700 2009 5143792 25417 Zatan 4 5144009 last time i went was about a year ago. I have given up on the place, never enjoyed a meal there. Maybe its better now, but your review also strikes on one of my pet peeves when something is listed as spicy in bold RED on the menu and you specifically ask for it SPICY above and beyond that and it comes not spicy at all. Also other then the wontons i dont see any of the items you mention on the menu. http://www.ckshanghai.com/menu.html Was there a special menu or was it just that you were friends with the waiter?? edit: i found the "hot and spicy" imperial duck listed. Fri Oct 30 15:57:52 -0700 2009 5143851 10597 hargau 5 5144047 Acquainted I'd say, and it is true he knows that I am familiar with "real" Chinese food so it's possible the dishes were even tweaked for me. Since it is billed as Shanghainese I wouldn't expect the heat levels to go too high anyway. But yes, some the items I mention were not on the regular menu, rather part of the new "dim sum" menu. This would not be my choice for authentic Chinese, but if I lived in Wellesley and didn't want to drive too far I think it would be fine. I had the feeling that they were beginning to see that Americanized is not the only way to go, and that the chef can actually cook the real thing if he wants to (I believe this). Fri Oct 30 16:21:36 -0700 2009 5144009 25417 Zatan 6 5144192 I agree not to have high hopes for spicy in a Shanghainese place but why even offer those dishes then? Seems 3 of the 5 things you ordered were billed as "hot & spicy" and were not. Looking at the menu i dont see much i would even considor Shanghainese. They dont have the dimsum menu online, i assume that one is.. Whats online looks like mostly Cantonese and Americanized stuff and a few of what i call "yuppiezed" sort of "specials" to try to appeal to the wellesleynites. Then a handfull of pseudo sichuan... I would be curious to see the dimsum menu though as im a big dimsum fan. It would be really hard for them to do better then Uncle Cheungs in Framingham for Shanghainese dimsum or even Shanghainese in general Fri Oct 30 17:38:01 -0700 2009 5144047 10597 hargau 2 5144682 I'm with hargau - Bernard's is nowhere near authentic, but is fresh and well-prepared. And it is ridiculously expensive, IMHO. GG http://www.semisweetonline.com Sat Oct 31 04:33:56 -0700 2009 5143256 11404 gansu girl 3 5145916 Bernards may not be authentic but the food is delicious, fresh and well- prepared. The best thing is that it is amazingly consistent. I have never had a bad anything there and when you order something it will be exactly the same as last time.The roast duck is fabulous- crispy skin and moist meat. The roast chicken is also delicious. Clams in black bean sauce ( not on the menu- usually a special) are yummy. When they have them the pea leaves are amazing. Expensive but the serving easily feeds four. The shrimp in black bean sauce and crispy shallots, and the shrimp in avocado in a sake sauce are wonderful. Great attentive service. If you order an appetizer with 4 pieces (e.g. eggplant stuffed with shrimp) and there are 5 at the table they will give you 5 pieces. OK so I love this place. You won't find beef tendons (never figured out the attraction to this awful dish) but you will have a tasty, if unauthentic meal. Sat Oct 31 18:18:27 -0700 2009 5144682 13202 emilief 4 5145942 Yah, I guess if you don't like beef tendon then some of the more non-Americanized Chinese food is not for you. If done properly tendon, really is just like chewy noodles. I love tendon, but it took me a while to understand the subtleties of some Asian foods where chewy, crunchy, or (heaven forbid to Western tastes) slimy textures are prized. To call it an "awful dish" with no qualifier (like "in my opionion") is a bit harsh. There are those in Asia who consider blue cheese (moldy dairy products after all) revolting as well. And gosh, lobsters are really just giant underwater bugs, seriously. My general guiding principal is if someone, somewhere on earth, thinks a particular dish is tasty I try to go into it with an open mind. If you go in thinking "tendon, that has to be weird" it is pretty hard to get past one's preconceived bias. If suburbanized, sanitized Chinese food is the defines your comfort zone so be it. But by not straying beyond that zone you are ignoring one of the great cuisines of the world. There was a time when eating sushi, tofu, pesto, or guacamole was just weird to the American palate. We've come a long way I suppose... Sat Oct 31 18:34:55 -0700 2009 5145916 10169 StriperGuy 5 5146245 You dont have to be a Tendon fan to understand authentic. When a "chinese" menu features Pad Thai, Dishes with "sake", "angel hair pasta", Miso, Udon, etc.. this is always a warning for me.. I dont argue that the food is excellent and very fresh and i think the place is excellent. Im just saying the original poster (and title) was asking about the best authentic, not the best tasting or freshest, etc... Sun Nov 01 01:32:35 -0700 2009 5145942 10597 hargau 6 5147412 China is a big country where food is prepared in manifold ways. So, I doubt that there is an authentic way of making a dish, merely variations. My favorite restaurant in the NE is Jean-George where the French chef makes fusion food that is very inauthentic. So? Sun Nov 01 14:25:02 -0800 2009 5146245 1119066 cambridgedoctpr 7 5147435 The "so" is simply: Chowhound is a big forum with many posts prepared in manifold of ways. This particular one was asking about "I'm looking for garlicky beef tendon, shrimp noodle, weird, exotic stuff...not your basic kung pao chicken. I want hot, spicy, and unusual. Where to go?" Are you suggesting that since there are McD's and KFC in China, that they should also be considered? Sun Nov 01 14:29:54 -0800 2009 5147412 10597 hargau 8 5147466 I want food to taste good, and I merely point out that there is no way to decide authenticity as there is no standard for the correct way to prepare a dish. This is Chinese cooking, not the French language where there is a body of experts deciding purity. Enjoying Von Gerichten's 3 star MIchellin Guide restaurant - while not getting authentic French food - does not make me a fan of KFC. Sun Nov 01 14:45:28 -0800 2009 5147435 1119066 cambridgedoctpr 9 5147480 Never said it did.. When a place features things that were not even originally from the country, typically one can say those are not authentic.. Is there a such thing as an authentic Chinese Crab Rangoon? Or authentic general gau's chicken? What about the authentic Chinese Udon or Miso or Pad Thai?? I never once said that the food didnt taste good or that i didnt like it.. If the original poster made a post looking for tasty non-authentic food it would be a different conversation. Im just pointing out that just because something is maybe made or available in China, doesnt make it authentic chinese food... You wouldnt recommend your french place for someone asking about good pizza, would you? Sun Nov 01 14:54:05 -0800 2009 5147466 10597 hargau 10 5147520 crab rangoon is probably an authentic San Francisco dish. As to the other dishes, I have not seen them at Chinese restaurants. Jean-George does not make pizza though they have a cheese-burger for lunch which I have not tasted. I bet it is good. As I said earlier, I enjoy CK Shanghai but only because i ask the chef to make something special - something off the menu. Many places will accomodate their better customers and make something more interesting. As to thier authenticiy, I am not sure. Sun Nov 01 15:04:47 -0800 2009 5147480 1119066 cambridgedoctpr 11 5147545 Well i gave those examples because they are all on the menu at Bernards.. True most chinese places will have Crab Rangoon and the like to cater to those that want them. However, what i like to do is mentally remove all those sort of dishes from a menu and take a look at what is left. Sometimes there is very little left.... http://www.menupix.com/menudirectory/menu.php?id=1423 Sun Nov 01 15:13:31 -0800 2009 5147520 10597 hargau 7 5148291 Your statement that there is not such thing as authentic Chinese cuisine is absurd at face value. Do you actually read chowhound? Do you eat out anywhere other then Jean-George? I could certainly write a paragraph or two defining "Authentic" but based on your statement above I think that excercise would be fruitless. Further to compare Bernard's (not authhentic by any stretch) in Chestnut Hill with the myriad restaurants in Boston that actually do prepare food in a manner that consistent with traditional preparations typical of one region or another of China is also just plain missing the point. I am actually not particularly a fan of Mr. Von Gerichten's fussy cuisine. Nor do I particularly care for Yoma here in Boston, the fussy heir to a sort of Japanese fusion throne here in Boston. You are entitled to your likes and dislikes, but to deny that there is any way of differentiating between the traditional cuisines of one of the oldest civilizations in the world, and sanitized, nouvelle Westernized fair is absurd at face value. Mon Nov 02 00:05:44 -0800 2009 5147412 10169 StriperGuy 8 5148352 Striper, I think you meant to say "O-Ya", not "Yoma" , right? Mon Nov 02 03:27:14 -0800 2009 5148291 13161 barleywino 9 5148555 Whoops, O-Ya it is. Mon Nov 02 06:31:17 -0800 2009 5148352 10169 StriperGuy 8 5148590 as i said, china is a big place and Chinese cuisine is growing and developing; it is not a bee stuck in amber. There are no rules that make something authentic. That being said, I like Chinese home cooking, and I have not been a big fan of french food in Boston though I am always willing to try something different and want to be pleasantly suprised. I do like Mr. VonGerichtens's food but that does not stop me from liking home-style chinese food, too. Mon Nov 02 06:47:35 -0800 2009 5148291 1119066 cambridgedoctpr 9 5148627 I have no idea what french cuisine has to do with anything here..I dont think anyone said you dont like home-style chinese food if you like french.. There certainly are rules regarding what makes something authentic. There are authentic Sichuan dishes and authentic Sichuan restaurants. Same for Cantonese, Shanghainese, Taiwanese, etc.. They all have specific authentic dishes that one would expect to find at a restaurant specializing in that food. Again your saying if someone makes it in China or you can buy it in China, its authentic Chinese food. I guess we can all agree to disagree... Mon Nov 02 07:01:18 -0800 2009 5148590 10597 hargau 10 5148672 I just read "The Last Chinese Cook", a fabulous explanation of authentic Chinese regional cuisine woven thru a fictitious novel. Mon Nov 02 07:16:50 -0800 2009 5148627 11108 galleygirl 11 5148687 GG, if you mean "The Last Chinese Chef", loved it too. Mon Nov 02 07:24:27 -0800 2009 5148672 12889 Taralli 12 5148691 Yes, I did mean that; not caffeinated yet...I adored it, can't believe I hadn't heard of it before! Mon Nov 02 07:27:05 -0800 2009 5148687 11108 galleygirl 10 5148751 Hargau, To your statement, "there certainly are rules regarding what makes something authentic. There are authentic Sichuan dishes and authentic Sichuan restaurants. Same for Cantonese, Shanghainese, Taiwanese, etc." In Boston I would at to that various regional styles of dim sum, Teochew (Best Little Restaurant), Foochow (Pot Luck Cafe), Beijing (Beijing Star in Waltham), and Hong Kong (numerous Boston places) cuisines. All of which have good to excellent representation here in Boston. Again, as you said above "They all have specific authentic dishes that one would expect to find at a restaurant specializing in that food." None of those places would serve Pad Thai or Miso anything... Mon Nov 02 07:45:52 -0800 2009 5148627 10169 StriperGuy 5 5146974 No, sububanized, sanitized does not define my comfort zone-I eat almost everything. However, I had the beef tendon at Sezchuan Garden in Framingham and thought it was something other than food. Chewy noodles sound good! but these were definitely not. I have been to many countries, including Japan several times, and have eaten all the odd things they put in front of me. But sorry, not tendon! If you could tell me where they prepare it like chewy noodles I'm up for trying it!! Sun Nov 01 10:44:58 -0800 2009 5145942 13202 emilief 6 5147057 Gotcha on the adventurous eating. I like tendon at Jo Jo Taipei, Shangri-La, and Wisteria House, though I will admit that chewy noodles to some is funky and weird to others. Sun Nov 01 11:24:00 -0800 2009 5146974 10169 StriperGuy 6 5148360 try the braised beef tendon at Hong Kong Eatery, where it is usually very soft and tender (usually they mix it with beef stew but you can request "tendon only") Mon Nov 02 03:35:59 -0800 2009 5146974 13161 barleywino 7 5150367 Love that stuff. Actually, I'm a big fan of tendon, and at HKE I usually get the wonton noodle soup with that. Years ago in Beijing, a friend of mine arranged a banquet dinner for several people attending a conference, and his preferences showed clearly as I kept asking "so, what's this dish?" and he would reply, "umm, that's another tendon dish....". Haha. There was an amazing variety of textures and flavors. I also dig deep for it in pho when I'm eating that and am disappointed if I don't get any. It always seems that my friends who don't like tendon get all of it and they find it amusing that I want to take it from them. And I can snack all day on the cold spicy tendon from Taiwan Cafe.... Mon Nov 02 15:33:22 -0800 2009 5148360 25417 Zatan 8 5150379 You've got to try the versions at Shangri-La, Jo Jo, and Wisteria House. All very good. Mon Nov 02 15:38:06 -0800 2009 5150367 10169 StriperGuy 9 5150415 Do any of those, or do you know of any places, that serve other tendon dishes? The cold, thin-sliced (or shaved) tendon is great, as is the stewed one from HKE, but now I'm recalling that long ago banquet and want more..... Mon Nov 02 15:49:48 -0800 2009 5150379 25417 Zatan 10 5150474 The menu at New Shanghai lists a dish, "beef tendon w hot and wild pepper sauce." Haven't tried it yet. eta..also an ox tendon with tripe w chili sauce Mon Nov 02 16:11:25 -0800 2009 5150415 10111 9lives 11 5150489 That sounds worth a try! Mon Nov 02 16:18:41 -0800 2009 5150474 25417 Zatan 10 5150621 Hmmm, tendon 7 ways? Total non-sequitor, but if any place could do something interesting with tendon for some reason Winsor dim sum comes to mind. All the others above to do cold version, though very different renditions. Mon Nov 02 17:06:03 -0800 2009 5150415 10169 StriperGuy 11 5150649 different tendons from different animals cut differently.....I was impressed. I don't know, may have been a "tendon" restaurant, though I do recall a young man pouring tea from a long-spouted teapot with great precision from several feet away. Based on the food I would not think it's a tourist place though, haha. As with many things Chinese, it's all about texture, and then infinite variations with their wonderful flavorings.... Mon Nov 02 17:13:57 -0800 2009 5150621 25417 Zatan 12 5150682 I edited it in but in case you miss it, there's also an ox tendon/tripe chili sauce dish on the NS menu. Mon Nov 02 17:24:54 -0800 2009 5150649 10111 9lives