Prime Rib Wednesday at Sang's Cafe, Salinas
The matriarch of the family that owns Sang's Cafe, Mrs. Lee Sang, passed away earlier this month at the age of 92. Since hearing this news, I've been remembering the Chinese-American cafes that once dotted the 100-block of Main, across the street from my dad's old office. As the chuck wagon for a transient population of seasonal laborers and blue collar workers, they served up huge quantities of inexpensive and filling Chinese or American food. Some of my earliest restaurant memories were formed at these greasy spoons/chopsticks.
Now, Sang's (formerly Rodeo Cafe) is the only one left. The menu has only a couple Chinese dishes and is mostly Americana, just like the second generation now running the 55-year-old institution. Located a stone's thrown from the Steinbeck Center, a sign outside says "Steinbeck ate here."
The kids have continued the tradition of prime rib on Wednesdays. I stopped by yesterday for lunch to see what I could get for my dining dollar. Quite a bit it seems.
I got there ahead of the lunch crowd, taking a seat at the counter at 11:45am. Good thing, as "prime rib" was erased from the specials board by 12:10pm. Made with USDA choice, a prime rib lunch now costs $11.95. It was $5 when I was a kid, and my mother can remember when it was $1.
It is a bountiful lunch starting with soup and salad, plus two thick slices of Italian bread with butter. The housemade soup of the day was hamhock with black eyed peas, soft elbow macaroni, and cubes of ham in a tasty stock. Not just a cup, but a whole bowlful. This was accompanied by a green salad of romaine and iceberg topped with a slice of tomato and choice of dressing. I felt this was an improvement over the scoop of macaroni or potato salad that was served when I was a child. I was completely full after eating my soup and salad.
The prime rib wasn't skimpy either. Rare as ordered with a salt and pepper crust, and cut in an inch thick slab. Not the best I've ever had, but quite satisfactory. The broccoli was impeccably fresh and cooked just beyond al dente to bring out the best flavor. I wish I'd ordered rice, always an option at these places, instead of the mashed potatoes that were only fair. The wedge of cantaloupe tucked behind the cup of jus was the best piece of melon I've had this summer. It almost made me forget the jello or ice cream that used to be the sweet ending to this lunch plate.
I only had room for a few bites from this plate. The boxed up leftovers made a nice lunch for my mom and dad.
Sang's Cafe
(831) 424-6012
131 Main St
Salinas, CA 93901
Link: http://www.californianonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050616/OBITUARIES/506160315/1023
By Melanie Wong
on Jun 30, 2005 04:08 AM
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Very nice report, great sounding and looking lunch, and that is a very reasonable price. Every time we pass through Salinas it is usually mid-day, quite often on a Sunday, are they open then and do they have any Sunday specialties?
Link: http://www.indefatigable-indolence.org
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I know that the cafe is only open for breakfast and lunch. Not sure, but I think it's closed Sunday and Monday. The parents worked all the time, stayed open late at night too. I'm glad the kids have an easier time of it.
Last time I ate at Sang's was some 7 or 8 years ago. That was a short rib day, though I don't know what day of the week that would be. I wouldn't recommend the short ribs though. Or the pot roast either. Safer bets are the roast pork and the skirt steak. Yesterday the meatloaf special seemed popular. The non-prime rib lunch plates range from about $7 to $10. You could always order breakfast --- tri-tip and eggs with your choice of toast, biscuits or tortillas. I've been wanting to try the chicken fried steak which is made with ribeye.
Link: http://contaximages.com/document.php?id=2564
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What a wonderful post, Melanie! You weave together the regional cultural history and your personal connection to it so well.
This reminds me that I caught a documentary-style segment on the local station Ch. 4. It was about George Lee's black and white photographs and life featured in the book, "Chinatown Dreams"...beautiful and haunting post-Depression photos of life in Santa Cruz's Chinatown! Y and I were stunned...a Chinatown...in Santa Cruz?!! Wha? Turns out there were 4 incarnations of Chinatown in SC that all clustered around what's now downtown. Unfortunately, the last remnants were razed after the flood of 1955. Sad that there's nothing left, but even that might have gone kaput w/ the big quake.
Bringing it back to chow, I wonder if there are any Chinese restaurant owners that have been around here for many generations like the Sangs? I know their place serves American diner food, but I'm holding out some hope that we might find a decent Chinese place that serves Chinese-American greasy-good fare. No fancy dim sum, just greasy cabbage-filled egg rolls and some General Tso's or kung pao chicken. We haven't tried much but the best has probably been Panda Inn in Aptos, which was on the pricey side for take-out and too far from us now. Mayflower in Capitola had some decent lunch specials.
Linked a Chinese restaurant guide below which is not up to date, but has some info. Anyone have any comments on these except for O'mei (which I've heard alot about)? Not on the list, but we live close to Pearl (I think that's what it's called) near the corner of Seabright and Murray. There's another hole-in-the-wall on N. Seabright near Tacos Moreno that I can't recall the name of.
Link: http://www.infopoint.com/sc/restauran...
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There was a Chinatown in Watsonville, Salinas and Monterey in various locations. If you're interested in the history of Chinese in the Monterey Bay, then check out Sandy Lydon's book, Chinese Gold. Many members of my extended family contributed to the research and are part of its living history.
Kung pao chicken and General Tso's are recent additions to the Chinese-American scene. The restaurants of my childhood were more likely to serve egg foo yung and sweet and sour pork. But we never ate those things, the cooks would make off-menu dishes for us.
I have a vague memory of a spot in Watsonville on Main St. called Chopstick or something like that. Sorry I can't remember much about it except for some fried chicken wings.
Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...
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Yes, all Monterey Bay history roads lead back to Sandy Lydon. This guy is everywhere here! He spoke during Y's staff orientation, and I'm sure he's quoted in the local paper on a weekly basis for one reason or another. A Santa Cruz celebrity of sorts.
I don't know anything about Chinese restaurants in Watsonville, although I'm always drawn to this huge sign on Main St. that reads "China Buffet" attached to this saloon-style building. You can't miss it. One day my curiosity will get the better of me and I will stop, but it's hard to pass up Fiesta Tepa-Sahuayo or Miyuki when I'm in the area.
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Thanks Melanie for starting this thread. Will stop by Sans'g on next trip that way. Also remember Rosita's Cafe fondly from my summer working in Salinas.
Sandy Lydon is legendary and really the first (while teaching history at Cabrillo College in the early 70's) to formally acknowledge the huge role of the Chinese community in Santa Cruz County. His knowledge and devotion to documenting this community were awe inspiring and so informative to us all.
Growing up in Watsonville --there was huge Asian community. Next to my grandparent's home, there was Buddhist Temple on Riverside Drive, two great Japanese markets-one on Riverside and one around the corner from Temple; Best meat counter run by the Wong family at Star Market on Main by Riverside Drive; Chinese restaurant (can't remember the name) next door had the best food AND an active gambling back room. Several other terrific restaurants: Golden Rickshaw (still there with same family running it--I stop by occasionally-- call ahead I think they are closed either Monday or Tuesday, but generally open from lunch to dinner-- and order the standards which I love ---prices are so reasonable. Their barbque pork is worth the trip. I also get chow mein and fried rice. Eat in, food doesn't carry that well). Golden Buddha: don't believe is still on East Lake. DO NOT EAT AT THE CHINESE RESTAURANT ON MAIN THAT FEATURES BANNER TOUTING BUFFET. Several friends, relatives have eaten there and come down with food poisoning!
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Thanks for the info, Christine. I don't know if one of the Japanese markets you were referring to is Yamashita Grocery, but I've been there a few times and like their small but dense collection of goods. Got some of the best broccoli and persimmons there along w/ my basic pan-Asian cooking ingredients. They also sell tofu on Thurs. IIRC from San Jose Tofu. Will keep Golden Rickshaw in mind and stay away from China Buffet...in fact, my instincts were already steering me away.
Since this topic has moved into businesses around Riverside and Main, let me just take a moment to pass on some info I read in the Mercury News on Wed. about the opening of Redman House Farmstand. I have no personal connection to this organization. More info about Redman House at www.redmanhouse.com
Redman House Foundation has opened an organic farmstand on Riverside Drive off Hwy 1 (near the Chevron station). Believe this is very close to Fiesta Tepa-Sahuayo. The farm stand sells produce and flowers grown on the farm's 10 acres, as well as from nearby High Ground Organics farm. Open from 11-6 Wed. thru Sun. Yet another source for organic produce in this area!
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The farmstand at the Redmond House is run by High Ground Organics. YUMMY organic strawberries along with other vegetables. Disclosure: I also have an organic farm and run our CSA with High Ground, but we're not part of their farmstand, except as cheerleaders.
cg
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Lovely post, as are so many of yours. I was thinking you should write a book, but it seems like your family had input on the book mentioned.
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Thank you. Wishing I'd picked rice and gravy as my side reminded me of one of life's lessons learned as a wee one at such a working man's cafe. Sitting at the lunch counter with my dad, I noticed a heaping plate of steamy rice topped with gravy and some stray meat trimmings. I couldn't understand why "rice and gravy" only cost 25¢ or so on the menu compared to everything else. Dad explained that the owners kept the price low so that the poor and hungry could afford to eat with dignity and not have to beg for a meal.
Link: http://www.google.com/maps?q=sang's-c...
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Noticed that the prime rib lunch has gone up to $12.50.
link:
131 Main St, Salinas, CA 93901
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Well, cous. That really took me back, too. My memories started flooding back of lunch with my dad in the back of the old Rodeo Cafe and dinners at Central Cafe next door. My mom thought that Bucky at Central made better Chinese, but the prime rib at Rodeo was much more succulent.
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Looking back at Bucky's cooking now having lived in San Francisco for many years, he was quite good and we were lucky to have him in our small hometown. But I miss your mom and her cooking even more.
Here's what Sang's looks like these days.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniew...
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Mmmm. Yeah. That was "good eats" every night. But the one thing that she did not do well was what your mom did so well, baking.
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