Cellar GTG 2008

[richlevy]

Ask and you shall receive. I was going to load these first thing when I logged on, but I got suckered into a political discussion.

Dinner was great. It was nice to meet Mary and Blue. When the first location didn't pan out. I suggested Imperial Inn from memory, even though I hadn't been there in over 15 years. It still turned out ok, since Imperial Inn is 'old school' Chinatown, with yellowed menus that look like they predate the discovery of the printing press, and a cocktail bar that serves Rob Roys and other cocktails your mom and dad enjoyed. If anyone ever wants to have an outing based on the "Mad Men" series (which came up in our discussion), slap on your thin ties, suits and bullet bras, and head over there.

The Peking Duck was different than I've ever had it. Instead of plain duck with scallions and Hoisin sauce on pancakes, the first course of two had small round sweet buns instead of pancakes. The pancakes came out on the second course, which was shredded duck with veggies. The picture doesn't show it all, but we ordered the Pu-Pu platter for two, Phoenix Roll, Shrimp toast, one full Peking duck in two styles, lo-mein, heaven and earth, and scallops and garlic.

We should have brought a shopping cart to help us haul away the leftovers. Brian and Mary didn't have a fridge in their hotel, so Blue and I got to bring home the goodies. Jeffrey loves duck and will have a pleasant surprise for lunch today.

Brian looks good, but a little thin. Mary and Blue were both lovely. We had a great conversation. I would have gone to the Pub if I didn't have a few pounds of spoiling leftovers in the back of my car. It's just as well, because by the time I made it home I was a bit tired.

It was a great evening.

P.S. The next time I go into Chinatown, I will purposely do what I accidentally did last night. I arrived at 6:30, which is the exact time that parking on Arch street near 11th goes from tow away zone (4pm-6:30) to free street parking on weekdays.