Gourmet Dumpling House in Chinatown-new addition

Gourmet Dumpling House (in the former Quality Cafe space)

52 Beach Street

Boston, MA

This newly opened Gourmet Dumpling House in Chinatown had alot of customers the two times I visited this past week and weekend.

There is an extensive menu consisting of a hodge podge of dishes seafood dishes, Taiwanese (lots of stuff similar to Taiwan Cafe's menu actually) alongside with dumplings (made to order give extra 15 minutes) and tons of noodle, rice and other dishes.

The first day we got the Xiao Lung Bao (pork and crab). They were alright and I am not a XLB purist but the better ones were had at Joe Shanghai's in NYC for my mom. Of course I had some amazing ones in Shanghai. They were made to order and had a nifty hole on top to get the broth out. The dough was on the thicker side with a decent ginger, soy and vinegar dipping sauce. Then we got the eel stir fried ee noodles. They were delicious with a slightly spicy kick from Jalapeno pepper slivers in this noodle dish. The eel was not abundant but the dish was good.

Service was ok and the waitstaff did their best the first time to be pleasant, fast and good. The second time at lunch on a busy Sunday, we had three errors (thought we got a certain dish not once but three times) brought accidently to our town too. They have to work out the kinks here and there.

Third time, I got the Pork Chop Rice (Taiwanese style) with lots of crispy fried pork served with pickled cabbage, tea egg and a meatsauce over a bed of rice. UMMMM it was delicious and it is not on a loud kids sectioned off plate as they serve at Taiwan Cafe. I felt there portion was more generous and it was great fun and good. Then my friend got the seafood noodle with ee noodles (very good and simple with bits of seafood mainly shrimp and squid and no veggies). Her husband got the beef with noodles stir fried with egg noodles in a sa chay sauce. I love sa cha sauce and I loved it! My other dining pal got the mini chicken dumplings in a noodle soup opting for the thick fat Japanese Udon Noodles. The mini chicken dumplings were plentiful and good in a very simple clean broth (not laden with MSG).

This restaurant tries to cram alot of tables and chairs into this very small and humble space. Since it is new, the business has been brisk.

8 forks out of 10 forks

Dong Khanh----affordable Vietnamese Food in Boston Chinatown

Last Tuesday, I met up with my buddy JLAM. I decided to bypass some of the usual suspects for out of towners for some comforting Vietnamese food outside of Fields Corner in Dorchester. My fave place outside of Fields Corner in Chinatown is Dong Khanh (83 Harrison AveBoston, MA 02111(617) 426-9410).

Known for their great shakes, you will always see a constant line for shakes and their boba drinks. Service can be slow but the food is worth the wait. Very simple and not fussy, Dong Khanh has been around for a long time pleasing customers with their extensive menu! I used to only come for their Pho, Bun and Pork chop rice plate! Small and family run and not accepting credit cards makes this place stay affordable. Ordering by using numbers for the dishes you want to eat is helpful is you do not speak Vietnamese and Cantonese.

We shared the banh xeo (vietnamese style crepe), ca bong lau kho to (carmelized fish in peppery sauce) and com suong bi cha (pork chop, rice, meatloaf, side salad, and shredded pork skin with two fried eggs) and were full afterwards. Before tip the total was slightly under $22!!!

My friend raved and never had the carmelized fish and banh xeo before! Tasty meal, cheap, and quick what more can you ask for? The fish tasted like a better version of Japanese unagi according to JLAM! The sauce was fantastic and I needed lots of rice to sop it up. The banh xeo was a nice mix of veggies and meat and of course you need the fish sauce. The pork chop rice is always a fave of mine. Their meatloaf has vermicelli is great, the flavorful pork chop is grilled to perfection and the shredded pork skin is easy to eat. I thoroughly enjoy the two fried eggs (runny enough to go all over my rice) and the simple side salad of iceberg leaves and some tomato slices finish off the plate. Only problem was trying to leave, we did have to wait a bit to get our bill. Service can be spotty and not as efficient but we did not mind at all.

9 forks out of 10 forks

Afternoon Tea at L'Espalier

This past weekend, I went to one of my fave places for afternoon tea---L'Espalier. Now their days are numbered in this old space before they move to their new digs next year. I have to come to this cozy location and I LOVE it!

I took my friend Jea Hee (before she heads back to Korea) by the end of the month. First off she will be in London and Paris before heading over to Europe. I cannot believe I met her on the plane heading to Boston. Over six months later, she is heading back. This was her first time having afternoon tea. She got the "Make Way for Ducklings" (Petit fours, pastry and tea $27-L'espalier Swan, Blueberry Terrine, Cherry Tart, Chocolate Decandence Cake, Cherry Raisen Scone, Strawberry dipped in Chocolate) and I got the "Three Blind Mice" ($30 award winning cheese plate---off the website--with the traditional accompaniments). Since I tried a fromage tower in Sonoma this past trip, I wanted to try the famous cheeses that L'Espalier has available. She got the Oolong Jade tea and I got the Elderberry Nectar Herbal tea (which was very nice, light and did not need anything to sweeten it).

I must say they were very good and it makes sense to eat counter clockwise from mildest to strongest in flavor, scent and the different textures were interesting. My Cheese person did not mark off #1 so I am not sure what it was. I enjoyed all the cheese choices actually. Some were strong but very good paired with the bread, pinenuts in honey were lovely or dried fruits were lovely. Now I understand why there are accompaniments.

#2-Coupole --Websterville Vermont, #3 Pecorina Ginepro--Emilia-Romagna, Italy

#4 Epoisse De Bourgogne--Burgundy, France (Brined), #5 Gouda (aged 5 years) Holland, #6 Bayley Hazen--Greensboro, Vermont

It was lovely to try. If you wanted to buy some for your home, L'espalier does offer the cheeses to go.

10 forks out of 10 forks

*www.lespalier.com

*Recently the head chef was listed on the James Beard Foundation Best Northeast Chef for 2007 and he has gained Best New Chef in Food Wine Magazineas well as "Fine Dining Hall of Fame".

(website source) This restaurant will be moving from this cozy location in the future, to it while it is still at this location! It has been the site of many celebrations, wedding proposals etc.

Chef/Proprietor: Frank McClelland
Chef de Cuisine: James Hackney
Mâitre d’: Louis Risoli
Wine Director: Erik Johnson
Location: In the heart of fashionable Back Bay, in an 1880 townhouse on the corner of Newbury and Gloucester Street, one block from the Hynes Convention Center, Prudential Center and Copley Place. Walking distance to Symphony Hall, Berklee Performance Center and major colleges and universities. CuisineSophisticated and modern New England-French cuisine, with an emphasis on artisanal and New England ingredients.

LunchThree course Prix Fixe Menu $24.00á la carte also available DinnerThree course Prix Fixe Menu $75.00Seven course Degustation Tasting Menu $94.00Seven course Degustation Vegetable Menu $75.00Chef’s Tasting Menu $175.00Setting

Front Room: L’Espalier’s largest dining room with a color scheme of taupe and cream. With its carved marble fireplace, luxurious plasterwork, and views overlooking Gloucester Street, it has a feeling of classic elegance. A mirrored mantle and simple black and white photography accent this light-filled room.Salon: L’Espalier’s Salon dining room has a truffle and cream color scheme and offers an intimate setting for two or a lovely dining option for private events. With an over stuffed banquette, stylized fireplace, and sparkling chandelier, the Salon offers diners a more private dining alternative.Library:The Library, on L’Espalier’s third floor offers a pleasant alternative to the subdued color schemes of the Front Room and Salon. With salmon colored walls, mahogany woodwork, and another beautifully sculpted mantle, the Library exudes warmth. Tables overlook Gloucester Street and the surrounding rooftops.

Pearl Villa Restaurant 5.23.07

Last night I went to Pearl Villa with my folks in Chinatown and HF. Pearl Villa has undergone some recent renovations and it shows! It was packed last night and many big groups came in too! Even a big table of Japanese business men found their way to this place.

Located on the second floor above the street level nearby Shabu Zen and China Pearl, my folks wanted to eat here last night. We started out with the seafood combo soup (small) which we enjoyed. Then we had the Peking Duck with the fixings-hoisin sauce, scallion slivers, cucumber slices and the white buns. Then came the Peking Duck on a bed of shrimp chips. We all made a bun for ourselves slathering the bun with hoisin sauce, adding some cucumber and scallions and selecting some duck skin/meat pieces! Yummy! Definitely not low fat food but it was tasty!

Next came the bitter melon stir fried with fish fried in batter. I have gotten used to eating bitter melon that I like it now. As my mom constantly reminds me, it is good for your "digestion" and if you take the "bitter melon tea" clears your complexion too. (She added this to HF.) Then we had the sugar snap peas which were crispy stir fried with seafood with sweet walnuts. The seafood hotpot was simple. The extra duck from the Peking duck was used to duck bean sprouts and chives stir fry. We had the requisite two lobsters ginger scallion stir fry which fine. At the end of the meal, we got tapioca with sweet potato. Other places might give you red bean soup or fresh fruit slices (usually orange). It was a nice respite.

The conversation over the table was too bad that the food needs a lot of oil. My mom has to monitor her diet per her doctor's orders and was rinsing her food in hot water. The amount of grease and oil she has seen (from all the meals we have consumed together) has been scary. Of course home cooking, there is less oil and salt which is how my mom cooks. But at a restaurant, you cannot go light on the oil.

The food and seafood was fresh! Other than the Peking Duck, everything was seafood Cantonese style.

New Golden Gate 4.26.07

Last night we went to New Golden Gate Restaurant (just expanded to take over the former bakery in that space) in Boston Chinatown. Also this was the first time my folks met my sister's new beau. Plus it is rare for my bro to meet any of her beaus too.

We all met up at New Golden Gate Restaurant in Boston Chinatown. Luckily, this the new beau is more open minded on his eating habits and loves seafood. We decided on getting the seafood combo soup, steamed tilapia, twin lobster, frog legs and garlic casserole, oysters panfried, a pound of fresh boiled shrimp (that were previously swimming in the tank), garlic and pea pod stems and beef casserole (gnow nam). It was a filling meal and we ended with red bean soup (hong dao saw) .

The food was not bad but my parents thought the prices were a bit much. They feel the renovations costs are definitely reflected on the menu. Since competition is stiff, they felt no need to go back again. They liked the restaurant more pre construction.