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All food is regional. Even dishes originating in far off lands are subject to the tastes of the locality in which they are ultimately served. In the US, no food demonstrates this better than "Chinese."
Today we went to a Chinese place called Lo Fatt Chow. Yes, that's the name and probably part of the reason we ate there. It was interesting for a number of reasons, though maybe not for the intended ones.
The owner, entrepreneur, sucker, who intends to spread the franchise across New Jersey hails originally from Toronto. So, not only doesn't he know the area, he doesn't know the tastes of the area. There was an article on the wall claiming the menu's authentic, traditional nature, but that was bull. Basically the menu was standard take out fare, with a few curiosities thrown in, like some "Thai" and macho meats like alligator and rattlesnake. ( I've eaten these creatures, I didn't order them. )
I ordered my American Chinese food standards; scallion pancake, won ton soup, General's chicken. Here the General is usually Tso, but I've seen him as Tsao, Zuo, Chang, Kang, and other militant poultry lovers (more info.) It's not quite a made up American dish, but it's close. Actually, seeing how close they get to a real Chinese dish is part of the game. Scallion pancakes and won ton soup are authentic, but the preparation tells all.
The scallion pancakes had the right stuff, but preparation failed. They're a kind of a fry bread and these poor things had gone deep in oil that was just too cold; the were a soggy, greasy mess. They should have come with hoisin, but didn't.
The soup was... ok. The won ton's were nice, doughy but meaty, with a hint of ginger. But there was something deeply wrong with the soup. A flavor profile that made me think the meat had gone off. I got a clue when I spotted a bit of nori floating in the broth.
Miso! They'd used a miso base for Chinese chicken soup. Oh, this was so very wrong. Once identified, it wasn't so bad. However, the place claimed total lack of MSG and this seemed unlikely with any kind Japanese soup base.
My General Tso's was pleasant enough, though in no way remarkable and too doughy and sweet for my tasted. It was actually close to sweet and sour, an American invention I really don't like. It did not come with rice.
Oh, yeah, the Chinese food didn't come with rice. This is also very, very wrong. Anyway, miso in the won ton is a new strange. Everything about the place screamed, "we're not from around here." I've had worse, I've been to Princeton. Overall it wasn't awful and if it was local I'd probably give it another go in six months.
Today we went to a Chinese place called Lo Fatt Chow. Yes, that's the name and probably part of the reason we ate there. It was interesting for a number of reasons, though maybe not for the intended ones.
The owner, entrepreneur, sucker, who intends to spread the franchise across New Jersey hails originally from Toronto. So, not only doesn't he know the area, he doesn't know the tastes of the area. There was an article on the wall claiming the menu's authentic, traditional nature, but that was bull. Basically the menu was standard take out fare, with a few curiosities thrown in, like some "Thai" and macho meats like alligator and rattlesnake. ( I've eaten these creatures, I didn't order them. )
I ordered my American Chinese food standards; scallion pancake, won ton soup, General's chicken. Here the General is usually Tso, but I've seen him as Tsao, Zuo, Chang, Kang, and other militant poultry lovers (more info.) It's not quite a made up American dish, but it's close. Actually, seeing how close they get to a real Chinese dish is part of the game. Scallion pancakes and won ton soup are authentic, but the preparation tells all.
The scallion pancakes had the right stuff, but preparation failed. They're a kind of a fry bread and these poor things had gone deep in oil that was just too cold; the were a soggy, greasy mess. They should have come with hoisin, but didn't.
The soup was... ok. The won ton's were nice, doughy but meaty, with a hint of ginger. But there was something deeply wrong with the soup. A flavor profile that made me think the meat had gone off. I got a clue when I spotted a bit of nori floating in the broth.
Miso! They'd used a miso base for Chinese chicken soup. Oh, this was so very wrong. Once identified, it wasn't so bad. However, the place claimed total lack of MSG and this seemed unlikely with any kind Japanese soup base.
My General Tso's was pleasant enough, though in no way remarkable and too doughy and sweet for my tasted. It was actually close to sweet and sour, an American invention I really don't like. It did not come with rice.
Oh, yeah, the Chinese food didn't come with rice. This is also very, very wrong. Anyway, miso in the won ton is a new strange. Everything about the place screamed, "we're not from around here." I've had worse, I've been to Princeton. Overall it wasn't awful and if it was local I'd probably give it another go in six months.
From: (Anonymous)
lo fatt chow
Hey bud
I am from the area and I agree with you,
Lo Fatt Chow does scream "we're not from around here"
Im glad because our Chinese restaurants in Hunterdon County
are horrible and dirty.
Guess this is why every Sat night I have to wait 30-45 minutes
to get my food at Lo Fatt Chow.
The place is packed but you must have went on a bad day because
I have never got miso in my wonton soup.