Fun Playing with Sichuan Food in NJ

In my earliest years, I had no interest in cooking or international cuisine. Sometime in the late 1980's, my then-fiance took me to see Juzo Itami's Tampopo, which is a film about food and sex (mostly food), and is subtitled "a noodle western." Tampopo not only whet my appetite for Asian food, but for Asian culture.

After I moved to Montclair (sans fiance) I took Chinese cooking classes with the Montclair Adult School, offered at the teacher's home. She took me to my first Chinese film, The Story of Qui Ju, and I got hooked on Chinese cinema as well as the food and culture. Jo-Mel, as she is known on EGullet, and I became friends, and I try to get to Jersey to dine with her whenever we are out that way. She has taught me all of the little Mandarin I know (she is quite fluent, having studied both at home and in China in the language, cuisine and culture), and is a joy to spend time with.

So what better way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day - we met Jo-Mel at Chengdu 1, Pilgrim Shopping Center, 89 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove NJ 07009, (973-239-7726). Although Cleveland has a respectable Asiatown, one thing we still do not have is a genuine Sichuan restaurant.

Two friends were supposed to join us, but they had to cancel out - so it was left to the three of us to try to dent the 6 page menu, plus the "new specials" page, plus all the items posted on the walls. We'd lunched here with Jo-Mel once before, and she's been a few times - but it was still a large task. References to item numbers below correspond to the menu, which unfortunately does not seem to be online yet.

For starters, we decided to pass on the delicious Sichuan Wonton with Red Oil ("regular" Appetizers #81)



in favor of a handwritten special - Spicy Vegetable Dumpling (Handwritten Special under "Appetizer Szechuan Style"):



The dumplings were awash in a lightly spicy bath. Though they were good - we liked the Sichuan ones better.





We also decided to try the "home made" Sichuan Style Sausage (Wall Poster):








I especially liked the sausage (which was a little too fatty for me) dipped in the Dumpling Bath.

We then proceeded to share five entrees among the three of us - and yes, an ample supply of leftovers was packed up for my mom to try:


Braised Lamb Fillet w/Chili Sauce (House Special #64)



This dish was positively fiery! And the lamb was exquisitely tender and tasty.


Spicy Volcano Chicken (House Special #61a)





This was also quite fiery and most delicious. The final dish was dry fried - and the meat tasted and melted like it had been poached in hot oil and allowed to cook through that way rather than just velvetized.


Sauteed Noodle with Pork and Yellow Chive (Handwritten Special)



We all really liked this - tender noodles, sweet pork and a light sauce that complimented the spicy dishes perfectly.


Scallion Fish Fillet (Fish Szechuan Style #25)





This mild fish dish also complimented the spicy foods well - we had considered a spicy fish dish, but were glad that we reconsidered. The fish was very fresh and the light brown sauce mated well with the scallions.


Pickled Cabbage with Minced Pork (Szechuan Home Style Vegetables #NV1)

This was our least favorite dish. The "pickle" part was very strong, and overwhelmed the other flavors. Despite the visible chilies, to our palates, the sourness overpowered any heat that might have been in the dish. Ironically, my mom, who hates strong flavors and spice, loved these leftovers. Go figure.

We had a marvelous lunch and look forward to dining at Chengdu 1 again!

Fun Playing With Chinese Noodle Soup

Ever since I first saw the movie Tampopo, I've been in love with Asian style noodle soup. During my first year after law school, I clerked for a Federal Magistrate Judge in the Southern District of New York, at the courthouse on Foley Square in downtown Manhattan - and I practically lived in New York's Chinatown. Most often, with time and budget constraints, I wound up at the noodle shops for lunch.

Fast forward to Cleveland Ohio in 2007. New Wong's noodles on Payne Avenue lost their lease and moved to a northeast suburb, where, I am told, the owners are unhappy that most of their patrons want only egg rolls and fried rice. There are other spots in Cleveland's Asiatown where one can get noodle soup (my favorite being Superior Pho), but it is out of the way for me, and if I get to Asiatown with a companion, we almost always order shareable dishes instead.

Fast forward to February 6, 2008. I am finally to get my head (or at least my eyes) examined, which which I am years, not months, overdue. I am also this close to running late, haven't had lunch yet, and am traveling down Green Road into Beachwood in pouring rain. I am craving Chinese Food and soup, but don't know of anyplace "on the way" to satisfy this craving.

Some instinct makes me turn left from South Green Road onto Cedar, and into the small strip mall now immediately on my right. I am thinking that there is a Mexican place in here that I haven't tried, and Jack's Deli if all else fails. I park and an old, dusty memory pops into my frontal lobe - there is a Chinese take out joint here. I wonder if they have tables? I wonder if it's at least edible? Hmmm - looks a little dumpy, let's see.

I enter the Happy Buddha cafe, and yes, there a a few simple tables. Shirley, a Hong Kong expat, who passed me earlier on the sidewalk as she made a delivery within the shopping center, enters the restaurant and apologizes for the delay. I say no problem, as I am peeking at the take-out menu and eyeing the interesting decor.



Note the happy Buddhas, with their cool blue lights! The photo doesn't show how they undulate - but it does create a funky feel!

Shirley seats me and goes to bring me tea. I look at the "lunch specials" - typical suburban Americanized Chinese fare, though a good value at $6-7 a plate, and served with fried rice and egg roll. Then - bestill my heart - a menu heading of "Soup", followed by a menu heading of "Noodle Soup". "Hong Kong Style Noodle Soup?" I asked. Yes is the answer. My choice of 4 types of noodles (not made in store, but who does these days?) and protein. I order chicken and smack my lips in anticipation.


Tea Service

Tea is brewed from a bag - Oolong. Shirley says Jasmine is also an option.

But the star of our show is:








And it tastes as good as it looks - rich broth, crispy vegetables, velvety chicken and delicious noodles.

Shirley brings me a bottle of Sriracha sauce, and asks if I would like Red Vinegar. I've never heard of putting Red Vinegar in soup, but I say, "of course I'll try it."





The vinegar actually plays very nicely off of the spicy hot sauce. I'm glad I tried it.


Shrimp Chips

Shirley brought these over after she served the soup - it made a good vehicle for my first taste of the vinegar!

We talked a little, and Shirley said that even though they don't have a Chinese Menu, they will make just about anything on request, and can "authenticize" the dishes, for example, by using Chinese broccoli instead of American, on request. Her husband Gordon Liu mans the kitchen, and his menu has a nice selection, including a Chow Fun (broad rice noodle) section, a Pan Fried Noodle section, and several types of E-Fu Noodles, as well as some nice "Chef's Specials" including Beef with Black Pepper Sauce - one of my favorites! Interestingly, Gordon is from Fujian and not Hong Kong, even though there is a bit of Hong Kong in the menu (must be Shirley's influence). Chef Liu also has Japanese culinary training, so there are Japanese elements on the menu also. They have been in business here for about one year, and I, for one, intend to be back.

There is nothing so fun as playing with noodles, and Happy Buddha offers several options for doing so in a simple, yet clean and comfortable little cafe!