Szechuan Gourmet gets me wet
I'm a chauvinistic, misogynistic pig. And I like steak, it's in my DNA as a man (I think...). After reading Frunk Bruni's article on gender differences, all I can say is, man, I'm glad wine ain't a big thing for me. The other thing is, whenenver dining with females, I live up to the stereotypical meek, quiet, geeky Asian boy. So succumbing the wine list is hardly ever an issue. But back to the issue at hand, which is food for men... if restaurants are separated into men and women leaning restaurants, than Szechuan Gourmet has to be a restaurant for the boys. It's one of my favorite places, and usually I hit it up with Eric the Teacher. This most recent trip was no different, and maybe we can figure out if it's a restaurant for men, women, or both.
We started the meal with some sliced beef tendons that Zach told me about. It was an awesome recommendation. The tendons come cold and sliced as thin as prociutto. Then they rain some chili oil on top with some spices. Man, it burns your tongue. It's like... pain that hurts so good. Within minutes I was sweating like a monsoon. It wasn't pretty but that was just the appetizer.
Up next was this chicken dish. Basically it's steamed chicken that swims in a pool of chili oil. It's like they got married, had kids, and then danced in sweet harmony. Except it's not a sweet harmony, it's a spicy hot harmony. I'm not sure what it's called and Eric ordered it in Chinese so I might have to check back with him about it. This was another dish where it was cool and hot at the same time. Cold temperature, hot flavors. This also numbs your tongue but really by now, who cares?
Some people prefer to taste every bite, but then you're missing the point. Sometimes, you need to get smacked in the face. You need to get owned (and not by the stock market). A proper meal at Szechuan Gourmet will humble you.
We also went with the classic sichuan dish, mapo tofu. You would expect the silky soft chunks of tofu to offer a mini respite of the pain. But no, the creamy texture of this dish means that the heat gets to wrap itself all over your tongue. Really, this meal was like french kissing a chili pepper.
I know a few weeks ago there was some talk about how hip Manhattan Chinese food can be. Well, lemme tell you. After we finished the meal I walked to the bathroom to clear my sinuses. On the way back, Eric said he couldn't recognize me because of all the sweat. Yea, it's that intense. My hair looked like Christian Slater's if he ran through a monsoon. By that I mean slicked back, wet, and disgusting. If that's not hip? I'm not sure what is.
And here's why I think sichuan food is for guys. Because guys can talk about going to the bathroom with each other in a joking way. And it ain't Roses (it's a youtube to Outkast, don't worry). Sichuan food, if you eat a proper amount, burns going down and coming out. That's just the truth and it's better you read it than... well you know. So yea Frank, add this to the men's column. Represent! *goes off to hide*
Szechuan Gourmet
21 W 39th St.
New York, NY 10018
212-921-0233
Um, yeah, tell me you really want to date a woman who eats hot food and talks about how it burns on the way out. (We do talk about stuff like that; just not to men.)
Mira
February 3, 2010 7:01 pm
So not true, ladies represent! I love Szechuan Gourmet, and I'm all woman! Next time you should try the Cumin Lamb Fillets, it's killer.
bionicgrrrl
October 10, 2008 12:01 am
MMmmMmmm mapo tofu is yummy, I make a mean one!
wonders
October 10, 2008 11:11 am
I must know that chicken dish's name! Saw someone with it last time I was there and instantly jealous. Hand Shredded Chicken with chili - sesame vinaigrette, perhaps? I really want to try it, and also the rabbit or razor clams. Oh, and the braised fish/beef/etc. with napa & roasted chili.
My usual suspects there are:
Ox Tongue & Tripe with roasted chili – peanut vinaigrette
Dan Dan Noodles with chili – minced pork
Szechuan Pork Dumpling with roasted chili soy
Double Cooked Sliced Pork Belly with chili leeks
Crispy Lamb Fillets with chili cumin
Chef’s Ma Paul Tofu with chili minced pork
Sauteed Prawns with spicy chili minced pork & asparagus
I've had these too and they're good but not as great as the other dishes
Stir Fried Chicken with roasted chili (we got boneless, I bet bone-in would have been better)
Braised Goat Casserole (special)
Sauteed Pea Shoots with Garlic (special)
Braised Cellophane Noodles with chili minced pork (giant, and too many noodles!)
kathryn
October 10, 2008 3:22 pm
The plate of cold chili tendon looks SO goood! I wasn't planning on going to Chinatown tonight, but now I will have to, and try to find it or something like it to satisfy my craving.
Grace
October 10, 2008 5:32 pm
Beef Tendons!!! rock on! =)
Steve
October 11, 2008 12:45 am
this looks really yummy !!
mywoklife
October 12, 2008 4:50 am
Wow, I it seems Szech-G is on fire--literally. I mean seriously, everyone has fallen in love with this place and rightfully so. The Ma Paul tofu is my lifeline. I'm curious about the above beef tendons so I will order it the next time I go.
Check out my blog as I posted something about Szech-G and Spicy & Tasty, which is in Flushing: http://romancingthescone.blogspot.com/
Keep up the excellent work! I love your writing and humor!
Dani
October 12, 2008 2:11 pm
Ahh, Chinese food...the best!
Jack
October 12, 2008 9:58 pm
Ummm... I guess I haven't eaten that spicy food yet. Heh. And though my friends may kill me for admitting this publicly, when we vacay, that's ALL we talk about over dinner. HAHAHAHA... um, anyway, I really want to go specifically for the pork belly. I really really want to go. Badly. Sigh. I'm still learning my ways around spicy food.
Yvo
October 13, 2008 10:53 am
You are hanging with the wrong women my man.
:)
Great post:)
Ulla
October 13, 2008 11:29 am
The chicken dish looks like 口水鸡, mouthwatering chicken (sometimes translated as saliva chicken).
Pepper
January 19, 2009 12:32 pm