A MATTER OF PREFERENCES

One of my best internet friends is a Modern Orthodox Jewish person working as a public defender in a city which I wish to never visit, though it has a stellar reputation, especially when compared to many other parts of the country. Reason being that the climate there is absolutely awful, with snow and ice and howling wind. Despite coming originally (generations ago) from a place where such nasty conditions were not at all unknown, and descended from people who had a reputation for their daring, adventurism, keen curiosity, and downright insanity, during the era of exploration.

Enthused by the shockingly new I am not. Tried and true. That's the ticket.

So yesterday for lunch I went to a familiar place. And ordered something which I never would have thought of making myself, and which I might now order again, despite still thinking it's a decidedly goofy idea and borderline ill-advised, possibly not something that should have seen the light of day.

Everything becomes a known quantity with globs of hot sauce.
Comfort food, in a way.

Especially when washed down with both regular Chinese restaurant tea and milk tea, in an environment where two old Cantonese women were arguing and three gentlemen discussed world affairs while not looking at each other and seated at seperate tables. As is a natural part of the modern Hong Kong social environment, even in San Francisco.

Personally I think I would have doubled or even tripled the amount of vegetable matter. And despite being listed as spicy-hot (麻辣 'maa laat'), it was anything but.
Which is where the globs of hot sauce came in.

It wouldn't have even been regarded as hot in the city where my Modern Orthodox Jewish friend lives. Possibly because the population of his city is culturally diverse, and includes people from hot places now freezing their butts off.

Were I to cook that dish, I would probably add sliced cucumber and plenty of cilantro, and call it a refreshing Summer salad, with meat in it. As well as dumping a fried egg on top.
Plus chopped jalapeños.

It would still need globs of hot sauce, though.
In my opinion.



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