Ritz Bites

Duck all'around: Lu Din Gee

Down the mission route-to-streetcar suburb-turned-autopia-strips that comprise San Gabriel, past the endless parade of the hugest big-box retail this side of Wal-Mart lies Lu Din Gee.  Aram made special arrangements for us to join him there in honor of his return to good health. 

The featured dish and strip mall setting are about all it shares in common with another palace of roasted Peking duck (OK, Beijing to be current) I visited across the country last year.  No older men in red polyester waiter jackets are in sight.  Instead it's twentysomethings with spiked hair and black-on-black outfits taking care of the customers, who are seated in the modestly sized room that's awash in goldenrod and furnished with slick lacquer pieces.  The bathroom sink isn't just a basin; it's practically a mini water feature, complete with a sluice and plants.

The birds arrive at the table sliced and plated into tidy mounds surrounded by what's for me the Main Event -- glossy sheets of crisp, sweet and faintly smoky skin.  The lazy Susan goes round and around so that we can all get access to the essential components: duck, wispy scallions, and thick fermented bean sauce. 

And that's only part of the deal.  Nothing goes to waste and Lu Din Gee.  I also eat what feels like mounds of bean sprouts sauteed with soft bits of the meat extras, and I slurp down spoonfuls of the milky soup, the rich and soft flavor of which comes from the bones.  Then there's the hearty formidable fried fish balls with their complex layers and many textures in each bite.

I'm glad I proposed that we cruise down Las Tunas and Main Street to grab some cones at Fosselman's.  More evidence that celebrating being well doesn't necessarily require healthy food.

Lu Din Gee Restaurant
1039 E. Valley Blvd.
San Gabriel 91776
626.288.0588

Come a little closer: Din Tai Fung Dumpling House

Distance can add to the fun of some restaurant destinations.  The drive makes the reward all the better, and good or even great doesn't necessarily require frequency.  It's fine with me, for example, that Bahooka tiki bar is in Rosemead.

And then there are places that the instant after I walk out the door, I wish I could pick up and move them to my corner.  Din Tai Fung Dumpling House is one of those.

As our spouses were busy at work or doing other activities to edify themselves, my friend Andy and I made the drive to Arcadia, home of Santa Anita, the Arboretum among other attractions, for dumplings.  Not just any dumplings, but soup dumplings, which contain a bubble of hot broth nestled in the interior.  (Apparently the trick is adding a cube of frozen broth before the goods are sealed and steamed.)

Din Tai Fung, with its orderly rows of tables, spotless surfaces, and Le Klint and other stylish (yet really damn bright) lights, is a model of clean, contemporary efficiency.  They don't want you to waste their time, nor do they care to fritter yours away. 

So despite inevitable waits (about 20 minutes for two on a weeknight), you make good use of these lulls by checking off your order on the list that's handed to you when you're given your number.  When seated, they go over what you want, take the top copy, leave you the carbon copy, and then cross off each item as it's delivered to the table. 

They know people want their dumplings ASAP.  Not only were we glad to be served the pork and less interesting vegetable dumplings quickly, but we also shoveled in the sesame noodles that come beautifully folded like a delicate garment, American broccoli with garlic, and dried string beans as soon as the plates hit the table.  The only thing that slowed us down was having to delicately suck out the broth from the dumplings and follow the instructions about how best to eat dumplings with sliced ginger and vinegar; these directions are conveniently illustrated on the back of the chopsticks package.

A stop at Fosselman's in Alhambra topped of the evening.  The smoothness of the marshmallows in the Rocky Road ice cream reminded me of the delicate silken texture of the dumpling dough.  OK, totally joking here.  Din Tai Fung and Fosselman's don't really have much in common.

Since I can't have Din Tai Fung near me, I brought a little souvenir home.  Steamed fluffy buns stuffed with packed bundles of pork � the contents of which were clarified by the little piggy sticker on the box � recalled the previous night's joys.  If only I could have such a fresh reminder every time I get the Din Tai Fung urge.

Din Tai Fung
1108 S. Baldwin Avenue
Arcadia, CA 91007
626.574.7068

Hot Teetotalers

When it takes a month to get a reservation for afternoon tea, even 110 degree weather won't keep me away.

Scarlet Tea Room unfortunately is located in Pasadena, making Saturday my second perhaps ill-advised trip into the belly of the heat beast this weekend.  Since the triple digit days still persist I don't need to dwell on how uncomfortable it is out there. 

But thankfully, it only takes a few minutes in the AC'd room to put us in the mood for hot tea.  Because no matter what the weather's like, drinking iced tea at a tea service just feels wrong.  And many cultures consider hot drinks to be beneficial in hot weather, right?  I also believe this ritual is totally conducive to good, clean fun girl time.

Until someone finally opens a cutting edge, non-new age contemporary tea house with a cutesy name along the lines of ALternateA (think Moby's Teany) where delicate snacks are served on Gropius china amid Ed Ruscha prints, drinking quality Earl Grey and eating scones with clotted cream and lemon curd will remain synonymous with floral prints, polished stone, gilded furniture, and bad representational art.  However, Scarlet's chandelier with sparkling crystals in its namesake color placed at intervals definitely catches the eye (though it's not nearly as awesome as the deep dark purple ones at the Dolce & Gabbana Rodeo Drive boutique).

The tiers arrive following a refreshing fresh strawberry sorbet and some irritating banter from the staff.  Finger sandwiches are fresh and made to order.  No stale crust-less bread here.  The $25 Tea Ceremony comes with a choice of four (out of ten), an option that we all appreciate.  Waaay better than the Bel-Air.  Though I didn't partake, the smoked salmon with the dill-encrusted edges and orange roe topping emerges as the group favorite.  Green apple and cheese has a sour creamy base that doesn't work, but otherwise I like the rest of the selection, especially the turkey cranberry finger sandwich.

Sweet light scones (one cranberry, one chocolate chip per person) are served at the top of the tier as part of the sandwich course.  And since we're served dishes with sweetened whipped cream instead of thick Devonshire cream, folks in search of authentic British tea fixings will be disappointed.  Clear, authentic fruity tangs ring through the homemade lemon curd and strawberry preserves; these are definitely the better condiments.

Service is annoying at times, yet consistently attentive.  It can be a fine line between the two.  Tip the top of your pot over and you'll get fresh hot water for your excellent tea blend in no time, but it might come with some weird random comment.

And pay attention to the warnings to pace yourself.  You get your money's worth here.  When dessert comes we're all full; I don't need to eat much other than a snack much later on that night.  The highlights of the dessert platter are a chocolate minty thing, cream puff, and cute little pastel layered cakes designed to look like gift boxes (I've had similar ones from The Grub in Hollywood).  As if our blood sugar levels aren't high enough, then come the Strawberries Romanoff � just strawberries mixed with whipped cream.  Nothing exciting.

Because we're allowed to take our time, I understand why reservations are hard to get.  The room is busy and full.  A couple of large parties are celebrating showers or birthdays and there don't appear to be any last minute cancellations.  Even crazy summer intensity can't stop the ladies from drinkin' their afternoon tea.   

Scarlet Tea Room
18 W. Green Street
Pasadena, CA 91105
626.577.0051