quack, quack, I'm waiting for my steamed buns
We decided to try a different kind of Thanksgiving this year and tagged along with friends to
Triumphal Palace in Alhambra for a Chinese banquet. Menu planning was a bit of a challenge, as we had vegetarians, kids, non-pork eaters and a few omnivores. So we didn't get to partake in the restaurant's signature suckling pig, but there were plenty of good dishes to choose from. I'm not even a huge lamb lover, but I liked the glazed honey lamb chops quite a bit. French-style beef (like Vietnamese shaking beef) was also a crowd-pleaser. The manager kindly saved us a whole rock cod (pictured at left), which was delicate and tender if a bit hard to disembowel. There were Szechwan shrimp, a savory vegetarian tofu-mushroom hotpot, vegetable fried rice,
spinach noodles in broth, roast chicken and a Peking Duck complete with head which terrified the young 'uns.Verdict: Triumphal Palace is a nice place for a larger group, and everything is fresh and well-prepared. We'll probably return to turkey next year, but in the meantime we'll return to Triumphal for dimsum or gather a group to try the pig.
Triumphal Palace
500 W. Main St.
Alhambra
6 comments:
We went to Mission 261 in San Gabriel yesterday, and it was very, very good. Not as fancy as New Concept, but really worth the trip.
Kate
Pat,
Next time you order steamed whole live fish and have trouble disembowling it or, ahem, eating it, just ask the server to assist in divvying up the fish. Those guys can do wonders with making two big spoons work like the most deft tongs in the world.
Also, if you are ever there again, ask for the specials (usu. not offered voluntarily by the waiters). More often than not you'll be surprised what the kitchen has in store.
Now that's what I call a Thanksgiving! Several years ago I did the Chinese banquet thing for Thanksgiving and really enjoyed it... pig and duck are always a welcome diversion from turkey (although a turkey stuffed with a duck stuffed with a chicken is entirely another sight to behold!)
Topline's cheap Poppy pinot was the best you could do for Thanksgiving? What gives?
you're the best person to dine with, considering how experimental and adventurous your taste buds are.
have you been to manna bbq on the corner of rush/potrero grande and san gabriel blvd? how's the food compared to the manna bbq in la? thanks to you, i'm salivating.
Thanks, Pat! I've driven by Triumphal Palace about a zillion times and still haven't hauled myself in to actually EAT anything. Now we will!
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