Chinese Experience
BY: SARAH MARALIT
To every dish, we find its soul. Food critiquing is no easy task. There must be a fair amount of aesthetic appeal, good flavor, and balance of the ingredients. We were asked to dine at an authentic Chinese restaurant. What better way for us to experience authentic Chinese food but to go to our very own, China town. If not all, most of the restaurants in China town are run and owned by Chinese people. There were so many restaurants to choose from. We decided to eat at UNO. It was quite near and easy to find. Its location is better compared to other restaurants. They had a fair amount of parking space for their customers, upfront. It was no sweat finding this restaurant. As we entered the vicinity, we saw a typical Chinese restaurant. Fish tanks were all over the place, their tables covered with gold-like mantels and their staff dressed in sewed, red, dragon printed vests. We were addressed right away. Their service met my standards and the way they accommodated us. Expecting that the food would be authentic, indeed they were. But we had a problem regarding the consistency of the food. Some were authentic for us, but some were not. We ordered Siomai, Xiao Long Bao, Hakaw. Lemon chicken, Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet, Fried frog legs, Mapo tofu, Pork in Sichuan style, and yang chow, and for our dessert; mango sago. Feasting on dimsums was heaven for me. I loved their xiao long bao, the black vinegar needed more acidity in taste, though. The lemon chicken was well seasoned and had the balance it needed from the acidity of the lemon and the sweetness of the sugar.
To every dish, we find its soul."