Chef Yu, a restaurant which of course (evident from the name) specializes in Chinese food - a mix of Szechuan and Cantonese dishes - was the venue for the dinner that Gowri, Bong and I were to be having on November 25, 2008. The three of us were classmates at AIM for batch 2005 of MM students and its been quite a while too since I last saw Gowri. I think it was in front of McDonalds across our school at that time
I had some fun trying to locate the restaurant by just walking around, as I had just visited all the floors of Macy's and had aching feet. Phew! staying away from all the lovely items on sale sure is hard work!
While waiting for Bong to join us, Gowri said to try the plum wine, and I did, which made me appreciate it more since I had only tasted plum sake. Before I finished it, our supposed-to-be third dinner companion for that night told us he had to take a rain check as work was not letting him off lightly by the time dinnertime rolled around. Since it was Chinese food, I must confess that I did not take note of what was ordered...as it looked and sounded familiar to me, just like eating back home in Cebu. I could only remember the shrimp dumplings in Szechuan style if I am not mistaken, which is by far my favorite style of Chinese cooking!
I did succumb to my preference for having dessert after meals...and liked the lychees and ice cream. Was it pistachio or was it green tea flavor? Oh well..maybe both..*slurp*During dinner, Gowri called up some of our classmates who were scattered all around from US to the Philippines (for example I got to talk to John R who was sort of asking what I was doing in that neck of woods - my words and interpretation of course ).
Gowri had wanted to have us visit him at his home in New Jersey. However due to time constraints I had to regretfully say no. Too bad as I wanted to see how his wife Nalz (as I fondly call her) was doing with their new baby and with this guy. Well, I hope there is a next time.
Although I got a dinner treat from Gowri, I was sure the prices were reasonable enough for me not to feel too guilty ....and since my old hometown in the Philippines has lots of Chinese restaurants, I can to some fair degree of expertise, give Chef Yu a
of "good chow, reasonable prices, value for money". Drinks were not that late in arriving at the table and the waiters were amiable and rushing about with buckets of beer. The place was packed upon our arrival and still doing quite well when we left.It was a good place to spend a reunion dinner with a friend who came all the way from NJ that night (well at least an hour of travel one way?).
Thank you Gowri!
Chef Yu is located at 520 8th Avenue (between 36th and 37th Street) in New York City.
Phone # (212) 736-6150
You can check out their website: www.chefyu-nyc.com
A competition this time (or looks like it now that I review these photos):
And since we were still in the mood to pose, here's another shot of us by the long-suffering waiter since we apparently could not be content with our smiles in the first photo.
"And since we were still in the mood to pose, here's another shot of us by the long-suffering waiter"
ReplyDelete- Mukhang malaki-laki ang tip sa waiter dito. New York pa!
uhm..he was rewarded by witnessing our smiles *grin*
ReplyDeletenice shots you had...and of course, it looks yummy there...sarap sarap...
ReplyDeletethanks Nonz...am embarassed to admit may food shots nga ako..but parang mostly plate na lang tsk-tsk...in the hurry to eat you know *wnk*
ReplyDeletei commend you for the self control in staying away from all the merchandise on sale!
ReplyDeletehaving no more space in my bags helped...even if I wanted to (or assuming I could afford to), just the problem in heaving all the stuff around from point A to point B was enough of a deterrent :-)
ReplyDeleteI admit I was disgruntled at finding out that airlines have not only downgraded the luggage allowance, but that you have to pay, for even checked-in bags! even the first bag....if only there's an invention to squash all big luggages into the size of a small rubiks cube *sigh*
Great ambiance. Great Chinese food. Great company! GAling ng dinner mo Kat. I love that Lychee dessert!
ReplyDeleteI have developed a liking for lychee to...before, I started out with those lychee in cans..but then I got sick and somebody brought me fresh lychee fruits...ang sarap pala!
ReplyDeleteand then I also had some Zamboanga White..which is a cold lychee drink in Zamboanga City...diosme..so delish...
so I never say no to lychee desserts..come to think of it..wala bang lychee ice cream?
Meron dito nyan. There are 2 kinds, Lychee sherbet and Lychee Ice cream. I prefer the ice cream kasi hindi masyadong matamis. If you time your trip here in June or July, I can get you fresh lychees. That I can promise you. Every year we devour them like peanuts. TALAGANG MASARAP!!! I know an orchard grower in Hilo and that's where I buy them. On Oahu, they well them on the road side. Hopefully, 2009 the harvest will be plentiful.
ReplyDeletebtw, walang sinabi yung lychees na galing sa Hongkong sa mga lychees dito.
ReplyDeletenaku ha..ur tempting me to go to Hawaii na directly..para sa lychee lang (sayang walang durian dyan..hehehe)...April 2009 lang kaya..fuerza mo na mag-bunga yung lychee plants dyan? *wink* yun kc 1 week leave ko eh...*nagniningning na mga mata*
ReplyDeletesa laki? sa tamis? sa taste?
ReplyDeleteIt depends where he lives in NJ, he could be right across from Manhattan or quite a distance away.
ReplyDeleteHow can you tell if it's a good Chinese restarurant? Kung karamihan ng kumakain Chinese. Stay away from Americanized Chinese restaurants serving chop suey, sweet and sour pork, chow mein, spring rolls patronized by Caucasians.
ReplyDeletethis is so TRUE!
ReplyDeleteits the same strategy with other restos we check out...sa Cebu if we see many other Japanese tourists patronizing a Jap resto....yun nga..authentic or near-authentic yon :-)
ReplyDeleteas Ms. G said, yung vinisit nila na resto sa Sanfo.masarap nga..but Caucasians may have different concept of how a spring roll or other dishes usually tastes like.
ReplyDeletein my case, while I do enjoy yung original concept of how a dish is supposed to taste....there are times I give chance to other modifications :-)
Arce has. Buco Lychee sherbet. Parenthood's favorite. Masarap!
ReplyDeleteuntil now, I've not tasted this buco lychee flavored sherbet :-(
ReplyDeleteI hope they have not taken it out of circulation...