Chinese or curry?

Posted by: Spock on 15 January 2006

I’m a curry man myself. Chinese is OK now and again but it can’t top a good curry.

Spock
Posted on: 17 January 2006 by Happy Chick
I know its not Chinese or Indian....

Bacon & Egg Roll is nice if cooked ok.

I hate it when you open the roll and the bacon is barely cooked and the egg has this gooey transparent blob on top of the yoke... Yuk!
Posted on: 17 January 2006 by garyi
YoYo master, do you know what, I am sick to death of all this PC crap.

I have no evidence there is a conspiracy, I was trying to be humorous. You know when you go to a show with a comedian, he would say something along these lines, and do you know with a beer in your tummy you might well laugh.

I will not be saying sorry for this. Sorry for that.

Andrew, I am in total agreement with you, and not for one minute am I saying that Chinese food is shit in China. I am confident that its done properly there and it is clear and hinted in UK menus that they have a much clearer understanding of food to us. However I know three friends that have travelled the world separately and my wifes parents also, all who made it too China and Thailand. The overwhelming impression I got was that Chinese food over there was not particularly good but that Thai was impressive. I do not have personal experience of this so cannot comment.

The earliest known recipe book was Chinese BTW, and states that every dish must contain 5 essential elements. I found the documentary on Radio four fascinating, and as usual these types of information draw me into trying Chinese food again. An usually in the UK I am bitterly disappointed with the shit I am served. So yes you are right if you know where to eat its probably great but in 6 years (since moving to Watford and back) I have had one decent meal out of probably 30 tried all from different places.

As I mentioned though the one saving grace was the Jade in Salisbury.
I notice however everyone has skipped over my Specialist Meat wagon.

Anyone?
Posted on: 17 January 2006 by Justyn
Anyone into Indonesian food, similar to Chinese?
Posted on: 17 January 2006 by Stephen Tate
quote:
Originally posted by Happy Chick:
Bacon & Egg Roll is nice if cooked ok.

Bacon well done and no snot on the eggs and dont forget the brown sauce.(its very important) Cool

cheers
Posted on: 17 January 2006 by Andrew Randle
quote:
Originally posted by garyi:
YoYo master, do you know what, I am sick to death of all this PC crap.

I have no evidence there is a conspiracy, I was trying to be humorous. You know when you go to a show with a comedian, he would say something along these lines, and do you know with a beer in your tummy you might well laugh.

I will not be saying sorry for this. Sorry for that.

Andrew, I am in total agreement with you, and not for one minute am I saying that Chinese food is shit in China. I am confident that its done properly there and it is clear and hinted in UK menus that they have a much clearer understanding of food to us. However I know three friends that have travelled the world separately and my wifes parents also, all who made it too China and Thailand. The overwhelming impression I got was that Chinese food over there was not particularly good but that Thai was impressive. I do not have personal experience of this so cannot comment.

The earliest known recipe book was Chinese BTW, and states that every dish must contain 5 essential elements. I found the documentary on Radio four fascinating, and as usual these types of information draw me into trying Chinese food again. An usually in the UK I am bitterly disappointed with the shit I am served. So yes you are right if you know where to eat its probably great but in 6 years (since moving to Watford and back) I have had one decent meal out of probably 30 tried all from different places.

As I mentioned though the one saving grace was the Jade in Salisbury.
I notice however everyone has skipped over my Specialist Meat wagon.

Anyone?


Gary, if you are ever in London send me an email and we'll cook up some proper Chinese food for you Smile

Including some memorable soup Winker

Andrew
Posted on: 17 January 2006 by Mabelode, King of Swords
quote:
Originally posted by garyi:
YoYo master, do you know what, I am sick to death of all this PC crap.


So you can say anything you like. That must be nice.

Steve
Posted on: 17 January 2006 by garyi
Andrew I would enjoy that, as I said I so want to enjoy Chinese because I know the potential is there.

I am willing to accept that in general I am plain unlucky on Chinese food take aways. It gets to the stage where you decide the better ones are the ones that can at least get the food to you hot.

Hey ho.
Posted on: 18 January 2006 by Steve G
quote:
Originally posted by Yo-yo Master:
So you can say anything you like. That must be nice.


About as nice as looking for offence in everything, perhaps?
Posted on: 18 January 2006 by iDunno
quote:
Originally posted by garyi:
YoYo master, do you know what, I am sick to death of all this PC crap.

I have no evidence there is a conspiracy, I was trying to be humorous. You know when you go to a show with a comedian, he would say something along these lines, and do you know with a beer in your tummy you might well laugh.

I will not be saying sorry for this. Sorry for that.


"I have tried all round China Town as well, every time fucking disgusting."
"Steve I believe there is a conspiracy on the part of the Chinese."
"I would go so far as to say the Chinese eat just as much shit as we do"
"In general Chinese food is crap, 90% of Chinese food output in the UK is slop, utter shit"
"And they are laughing, there must be whole conventions on how to put an English/Chinese menu together, and don't forget the fourty eight times reheated crispy duck whilst you are at it."
"The simple fact is in general chinese take aways are shit and the quality of food is shit"


This has nothing to do with political correctness. None of this is funny. These are simply offensive comments and gross generalisations which go beyond mere opinion.
Your insinuations at the use of dodgy meat without any evidence to support such assertion is also at best, ill-advised. You are the only person in this thread who has commented with such sustained vitriole against an entire group of people.

"iDunno I refuse to called a racist."

Nobody called you a racist. However, if you were to speak to a Chinese person and repeat everything in this thread and they called you racist, you can refuse all you like, but don't expect me to come leaping to your defense.
Posted on: 18 January 2006 by Steve G
I'm not looking to particularily defend garyi (or get branded as a racist) but I'd make the following points:

quote:
Originally posted by iDunno:
"I have tried all round China Town as well, every time fucking disgusting."


That's gary's opinion and experience so what's the problem with it? I've been round several chip shops in an area where all were "fucking disgusting".

quote:
"Steve I believe there is a conspiracy on the part of the Chinese."


Did you think he was serious?

quote:
"I would go so far as to say the Chinese eat just as much shit as we do"


Having lived in Asia that's probably true, certainly in the larger cities.

quote:
"In general Chinese food is crap, 90% of Chinese food output in the UK is slop, utter shit"


90% of all the UK total food output could be regarded as slop if you're discerning - so what's the problem with that?

quote:
"And they are laughing, there must be whole conventions on how to put an English/Chinese menu together, and don't forget the fourty eight times reheated crispy duck whilst you are at it."[/QUOTE[

A joke surely?

[QUOTE]"The simple fact is in general chinese take aways are shit and the quality of food is shit"


Again that's also probably a valid point of view if you're discerning about what you eat.

It sounds like Gary has been unlucky in a couple of ways:

1) He's either a lot more picky than most of us or very poor at choosing resteraunts

2) He made the mistake of trying to make his point on a forum with a fair percentage of people afficted either with a Guardian subscription or a sense-of-humour bypass (or are they the same thing).
Posted on: 18 January 2006 by Steve Toy
quote:
Nobody called you a racist. However, if you were to speak to a Chinese person and repeat everything in this thread and they called you racist, you can refuse all you like, but don't expect me to come leaping to your defense.


I think we should leave it to a Chinese person (or someone married to one) to comment. I suspect they wouldn't wave the racist card as generally that can be left to the white middle class Grauniad "heritage" apologist to do it on their behalf.

The above is a perfect specimen.
Posted on: 18 January 2006 by JonR
iDunno,

Has it escaped your notice that garyi is having a go at the food, and not Chinese people?!

Also, as I stated earlier, he is a chef by profession, which gives what he says extra credence, no matter how unpalatible that may be for us lovers of the Chinese takeaway...

Never backward in coming forward, that's his style - quite refreshing on a forum IMHO. You may not like it, but to infer racism in his comments is quite nasty, and wrong.

Cheers,

Jon
Posted on: 18 January 2006 by Steve G
It's not often that Steven Toy and I agree on something so when we do we're probably right and therefore I can definitively state that garyi's comments were not racist.
Posted on: 18 January 2006 by Mabelode, King of Swords
quote:
Originally posted by Steve G:
About as nice as looking for offence in everything, perhaps?


Easily said when you are not on the receiving end.

Saying that those on the receiving end are overdosing on PC, or are "humourless fucks", puts you in an invincible position, and gives you open licence to say anything you like.

Steve
Posted on: 18 January 2006 by Mabelode, King of Swords
quote:
Originally posted by Steve G:
quote:
"Steve I believe there is a conspiracy on the part of the Chinese."


Did you think he was serious?


No. Just offensive.
Posted on: 18 January 2006 by Steve G
quote:
Originally posted by Yo-yo Master:
Easily said when you are not on the receiving end.


I've been on the receiving end, including when I lived in Asia.

Lots of the local people in Hong Kong complained about poor quality European food in some of the resteraunts (and they were often correct), but it's only racist when they call it gweillo food.
Posted on: 18 January 2006 by Mabelode, King of Swords
quote:
I think we should leave it to a Chinese person (or someone married to one) to comment.


I am half Chinese on my mother's side, and grew up with my mother's side of the family, to whom I am still close.

Steve
Posted on: 18 January 2006 by Mabelode, King of Swords
quote:
Originally posted by Steve G:
It's not often that Steven Toy and I agree on something so when we do we're probably right and therefore I can definitively state that garyi's comments were not racist.


I also agree that garyi's comments were not racist. Just offensive, and offensive to Chinese folks in this particular instance.

Steve
Posted on: 18 January 2006 by CPeter
quote:
Anyone into Indonesian food, similar to Chinese


Proper Indonesian food is not similar to Chinese.

Unfortunately I have not been able to find a good Indonesian restaurant in London or the UK in the 10 years I've lived here. For good Indonesian food, outside Indonesia, you have to go to The Hague, Holland or, possibly, Amsterdam.

Peter
Posted on: 18 January 2006 by Mabelode, King of Swords
quote:
Proper Indonesian food is not similar to Chinese


That's correct, Indonesian cuisine originates from India.

Steve
Posted on: 18 January 2006 by Rockingdoc
quote:
Originally posted by Happy Chick:
I never buy a meat dish when having a take away.

veronika


Is this 'cos you think rats only shit on the meat, or because you think rats may BE the meat?
Rats really prefer to be veggie too, so are more likely to have been playing with your rice and noodles.
Posted on: 18 January 2006 by Rasher
When my wife's American cousins came over to stay they couldn't wait to try "our English Fish & Chips), so off they went to get them (disappointed that they weren't actually in old newspapers). After ploughing through about half of it and complaining of feeling very sick, they were happy to cross the experience off the list. I was not offended, because it IS shit IMO. It was no reflection on me or my family, the people who cooked it or the people who eat and enjoy it. Where is the problem? There isn't one. We just all laughed.
quote:
..on a forum with a fair percentage of people afficted either with a Guardian subscription or a sense-of-humour bypass (or are they the same thing).

Excuse me, but I occasionally buy The Gaardien(sic) and take offense that as such I must be humourless!!! Yer Haggis eating Scots skirt wearer!!! Winker
Posted on: 18 January 2006 by Steve G
quote:
Originally posted by Rasher:
Yer Haggis eating Scots skirt wearer!!! Winker


Were I looking to be offended I'd have issues with that however given:

a) I do like haggis
b) I am Scottish (half Scottish, half English actually)
c) I own a kilt and enjoy wearing it

I suspect I'll just have to agree with the rest of your mail and move on... Winker
Posted on: 18 January 2006 by garyi
Hey look I, I would like to appologise about my language on this forum, I am a heathen bought up with no language skills.

However I stand by my opinion that 90% of Chinese food served in the UK is rubbish. I did concede I might just be unlucky.

Thing is everything that should make food fantastic is right there in the preperation of chinese food. Its fresh ingredients, its unusual ingredients and its cooked really fast. Can people honestly say this is what usually comes out of take aways in the UK?

iDunno, YoYo and Andrew's Wife, I personnaly mean no offence, this does not however change my opinion of English Chinese food in general and I am passionate about this and other issues of food which its probably best to not get me started on. I can't remember now if I got quite so excited on the Pizza thread?

I'll cut out the swear words now, and finally and with no more from me on the subject the bit about conspiracy and convention was clearly a joke, if I can't say this without it being offensive, I really think its not me that needs to adjust my thinking.
Posted on: 18 January 2006 by garyi
I mean this with no irony what so ever, but people may know where I am on about. Up in Bushey Village by the traffic lights is the best Fish and Chips in Watford.

Carefully and expertly prepared by an old Chinese couple. Nothing else just you standard fish and chips fare. Where these guys had it down was using loin cuts of fresh fish. They knew to charge a bit more was fine provided the outcome was worth it, which it always was.

Most Brits don't do fish and chips well because they do it cheaply with frozen baby fillets, always poor.

In fact I would go so far as to say 90% of fish and chip take aways in Britain are Dire and the English couldn't cook to save their lives.