PF Chang's

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Schumi

Never been to a PFC's.

But I tell ya, nothin hits my cravings like a giant heaping pile of General's Chicken at this hole in the wall place in Hawthorne CA... Yes it's 'California Style' Chinese food but it's good. And fattening. I'm pretty sure it's just carmalized sugar and salt, deep fried, with chicken bullion for the flavoring. But I don't care. It's like $4.99 at lunchtime.

Name of the place please?

Originally Posted by 911_Dude

They would really amp up the business if they would only put chicken feet, monkey brains, and maybe some insects on a stick on the menu. Low salt, of course.

Hey! If I want bugs in my food I will shop at taco bell!

[a&j]

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

I don't know nor do I care if PFC double pan fried noodles resemble anything from China.... They are d@mn good especially with a bit of hot mustard stirred in.

Who the F cares if "Chinese, Italian or Mexican" food served here in the US is authentic or not? I don't give a rat's arse. I just want my food to taste good regardless of what it is.

Chill .. Have a pill sodium consumption raises blood pressure, increasing the risk for heart attack and stroke...We do not want you popping a gasket...blow-off valve might be clogged...ticker might not take it......i would order a side a statin just to be safe

Population Strategies to Decrease Sodium Intake and the Burden of Cardiovascular Disease

[RWebb]

Is Italian food authentic if it contains tomatoes?

[nynor]

i can't eat at pf changs; i've eaten there twice. never again. there should be a NaCl and MSG warning in blinking red two foot block letters right above the door.

[vash]

the reason i have never been to a PFC's is because my brother told me it was a saltlick. he tried to return some super salty food, and have it re-cooked with less salt. the server told him "NO". apparently all the sauces are pre-done from some PFC factory somewhere, and the "chefs" simply follow an exact "recipe" to create the dishes. i guess a half ladle of the brown juice is not possible if the corporate directions say to put a full ladle.

crazy. the place is a money maker in my neighborhood. valet parking and everything. really high class, hehe. the valet guys always leave the high end cars parked out front. looks really impressive.

[a&j]

Originally Posted by RWebb

Is Italian food authentic if it contains tomatoes?

Mario & Luigi are asking ..."YO!!! are those da San Marzano tomatoes?... pass me a canoli and top me off with expresso

[nynor]

Originally Posted by vash

the reason i have never been to a PFC's is because my brother told me it was a saltlick. he tried to return some super salty food, and have it re-cooked with less salt. the server told him "NO". apparently all the sauces are pre-done from some PFC factory somewhere, and the "chefs" simply follow an exact "recipe" to create the dishes. i guess a half ladle of the brown juice is not possible if the corporate directions say to put a full ladle.

crazy. the place is a money maker in my neighborhood. valet parking and everything. really high class, hehe. the valet guys always leave the high end cars parked out front. looks really impressive.

exactly.

the one downtown, here, is packed every night, as well. my current boss loves the place. that right there is enough to warn me away.

[a&j]

Originally Posted by vash

the reason i have never been to a PFC's is because my brother told me it was a saltlick. he tried to return some super salty food, and have it re-cooked with less salt. the server told him "NO". apparently all the sauces are pre-done from some PFC factory somewhere, and the "chefs" simply follow an exact "recipe" to create the dishes. i guess a half ladle of the brown juice is not possible if the corporate directions say to put a full ladle.

crazy. the place is a money maker in my neighborhood. valet parking and everything. really high class, hehe. the valet guys always leave the high end cars parked out front. looks really impressive.

Vash, your brother has very good sense of observation...He is correct, that is what I meant as the PFC corporate snafu in my earlier post in this thread...I was fortunate enough to partake with their good eats when they initially started...when it was still under Fleming...now it feels like it is owned by Morton Salt (when it rains it pours)

...btw please don't be tempted to bring the bow and arrow near the saltlick...

[JavaBrewer]

As long as "authentic" does not look like this I am on board

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

This is one from the last trip. Obviously, they served a lot of chicken here.

[recycled sixtie]

Being married to a retired dietician gives me a unique perspective on restaurant food. You don't know what they put in the food. If you cook your food u know what u are putting in it. Restaurant food if it tastes good likely has too much cholesterol, salt, sugar , msg in it. Therefore it is bad for the heart, the arteries and diabetic promoting. As u get older your cholesterol increases and it is harder to get it down to acceptable levels. Restaurant food is okay in moderation. There are ways to make rest. food tasty without the bad stuff but I would guess they can't be bothered. Fast food is the worst. You are what u eat? Scary? Yes
Tip the scales in your favor

[a&j]

Eat anything, not a lot, mostly greens

from my boss, "j"

[TimT]

I've been to China a number of times, usually spend between three weeks to a month at a time (going through an immigration process with my wife and stepson)

I've been to PF Changs once! there has to be some sort of a correlation.

This is authentic Chinese food.. at a roadside restaurant in the mountains about two hours n/w pf Beijing..

This is a stew of fresh chicken, some sort of greens in a light vinegar sauce, wife and sister in law digging in.. (stepson does not like to be photographed so you can see the remote in my hand and the camera is resting on a wall)









In this photo some tofu in chili oil has arrived at the table, along with some pickled cabbage (think sauerkraut) and some sort of stuffed corn fritters..




This also authentic Chinese food... Beijing Duck with the wifey in a really upscale restaurant in Chaoyang

[TimT]

More authentic:

This was breakfast one day!!



This is grilled fish at another roadside restaurant



This is a really refreshing salad made from fresh peppercorns (piper nigrum) The peppercorns don't get the heat until they are dried..




These are miniature rose blossoms that are battered and fried




Another stuffed corn dumpling? made from cornmeal and stuffed with greens.... I think it was mustard greens and chives



Finally the outdoor kitchen....

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by a&j

Mario & Luigi are asking ..."YO!!! are those da San Marzano tomatoes?... pass me a canoli and top me off with expresso

we have a certified pizza place here - the Italians sent out inspectors & they have to import the San Marzanos

BUT - my point is that tomatoes (aka, love apples) are a New World plant - they are not indigenous to Italy, hence not "authentic" in some meanings of the term -- yet cultures evolve (one of the nice things about culture is that you can "evolve" faster than those who rely on purely genetic evolution), and that includes food culture

so what does authentic really mean?

for the record, I ate in a P F Changs... once

[TimT]

You wont find General Tso's chicken or Sesame chicken as made in restaurants here in China... kung pao is an authentic dish... and when had in China will be made with cut up bone in chicken....

Here is some more Chinese food...

Here are some mudbugs we had in Sanlitun district Beijing





Now for some street food... things on skewers



Not sure about grilled starfish

[TimT]

Is this authentic Chinese/Italian? We found a Wood Fired oven Pizza Place in Sanlitun

Really nice Pizza



And I washed it down with something from Belgium




We sat near the kitchen



Saw some graffiti that looked like it was from NY or LA?

[azasadny]

From healthcentral.com...

Chinese food is known to be high in calories and sodium, but this offering from P. F. Chang takes this fact to a new level.

The restaurant's Crispy Honey Shrimp has 70 g of fat, 290 g of carbohydrates, and 1,890 mg of sodium. The total calories in this seafood dish? More than 2,100!

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by azasadny

From healthcentral.com...

Chinese food is known to be high in calories and sodium, but this offering from P. F. Chang takes this fact to a new level.

The restaurant's Crispy Honey Shrimp has 70 g of fat, 290 g of carbohydrates, and 1,890 mg of sodium. The total calories in this seafood dish? More than 2,100!

Mmmmm..... sounds good. I will consider trying that the next time I eat there. Thanks Art!