browniebaker's Profile
Fortune Star Buffet in Rockville, MD -- What Happened?
I am very glad I called Fortune Star and spoke to the manager. He thanked me for telling him of our poor experience in May and told me that the old chef had returned, so we decided to have dinner there last night. I'm happy to report that we had a wonderful dinner: everything was as delicious as ever, and the place was filled with the regular customers again. How wonderful to know that my family's favorite restaraunt is back!
-----
Fortune Star
7361 Assateague Dr Ste 1000, Jessup, MD 20794
Fortune Star Buffet in Rockville, MD -- What Happened?
OMG, I can't even THINK of Tyson's Buffet in the same breath. I went twice, and I can't believe it wasn't just once, but my friend, who admittedly has no taste buds, wanted to go. The Chinese dishes were not well-seasoned and were not authentic.There were a lot of fillers like garlic bread, lasagna, plain old pickles. The dim sum specialties were exceedingly greasy. I just can't believe Tyson's would be real competition for the Fortune Star I knew, but Tyson"s was cheaper and maybe people who couldn't taste the difference went with their pocketbook. However, I must note that I was going to Fortune Star for as long as three years after Tyson's opened, and Fortune Star was always full -- before the recent change in chef, that is.
-----
Fortune Star
7361 Assateague Dr Ste 1000, Jessup, MD 20794
Fortune Star Buffet in Rockville, MD -- What Happened?
We'd been going for years to this, our favorite, Chinese buffet. The Chinese food was delicious and authentic, the sushi good, and the selection wonderfully varied, with many different cuisines represented.
But my birthday dinner at the end of May this year was a disaster. Something was seriously wrong. The six soups on the buffet were at a rolling boil, boiled down to the bottom, and congealed. The Chinese dishes were poorly seasoned and flavorless. Meats that should have been tender and falling off the bone were undercooked and tough. Foods that should gave been hot were cold. I should have known when we first pulled into the parking lot: the lot was almost empty. The place was deserted by the many Chinese regulars who frequent this place.
I asked the waitress, "When did you have a change of chef?" She said it was last week! No wonder everything was wrong.
Does anyone know what happened? Has anyone eaten there recently so that they could report on the current situation with the food? I'm hesitant to return and be disappointed. Thanks.
-----
Fortune Star
7361 Assateague Dr Ste 1000, Jessup, MD 20794
Food Scars - Things you will never eat again.
Sadly, I can never eat bouillabaise again. It was one of my favorite foods, something I would always order whenever I saw it on a menu. But I have not eaten it since my horrible birthday dinner in 1996. I had been married less than a year and was pregnant for the first time. DH's parents, who had boycotted our wedding, acted as if they wished to mend fences and insisted on taking me out for my birthday. I was suspicious., but DH thought they were sincere. It turned out, they were not. The whole meal was the in-laws' being passive-aggressive as hell. What's worse: my FIL ordered bouillabaise, too. Since then I haven't been able to stand the thought of bouillabaise. Last year my 13-year-old son asked me to cook bouillabaise because, after hearing the story of the birthday dinner from hell, he wants to try bouillabaise; it's been months, and I still can't bring myself to buy the ingredients.
Quick Cilantro Tasting Question - what percentage taste soap?
Yes, it tastes of soap to me.
Chinese New Year's Dinner Party Etiquette
It's hard to say whether a divorced person has adult social obligations under traditional Chinese etiquette, for there was no divorce traditionally. But I was a divorced woman for about four years, and I think I was considered outside the social pale --LOL! I certainly would not have been expected to give dinner parties for married friends. I think only couples give dinner parties.
Since the question of dinner parties is mooted for you by current, economic reality, I would do just as you have suggested: offer small (meaningful rather than costly) gifts from time to time in gratitude for their parties. Or offer to bring a dish to their parties. Or even suggesting that one of their parties be a potluck so that all can contribute. I think if you are not employed right now, your friends will surely understand.
Chinese New Year's Dinner Party Etiquette
Greenie, xie xie ni for your kind words to me and for sharing your happy new year's eve with me! Your beautiful spirit as a guest who was eager to do the right thing at a Chinese party made it my pleasure to help with any questions you had. And reading your report of the party last night really made my day! I'm so happy everyone at the party had a joyful time. Sounds like you have made some great friends.
As a single (unmarried) person, you would not be expected by your Chinese hosts to reciprocate with a dinner party in kind, even if you are the same generation as your hosts. In traditional Chinese etiquette, never-married persons are considered youngsters and are not expected to host parties for the marrieds. Strange but true!
I grew up in the US and always thought it was strange that never-married men of age 45 were called "boys"in Chinese and never-married girls were called "girls." But mom explained to me that a person is not considered an adult until married.
Indeed, I have a first cousin once removed (called a nephew in Chinese because he is one generation below me) who is only nine years younger than I, yet for years and years while he was single, he was always my guest and never treated me back, even to a restaurant dinner. Then, lo and behlold, he married and started inviting me to his house for dinner, like a real adult -- LOL.
What does a "youngster" like you do to reciprocate your hosts' hospitality? You're simply not expected to. You can give nice hostess gifts or other little gifts on appropriate occasions. You might think to try to invite them to an inexpensive, casual restaurant lunch or dinner and try to pay, but don't be surprised if they grab the check and pay, as would be expected of them as marrieds under Chinese etiquette, and then you would probably feel bad for having invited them to a meal they had to pay for. No, I think I would just reciprocate with kindnesses, favors, and other acts of friendship. I think you sound like a wondefrul friend.
Chinese New Year's Dinner Party Etiquette
Wow, that sounds like a fabuloius party! Thank you so much for taking us 'hounds there with you through your post. Reading it brought a smile to my face the whole time, and I absolutely cracked up laughing when you said "no one got beaned"!
You were the perfectly gracious and charming guest. What a wonderful, warm gathering of friends. The perfect start to the new year!
Chinese New Year's Dinner Party Etiquette
Would you really have added butter? Maybe here's a good place to mention the general rule that no soy sauce or other sauce or condiment should be added to your rice or to any dish that is cooked in a sauce. The idea is that the cook has reasoned the dish properly.
Soy sauce and other sauces are appropriate for dipping or spooning onto foods not already in a sauce, such as dumplings, and even pepper shrimp.
Salt and pepper are not usually provided at the table, and they are never requested. Again, the idea is that the cook has seasoned the dish properly.
Hope this helps.
Chinese New Year's Dinner Party Etiquette
I'm so glad that you've decided what to bring and are looking forward to the party, and that you've not let some parts of this thread get you down. It is indeed an honor to be invited to their house for the new year celebration, and you will surely return the honor. Just enjoy!
Chinese New Year's Dinner Party Etiquette
No, I don't think the OP's Chinese hosts, if they are as traditionally Chinese as she has described, would describe to her what gifts would be appropriate, That would be tantamount to asking for a gift. Chinese manners would be to say no, don't bring anything.
guests not offering to do dishes, is it rude?
About offering to do dishes, I think different rules apply to at least three categories of gatherings: (1) gatherings of family members, (2) gatherings of prospective in-laws with one's family, and (3) meals for houseguests staying overnight or longer.
The OP seems to say that she expects an offer to do dishes even by guests not well known to her at a simple dinner party, that it's even rude of them not to offer. This idea is completely foreign to me. In my parents' house when I was growing up and now in my house, non-family guests at a simple dinner party are not expected to work, or even to offer to work.
Chinese New Year's Dinner Party Etiquette
I'd probably take my cue from whether there are any shoes by their door when you enter. My parents who, as I said, do not have guests take off their shoes when they host, do take off their shoes or offer to at other Chinese friends' houses, just to be polite. Maybe your landlord and her husband take off their shoes at your house to be polite but keep their shoes on at home. It's possible.
Chinese New Year's Dinner Party Etiquette
True, it's not a Chinese custom to sit on the floor or on floor cushions when eating (or at any time, actually). Maybe the OP is thinking of the Japanese custom of sitting on tatami mats?
The Chinese peoples (comprising five main ethnicities and other ones as well) are so ethnically, geographically, and culturally diverse that it's hard to generalize about "Chinese customs."
The OP referred in an earlier post about knowing to take off her shoes at her hostess's house this coming weekend, and I let that pass without comment because maybe her hostess has made reference to taking off shoes in her house. However, while we are on the subject of Chinese customs, I'd like to point out that it is not a traditiional Chinese practice to take off shoes before entering a house. The Han Chinese (a major ethnic group) traditionally wore shoes in the house. The Chinese in Taiwan have, since the Japanese colonialization of Taiwan in the late 1800s, absorbed some Japanese customs and they tend to take off their shoes. But my parents, who are ethnic Han and were born and raised in Taiwan but live in the US now, choose not to have people remove their shoes in the house.
I find I just never can assume anything about what customs a Chinese or Chinese-American friend follows.
Chinese New Year's Dinner Party Etiquette
People have made some good points about the offense that one may feel when another person focuses on one's "otherness" rather than our commonalities. As a Chinese-American I have experienced the annoyance when an acquaintance takes the few, little things he has heard about Chinese culture and expects me to behave a certain way.
Any guest in the home of a friend who is [ethnic]-American has to walk a fine line between the friend's otherness and the friend's sameness. Perhaps the most gracious guest is one who enters a house without assumptions and keeps an open mind. There are surely enough commonalities among all the cultures of the world as to what it takes to be a polite guest.
Chinese New Year's Dinner Party Etiquette
I think you'll be a lovely guest, your heartfelt efforts much appreciated. Enjoy the dinner party. I'd love to hear all about it! Happy new year!
Chinese New Year's Dinner Party Etiquette
Just Googled "audio Chinese phrases" and got websites that do a better job than I could and have audio, such as http://www.travelblog.org/World/chinese-audio.html.
Chinese New Year's Dinner Party Etiquette
On the other hand, being aware of the tradition of not cleaning up immediately, don't feel funny if your hostess does clean up immediately. My family was never very traditional or superstitious, and we broke all the rules! I would offer to help if it seemed appropriate (e.g., no housekeeper doing the job, an informal setting, etc.), but understand that offers usually are rejected the first time around. You have to repeat an offer to be sincere, yet you don't want to be pushy if the hostess really wants you to sit down and not help, so you walk a fine line, LOL. Chinese manners can be hard to navigate. Having grown up in the U.S., I never know whether my Chinese-American host is following American manners or Chinese manners -- "Does she really mean no, and should I keep pressing my offer?" <>
Chinese New Year's Dinner Party Etiquette
I like your ideas for the bright mums and the oranges. May I suggest that you give the oranges just to your hostess and not to the other guests? If the other guests have not brought gifts to share with everyone, they might feel awkward if you pass around gifts.
Chinese New Year's Dinner Party Etiquette
I'm Chinese. The red flowers are not a bad idea if you have them in a vase so that the hostess does not have to go hunt for a vase before dinner, but I wouldn't do the red envelope unless you are at least a generation higher than the hostess. Red envelopes are traditionally given from seniors to junior, e.g. grandparents or parents to a child, or parents' friend to a child. Maybe you could just bring a box of chocolates?
guests not offering to do dishes, is it rude?
I would never expect dinner guests to offer to help with anything, much less wash dishes. They are guests, and I am the host. A guest's offer to wash dishes would not be rude, but a guest's insistence on doing so after I have declined would be rude. In fact, I never do the dishes while dinner guests are still at my house.
Really, I am astonished to know that there are hosts who expect me as a guest to offer to wash dishes.
Multiple Rugelach questions
I store rugelach uncovered at room temperature, just as I store pie. Storing it covered would make it less crisp on the outside.
For freezing, I do cover it, of course. If you know you're going to freeze it, it's best to freeze as soon as the rugelach is cooled, so that the outside is still its crispiest.
Is giving knives as a wedding gift bad luck?
Some people (or some cultures) are so superstitious about knives as wedding presents that taping a coin on the box would not make a difference. I am not superstitious about knives, but I won't give them as a wedding gift unless the couple have registered for knives. There are so many other gifts you can give, why risk offending where there's a doubt?
Why do my brownies always turn out this way?
Aurora, I'm so sorry for your loss. I just read this thread for the first time, and my heart goes out to you. How wonderful a daughter you are, to have taken such good and loving care of your mother during her illness. Take care, and I hope the new year brings you all good things.
How much do you tip when at a buffet?
I used to think the norm was 10% tip for buffets. My parents' rationale, as they explained it to me when I was growing up, was that you had go get the food yourself, so why should you tip as much as for food brought by a waiter to the table? But in the last two years I have tipped 15% (which I still consider the norm for table service, despite the inflationary trend to 20%) at buffets because I see that buffet waiters work just as hard in bringing drinks, clearing dishes, and refilling drinks. I do tend to put buffet waiters to the task, using as many as six or seven plates for myself alone per meal. Another factor is that my husband and I are lucky to be doing very well financially despite the economic recession and, if we can make a difference by giving a larger tip to a waiter who might be facing harder times financially, we are happy to.
Left Lasagna Out All Night. Can I eat it?
Did Robin, the OP, never report back on whether she ate the lasagna? Darn. I read to the end of the thread and wanted her to have posted that she had eaten it and survived.
I would have eaten the lasagna after nuking it to a high-enough temp in the microwave. This kind of thing happens to me all the time, thanks to my falling asleep before putting in the fridge partially eaten foods that I have left on the counter to cool after dinner, and I always reheat the morning after and eat it. I have never, in my 45 years (mom did the same to our foods when I was growing up), gotten sick from eating meat or dairy dishes left out overnight.
Robin???
How long do unpasteurized eggs last in the fridge?
Same here. I use eggs up to two months after the date stamped on the carton and never have had a problem.
Bad Hosts: Invites you and, after you accept, asks you to bring dessert for everyone.
This time, I did go through with attending (see down-thread), but I was sorely tempted to call and plead an "inescapable obligation." That kind of plea really needs to be done right away, though, like the next day when one "suddenly" remembers that previous engagement. It's like the right of rescission, typically three days, that is often allowed with contracts of adhesion (sorry, a bit of analogy to contract law).
In this case, another factor against my not going was that it was a family event. These weren't people I could just blow off. And my children really wanted to go. It all turned out well, I think.
As I explain down-thread, though, at the party I saw that there was little point to the host's asking for three families to bring, in all, two sides and one dessert when (as it turned out) there was much too much food even without any guests' contributions and all the food that he provided besides the main course (grilled chicken) were bought from Safeway and Sam's Club. I mean, if he was simply buying the stuff, how difficult or expensive would it have been to buy two more sides and one more dessert and not put the burden on his guests?
