Sorry guys, I don’t get it, but then that’s not unusual.
HS* Les Delices Shan dong, 88 bvd de l’Hopital in the 13th, 01.45.87.23.37, closed Wednesdays, is a place my friends raved about a few months ago but I wasn’t about to chance a lunch (my main meal) on a Chinese place, with only this little cheering gallery, no matter how great they thought it was. So I finally figured out that I’d be eating nearby and could get takeout and have it at dinner.
I did some research: not very reassuring: if one Googles Shandong food the second site one arrives at is Food in China that says: “Shandong food tends to be rather bland.” And then I recalled that when we were in China, it was strangely omitted from food destinations.
Anyway, this was supposed to be a rarity, so I asked the charming ladies to give me two of the most typical Shan Dong dishes; and later had dumplings with pork and cabbage and hot sauce and sweet/sour shrimp. Well, the rice was good.
The bill = 18 €.
Should one go? If you’re invited by my pals who offer to treat you; frankly no. And don’t bother with the Flushing or Oakland versions either.
HS*= Off of the scale because it was takeout.
*Originally published in June 2007
With all due respect, John, I must say - how do I put this delicately - how o how can you order sweet and sour shrimp, or sweet and sour anything?
Ceci dit, Shandong cuisine is not bland but it is peasanty.
My advice is: next time, don't let the waitress order for you. A good Chinese food pal - Calvin Trillin - had remarked that left to their devices, the waiters/waitresses always tell non-Chinese diners: you no like, on all dishes that approach any authenticity. They think whatever is authentic freaks you out.
You know the old advice: don't ask: what are the best dishes. Ask: what are YOUR fave dishes?
My fave dishes at Délices de Shandong: starters: lotus root salad, jellyfish salad (!), main dishes: Shrimp-and-chives dumplings, sautéed lamb, mixed fish stew - a kind of Shandong Bouilabaisse, shrimp&tofu stew.
Posted by: Parigi | July 16, 2009 at 09:15 PM
With all due respect back, what I asked (as I said above) was what dishes were the most typical of Shan Dong.
As for Trillin, who trusts Yalies from the Class of 1957?
Posted by: johntalbott | July 16, 2009 at 09:35 PM
My own favorites at Délices de Shandong: all the dumplings, the cold sesame noodles, garlic eggplants, stir-fried pork kidneys, pig's tripe in chilli sauce, all the hot soups (very hot), special house chicken (a lovely timbale of chicken and chestnuts), delicious steamed tofu in Yimeng chilli sauce, Lion's heads meatballs, etc.
Seriously, this is one of the very best Chinese restaurants in Paris and I wonder why you didn't ask me to go along with you to help you order.
Posted by: Ptipois | July 21, 2009 at 07:30 PM
I literally stumbled over it going from the Metro to the resto I was eating at and made a split-second decision (based on your rec) to go in and order takeout.
Posted by: johntalbott | July 21, 2009 at 07:35 PM