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The Hungry Hound in Chinatown

Let's try something a little different. Guess the Chinatown restaurant from Steve Dolinsky's inscription on his portrait.

Restaurant A: "Love that 3 course Peking duck. Hope to see you soon."


Restaurant B: "What a delicious taste of Hong Kong! Thanks again."


Restaurant C: "Thanks for everything. Love the ha gow, and the calamari, also the cake rolls . . . well, just about everything you make is delicious. I'll be back soon."


Restaurant D: "Can't wait to get back for those soup dumplings!"


Restaurant E: "Thanks for bringing a little bit of Hong Kong to Chinatown."

One of my very best friends and fellow musicians is the son of the former president of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, who frequented Lao Sze Chuan to the point where he was sharing recipes with Tony Hu and bringing global music superstars from Symphony Center to Chinatown on his own time. This relationship spanned scores of visits and helped to raise international awareness of the restaurant, from mentions of the legendary meals in the news to citations on the blogs of the musicians themselves.

My friend wryly noted that "Chinatown window recognition" is virtually Warholian, a series of transient American images that last as long as the flash in the pan that got people together at the table, on a canvas addressed to the outsider pedestrian and not the insider community. A picture of this president and Tony was front and center in the Lao Sze Chuan window for several years after the restaurant opened. As soon as it was announced that there was to be a leadership transition at CSO, and long before the guy actually moved on, the picture came down.

Miller's Pub and Ribs 'N Bibs still proudly display pictures of local arts, TV, and print personalities that have long moved on to other markets, been discredited in sex or drug scandals, or have bit the dust entirely. The well-washed windows of the New Chinese in Chinatown Square along Archer seem to contain only reflections, rather than memories. And in this case, it's the reflection of you, gringo, the sometime visitor looking to make dining choices based on the simpering grin of someone you vaguely know who has most likely visited each place once and used paid researchers to suss out the best dishes.

One wonders when Dolinsky's Orwellian visage will be pulled down from behind the blinds, and whose cult of personality will replace it.

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(literal translation: "Forward to Victory, EVOO.")

How about a hint? All five restaurants have an Archer Avenue address (this would include Chinatown Square). You need not guess all five. A couple should be fairly easy, a couple might be harder.

A - Lao Beijing
C - Phoenix
D - Lao ShangHai

Edited to sub Phoenix for Happy Chef

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Sauce on the side, always, implied, axiomatic..........never a doubt, BBQ sauce without.

Low & Slow

Not Phoenix (not Happy Chef either).

Sorry, I've neglected to post any clues recently. Restaurants A and D have been guessed. Here are some expanded views of the other three Dolinskys.

Restaurant B: "What a delicious taste of Hong Kong! Thanks again."


Restaurant C: "Thanks for everything. Love the ha gow, and the calamari, also the cake rolls . . . well, just about everything you make is delicious. I'll be back soon."


Restaurant E: "Thanks for bringing a little bit of Hong Kong to Chinatown."

I didn't think this would be so difficult. I guess many of us just make a beeline for the table and don't pay attention to the restaurant's exterior. I wish I had pictures of the food at each of the three unguessed restaurants. I'm sure that would put a quick end to this contest. Lacking food photos, here's the next best thing—pieces of the menus.

Restaurant B: "What a delicious taste of Hong Kong! Thanks again."




Restaurant C: "Thanks for everything. Love the ha gow, and the calamari, also the cake rolls . . . well, just about everything you make is delicious. I'll be back soon."




Restaurant E: "Thanks for bringing a little bit of Hong Kong to Chinatown."

Restaurant C: Shui Wah?

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Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

Yes, Restaurant C is Shui Wah. That leaves Restaurants B and E.

is E Saint's Alp Teahouse?

Yes indeed, Restaurant E is Saint's Alp Teahouse. Not too many other places in Chinatown with a hot red and orange color scheme that serve toast with butter and condensed milk as well as eel-seaweed salad.

That leaves only Restaurant B. I had a feeling that would be a tough one.

Not really Hong Kong style, but similar menu items. Moon Palace?

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Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

Not Moon Palace. Remember the hint: "All five restaurants have an Archer Avenue address (this would include Chinatown Square)." Here's another hint.

Chi Cafe, for the win.

Yes, Restaurant B is Chi Café. Thank you for identifying it; I'd run out of clues. That concludes this installment of Guess the Dolinsky.

This seemed like the best place to post this photo. Graham Elliot in his new shirt.

http://plixi.com/p/57707743

(from twitter)

I was a little surprised to see this one.

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Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

Another GTD? Lotus of Siam, not exactly a Chicago restaurant.

You are correct. There is no escaping the ever watchful Dolinsky!

_________________
Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child