"Melba's Jammin'" > wrote in message
...
>I went northeast yesterday to spend some time with my sister and to make
> a stop at Ready Meats (http://www.readymeats.com/) for beef bones and
> chicken backs for soups. The plan was to shop at the meat market, have
> dinner with sis and then proceed to a book reading by Al Sicherman,
> reading from his book, "Geezer Salad."
>
> I was ahead of my schedule ("It's a murrcle!!") and killed some time at
> whatever they're calling the retail & residential development where
> Apache Plaza used to be. I scoped a possible place for dinner, Pei Wei.
> I'd never heard of it and was surprised to see that it's affiliated with
> P.F. Chang restaurants. You order at a counter and your food is
> prepared and delivered to your table, like Culver's.
>
> My udon noodle bowl with shrimp was $7.50, Julie's beef lo mein noodle
> bowl was $6.50. She had a coupon for an order of free spring rolls. I
> was dismayed at how greasy the spring rolls (a deep fried egg roll)
> were, how greasy my udon dish was, and how greasy her lo mein was. Just
> about slid out of the place. The lo mein sauce was sweeter than my udon
> sauce. Next time I'd order the lo mein except that I don't think there
> will *be* a next time. Table service was prompt, the order-taker was
> efficient and friendly; no problems with staff.
>
> Overall, though, I'd have been more satisfied if we'd gone to Culver's <
> and I forgot that there is one very near to where we were.
>
> Live and learn.
> --
> -Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ


Barb,

Pei Wei is one of my husband's favorite lunch spots...but he eats only a few things
there. We've never done any of the noodles so I don't know if the greasiness is a
Minnie Soda thing or what. Brian likes the Kung Pao chicken with the brown rice
instead of white. We also like the Asian Chopped Chicken salad. They put in alot of
shredded chicken, but it's rather finely shredded so it's easy to eat with a chopped
salad. And the won tons add a nice texture boost. When I go, which is rare, I get the
lettuce wraps and a Buddha's Belly, which is a pot of steamed veggies. I love that
because they don't over-cook them at all. And they always have orange slices up by
the tea, which I like to squeeze a couple over the veggies.

So...if you do go back, get some lettuce wraps and the chopped salad...and if you
like spicy, try the Kung Pao. It's not breaded like so many places do nowadays, and
comes with snap peas.

Oh, and, next time you find yourself at P.F. Changs, if you do, they have the *best*
vegetarian dumplings I've ever had.

kimberly