On 1/19/2010 19:51, dsi1 wrote:
> On 1/19/2010 2:19 PM, Janet Wilder wrote:
>> dsi1 wrote:
>>> On 1/19/2010 6:16 AM, James Silverton wrote:
>>>> Hello All!
>>>>
>>>> I note a recipe for Hot and Sour Soup by Jean B in r.f.recipes. It
>>>> looks
>>>> authentic using white pepper for heat. I wonder if any others are as
>>>> horrible as me and prefer a hotter version using Sriracha sauce?
>>>>
>>>
>>> The whole point of hot and sour soup is it's total reliance on
>>> black/white pepper and vinegar as it's main flavor components - that's
>>> rather unique. I don't add any Srichacha myself. OTOH, I can see how
>>> the taste of the soup might get kind of boring after a while.
>>
>> Hooray!!! Someone who understands the subtlety of hot and sour soup.
>> It's really more about the textures than the "hot" and "sour". An
>> authentic recipe will include all kinds of wonderful things like tiger
>> lily stems, tree ear mushrooms, shredded bamboo shoots and pieces of
>> firm bean curd.
>
> I remember frequenting a restaurant across the street from the place I
> used to work and ordering a bowl of that soup and a plate of rice with
> spicy beef. That was the special of the day although the "special" never
> seemed to change. As I recall, it cost $2.50.
>
> This must have been 25 or so years ago and I think that must have been a
> high point in my life as far as lunch goes. :-) Mostly, I'd eat alone
> and a couple of times I was joined by my wife. Either way, I enjoyed the
> experience greatly and felt like I was a king. It may be that given any
> dish, sooner or later, you'll reach the point where you no longer have
> the desire to eat another spoonful. In my case, with hot and sour soup,
> I haven't reached that point yet!
>
>>
>> Traditional Chinese cuisine is excellent by itself. I, personally, see
>> no reason to turn it into TexMex.
>>
>> YMMV
>>
>
Best hot & sour soup I know is in NYC Chinatown I . There is a little
hole in the wall dumpling place (that also makes probably the best pork
& chives dumplings you will ever have) that charges a whopping $1.25 for
a pint container.