"Secret" Cantonese Menu - Vegging out!

It is the day of Pride and we are ravenous, raring to grab a pre-Out In The Park feast. We have our Cantonese-speaking companion with us today, so we take advantage and order off the paper menu at the counter. Morning Glory and Potato Strips and Tofu Oh My! Almost a vegetarian feast, although not quite... (more on that later).

First up: Potato Strips Salad: a plentiful pile of potato on a plate! The potato is tender, yet with a satisfying bite. Served room temperature, with a tangy vinegar dressing and little gems of dried chilli tossed throughout. A veritable carb-fest. The strands are slippery and challenging for chopsticks (or perhaps I am just inept) and I drop several in my lap. Luckily the vinegar dressing is light in colour as I am wearing a dry-clean-only article of clothing, which shows a serious lack of foresight. We also receive three portions worth of rice in a massive bowl, for more carb-on-carb action.

It's Tofu Time, and what a grand old time it is. Succulent rectangles of soft tofu, golden on the outside but soft on the inside. Spring onion, black fungus get among us! Like a lot of Chinese fare though, it does contain ribbons of pork, so it may pay to ask for a vegetarian version of this if you are so inclined. The dark and savoury gloopy sauce soaks our mountain of rice nicely. It is some of the best tofu I have eaten, and I have been to Japan, the Masters of Tofu, several times.

Finally our "Morning Glory" arrives. A tangle of glorious green, flecked with white garlic. Much garlic. It is also known as "Tong Choy" or "Ong Choy" or "Water Spinach" in English. This is stirred in garlic, and what my Cantonese companion tells me is fermented beancurd paste with gives it a wicked umami kick. For me it is the highlight of the meal, and I stuff myself guilt-free as it is, after all only vegetable. I wonder if they would do a half portion, as I would very much like to order it again, but I often dine alone and the mound of greenery is simply too much for one. Maybe it would reheat later nicely like the Green Beans And Pork Mince does? A canned herbal tea to finish off the meal and we are stuffed, ready for a nap.

Would I order again? Yes, everything. Especially the tong choy. What a wonderful way to get your 5+!