On a scale of 1-10

My sister thinks I have burned my palate with my Siracha and chili sauce.  I haven’t burned my palate, or at least hadn’t until last Friday.  I was finally able to visit a restaurant here in Philadelphia called Han Dynasty.  I had heard great things about this restaurant and seen it on any number of blogs and lists of must-visits.  So finally, last week, with a group of unsuspecting work colleagues, I went to lunch.  Their menu has numbers in parentheses next to each item. We asked what they meant and found out they were a spice level on a scale of 1-10.

We started with the won tons in hot garlic oil which had a rating of 6.  Good to know.  Six was hot.  Seriously hot.  One of colleagues took one bite and cried, literally.  I will admit to a tear myself.  Nice.  I liked.  The food was good.  My “entrée” was Dan Dan noodles.  Supposedly, this is one of their signature dishes.  It had a spice level of six as well.  Once I tasted the won tons, I was a tad worried about the noodles.  Turns out it was fine.  Either my mouth really was burned at that point, or my dish wasn’t as hot when not dripping in pure chili oil.

Others were a bit nervous as well, after seeing us cry.  But all was well.  One person ordered something as a 1, since they told her they couldn’t go any lower without changing ingredients.  Others ordered level 3 and seemed to do okay.  At one point, when I thought everyone was cruising along just fine, my colleague saw a waiter with a water pitcher and said, “he just better bring that pitcher over here!”  We all laughed.  Seemingly okay was actually just a good cover.  We had a great lunch.  I am not only not scared, I’m intrigued.  I will definitely go back and sample more of their offerings.  But I do think it is safe  say, here in front of all of you, oh hell no I’m not trying a level 10.  What in the world is that about? And can you even taste the food at that point?  I love a good Man vs. Food episode as much as the next person, but I’m not living it!

Life changing?  No.  The build-up on those noodles was a bit much for me, but the food was good and I will definitely return.  Thursday, actually.  But what really makes me laugh, as I try new restaurants around Philadelphia, is finding the ones to share with my family, and now, finding some that I won’t.  I chuckled out loud full knowing I would never bring my sister to this particular restaurant.  My mom, back in the day, would have eaten this place up – literally.

But this wasn’t the end to my Asian culinary adventures.  Over the weekend, I needed a quick stop for lunch.  No sooner had I decided that a bowl of soup sounded good when I stumbled on Nom Nom Ramen.  I had heard that noodle bars were in but never tried one.  This place is a long way from college dinners magically emerging from a plastic package.  It’s a small place, nothing fancy but they make a nice bowl of soup.  And who doesn’t like ramen? The best part, they can make it without mushrooms.  You just have to love that! Warm, quick, satisfying and fun.  Now that’s a good lunch.

My friend Loretta told me that she had never eaten as much Chinese food in her life as she did with me.  I always did take that as a compliment.

Finishing the week with a family latke fest of epic proportions, which still has my apartment smelling like McDonald’s, it was a very good week for eating.

Happy holidays to all and happy eating!