adventures in eating: chinese in flushing, queens

I have never been a picky eater. for those closest to me (in the figurative and literal sense of the word), I am quite vocal about the fact that for (the majority of) my whole life, there have only been two foods that I absolutelypositivelywillnot eat - 1) mayonnaise 2) mushrooms.

recently, I've decided that these specific aversions are childish and must be changed. if I am to sign onto my new lease on adult life, I must let go of these culinary boundaries and embrace the frontiers of adventurous eating. which I did today.

the dining editors of iny and I took a trip to flushing queens to cover some of the cheaper eats beat for next year's guide. I am all about chinese food -- there wasn't nearly enough of the good stuff in los angeles, and one of my favorite city restaurants happens to be congee village (...a chinese restaurant on allen/delancey, if you hadn't gleaned from the casual direction in which I was headed). the journey was a long, 7-train rollercoaster ride, but as I exited the main st. subway station, I found myself out of nyc and halfway across the world. never have I felt so far away from home while maintaining a visual of the manhattan skyline.

a feast of oxtail noodle soup, dumplings, stuffed buns, lamb burgers, cold vegetable noodles, trotters (that's right folks -- pigs feet), tripe, spicy sausage, egg custard, creamyflaky pastry, shaved ice later and approximately $13/person later, I patted my back and a full belly for confronting the unusual and unconventional with an open mind and open mouth.

I still don't really like mayonnaise -- I won't order it willingly, but won't fuss like a tiny, gagging baby if it's around. mushrooms remain another story. no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to enjoy them like most other, self-respecting grown-ups do. no foodie is perfect. not that I could even begin to label myself as such. after spending the past few weeks in the office with some true foodies, I see that I have more than a long way to go. but I am prepared to eat my way there.