Shalom Beijing

[magid]

Some time ago (months, but I don't have a clear idea of how many), one of the two kosher Chinese restaurants in Brookline changed names (Shalom Hunan to Shalom Beijing), and also management, I think. I hadn't managed to get there, but my brother had and gave it high marks. Last Thursday, I went there, and was very impressed. The menu was very different, including many dishes I've not seen before, such as a spicy cucumber salad, lamb with cumin and sesame, a potato dish. It was hard to choose what to try. We got three main dishes:

• the lamb with cumin and sesame, which came with lots of fresh cilantro (the freshness making it easier to eat around, anyway). It was very spicy, and tasted more Indian than Chinese to me. Very good, even with the cilantro to avoid.
  
• beef with peanuts, which had some peanuts (not tons, so not overwhelmingly peanut (a good thing)), and some veggies. The beef was incredibly tender, the pieces thicker than I'd expected, too.
  
• spicy veggies (or was it technically broccoli, with other veggies thrown in too?) with garlic sauce, which had a nice level of heat, and the sauce was thin, not a gloopy 'brown sauce' at all.

So, very yummy, and there were all these neat things on the menu that I wanted to try, so there was much to look forward to.

Until I got home, and checked my email, and found that they're going to be going trayf (non-kosher), starting Wednesday (tomorrow, that is, the first of the Nine Days). Dang.

I'm thinking of going today and getting something meat for today and a couple of non-meat dishes for the next couple of days, even though Chinese food is best fresh.

Darn it.

Comments

[gothtique.livejournal.com]

My neurologist is in brookline and I lived there long ago...
I LOVE KOSHER CHINESE FOOD!
I noticed that the place I remembered had changed names.
It is not like I get into that part of the world as often as I used to,
but that is one thing I really miss.
Do they do Dim Sum on sundays?
For that I would consider making the trip!

[magid.livejournal.com]

Alas, I've not found the rumors of dim sum on Sundays at either kosher place to be substantiated. I'd love to try dim sum someday.

There's still Taam China in Brookline, and they now have a location in Newton near Rtes. 128 and 9 (not that that's closer to you, but depending on where you travel....).

If I manage a trip up to your store, I can try to bring Chinese... What are your favorites?

[bitty.livejournal.com]

I'd love to try dim sum someday.

Are chicken feet kosher?

[magid.livejournal.com]

Technically, yes. If you get them from a kosher-slaughtered chicken. I don't know whether I'm that brave, though.

[gothtique.livejournal.com]

thanks... but you don't need to bring lunch just to come and see me!

[magid.livejournal.com]

Well, sure, but it's always nice to bring people things they like :-).

(Really, what I need to do is figure out when to come up after the person moving into your area is there, to see your shop, bring you food, and bring her a particular book.)

[fetteredwolf.livejournal.com]

I heard that too- what happened?

[magid.livejournal.com]

All the emails I've gotten have been annoyingly story-free, alas. If I hear anything I'll pass it along.

My first guess would be that they didn't get enough kosher people in, since the location isn't so convenient compared to where people are/do the rest of their shopping.

[magid.livejournal.com]

I talked to the mashgiach, and he said the final decision by the owner was last week (the 16th, maybe?). No backstory, though.

[cellio]

Bummer!

[magid.livejournal.com]

Yeah... there were a number of things on the menu I'd've liked to try, including a meat dish with something and "Funny Pepper", a hot and sour potato dish (?), tea-smoked duck, and a meat dish with woodears and cucumber. There were more, but those stuck out in memory (I'd've snagged a menu if they'd had take-out ones, but they didn't. Alas.).

[cellio]

*drool*

I have not had duck since starting to keep kosher. I didn't eat it a lot before, but it's been, what, eight years now? I'd like to taste it again. (No kosher establishments here do it, the butcher doesn't carry it, and even if he did I wouldn't know how to cook it.)

[magid.livejournal.com]

The only time I remember having duck is at Brandeis; every once in a while there were special meals (the other thing I remember having at one of those meals was ribs, which were also a first for me, and also yummy).

The other kosher Chinese restaurant offers duck, but it's definitely a splurge item. And while the butcher has frozen duck (and some duck parts), I, too, am not sure how to cook it (I've read too many stories about all the fat causing fires and such).

If you do end up in metro Boston at some point, duck experiments will be in order :-)

(I'd think the online kosher grocer/butcher places would have it, if you felt truly impelled to experiment at home... Though perhaps shipping meat is a bit easier in any season other than this one.)

PS

[magid.livejournal.com]

Might be worth talking to the butcher if you did want to buy it; he (I know, it's sexist, but butchers do seem to tend to be male) might be able to order it. If it requires buying a case, perhaps friends would be interested?