(9) Asia Cafe

This blog has proved to be more challenging than I originally anticipated. It has been one week since my last post and I feel like my writing schedule has been quietly lost to the air like a single balloon. I can easily attribute this slip to numerous factors; work, my gregarious nature, yoga, eating out (purely for research...), reading, writer's block, and/or an endless pile of errands. I can even trick myself to think that my schedule slid because my subconscious wants to give some of you time to catch up on reading, or give others the sweet itch of anticipation for my next post...if only...Maybe it's that my lack of motivation simply stems from my lack of followers (so if you're out there reading, please show me- it will help!). But whatever scapegoat I choose to ride down this mountain of a task, in the end, I must acknowledge that one may have to sacrifice certain things and work diligently within the confines of their own schedule in order to prevail in a goal- whatever it may be. So without further ado, here is me pressing forward with my goal...

We crave it in the morning, we crave it in the evening, we crave it at suppertime. What is this mystery food I speak of? I'll give you a hint, it's not bagel bites. It's that dangerous and infinite cardboard box of food that your sleepy hand fumbles for in the fridge at 3AM while you think 'how did I get here?' in the voice of David Byrne as greasy noodles continue to fall into your mouth...or maybe that's just me? Regardless, I hope by now you've guessed that I'm talkin' Chinese food, and let me tell you, Americans eat an abundance of it. According to New York Times reporter Jennifer Lee, "There are more Chinese restaurants in this country than McDonalds, Burger King, and Kentucky Fried Chicken combined - some 40,000. Chinese restaurants are all over." I believe it. In fact, I can think of dozens of Asian restaurants in Austin (including one that I work at), but only one can win the 'Best Authentic and Cheap Chinese Food in Town' award and for me, that ribbon goes to directly to Asia Cafe. 

Asia Cafe might not be your first choice, but I think this is only due to issues of proximity, and therefore, anonymity. It's true, it's not located conveniently downtown so you may have never heard of it before, but next time you're cravin' Asian, please, do us both a favor and don't call the Chinese delivery guy around the corner. Instead, drive 15 minutes away to 8650 Spicewood Springs road and take a number at the Asia Cafe. 

My fortuitous first visit happened one day when my boyfriend told me he wanted to go on a leisurely, scenic drive. I should have known better. As soon as we hit the highway, I shot him a suspicious glance and he admitted he was kidnapping me to a Chinese restaurant. Rolling hills my ass! (He played this trick once before and we found ourselves at a horrific Vietnamese dive. We offered our untouched meal to a homeless man who took one look and kindly declined). At least this time my boyfriend chose wisely. Indeed, I will give him that. 

During my first trip, Asia Cafe was still tiny enough to fit in the back of the Asian Market (an Asian grocery store so authentic that it was reminiscent of my days spent in China -excluding the hanging ducks, cows, and live frogs of course). Since then, the small, yet popular restaurant moved from the back of the market to the large, empty lot next door, forming the spacious restaurant it is today. I went to the new location for the first time last week and saw that it still has the same great food and set up as before (an ordering counter, their usual soda can selection, and do-it-yourself cups of water), but everything else has been upgraded. The tables now have lovely oriental patterns on top, there is more artwork on the walls, and the whole place is bigger, brighter, and more welcoming than before. 

Eventually (and I say this because even with a typical Chinese menu, I take forever), we decided on egg rolls to split, I chose the shrimp and  vegetable lo mein, and my boyfriend got the chicken and broccoli and asked for it to be cooked in garlic sauce. I hate to admit it, but he definitely won the ordering contest. Don't get me wrong, I loved my lo mein- it was delicate and light, not at all drenched in a greasy sauce like most lo meins tend to be, but it did lack shrimp and vegetables. The chicken and broccoli on the other hand was impressive. It was piled high with white meat and tender broccoli. The flavorful garlic sauce is a must with this dish and we ended up dipping everything in it (including the egg rolls). The vegetable egg rolls were standard and crunchy, except they came with a applesauce-like dip that I didn't love, but didn't dislike either.

It was then that I decided there is a small person hiding underneath every Chinese restaurant table who has the job to secretly add more food to plates through discrete holes, or that Chinese food is made with intentions for leftovers. After twenty minutes of delicious, but endless noodles, I called the time of death to be about 1:30PM and boxed my leftovers into their cardboard coffin. On my next visit, I'm ordering the chicken and broccoli, or possibly the mango jumbo shrimp, but there will be a next time. In fact, maybe I'll go right now...  Menu

   

On a side note, my vegetable garden is looking fantastic! The tomato plant is growing strong, as are the peppers, basil, and carrot plants. We are still no where near harvesting, but our cucumbers began to sprout today and we replanted wild flowers that seem to finally be taking to the soil. I can't take all the credit though- or any really- as it has been raining more than usual here, saving them from my dismal watering attempts that seem to be drowning or parching the plants daily. Pictures soon!

(Picture: the Walmart in Beijing..."Always low prices!")