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Tag Archives: Hainan

Green Zone – Organic and Tasty!

13 Friday Sep 2013

Posted by yummcha in Chinese food, Food, Lifestyle, Markets

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Chinese cuisine, Green Zone, Hainan, List of rice dishes, Restaurant, Rice, San Gabriel California, San Gabriel Valley

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First of all, it is already rather difficult to find a restaurant that serves organic dishes, but to find a Chinese restaurant that provides healthy, organic entrees, it is certainly a rarity.

Green Zone, a small yet very clean and comfortable place in the heart of San Gabriel Valley is a no doubt a needle in a haystack.

I must first clarify that not everything on the menu is organic, only those items specified organic are, and mainly that would be the vegetables, mushrooms, the buckwheat noodles, and the chicken.

I have heard about this restaurant for quite a while, and the reason I finally decided to go there today was so that I could get my son a take-out of the Organic Hainan Chicken Rice, since he does love the Hainan style Chicken Rice dish.

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Though the interior is not big, I did not feel crammed at all, in fact, it felt rather airy and serene. The waiters were efficient and helpful. I decided on an order of the Steamed Chive Gyoza with organic chicken as the appetizer. The ten pieces arrived on a round bamboo platter. Famished from a small breakfast, I immediately stuffed the dumplings into my eager mouth. The taste was light, the texture smooth and moist, just perfect. I gobbled six of them in less than 30 seconds, while my eating companion was slowing savoring his measly four.

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For the entree, I had the Vegetarian Sukiyaki, while my friend ordered the Beef Sukiyaki. The size of the two Sukiyaki pots were not too large, the ingredients inside tasted exceptionally fresh and delicious. All the vegetables were cooked perfectly, not too hard nor too soft, while retaining each of its own individual taste. I forgot to ask what they put into the wild rice, but it was the best rice I have ever had in a restaurant.

Even though I was not totally full, but I was extremely satisfied with the wonderful fresh ingredients and the unique tastes of all the dishes. I will certainly be back to try their curry dishes and the Satay Beef which looked so good from the table next to us.

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My son commented that the rice that came with the Organic Hainan Chicken Rice was exceedingly flavorful, different from all the other rice that he had before, and the chicken was quite terrific as well.

On one side of the restaurant, there are some organic produce, condiments and snacks that one can purchase, but the selection is limited. One would do better going to Whole Foods for more varieties of organic items.

Green Zone: 534 E. Valley Blvd. Ste. 4 &5, San Gabriel, CA 91776  Phone: 626-288-9300

http://www.greenzonerestaurant.com/

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King of Hainan Chicken Rice

11 Sunday Aug 2013

Posted by yummcha in Chinese food, Food

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Tags

Chicken, Cook, Hainan, Hainanese, Hainanese chicken rice, San Gabriel Valley, Savoy, Singapore

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The reason I decided to go to Tasty Choice for lunch was mainly for the Hainan Chicken Rice. If Savoy is the reigning Queen of Hainan Chicken Rice in the San Gabriel Valley area, then Tasty Choice could well be the King.

What is this simple and humble dish called Hainan Chicken?

Though the origin of this dish is Chinese, it is often associated with Singaporean, Malaysian, and Hainanese cuisines. The chicken is usually prepared in traditional Hainanese methods which involved steeping the entire chicken at sub-boiling temperature in a pork and chicken bone stock. The stock is not used for rice preparation, but instead a chicken stock is created specifically for that purpose, thus producing an oily, flavorful rice known as “oily rice”.

The chicken rice dish was actually not for myself. My son is a big fan of Hainan Chicken Rice, and had been yearning for some, so I decided I would have lunch there and bring back a take-out order for him. I had been getting him the one from Savoy until I tasted the one from Tasty Choice a while back. For about a dollar more, I ordered all dark meat. The chicken was lusciously tender, moist, and full of natural chicken flavor. The color of the rice was darker than most places and very fragrant.  I like the pickled vegetables on the side to balance out the dish. My son enjoyed the half boiled egg, and did admit that if he was forced to choose, he would favor the chicken rice here.

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As for myself, I enjoyed the Sole Fillet with Preserved Vegetable. A pan fried sole fillet smothered entirely and generously with dark green mustard green and small slices of shiitake mushrooms in a clear gravy. The mustard green is not too salty, and complimented the fish well. The fact that I can order mixed vegetables instead of rice to go with my dish is definitely a bonus.

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My eating companion ordered the simple but satisfying Tomato Beef Rice. After trying a bit, I thought it had a more intense, deeper and a more robust tomato flavor than other places, with the beef slices being tender and smooth.

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The lunch comes with a choice of hot or cold Lemon tea, Milk tea or Coffee and soup of the day, which was a extra thick creamy vegetable soup that I thought was rather excellent.

Tasty Choice: 200 S. San Gabriel Blvd. San Gabriel, CA 91776  Phone: 626-286-3338

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