A Feedbag Afoot      01/12/2009  

David Chang Speaks to Old White People

Impossible Reservation

Last night, in my ongoing quest to become an old Jewish man, I dropped by the 92nd Street Y. I was drawn by the presence of David Chang (of the Momofukus, just in case you live inside a cave inside of yet another cave), who was speaking on a small panel on Asian dining, which also featured The Fortune Cookie Chronicles author Jennifer 8. Lee and Steven Shaw, the rotund author of Asian Dining Rules and co-founder of eGullet. Mike Colameco (of Food Talk fame) moderated the whole discussion. Was it worth the arduous journey all the way from Brooklyn?

Yes, taking into account that the only competing source of entertainment on my schedule were old episodes of Battlestar Galactica. Everyone obviously wanted to hear the Changster wax poetic on his culinary genius, and this is what I learned:

  1. According to Chang, unlike other Asian cultures, Koreans don’t care that Westerners are intimidated by their kimchified food, thus explaining why Korean restaurants haven’t tailored their cuisine to Western palates and exploded in popularity. This made me love Korean food even more.
  2. At this time in his life, Mr. Chang feels that Japanese cuisine has the biggest influence on him, due to its insistence on simplicity and technique. He is especially impressed by their mastery of fish. (May I suggest a Momofuku sushi bar?)
  3. His favorite Momofuku dish is a new pho dish they put on the menu at Ssam Bar, which is, of course, heavy on meat and light on noodles.

Aside from the Chang-related talk, most of the discussion focused on Chinese food, leaving only cursory mentions of Vietnamese, Thai and other assorted Asian cuisines (including my native Filipino). Steven Shaw basically told white people from Uptown how to order real Chinese cuisine and Jennifer 8. Lee (greatest name ever, btw) tipped everyone off to the Hong Kong Supermarket in Flushing. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some General Tso’s chicken to finish.

-Keith Wagstaff

Comments

2 Responses to “David Chang Speaks to Old White People”

  1. DocChuck on January 12th, 2009 4:12 pm

    If it helped even one old Jewish guy to order Chinese food more skillfully, then it was well worth the trouble.

  2. therealchiffonade on January 12th, 2009 4:21 pm

    My late mother, Aida, would agree with DocChuck. She just loved Chinese takeout after working a double shift at the sewing factory.

    I mean on special holidays, after my father the milkman ran off with a 19-year old floozy, mother Aida just simply forgot how to cook pasta.

    So we really learned how to love Chinese takeout.

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