A jar of pounded chili sambal added both heat and salt to the appetizer. They were served in a bowl on shredded lettuce, and topped with bits of thinly sliced preserved vegetables and a thin, brown, salty-sweet sauce. Eight Szechwan Dumplings ($6.90), each a ruffle-edged half moon, were stuffed with seasoned meat and then steamed. Our server split a 21-ounce bottle of Tsing Tao beer ($6.75) between two iced mugs, which we sipped from while enjoying our starter and waiting for our tea to brew. Soft instrumental strains of strings and woodwinds played in the background as we ordered our first dish. Numerous depictions of pandas are displayed, some as poster art or water color, as well as one in stained glass. Bamboo of different sizes as well as fabrics are employed to divide the restaurant into smaller dining compartments. At Panda Inn, on the heavy wood tables, reusable chopsticks are conveniently held in a thick-walled bamboo vase, while a fork which was folded decoratively into a forest-green cloth napkin sits on each plate. Panda Inn’s menu incorporates these specialties, but also those of other regions, such as Korean Hot Platter Beef, and Indonesian Chicken with Satay sauce. Vegetables are often pickled and preserved. The cuisine uses numerous seasonings and spices, especially ginger, garlic and green onions. The popular Mushu pancakes originated in the region. Noodle dishes and steamed buns filled with meat such as barbecue pork are commonplace. Wheat grows well there, and is the main source of starch rather than rice. Northern China experiences cold, dry winters and hot summers. Given that our teens can now be trusted not to throw rice on the floor, I turned to our parent community to find out where they are going in Santa Cruz County right now.Tasty recipes and charming service are customary at the Panda Innįor 30 years, the Panda Inn has served specialties of Northern Chinese cuisine from its location in the Deer Park Center in Aptos. Any place with a nice fish tank was a bonus, too.īut that was years ago. Back then, Capitola had a train-themed deli, which was a big hit. In Asian restaurants, we loved restaurants that had quick service and were forgiving of rice being thrown on the floor, such as Panda Inn in Aptos or Real Thai on Seabright. When our kids were younger, we sought out places that had outdoor seating and casual atmospheres. My daughter is usually content with that!” “Side of steamed veggies, side mashed potatoes or pasta, side of avocado, side grilled chicken or whatever- and you’re set. “I’ve always found that even if there isn’t a kids’ menu, or if there is a lame one, just order sides!” points out Tamara Dow. You can’t necessarily judge by the kids’ menu. One former beloved local institution, when we visited, claimed that their high chair was “broken.” It turned out that their high chair was always “broken”! One rather fancy Italian restaurant doted on our older child when he was a messy toddler and always had a clean chair for him. In my years of taking kids to restaurants, I found that it was hard to predict which ones would be welcoming.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |