Josephine and the Duchess are in.

EatChicago + petit pois + Mom (Rose) (3)
Cathy2 (1)
The Geberts (4)
Evil Ronnie + The Lovely Donna + Marisa, The Empress of Japan (3)
jesteinf + 2 (3)
The VI Family (4)
The JoelF Family (5)
Giovanna (1)
mhl (1)
kuhdo, Phyllis, Molly, and Gabe (4)
leek + DH (2)
Stagger (1)
brotine + Barb + son + daugher-in-law (4)
Josephine and The Duchess of Birmingham (2)

Total: 38

I only regret that I already have plans with my other family for a Christmas Eve dinner at Sabatino's. Okay, I do not regret it that much, since the extended family and Sabatino's will be a crazy hoot that night, but this sounds great, too.

Happy, happy to all.

Vital Information wrote:Here's another chance to help:

On Christmas AM, the VI family is helping to prepare breakfast for about 40 at the West Surburban PADS emergency shelter.

We would welcome anyone who wants to come work with us that morning--think 7-9 AM.

or

If you are so inspired, we would anyone coming to Lee Wing Wah, to bring some breakfast type of food such as home made muffins, quiche, strada (or is that strata); stuff that can be re-heated or easily served the next day.

PM me if you want to volunteer or bring at dinner.

Rob

I'm still hoping that some of the people at dinner on Sunday night can bring a dish that can be served on Monday AM breakfast.

Muffins, coffee cake, etc. are good ideas.

HI,

My double ovens remain MIA. However my elderly 1930's enamel cast iron stove has been pressed into service for perhaps the first time since the 1967 blizzard. The stove and I will endeavor to bring a coffee cake.

Regards,

Adding one more guest. My mother will be joining us. She's looking forward to meeting many of my "food friends".

Best,
Michael

My +1 found a ride home so its just me.

Vital Information wrote:I'm still hoping that some of the people at dinner on Sunday night can bring a dish that can be served on Monday AM breakfast.

Muffins, coffee cake, etc. are good ideas.

Jill and I are going to make a few dozen sweet cream biscuits. They'll need to be gently warmed in an oven before serving, or else they'll be hard and dry.

eatchicago wrote:

Vital Information wrote:I'm still hoping that some of the people at dinner on Sunday night can bring a dish that can be served on Monday AM breakfast.

Muffins, coffee cake, etc. are good ideas.

Jill and I are going to make a few dozen sweet cream biscuits. They'll need to be gently warmed in an oven before serving, or else they'll be hard and dry.

Thanks, also thanks to Suzy and Cathy2 who volunteered.

Vital Information wrote:

Vital Information wrote:Here's another chance to help:

On Christmas AM, the VI family is helping to prepare breakfast for about 40 at the West Surburban PADS emergency shelter.

We would welcome anyone who wants to come work with us that morning--think 7-9 AM.

or

If you are so inspired, we would anyone coming to Lee Wing Wah, to bring some breakfast type of food such as home made muffins, quiche, strada (or is that strata); stuff that can be re-heated or easily served the next day.

PM me if you want to volunteer or bring at dinner.

Rob

I'm still hoping that some of the people at dinner on Sunday night can bring a dish that can be served on Monday AM breakfast.

Muffins, coffee cake, etc. are good ideas.

Rob,

if you guys would like to stop by our house on your way to Chinatown, I could contribute a loaf of Julekake.

Amata

OK. We're confirmed for tomorrow 12/24, Lee Wing Wah, 6pm.

I've reserved a party of 40 under the name "Michael".

Lee Wing Wah is near the southwest end of the Chinatown mall.

If you want to plan ahead, here's the menu.

See you all tomorrow.

Best,
Michael

Our daughter has the flu and we will be unable to attend.

Suzy

sdritz wrote:Our daughter has the flu and we will be unable to attend.

Suzy

Very sorry to hear that. I hope she gets better soon. Happy New Year.

Best,
Michael

After a couple closing hour shifting, we've got a couple slots open if anyone out there has no dinner plans tonight.

Best,
Michael

Thanks to Michael for minimally organizing (but most definitely inspiring) another great event, thanks to Kuhdo for actually ordering at our table, thanks to Cathy2 for chopsticks for my kids, thanks to all LTHers present for good conversation, a truly convivial Christmas spirit (you can always count on a bunch of Jews eating Chinese food for that), and the near-close to another great year of sharing, caring and deep-fried fish heads.

Merry Christmas, all,

Mike G

Mike G wrote:

That photo. What an excellent embodiment of the LTH spirit. The woman on the right passionately describing something (probably a taste or ingredient), the guy in the middle totally and respectfully absorbed in the verbal description, weighing the accuracy and validity of her claims; the woman on the left excited and awed by rare morsel set before her...and towering over all, a delicious-looking fish head that might scare off mere mortals, but which to those of LTH seems to burble "Aw c'mon: Eat my brain."

Hammond

Mike G wrote:

This picture alone makes me further regret my decision to eat Jewel ham and canned Busch's Baked Beans at my BIL's house instead of blowing it off in favor of the LTHForum Jewish X-Mas Eve Chinatown Dinner...of course that would have been a marriage ending decision.

As Mike G said, it took minimal planning, but often times those turn out to be some of the best events. A couple posts on this board and a couple phone calls to Lee Wing Wah and we've got a X-mas Eve party for 39.

It wasn't until halfway through the evening that I realized my camera was on some bizaare setting, so many of my early photos are a mess. Anyway, here's how we lined up:





Presenting steamed oysters in black bean sauce...


...which were each bigger than your palm.


Carving the whole steamed pike


Salt & pepper shrimp


Stagger carves the traditional Christmas bird's nest


and what trip to Chinatown would be complete without a crispy chicken?

Full flickr photoset here

It was great to see so many faces, old and new. I had a great time and I can't wait until next year. My only regret at these big events is that I don't get the opportunity to chat with everyone. Thanks to Evil Ronnie, Stagger, and DH for quarterbacking the ordering for our table.

It was great to see so many faces, old and new. I had a great time and I can't wait until next year.

(Read about the first LTHForum Jewish X-Mas Eve Chinatown Dinner here)

Best,
Michael

An Australian blogger asked for pictures of how folks around the world celebrate Christmas, so I sent the fish head pic and a little description of the event-- check out number 6.

I'm off to doggie sit for Jamison22 but I'll post the pics I have when I get home tonigh(not many that haven't been covered but there are a few. For now, I'll just have to enjoy the Chengdu dumplings and sichuan wantons I picked up for Lao Sze Chan on the walk back to my car

David Hammond wrote:That photo. What an excellent embodiment of the LTH spirit.

Seems a nice time was had by all, including the fish.

Mike G wrote:An Australian blogger asked for pictures of how folks around the world celebrate Christmas, so I sent the fish head pic and a little description of the event-- check out number 6.

"You don’t go hungry when the Jews are in charge of Christmas".



That's gold, Mike.

Definitely a great time had by all. We had a wonderful time dining with JoelF and family as well as Erik M. I think the highlight at our table was the Salt & Spicy Squid, which was served piping hot and perfectly crisp.

Well, imagine my surprise when I logged into Tim Blair's site and saw discussion of the LTH dinner! The internet is a wonderful thing, version 1,000,001.

Wish I were there, even though it was a lovely 60 degree day here in Los Angeles....

Just a few more pics for your enjoyment



Cold Jellyfish



Fried Squab



Salt and Pepper Tofu



Fish Head & Cilantro Soup (minus any traces of actuall fish head)

Stagger wrote:Fish Head & Cilantro Soup (minus any traces of actuall fish head)

Easily the biggest disappointment of the night for me. It was actually supposed to be fish head, preserved egg, and cliantro soup. I had envisioned a big bowl of soup (much like the one pictured) with a large fish head sticking out like the sinking hull of the Titanic, surrounded by little hunks of preserved egg icebergs.

What we were served was basically a viscous cilantro soup with little bits of ground meat in it that seemed like beef. There was a mild fish flavor to it, but barely discernible.

Thanks for the pics, Stagger. The squab/pigeon was quite good.

Best,
Michael

For a place with no fewer than 7 different duck dishes on the menu, the ducky comments have been surprisingly absent. I take it the whole dinner was nothing to quack home about.

eatchicago wrote: I had envisioned a big bowl of soup (much like the one pictured) with a large fish head sticking out like the sinking hull of the Titanic...

Too bad... but that is a squab head sticking out of the pile of bird parts, is it not?

A bit more graphic even than the duck tongue at the LTH Holiday party...

germuska wrote:

eatchicago wrote: I had envisioned a big bowl of soup (much like the one pictured) with a large fish head sticking out like the sinking hull of the Titanic...

Too bad... but that is a squab head sticking out of the pile of bird parts, is it not?

Yeah, but you can never have too much.....

David Hammond wrote: a delicious-looking fish head that might scare off mere mortals, but which to those of LTH seems to burble "Aw c'mon: Eat my brain."

Hammond

Not brain...cheeks, and the demure looking young lady to my left and I clashed violently over them, leading to the only ugly moment of the night. It was only after she threatened to bludgeon me with a crispy skinned chicken leg that I allowed her to prevail. Aside from that unfortunate incident it was a great time and a fine meal. Count us in for next year (circumstances permitting of course).