Orange Garden, Tuesday March 18th, 7:00 p.m.

Ever since seeing the Edward Hopper show, I can't get his bewitching image of a New York chop suey joint out of my mind.



When did I last see an American fantasia of the "Orient" and when did I last eat chow mein, lo mein, war mein, chow fun, egg foo young, chop suey, pressed duck, or egg drop soup. This is a part of our culinary history.



Following upon the great success of our dinner at of the tres retro Charcoal Oven in Skokie, I propose a group venture to Orange Garden, Chicago's best known Chop Suey restaurant. The Chicago Tribune describes their chop suey as follows: "Limp noodles, sprouts, port, beneath a vaguely brown viscera of starch. Watery, overcooked and cloyingly sweet. The Garden itself, a pre-war relic of Anglicized Asian kitsch, barely altered since Truman was in office."

Three stars from Phil Vettel (just kidding).

Tuesday March 18th, 7:00 p.m.

Orange Garden
1942 W. Irving Park Road
773-525-7479

Gary, you certainly have a flair for making a place sound appetizing. Nevertheless, having organized the lunch at Phoenix Inn, I'm interested to try Orange Garden.

I can't commit yet, but let me strongly recommend an after dinner rendezvous just one block east to Katerina's, a truly wonderful venue that happens to have a terrific jazz/ R&B show starting at 8:30. I saw Typhanie Monique about 2 years ago and thought she was fantastic. Also, if you find the food at Orange Garden as inedible as I sometimes do, you'll be able to order Katerina's delicious charcoal grilled calamari with lemon and garlic, her bold flavored skorthalia, or her dad's family recipe for pork braised in red wine. The food at Katerina's is not extraordinary, but it's always good, healthy, and freshly made.

I'll let you know in a few days if I will be around on the 18th. Hope to make it.

Even though I just hate the food here, I'm probably in as I love the place so much.

I've been wanting to eat at this terrible restaurant forever. Count me in.

Current attendees as of March 6th:

GAF
riddlemay + 1
Vital Information
nr706
GWiv +1 (?)
Cathy2

I am told that Orange Garden is BYOB.

No way I'm missing this one, count me in for one with a possible plus one.

Hi,

I have a meeting at 4 PM on the near northside. I am very likely coming to Orange Garden. If this meeting extends further than I imagine, then I will call someone in the group to warn of my absence.

My maternal grandfather very late in life got turned on to shrimp with lobster sauce. Orange Garden was his preferred location. I picked up for him there, though I never dined on the premises.

Last year the Chinese American Museum of Chicago gave a presentation to Chicago Foodways Roundtable. One of their dreams has been to find a Chinese restaurant owned for several generations by the same family. They were hoping to reap the historical riches of what may have been stored in their basement. Orange Garden had a change of ownership within the last 10-20 years. They learned from the new owner the basement was loaded with all this stuff that he immediately cleared out. Goodness knows if the stuff really would have been what the museum was looking for. However they were very disappointed by this missed opportunity. FYI- they are still looking for this opportunity, if anyone learns of anything.

Regards,

I've said this before, but I really have no problem with O.G.'s egg rolls, "bbq" rib app, wonton soup, egg foo young and fried rice. For Americanized Chinese chow, I haven't found better anywhere close by, although if you stray too far from these items, I can't guarantee a satisfying experience. Also, the outside of this place is more appealing than the inside-so I've never eaten in. I'd be interested to hear how this event turns out.

Wish I could make it. I've been traveling and eating out way too much lately, and have just 3 days in Chicago of the next 14. I'm gonna spend them at home.

Gary, there's a good chance I will not be there tonight. If I can make it, I can, but don't count me in if you don't see me--it's not like there's limited space at Orange Garden!

Anyways, I look forward to the pics.

Can't quite shake this flu. I could show up and share my germs with everyone, or ...

GAF,

A very nice evening which I have posted about in the main Orange Garden thread

Enjoy,
Gary