Father's Day Special - Sidewalk Chicken

hello my dear food family!

in celebration of father's day, we will be promoting a new set menu for the weekend special. we really are calling this dish "sidewalk chicken". there are numerous reasons why this new special has this name, but mainly it's in remembrance of the fathers in our family. so, put in your reservations and I'll tell you the story for dinner. the menu size will be very similar to the Beijing duck menu as in it will be a five course meal, so we do ask for a minimum of two people. see you all soon!

quack quack!
kelly

ps, can someone rescue me and teach me how to insert pictures from my computer into my posts? i have to tease you guys somehow!

I don't know if the forum could handle pictures direct from Sun Wah...my monitor might explode! However, there's a thread on this very subject here and here. Good luck!

Could you post some details about the special? What it includes and the pricing? Thanks.

ok, you guys asked for it! (hopefully this will work)

enjoy!
kelly

ok, so my handiwork's a little shoddy. but at least you guys can see pictures now...yay!!! anyway, it's time for me to drive back to chicago so i will post the story about our sidewalk chicken later. price for the meal is $28. the setup is very similar to the beijing duck. it will be five courses. pickles, the chicken enjoyed two ways, congee, crown daisies, and dessert. please call to make a reservation because this chicken takes a while to prepare and i would prefer to have you guys in there eating and not waiting too long for me...keekeekee!!! see you all soon!

quack quack!
kelly

ok, so, story time.

once upon a time, long long ago, in a far away place called new york...hehehe..seriously, sidewalk chicken was "invented" by my grandfather (father's side). when dad started sun wah in new york twenty some odd years ago, both sets of our grandparents had just had their papers approved to immigrate to the states to live with us. when they arrived, both our grandfathers helped out at the restaurant. they would cook our famous salt-baked chicken in a big 55 gallon oil barrel over charcoal in a big wok out in the sidewalk in front of the restaurant. the smell wafted around chinatown and the chickens were usually sold out before they were done cooking.

so, as a tribute to them and the dads in the restaurant that are teaching us kids the trade, we are serving an updated version of our new york style sidewalk chicken for father's day. this chicken needs a minimum cooking time of 2 hours and 45 mins for preparation, please be sure to make your reservations early. we will serve it early if you like so feel free to make reservations for friday and saturday. the price is $28 for the meal and since it's such a large meal, we do ask that the minimum reservation is for two people.

i would tell you a longer story here, but then what would i have left to talk about when you guys come in, right?? hahaha!! good night and see you all soon!

quack quack!
kelly

What a nice story, thank you!

leek wrote:What a nice story, thank you!

Wonderful story, interesting pictures, looking forward to trying Sidewalk Chicken.

LTH,

After a interesting and thought provoking Localvore talk at Kendall by Rob Gardner (VitalInformation) a group of 20 adjourned to Sun Wah for Sidewalk Chicken, which chock-full of good ideas Cathy2 had set up in advance.

Kelly took the Sidewalk Chicken reins and, quite the raconteur, decanted, carved, answered questions from the inquisitive group of Localvores, Culinary Historian Roundtable members and LTHForum members.

Kelly w/Sidewalk Chicken





Sidewalk Chicken, which is similar to Haka style salt baked chicken, was served with steamed buns, an incredibly tasty puree of ginger/scallion/oil/salt and Steve Z suggested pickles. In addition to sliced meat for bun placement three other courses were included, stir fried Crown Daisies, Congee with shredded Sidewalk Chicken and meaty leg/thigh quarters and wings. Congee, neutral flavored on it's own, was perked by the addition of red vinegar and the scallion/ginger mix.

Sidewalk Chicken Leg/Thigh


Congee


Crown Daises


We ordered a few other dishes, though we ended up taking portions of Sidewalk Chicken home, a fan favorite Pork with bean sprouts on crisp noodles and a mildly disappointing Wild Caught soft shell crab. I was a bit late to lunch and our table had already tried both the $4 soft shell, which is farm raised and shipped frozen, and the $7 Wild soft shell, which I later found out had been frozen as well, and were adamant that the $4 soft shell was not only tastier but less expensive. I had previously had the $4 soft shell, and wanted to try the $7 Wild I had to see for myself. JustJoan, you were absolutely correct, the $4 was better on all counts.

Wild Caught Soft Shell Crab


The most surprising thing about our interesting and delicious meal was the price, a very reasonable $20 per person including tax and tip.

Thanks again to Rob for the interesting Localvore talk and to Cathy2 for setting up a terrific lunch with Sun Wah.

Enjoy,
Gary

Cathy2, thanks for sweetening the pot for my talk by arranging this lunch afterwards. If the trek to Sun Wah from Kendall College was not the easiest, the warmth of Kelly and the flavor of the sidewalk chickens more than made up for any hassle. Sun Wah's always been a treasure, and it just keeps on getting better. The daisies, a spinach-ish type of dish may not have been local, but they were more than good. I also have to taut the smelts that our table ordered. How good? My daughters have now asked me to buys some and make them at home.

Thanks all for coming to my talk and thanks for the most enjoyable lunch afterwards.