Double Li lunch, Thursday 3/25 noon [past event]

Friends -

Double Li is up for GNR renewal, and usually worth a bite in any season; I'm hoping you'll join me this Thursday (March 25) at noon to build some ordering power. I'll call to see if Ben will be there to guide us through some lesser-traveled items; if he's not, a standard plan of attack might include twice-cooked pork with leeks, shredded duck, octopus hot pot, dry chili chicken, and garlic black pepper tenderloin. Fruit tea from the Joy Yee window and breath mints at Ajiichiban are the customary followup! Post here to let me know how many to expect.

Double Li
228 W. Cermak
Chicago, IL
312 842-7818

-Matt

Sounds great --count me in!

I'd really like to join you, but it will depend on my workload that day. Please count me in. If I have to cancel, I'll let you know as soon as I can.

Thanks for organizing,
Ronna

Sounds great, count me in.

Wasn't sure if I could go, but it looks like I'm free, count me in.

Maribeth

I'm set for trial that morning. If it doesn't go I will attempt to show up there. I can't believe I haven't gotten over to Scooter's yet during this renewal. <sigh>

pairs4life wrote:I'm set for trial that morning. If it doesn't go I will attempt to show up there. I can't believe I haven't gotten over to Scooter's yet during this renewal. <sigh>

I live across the street and must admit, I haven't been over yet although I've looked in the window several times. It just still feels too chilly for ice cream

Had an excellent meal here last weekend. Tendon, dumplings, eggplant in garlic sauce, shredded duck stir fry--all excellent.

Favor to ask: will you inquire and report back as to what the "hot pot buffet" entails? Seemed like everyone in the joint but us was ordering it.

chezbrad wrote:Had an excellent meal here last weekend. Tendon, dumplings, eggplant in garlic sauce, shredded duck stir fry--all excellent.

Favor to ask: will you inquire and report back as to what the "hot pot buffet" entails? Seemed like everyone in the joint but us was ordering it.

Will do! Might be a weekend-only thing but will figure it out either way. This would have been the weekend for hot pot (snow)!

I have a +1 for lunch as well if that's ok.

boudreaulicious wrote:I have a +1 for lunch as well if that's ok.

That'll be fine. We'll order pretty quick after 12 to keep things moving for those that have to get back to work, so if you have a particular request other than the dishes named above, please post it here (check the main Double Li thread for inspiration).

Mapo Tofu, Eggplant with garlic sauce, pocket tofu (lite tofu), lamb w/cumin, peapod leaves with garlic and yellow chives with roasted duck. i realize we probably don't have enough people to order all of this but I'm sure we can't go wrong with any combo!!

thanks for organizing,

Jen

Black pepper garlic beef, homemade bacon, Dungeness crab in preserved egg yolk and anything boudreaulicious just listed. People where are you? We clearly need more ordering power, come join us.

My only request is the fish fillet in chili broth, my favorite dish at my last Double Li group lunch. If you're seeking more guidance, I'm also a huge fan of the twice-cooked pork and the eggplant in garlic sauce. But, heck, I'm sure it'll be great no matter what's ordered.

Thanks, Matt, for being aware of timing. I will have to get back to the office ASAP, so anything to speed things up is appreciated.

Thanks,
Ronna

REB wrote:Thanks, Matt, for being aware of timing. I will have to get back to the office ASAP, so anything to speed things up is appreciated.

Santander wrote:That'll be fine. We'll order pretty quick after 12 to keep things moving for those that have to get back to work, so if you have a particular request other than the dishes named above, please post it here (check the main Double Li thread for inspiration).

Can we set the menu tonight and call ahead? If we can make sure the food hits the table at noon, then I can stop by for lunch and perhaps bring a couple of folks, too.

UPDATE: It will just be me.

I second the following based on everyone's suggestions:
- Pocket tofu
- Eggplant in garlic sauce
- Fish fillet in chili oil
- Crab with Salted duck egg yolk
- Baby octopus hot pot
- Garlic black pepper tenderloin

Sorry for the abrupt post, must run to another LTH event now. Thank you for organizing.

petite_gourmande wrote:
Can we set the menu tonight and call ahead? If we can make sure the food hits the table at noon, then I can stop by for lunch and perhaps bring a couple of folks, too.

Ben is out for the night, but will be around tomorrow. I will get there early to talk menu with him and get some things going, but plan to leave some wiggle room for inspirations from the printed menu for those there at noon. So don't plan for there to be food ready at 12, but we're also not going to wait until 12:15 to place the full order.

Still room for other takers (would be great to have a table of 10, I count 6 plus a possible pairs4life); post here and find us at noon tomorrow!

Barring work insanity - I'm in

I count 9, including PFL.

That sounds good - count me in.

Rich

kafein wrote:Barring work insanity - I'm in

I'm out. I've caught something from my little petri dishes.

mbh wrote: Dungeness crab in preserved egg yolk .

good call on this dish, one of the best things I had all last year. I made sure to call ahead and make sure they had a dungeness crab on hand.





Wish I could make this lunch @ Double Li, have fun folks.

I can make it. Something vegetarian please. I have a surprise as well.

pairs4life wrote:I can make it. Something vegetarian please. I have a surprise as well.

The most welcome surprise imaginable (other than your presence) - a full box of Beard Papa creampuffs, which as I think petite_gourmande commented, made one feel lighter than before eating them. We were asked about them by a table of Asian students next to us, to whom we offered the last two, which were gratefully accepted. The LTH way! Many thanks for your thoughtfulness.

Thank you all for the great company (we had our ideal table of 10) and meal. Double Li invariably improves my spirits and constitution with its many flavors and deft touch. I'm glad Ben was there to check in (and I think he made our beef tenderloin).

Hot Pot report @ brad:

They have a well-translated menu insert (ask for it by name) for Hot Pot, with three bases (light, spicy-light, spicy-hot), two side sauces (sesame, garlic), and 40 ingredients ranging from squid balls and beef book tripe to fresh seaweed and sweet potato noodles. $15.95 per person (2 minimum), $8 for kids 3-9 and under 3 free. Standard burner (gas/propane).

Thanks for organizing this, to which I was the last-minute surprise mystery guest (my new pattern, apparently), and for giving me a better chance to try a restaurant that my one previous visit had left me scratching my head a little about. (I still think the butter whatever beef thing is a one bite dish, anything over that is kind of gross.) And thanks for the chance to try Beard Papa without having to brave the bowels of the Loop.

Great time. I'm so glad I got a chance to try Double Li. I think someone, no not necessarily me, should always spearhead a group outing to a GNR during renewals and nominees.

The funny thing is Moon Palace has always been our spot in Chinatown. Double Li is next door & LTH is literally across the street. Now I have 3 spots in Chinatown.

It was my first time trying Beard Papa & I couldn't think of a better group, given the activity on the Beard Papa thread, to share with for the 1st time.

Double Li was very good. I'm going to go again & as such, think it should remain a GNR.

Want to thank Matt for organizing such a great lunch. Everything was good but the black pepper beef tenderloin and the baby octopus were outstanding. The food was only eclipsed by our party and the conversation that we had.

Look forward to trying it again.

Rich

PS - A big thanks also to pairs4 life for the wonderful cream puffs - a great way to end a wonderful meal.

Loved that, unlike some of our LTH gatherings, this event was a bit slow to catch on and ended up with people able to make it at the last moment, versus the other way around! Guess we had good karma today

Great group to share delicious new tastes (for me)--highlights were the eggplant (creamy and crispy, savory and slightly sweet, all at the same time!), octopus (1st time for the peppercorn-water fizz/sour/buzz taste), duck with yellow chives, and on and on and on. There really were no "meh" dishes!! And all of it capped off by the incongruent but somehow perfect dessert--the Beard Papa strawberry puff.

Where are we going next week???

Thank you Santander for organizing, it was the perfect turnout for delving into Double LI's menu, I'm still happily sated several hours later. The Crab with Salted Duck Egg Yolk was, really good, too often I get crab at Chinese restaurants that's either too dry or too wet, but this was moist and tender everything good Dungeness crab should be. The other standouts for me were the Baby Octopus Hot Pot, tender with wonderful chili and peppercorn notes, the Homemade Bacon and the Garlic Black Pepper Tenderloin. The fish in Chili Oil was bland to me, I thought it was kind of one note, but I also thought the eggplant was excellent. The Beard Papa cream puffs were the perfect ending, I got a strawberry one which I might not have picked were I ordering them as I'm usually a vanilla girl, it had a wonderful fresh strawberry taste, I'll definitely get it again thank you pairs4life.

Today's lunch totally changed my mind about D Li. Thank you to Santander for organizing and cajoling us into joining for order power, to Pairs4life for Beard Papa (perfect ending to our meals as well as the table next to us), to everyone for the great company, and to Boudrealicious for the ride back to the Loop. Full of bonuses today!

Let me try to remember every perfectly prepared dish, and if not, team, please help me out:
1. Dungeness crab with salted duck eggs - As MBH pointed out, this is a lot of work. (Thought I was pretty adept.) I had the same preparation with jumbo prawns which is more manageable without heads/eyes , of course.
2. Baby octopus hot pot - It was fun listening to everyone's reaction to the Szechuan pepper buds.
3. Fish in chili oil - Wished I had room for a cauldron of rice to soak up every drop of the sauce.
4. Peapod greens - Fresh and tender.
5. Twice cooked pork - Comparable to standards of the Archer establishments (Lao Sze, Lao Bei, Spring World)
6. Eggplant in garlic sauce - Crispy edges to the eggplant (so it's not just mushy texture) in delicious spicy sauce.
7. Black pepper garlic beef tenderloin - Perfectly balanced today as Mike G pointed out, anything more in terms of sweetness/saltiness/richness would have ruined it.
8. Duck tongue with yellow chives - Nice flavors and wok-qi. And BONELESS!!! Thank goodness.
9. Tofu dish of some sort - Soothing after the numbing tingles of the Szechuan chili buds.

***Beard Papa - As everyone pointed out, what a nice surprise treat from Pairs all around.**

Did I miss anything?