Tongue Tied
Food: Duck Tongue at Koi Palace
Translation: It's said that eating duck tongue increases circulation in the spot where you
need it most. Think of it as nature's Viagra marinated in soy sauce and garnished with a little green onion.
Eye of the Tiger
Chinese Eats to Ring in the New Year
The biggest party in the Eastern world (aka Lunar New Year) kicks off on Sunday. In honor of the Year of the Tiger, we bring you some unexpected dishes that will shift your palate into high gear. And if you're in a crunch for a Valentine's Day meal, we think these will make particularly memorable treats...some with added benefits.
Bloody Fools
Food: Pig Blood Tofu at D&A Café
Translation: Chock full of iron, "red tofu" is the secret weapon of Asian pro athletes for
improving strength and stamina, which you can never be short on. Try the blood cubes here sautéed
with ginger and chives.
Creepy Crawlies
Food: Sea Cucumber at Great Eastern
Translation: Fittingly, the long, banana-shaped sea cucumbers are an aphrodisiac (and a
counterpart, if you will, to our oyster). Great Eastern serves up this delicacy braised over shitake
mushrooms and bok choy. She'll enjoy eating, you'll enjoy watching.
On the Ball
Food: Lamb Testicles at Old Mandarin Islamic
Translation: Listed as "lamb eggs" on the menu, you can choose this libido-boosting
ingredient for your hot pot. Toss the pink (surprisingly large) globes of meat into the hot broth and try
not to flinch.
Green Eggs and Ham
Food: Thousand-Year-Old Eggs at Hing Lung
Translation: It's a culinary mystery how someone decided to leave a duck egg to ferment for
several months until it turned black—and then eat it. And then call it a delicacy (it was a favorite
of the emperors). Hing Lung serves the salty, pungent, green-yolked pidan with salted pork in the
traditional breakfast rice porridge.
Savory Sinews
Food: Beef Tendon at Shanghai Dumpling King
Translation: Eating this is said to balance your chi and improve overall health. Served
with chili sauce, peanuts and cilantro, tendon tastes pretty much like soft, gelatinous roast
beef—just try not to think about the cracking sound as you chew each bite.
The Other White Meat
Food: Snow Frog at Golden Island Café
Translation: The bad news is that it's technically fat from a white-bellied frog. The good
news is that it improves strength and endurance. Snow frog tastes like unflavored gelatin and not much else.
Served as a dessert with tapioca pearls and sweet coconut milk, the end-of-meal timing couldn't be more
fortuitous.
