UrbanDaddy is a free exclusive email magazine devoted to keeping you in the know.
San Francisco Home > Leisure > Eye of the Tiger
02/12/10
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.
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.
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.
- 411:
- Koi Palace, 365 Gellert Ave, Daly City, 650-992-9000
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.
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.
- 411:
- D&A Café, 407 Clement St, 415-668-7882
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.
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.
- 411:
- Great Eastern Restaurant, 649 Jackson St, 415-986-2500
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.
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.
- 411:
- Old Mandarin Islamic Restaurant, 3132 Vicente St (at 43rd), 415-564-3481
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.
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.
- 411:
- Hing Lung Restaurant, 674 Broadway (at Stockton), 415-398-8838
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.
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.
- 411:
- Shanghai Dumpling King, 3319 Balboa St (at 34th), 415-387-2088
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.
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.
- 411:
- Golden Island Café, 1300 Noriega St (at 20th), 415-759-9118
ADVERTISEMENT 
Only what you need to know.