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Chinese, how you want it
Order authentic dishes, or their Americanized versions if you'd rather.
By CHRISTINA COSDON, Times Staff Writer
Published October 21, 2007
Taiwanese natives Tomas and Xiao-Tang Wang, opened New China Restaurant at 11928 Seminole Blvd. just before Christmas last year. Tomas has been a chef for more than 20 years and prepares the meals fresh each day. The restaurant specializes in authentic Chinese cuisine, but the menu also features a larger variety of Chinese-American dishes. The restaurant seats 76 and is closed on Tuesdays. Authentic Chinese cuisine features rice and noodles accompanied by dishes of fish, vegetables and other items. Food is prepared in bite-size pieces so it can be picked up by chopsticks. Eating with forks and knives was once believed barbaric as they were considered weapons. Chinese-American cooking started in the 19th century with chefs inventing dishes such as General Tso's chicken, chow mein and chop suey, dishes not found in China. Xiao-Tang, how did you and Tomas meet? "We met at a dinner party with friends in Taiwan. Tomas was visiting his family before returning to the U.S. ... I never expected to marry again," said Xiao-Tang, a widow with a daughter. "It was destiny." They were married last September. Tomas, how did you become a chef? "After service in the army in Taiwan, I came to the U.S. in 1985 and began working for Chinese restaurants in Norfolk, Va.; Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.; and New Jersey." What are some of the restaurant's most popular authentic Chinese dishes? Tomas: "Tea-smoked duck is the most popular, but it takes two days to prepare, so you have to order ahead. Other popular dishes are shredded pork with dry bean curd and diced bean curd with pork and Chinese green pepper. Spicy Changdu chicken is very hot and takes 40 minutes to prepare." What dishes are most popular with American customers? Xiao-Tang: "Americans want big meals and prefer brown sauces to white sauces. Orange flavored beef is very popular, as well as General Tso's chicken, chow mein and orange chicken. Know a business that should be featured here? Contact Christina Cosdon at 727 445-4154 or cosdon@sptimes.com.
[Last modified October 20, 2007, 21:16:02]
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