Comments on: A Few Food Notes (pancakes, coffee, tofu & Ethiopian food, oh my)

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:45:25 +0000

Oh that’s good. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Each time I’ve been it’s been quite busy so perhaps they’ll add more cooking staff soon to keep up with the crowds.

By: Jason Clark

Jason Clark — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:32:22 +0000

Visited Red Pepper last night on this recommendation. WOW! Delicious! Only drawback was the crowd. They had the one chef on duty working behind the glass like a madman. We had to wait awhile for the food, but it was completely worth it. I’ll be back.

By: PJ Chmiel

PJ Chmiel — Wed, 14 May 2008 08:54:35 +0000

To beat a dead (Derby) horse, I just ran across another couple of photos of veggie General Tso's. This one used breaded chunks of a soy-based meat analog that was decidedly stringier and chewier than tofu: http://www.pjchmiel.com/photo/food/marks-generaltso.jpg and here's a more conventional tofu offering, this time from a random Chinese restaurant in Monticello, IN: http://www.pjchmiel.com/photo/food/tsotofu-overseaschina.jpg and I've just posted the photo of the ERM/Cafe Mimosa Gen'l Tso's Tofu: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pjchmiel/2490864265/ Enjoy! PJ

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 13 May 2008 16:05:18 +0000

The Toy Tiger! That is a blast from the past. I hadn’t heard or thought about that place for years.

By: Joel

Joel — Tue, 13 May 2008 07:38:18 +0000

used to be, you could call it “That Area Over There By The Toy Tiger and Showcase Cinemas,” but those days are over. ;_;

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 13 May 2008 04:49:24 +0000

PJ thanks for the Lexington tip. Next time I go visit my mom I’ll have to check that place out.
Joel: Oh I didn’t mean Buechel was scary, I meant the motel location was scary. I’m sure it wasn’t actually scary or scuzzy inside, it just looked that way from the exterior and that didn’t really inspire me to want to visit.
I’m not up on the borders of Buechel proper but I’m pretty sure there’s a sign right beside Bashford Manor that says “Welcome to Buechel” so I guess you’re right that the old Queen of Sheba location isn’t quite in Buechel. I’m not really sure the area has a name other than “just past the Watterson.”

By: Joel

Joel — Tue, 13 May 2008 02:43:32 +0000

Queen of Sheba already moved, their last night in “scary Buechel” was the last Sunday in April. They just hadn’t re-opened yet.
(I wouldn’t really consider just past the Watterson to be “Buechel.” Not to mention that “Buechel” isn’t scary, either. The hotel wasn’t great but that location has had restaurants in it for years.)

By: PJ Chmiel

PJ Chmiel — Tue, 13 May 2008 02:35:11 +0000

Ha, I just had the “Eggroll Machine” (aka Cafe Mimosa) General Tso’s Tofu for the first time yesterday, and it was pretty tasty. It was on the menu (the ERM “dinner” menu, not sure if it’s offered on the limited lunch specials menu). I do have some major issues with this restaurant’s “Vegetarian” menu, where 75% of the dishes are clearly marked as containing chicken, fish, or beef broth (! talk about playing fast-and-loose with definitions; asian restaurants can be really bad about this but this is the most flagrant disregard I’ve ever seen).
The bummer about General Tso’s Tofu is that most places just pop some fried tofu cubes into the G.T. sauce, which is still good, but the real satisfaction of a G.T. dish comes from the meat (analog) being breaded and then deep-fried and THEN sauced, like the chicken version is. Plan-old-fried-tofu isn’t anything like breaded-and-fried tofu. Unfortunately I’ve only encountered a few restaurants in my years as a vegan who “get” this and go that extra mile with the breading.
The good news is that if you’re ever in Lexington and can make it to Asian Wind (somewhere south of downtown on a funny-named belt road, definitely worth the drive), you’ll be treated to the BEST veggie Tso’s I’ve every had, using a vegan “chicken” analog instead of tofu; breaded and fried and sauced to beat the band. I believe they call it General Tso’s Kwachik. My mouth is watering just thinking about it…

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 12 May 2008 17:22:15 +0000

Excellent tip about Cafe Mimosa Jason. I haven’t been there in years but General Tso’s tofu that uses firm tofu means it’s time for a visit.
Too bad, so sad for you re: Queen of Sheba coming to this part of town instead of Frankfort Avnenue. Now it’s going to be in relatively easy biking distance from me. We should meet there for lunch sometime soon.

By: Jason Clark

Jason Clark — Mon, 12 May 2008 17:12:06 +0000

It’s not on the menu, but Cafe Mimosa also makes General Tso’s tofu. You just have to ask for it. Their tofu is great. Firm and crisp like you would expect it for such a dish.
As for Queen of Sheba, I see at least two open restaurant spaces on Frankfort Ave right now that they’d fit into quite nicely (the old Sweet Peas and Danielle’s). I’m only sayin cause they’d be a block away from my house and I could walk there.