Saucy specialties and a scene at Congee Village

Congee ("jook" in Cantonese) was served to me in my childhood by my mother when I was sick. This comfort food, eaten centuries by Chinese peasants & noblemen alike, is believed to contain therapeutic qualities strong enough to foil the most foul of ailments. Known for its "jook," Congee Village serves up every variety that remedies any hungry stomach. Yet, in my inaugural visit there, I was enticed to order some of the Village's other specialty dishes. I was surprised to find fried bread ("man-tao") on the menu & enjoyed 6 scrumptious pieces served up with sweet & milky syrup. And what a deal! We ordered the Spicy Salted Crab in Special Sauce, at $10.95, which came with 4 small crabs in a heavenly garlic & dry shrimp sauce. We were equally delighted by the Sautéed Clams with Black Bean Sauce, packed full of flavor to make anyone order another bowl of congee as an accompaniment. The Flounder Fillet in Two Tastes, however, was a half disappointment. The fish itself was fresh & delicious, as items denoted "M.P." should be. The sautéed half of the dish was very clean & light (ching), much like most, Guangdong Cantonese dishes. It was tossed with pea pods & small mushrooms, mixed with a subtly gingery and garlicky white sauce. The fried portion, however, was covered by a batter that was too thick to complement a fish as delicate and mild as fresh flounder -- it was too much like fish n' chips. This part of the dish was a turn-off to me, though my Caucasian (gweilo) dining partner liked it. The woodland village decor is cheap but does the trick of setting the scene…a vast array of local Chinese, tourists, daters, & hipsters alike make it a long wait. However, a few of the ridiculously low-priced cocktails and the great, authentic food to come will take your mind off of it!