From China King in Chandler to Szechuan Palace in Phoenix over to Totties Asian Fusion in Scottsdale today on Christmas day, we have had the opportunity over the last couple of months to try some new foods. These are our guides on our path into Dim Sum and more traditional Chinese food: they are owners of Little Rangoon – Taste of Burma restaurant. They are Alfred and Elizabeth Chan. Most of our time with the Chans who are from Burma has been as diners at their restaurant. On the rare occasion that their own restaurant is closed such as on a holiday, we have been able to join them for lunch such as on Thanksgiving and now today on Christmas. Sadly, I don’t foresee another holiday coming up any time soon, but, since their restaurant is closed on Mondays I have met them a couple of times then. Today, Caroline and I visited Totties with Alfred, Elizabeth, and their daughter Rosalind and were treated to more than a half dozen items prepared by Tottie herself for us to sample, along with a dessert sampler tray of nine different ice-creams and a kabocha squash custard – all was yummy. Our thanks go to Tottie and her family for welcoming us to such an opulent treat today.
Over the past few years, we have met some great people including Sonal Patel and her immediate family along with her extended family which seems to be nearly every other Hindu in the Phoenix area. We have enjoyed our time shared with Rob and Jerry out at Tonopah Rob’s Vegetable Farm as we do the rare moments with an old friend down in Tucson, Arturo Silva. Recently a Turkish friend and his German girlfriend stepped back into our lives for a short few days – how we wish we had far more time to spend with these two. But this is our problem with these people who we come to enjoy being with, we have too little time to divide our attention among these really wonderful friends but would like to let them know how much we appreciate this rare ability to laugh with one another.
On Monday, the Chans and I will be meeting for lunch again, hopefully at Great Wall Cuisine on Camelback in Phoenix and then going to Alfred and Elizabeth’s to watch part of the original Chinese five-hour version of Red Cliff with Tony Leung (one of Caroline’s favorite Chinese actors, the other is Andy Lau). So, Sonal, if you are reading this, when are we going out on a Monday when your shop is closed?