Pu Pu Platter

Pu Pu Platter

When was the last time you had a romantic dinner that didn't cost you a fortune and actually had some conversation in a casual atmosphere, not feeling rushed?
We, I remember those days when going on a date as teenagers and trying to impress your date by bringing her to a nice Chinese restaurant. Yes, that was all the newspaper tips I made but you know what it was all worth it. She was dressed for a special affair and I wore slacks and a nice shirt.  We knew each other for quite awhile, through the good times sad times, happy times and breakup times. We knew each other pretty well and we still got embarrassed  at awkward moments.
We sat in a booth, I loved sitting in a booth, it was like our little heaven, secluded from others and a little private.  My dad knew the owners and they took care of me. They first introduced this new appetizer tray called a Pu Pu Platter, it was pretty cool and made an impression on my date. There was spareribs, fantail shrimp, teriyaki beef on a skewer with cubes of pineapple and maraschino cherries, shrimp toast and an egg roll. On top of the platter was a small kettle with a bluish glow of heat under a metal steel grill and a small flame appeared. You could look at it in its entirety, a pretty sight I say or you can take the appetizer and lay it on the grill or hold it just above the grill. What a way to eat appetizer as we both were fascinated, smiling, laughing and having fun. No smartphone, no texting and no rush, just talking, conversing about everything and just enjoying each others company.
Today, everything is fast paced, take out, rush rush and rush all the time, no time to talk, I have to check my messages etc, etc, etc.
Well, the Orient on Main Street, Bel Air, offer a Pu Pu tray and the atmosphere is casual relaxing and no rush to get out.
I brought my daughter because I wanted her to know some tibbits of what daddy experienced when he was dating and I introduced the Pu Pu Platter. She was around6 yrs old, she was simply fascinated by the whole concept of barbequing her appetizers. You had to see the smile on her face, having fun and talking about everything and laughing and giggling.
I hope she remembers and I always tell her memories are forever, no one can take it away, its part of your brain cloud in today's technology.
Well, I have to say tonight at dinner, mt dear Felicia said "Daddy, I want to order the Pu Pu Platter" and this time I'll probably eat everything. For that frozen moment, I said it was all worth it introducing foods she never had before and hopefully when she gets married and have her kids, she will introduce the Pu Pu Platter to them too and generation after generation.
If you want to try the Pu Pu Platter, make a trip to the Orient on Main Street and ask for David Hwang (owner) and tell them Chef Woo Can (Stuart Woo) sent you. He'll take good care of you.

By Chef Woo Can at www.chefwoocan.com
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