Writing for Change Banquet 2016

Once agan, Board member Harvey Pawl treated the Conference speakers and volunteers to a Chinese banquet at Gourmet Carousel. Attendees were also invited to join us, at a remarkably low fee. The dinner started a little earlier than the announced time, so a few of the dishes were ravaged when I arrived, but there was enough left for me to photograph–and more than enough for me to eat.

The meal started with soup and scallion pancakes.

Egg Flower Soup with Mixed Vegetables

Scallion Pancakes

And, of course, honey walnut prawns, a universal favorite.

Honey Walnut Shrimp

There was one dish from each section of the menu.

Beef with Ginger & Scallions

Spare ribs are another favorite.

Mandarin Spareribs

And of course we had to have some vegetables.

Buddha's Delight
Braised Mixed Vegetables

I'm not sure which chicken dish this was, but it was delicious.

Chicken with Shrimp Chips

 Our final dish was seafood and tofu in a clay pot, still sizzling when it was served.

Seafood Tofu Clay Pot

Seafood Tofu Clay Pot, Still Sizzling

The meal ended with fortune cookies and very sweet orange slices. Many attendees didn't eat the oranges, so I took them home. After eating the oranges, I rinsed the peels and put them in the freezer, where they are waiting to be candied and dipped in tempered chocolate.

Teatime also loves the Seafood Birdsnest, Peking Duck (you can order half a duck), and Pea Sprouts with Garlic Sauce. But you can't go wrong at Gourmet Carousel, no matter what you order. Everything on the menu is perfectly prepared. And if you ask a question of a staff member who doesn't speak English, he will quickly bring someone who does.

Gourmet Carousel

After the San Francisco Writers Conference Writing for Change conference, Board member Harvey Pawl again treated the volunteers to a Chinese banquet, this time at Gourmet Carousel on the corner of Pine Street and Franklin. This was another amazing meal, this time starting with soup.

The table was set with a turntable, so we didn't have to
practice our boarding house reach!

 Our first course was the House Soup–pork broth with winter melon.

The soup was followed by a Green onion pancake. Perfectly crispy. I unwisely ate two pieces, because it was so good. I really should have left room for more of the following delicacies, but I just couldn't resist this pancake.

Next we had Mu Shu Vegetables with plum sauce for the vegetarian contingent. It was a side for the carnivores. I usually skip the wrappers with Mu Shu. I don't like to fill up on carbs, and it's so much easier to eat the veggies with my chopsticks.

The veggies were followed by Honey Walnut Prawns. These are a great favorite with Beth and me, and again, I ate too many, considering what followed.

I did skip the Steamed Rice. Hardly necessary, but traditional. No goop in any of these dishes!

The Mixed Seafood in fried noodle nests was amazing. I even ate some of the nest.

Another vegetable dish. Pea sprouts with whole garlic cloves. My favorite Chinese veggies!

And then Ginger Scallion Chicken. Chicken isn't usually on my menu, but this was an excellent rendition.

And then a Perfect Peking Duck. Not a bit of fat under the crispy skin.

Our last course. Birthday noodles for long life. These are extra long noodles, but not as long as Martin Yan's, which is birthday noodle, singular, and fills a whole bowl. Very tasty, though, and also vegetarian.

This is nowhere near the complete menu. Whether you prefer classic or exotic dishes, you will find what you're hoping for, and love it!

I arrived at the last minute, so I was seated at the last table, which had a few empty places, so there were even more leftovers to take home than at the other tables. We all filled our "pails" and also shared our largesse with the other tables. This neighborhood restaurant is as good as any in Chinatown and I heartily recommend it.

Do you have a favorite neighborhood resto? Let us know in the comments!