Shanghai General Tso's Chicken

Where there are hungry mouths, there are Chinese restaurants. Here in Kent, we have Wasabi, and, more importantly, we have Shanghai. Shanghai is fine dining establishment located in the Kent Green. While it offers a variety of delicious meals, like Beef & Broccoli or Scallion Pancakes. However, there is one dish at Shanghai to rule them all: The Honorable General Tso's Chicken.

I first tried General Tso's last year. The dining hall was serving some type of Mexican Beef Tilapia Pork Salad for Wednesday lunch. I was not about to eat 2 week old mystery meat, so instead I ordered with a few of my friends who were equally disgusted. I had no idea what to order, so I just followed their advice and ordered what they did. Little did I know, that I had just ordered what can be described as the best meal you can get for less than 10 dollars in Kent.

The delivery man arrived, we paid him, and we got our bags and went back to the dorm. Now, I remind you. I had yet to try the chicken. And I was hungry. We got back to the room, and while I set up the movie we were going to watch (Ninja Assassin), they opened up their plastic boxes, and out came the smell. It is a unique smell, which is unrivaled by any other smells in the room. I sat on the couch and opened up my box. It was my own personal white plastic box of heaven, with yellow rice, broccoli, some peas and carrots, and of course, the glistening, red, sweet and spicy pieces of chicken.

I was told to put Soy Sauce on my stuff, but I ignored this suggestion, saying "Nay, I shall eat this meal as served, and if I do not enjoy the way it is prepared, I will add or remove ingredients as desired.” So I started eating. The chicken was absolutely delicious. It had the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. The warm rice and veggies complement the chicken pieces well. When I was finished eating the hardy, I had one question in my mind. Why did it take me so long to realize that I can eat this instead of what we have in the dining hall? So, whenever the dining hall decides it’s going to serve us some leftovers from a few years ago, I know I rely on the General to provide me with a nutritious meal.

photo courtesy of Google Images