Tonkotsu

My parents, brother, sister-in-law, and nephew are visiting for Christmas, and today, being my sister-in-law's birthday, we went out for lunch at Tonkotsu, a ramen bar and that also serves shabu shabu (hot pot).

We started with a number of appetizers, including fried pork.
We also tried some excellent pork gyoza and
harumaki (veggie egg rolls), which I didn't get pictures of. 

We also had some fried chicken (but it was called something
more appetizing than that).

Each hot pot came with a lovely bowl of fresh vegetables, tofu, and udon noodles (at the bottom of the bowl); one then chose one's type of meat (one could choose a few different cuts of beef, pork, vegetables, even salmon) and type of broth.

A good way to get my veggies today.

I chose the beef belly.

Good grub was delicious.

Red Maple Chinese Restaurant

This being Valentine's Day, my husband and I decided to go out to dinner. We didn't make reservations anywhere, and went looking for a casual dinner out, settling at the previously visited Red Maple Chinese Restaurant. Even without reservations, we only had to wait perhaps 15 minutes. We did order quite a bit - but figured that even though we were hungry, whatever we didn't eat could be brought home (we managed to eat a few bites of our entrees before asking for boxes for all the leftovers).

Appetizer #1: We started out with pot stickers.

Appetizer #2: We tried something new - Shanghai juicy buns.

appetizer #3: more dumplings, in the form of deep fried
shrimp dumplings

appetizer #4: salt pepper calamari and shrimp

My husband ordered two entrees; this is shrimp lo mein. 

He also ordered General Tso's chicken.

I ordered the Singapore rice noodle, which was good, but spicy,
even for my taste.

Red Maple Chinese Restaurant

I've visited Red Maple before, and have been developing a hankering for it. My husband was kind enough to take me there for dinner tonight. (We may have gotten a few too many appetizers, but they were all so good.)

appetizer: wonton soup for two

appetizer: pot stickers (very large ones at that)

appetizer: egg rolls with sweet and sour dipping sauce

appetizer: deep fried shrimp dumplings

my entree: BBQ duck (half a duck)

my husband's entree: General Tso's chicken

Red Maple Chinese Restaurant

My husband has recently been quite ill for several weeks. He's getting better, and to celebrate, tonight he and I went with my parents to the Red Maple Chinese Restaurant, which had opened last year but which we hadn't managed to go to until tonight. Aside from sharing several appetizers, we each shared each of our entrées.

We started with the dim sum platter, which came with
two shrimp dumplings, two sui mai, and twoBBQ pork buns. 

Our second appetizer was the deep fried shrimp dumplings.

Our third appetizer was the salt pepper calamari and shrimp
- and was really excellent.

General Tso's chicken

BBQ roast duck

clam in spicy Hong Kong-Aberdeen style

sizzling house special