The Saturday Night Live short, Christmastime for the Jews, pretty much summed up what happened in my household growing up. On December 25, as most of my friends stayed home for a family dinner, my parents drove the whole mishpocheh to Chinatown for an elaborate (and in those days exotic), dinner before heading out to whatever blockbuster movie was playing (extra points if it starred Barbra Streisand or Woody Allen).
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For whatever reason, dining on Chinese food became part of Jewish-American pop-culture, as noted by this amazing photo that actually has its own Snopes page.
Blackbrick's Richard Hales is honoring that tradition by hosting a special Christmas dinner (though you certainly don't have to be Jewish to enjoy it). The restaurant is serving a multiple-course dinner menu for $65 per person (Blackbrick will not be open for lunch on December 25), including complimentary hot tea or tea selection from Jojo Tea. An optional beer or wine pairing is available for $25, and cocktails, wine, and beer is available for purchase, as well.
There are two seatings; at 6 and 9 p.m., and advance, prepaid reservations are required and available at blackbrick.brownpapertickets.com
Menu items include egg drop wonton soup with Chinese roti prata, Sichuan spice; lamb's tongue laobing Chinese flat bread, ma la spare ribs with cilantro, and honey walnut prawn; and pastrami fried rice, Hunan beer duck, and twice cooked kale. For dessert, there's Wife Hales' home-made fortune cookie and Azucar almond cookie ice cream.
Hales told Short Order, "I'm excited about serving our version of the Chinese restaurant traditional Christmas menu. We are more excited, however, to sing Deck the Halls to our guests."
What? Richard Hales singing carols? Apparently, yes. Hales, chef de cuisine Chok, and sous chef Feng will all entertain with a rousing rendition of our favorite holiday song with your meal. Sounds like a new tradition has already started.
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