Oh Catastrophe!

[aussiemel1]

I just ordered our first Chinese takeaway over here, and perusing the menu I couldn't locate my standard go to dish, the one I always order, so I ask the lady on the phone:

Do you have satay beef? (silence)  You know, beef in a satay sauce?
We have beef..
In a satay sauce?  (silence)  Do you have beef in any kind of peanut sauce?
Beef with PEANUTS?!

At

Comments

[kimonkey7]

Huh. Texas, right?

Usually places have satay skewers as an appetizer and they come with satay dipping sauce. And if you can find a Japanese grocery near you, they should have prawn crackers.

Good luck. :)

[aussiemel1]

The word satay seemed to throw the chick competely, as did the concept of beef with peanuts.

Glad to hear I won't necessarily have to go satayless for the next however many years, I guess I'll look around the area and see what I can find.

Hey it's good to hear from you! I know you're on the down low at the moment, thanks for the reply.

[kimonkey7]

No problem. I am currently trying to not freak out and am hopping around the flist randomly. I just thought of something else - and this might just be a Texas issue...

But if you like spicy, most places have Kung Pao (and you can usually choose beef or chicken). Kung Pao is meat, green onions, red (hot) peppers and, uh, PEANUTS. With brown gravy. But it's usually very spicy unless you request otherwise.

I don't know what the size is of the town you're in, but a lot of restaurants (even small ones) have web sites. You might be able to peruse some menus easily that way.

[aussiemel1]

Some very good suggestions, thanks.

There was a lot of stuff on the menu that meant nothing to me. And I really couldn't be bothered going through each item with the chick on the phone. So there might have been something nutty in there that I just didn't identify.

Kung pao sounds like it could be a goer, definitely worth a try, although maybe I'll ask for a toned version, I'm not big on spicy.

[riverbella]

You might find beef satay at a Thai or possibly a Vietnamese restaurant. I have seen it on menus here and there.

Prawn crackers, though? Is that anything like shrimp toast?

Actually Texas may not be as good with the oriental food as some other parts of the country!

[aussiemel1]

You know what, Texas is great with mexican food. Maybe I should cut Texas some slack. lol

It just always surprises me when I find these little cultural differences. I didn't realise Australia had so many quirks.

Prawn crackers are kind of like pappadums, in that very crisp, quick fried kind of way. They are orange (hello msg) and look a bit like a large potato chip. I can't describe them. If you saw one, you'd probably nod and go, "Ohhh, those things..."

There is a Thai restaurant right near the Chinese restaurant, maybe I'll check out their menu next. Although Thai tends to be a lot more fragrant than Chinese (not that there's anything wrong with that).

[dreamstoliveby]

I feel your pain *hugs*

But I've got to say I was oddly amused imagining you on phone lol

[aussiemel1]

I felt like I was in a skit. lol.

It's hard to know if I'm asking for things they don't have over here or if the accent is throwing people. I suspect it's a little bit from column a, little bit from column b.

[draegonbaby]

hehehe I can just picture the convo as it was happening! hehehe I agree that the satay stuff is usually handled in the appies portions of asian menus in the States. Thai food is usually known for their peanut sauces plus they tend to do the beef on a skewer. As for the prawn crackers...do they resemble styrofoam a bit? If so, I'm thinking they might be called shrimp crackers in these parts.

Things to try: Cashew Chicken, Mongolian Beef, General Tsoa's Chicken sometimes also called General's chicken and if you like seafood, Happy Family.

Btw, Did you ever find your cake to go with your coffee??

[aussiemel1]

I've given up on the cake with coffee. It just isn't going to happen. I can get a good cake. I can get a good coffee. I just can't get them at the same place.

Thanks for the tips on some Chinese dishes to try. I'm going to have to expand my repertoire.

[blackbeltblondi]

They don't do prawn crackers? WTF??

It's law in England....you have to have prawn crackers with Chinese....

Beef Satay? *shudders* yep, have that here too.....