I only have one thing to say about the fact that my dad’s girlfriend, Mei, is Chinese:

Shrimp & pea pod stir fry.

Kung pao chicken with peanuts and bamboo shoots.

Five spice pork dumplings.

Red stewed pork & potatoes.

Ma la beef. (I read about “ma la” in one of my recent Saveur magazines. It’s a really cool chili spice heat followed by a numbing tactile sensation on the tongue from Sichuan peppercorns. Awesome.)

Garlic green bean and Shiitake mushroom stir fry.

Triple delight dumplings (with shrimp, egg, pork & wood ear mushrooms).

I can never order take-out from our local strip mall “Chinese” chain restaurant again.

Dammit.