F-ing Sunday

Sunday is about one thing and one thing only and it starts with an F.  Foo…Foo…Food…Chinese food to be exact.   Probably not the F word you were thinking of, but I already told you, football isn’t my sport of choice.

Sunday and Chinese food are two terms that are interchangeable to me.  It is the way I say goodbye to the week, physically and mentally because without Chinese food, there is no end in sight.  If the week doesn’t end, then what you have is just one big long run-on week and that is enough to make anyone crazy.

One of my favorite Chinese restaurants in New York is Mr. K’s.  Located in midtown, this Chinese restaurant is anything but ordinary.  The restaurant is fit for Chinese royalty, or really New York royalty.  It is elegantly decorated, with oversized couches and glass tables.  The restaurant is also adorned with jade and silver as well as fine art.  You know the moment you walk in you are going to be treated like a King and enjoy a seriously delicious meal.

Chinese cooking is all about the Ying and Yang, which is a well-balanced meal in texture, color, flavor and temperature.  Using fresh ingredients, Mr. K’s establishes this level of Ying and Yang in all of their dishes.

I like to start with the Crispy Beef, which is shredded and then fried to perfection and covered in a soy-scallion glaze.  These little bites are just enough to get your palate going without filling you up.

I judge a Chinese restaurant by their Peking duck, and I think Mr. K’s makes one of the best Peking Ducks in all of New York City.  Bold statement, but totally true.  The pancake is warm and doughy, but light enough so it doesn’t overpower the rich duck.  The skin is crispy and the meat is juicy.  Paired with cucumbers and scallions, and complimented with sweet and tangy Hoisin sauce, this duck is one of the best dishes in all of New York; forget that we are just talking Chinese food here.

Another one of my favorite dishes at Mr. K’s is the Hunan Shrimp.  These gargantuan shellfish are sautéed with peppers and mushrooms in a tangy Szechuan sauce.   The shrimp are always perfectly tender.  The peppers maintain their crunchiness to balance this dish.

If you like shrimp, but crave something on the spicier side, the Prawns in Garlic Sauce is going to be your dish of choice.  The soy-garlic sauce that envelopes these succulent shrimp has a hint of heat, just enough to warm you up, but not too much to make you sweat.

Of course, you cannot eat Chinese food without a little fried rice and the fried rice at Mr. K’s is great.  This Bite-Sized Blonde prefers brown rice in her fried rice.  Does it make this dish any healthier? Probably not, but I feel better about eating fried rice when it’s brown rice.  The brown rice gives the dish a nutty flavor, which compliments the veggies so well.

If lo mein is more your speed than fried rice, then you are in the right place.  Mr. K’s makes a noteworthy Vegetable Lo mein.  The noodles are al dente and served warm with assorted crunchy vegetables.

It’s not all about the carbs though – the vegetables are also delectable.  My favorite veggie dish is the Bok Choy, which light but packed with flavor.

I almost forgot to mention a very important part of Mr. K’s.  They bring you lemon sorbet in between courses to cleanse your palate.  Any restaurant that pays attention to your palate, so much so they cleanse it in between courses, is a fine dining establishment.  And so, with a full belly, and a smile across my face, I proudly give Mr. K’s two Bite-Sized Thumbs up.

Mr. K’s Restaurant
570 Lexington Ave. (51st Street)
New York, NY
212.583.1668