I'm starting to work from home on some afternoons now that things are settling down a bit. The main reason being Frankie is getting up there; he'll be 17 in three weeks. We'd rather not leave him alone for long periods of time. So, on the days when the Missus isn't off, or is working a long shift; I've arranged the work from home stuff during the afternoon.....it's not that much mind you; after all, I get into the office around 515on most days....so, by the time 1130-noon rolls around..... The one thing this has let me do, is to order lunch to pick-up on the (somewhat round about) way home.
The Missus was missing roast duck, and at the time of this visit Noble Chef hadn't reopened yet (they have for takeout as of June 1). So, I decided to do an online order for my favorite item at GC, the Kwai Fei Ji and also order a lunch special of Roast Duck for the Missus.
This was an interesting visit.....as the guy working....I think he's the dining room manager, I've seen him many times before seemed totally out of sorts...…...like in total chicken-without-a-head mode. He quickly told me "too busy....too busy....."; in other words they weren't doing walk in take-out. I told him it was an online order and he displayed five different pieces of paper for me....I explained what I had ordered and he said; "going to be a while...…" and then busted out two order slips; one for $297 and the other for $210.....and said "only me and two cook...." Who the heck orders nearly three hundred bucks of food for lunch from GC?
Sadly, all walk-in orders were turned away, like that poor woman above who was left just standing and cooling her heels until the guy made an appearance out of the kitchen to tell her that ordering take-out wasn't going to happen....luckily, I had placed mine online....so, they had no choice but to make mine.
As for my Kwai Fei Chicken....well, it was nice a juicy....I actually took it out of the container, put it on a plate, placed it in the fridge while I booted up my remote desktop, and got things going in my home office. When things were ready, I put everything on a plate, poured the juices back over the chicken, along with the wonderful ginger-scallion sauce, busted out my chopsticks and had lunch while on my conference call.
It was just what I needed and wanted.
For the Missus, who would not be home until later in the evening, I tried an old hack of mine that I hadn't used in a while.
I took the duck out and placed in a container, the rice in another....poured the drippings out separately. When the Missus got home and wanted Her duck; I turned the toaster oven up to broil, brushed just a bit of the sauce over the skin of the duck and broiled for 3-3 1/2 minutes on high to crisp up the skin. While not the best roast duck we've had; a bit too salty, it was fairly tender, mildly gamy, and the skin was slightly crisp. Pour the fat back over an voila! Dinner for the Missus.
Since Noble Chef is back in action, not sure the Missus will wanting anything from GC....so it'll be Kwai Fei Chicken for me for now.
Current Covid-19 Takeout only hours - Daily 1130am - 830pm
Golden City Restaurant
5375 Kearny Villa Rd.
San Diego, CA 92123
glad you can work from home & be with Frankie too:)
Posted by: kat | Wednesday, 03 June 2020 at 08:39 PM
Can't do much when you get Slammed and understaffed.
You're slow on comments- give you a side comment about businesses and restaurants.
Perspectives I tell young workers.
1st Law of Work- Work is easy for those who don't have to do it- and the one's who complain the most are the ones who understand the work the least.
A good boss should always value their workers because they are the ones who get the work done. A good customer is patient because the work is hard, you're not doing it.
2nd Law - Your Main Mission statement is to Know how to deliver a Good Repeat Product Efficiently ie what do you call a restaurant that serves lousy food? Out of business. Someone told me it had to be better- and I said, if it requires a higher level of effort with no added compensation- go pound sand. The boss knows what is good enough and should train properly. That sets the bar right.
3rd Law - Embrace Good Ownership, know what it is. Ie You rent a house or you own a house, which do you maintain better? The one you own - but remember not all homeowners are good homeowners. The good ones have pride in their property and work at maintaining it - discipline and love. People will always see good Ownership and its due to the Owner being accountable. Also if you show good Ownership as an Employee, you will rise far.
Thought I'd give you a Boomers memory AKA Rev Paul Otsumi column from the Advertiser.
Think of the Boeing 737 Max - they failed all 3 laws. How does this apply to any business? 100%, especially restaurants.
It is great you got the cooking skills so you can recover from anything - kudos to you!!
Wishing the best for Frankie. I know it tears your heart, he's your son. PS we probably saw each other as Competition at Korea House - lol. Glad to see SD opening up. Seattle got beat up a lot. Cheers.
Posted by: John Ikeda | Wednesday, 03 June 2020 at 08:40 PM
Glad to hear about work slowing down and getting some flexibility. Glad to hear you got some comforting food too, love that style chicken with the ginger scallion dip but man GC epitomizes hit or miss for me. Best to you and Frankie.
Posted by: RedDevil | Wednesday, 03 June 2020 at 10:05 PM
I am too Kat!
My goodness John.....flashbacks to "Today's Thought". Hope things start getting better in SEA. Take care!
Hi RD - We and especially Frankie thanks you! Take care!
Posted by: Kirk | Thursday, 04 June 2020 at 06:11 AM
I happened to get takeout from Noble Chef on June 1; I didn't even know they had closed. I will try your hack on the leftover roast duck. Golden City was next on my takeout list; I'll make sure to order online!
Posted by: Sandy | Thursday, 04 June 2020 at 07:35 AM
You had perfect timing Sandy! They just reopened on June 1st! I went ahead and busted out the toaster oven which had been sitting unused just for crisping up roast duck skin. Be careful to make sure the skin doesn't burn. Have fun!
Posted by: Kirk | Thursday, 04 June 2020 at 08:21 AM
That's good Golden City has lots of business. Look forward to visiting Noble Chef and getting some duck. I drove by a bunch of times hoping they would reopen.
Posted by: Soo | Friday, 05 June 2020 at 08:47 AM
I'll bet Frankie is over the moon to have one of his humans keeping him company.
I wish Frankie many more happy years. I don't know if this helps, but I lost my Chihuahua this fall at almost 20, and he was born with a liver shunt that should have reduced his lifespan. The last few years of his life, he was going through congestive heart failure, but was happy and full of great quality of life till that last day. And I had been freaking out about him being geriatric since he was 13, and he had many more years in him. I wish the same for frankie - not the diseases, but the quality of life and health for more years to come. Furbabies are the best babies.
Posted by: h | Friday, 05 June 2020 at 09:05 AM
Noble Chef has been open since the 1st Soo....we've been there twice already for take-out.
That's amazing H! He must have been some special little one. Frankie is mostly happy to have his "snack connection" home. He was born with a heart murmur; but he's pretty tough..... He thanks you for the well wishes!
Posted by: Kirk | Friday, 05 June 2020 at 12:03 PM