Chinese Food Pet Peeves

1. Americans need to redefine their taste buds. Spicy does not equal sweet. Spicy is when your mouth tingles and you feel the HEAT on your tongue. Sweet is when your mouth waters and you feel the SWEET on your tongue.

I ordered a beef schezhuan style for lunch today from this joint on 3rd ave called Imperial Garden. It had the little chilly next to it, implying that it was indeed spicy. It's about as spicy as a gulab jamun with nuts inside. (And yes, I know, some americans find that spicy too!).
And then there's Gen. Tso's Chicken. Now, I love GTC, but seriously, it ain't spicy. Nope. It's batter fried chicken with a honeyed glaze - where's the spice in honey?! And yet, it has a little chilly beside it. I think I should write to the chinese food menu council and demand that every item that has chillies beside it, should be spicy!

2. Chinese Soup Crackers :
I love them. They're great to snack on and they go great with hot and sour soup. For some strange reason, not all chinese restaurants serve them with delivery. What's up with that? If you're in the restaurant drinking soup, they get a little bowl by the side, but if you order delivery, they don't send 'em. Is it a religious thing? I had no idea the chinese were so touchy about fried flour. Anyway, Imperial Garden did send them. So yay for them!