East Manor Restaurant: Savory

When I asked my parents where we were going for our New Year’s meal and they told me Dim Sum, I was excited. When I found out it was that place in Flushing that no one remembered the name of, but still remembered how to get there, I was more than ecstatic. I just remember this restaurant for the hustling and bustling interior. The tables are just inches away from each other, thus there’s a lot of squeezing yourself between chairs and sucking in so as not to clear your neighbor’s table with your sweater or limbs. I remembered the 蛋挞 (custard tarts) that were freshly made in front of you, the stacks of bamboo steamers that would constantly multiply, and of course the race to get their special 豆腐花 (a sweet tofu dessert).

Today was no exception. Despite getting there early, the restaurant was already completely packed. My family gathered and dissipated around the entrance, waiting room (they use their table/chair storage room as a makeshift waiting room), and storefront. My grandfather spotted a full roast pig hanging from a metal hook in the window and immediately started recounting his fond memories of eating this particular kind dish in China. The pork, he said, is supposed to be tender on the inside and it was imperative that it have a crispy skin on the outside.

Fast-forward to our meal, I slung my coat over the back of the chair and immediately set off to get food, zig-zagging my way through people, carts, tables, and chairs. There are two ways to get food. You either go to the one table buffet at the front of the restaurant or you get it off carts that are constantly being pushed around the restaurant. Since there were eight of us, I decided I’d borrow one of their serving trays and pick up all the food people wanted. At the end of the buffet table there were four large plastic containers overflowing with different greens. You choose the one you want and the lady behind two boiling pots of broth boils it for you. Dipped in a little oyster sauce (蚝油), the 芥蓝 (Chinese broccoli) was fantastic. On the way to the vegetables, I passed by the wall that has windows to the kitchen. There, I picked up some 萝卜糕 (turnip cake) which is also served with oyster sauce. I returned to the table with my tray and found stacks of bamboo steamers, just as I remember, filled with 叉烧包 (steamed pork buns) and 小笼包 (soup dumplings).

芥蓝 (Chinese broccoli)

Just as I thought our meal was coming to a close, a plastic container packed with 烧肉 (roast meat) appeared. My grandfather was the first to taste it. He said it was not bad, which actually means it’s really good since nothing else compares to his memories of food. The skin was extremely crispy and crunched in my mouth like brittle. The layer of fat between the skin and the meat heightened the delicate flavor of the pork and also kept the meat moist.

All in all, I’d say today was a pretty good eating day. I hope whoever gets the chance to try this restaurant enjoys it as much as my family does. Happy Eating and Happy New Year! Be sure to check out the wonderful sweets we got at East Manor too!

Cuisine: Cantonese

46-45 Kissena Blvd.

Flushing, NY 11355

January 1, 2014