Someone has tagged me with the favorite restaurants meme, but I can’t for the life in me remember who. I’ve trawled through the archives of half a dozen likely suspects but with no luck. Still, a meme’s a meme.
Just a few weeks ago I wouldn’t really be able to answer this question. Sure, I might have been able to come up with a few names, the Yangtze in Liversedge and Noor’s on Leeds Road; but while these are fine places to go my heart wouldn’t have really been in it.
Now however I am able to answer with conviction and gusto. In order to celebrate both my mother and my sister’s birthday recently we went to Temujin in Milnsbridge, and I fell in love with the place.
Temujin is a Mongolian restaurant, which basically seems to mean it stir fries everything. Apparently Genghis Khan’s warriors would cook all their food this way, using their upturned shields for woks. I very much doubt they got to choose from a buffet of different raw meats and vegetables then take them to a chef and instruct him what oil, sauce and garnish they wanted however. And I also think it was highly unlikely that some of the meat on offer was kangaroo or crocodile (last time I looked those animals weren’t indigenous to Mongolia). But hey, I got to eat Skippy so I’m not complaining.
For your information Kangaroo tastes a little bit like a cross between beef and pork, and crocodile like chicken and fish. The quorn tasted like nothing as usual.
When I first heard about it I was a little reluctant to go. I tend to thrive on familiarity and get a bit anxious in situations where I’m not sure what I’m doing. The prospect of having to choose every single ingredient of my meal then take it to the chef for inspection made me rather nervous. What if he pored scorn on my squid, tai green curry, and parsley combination and made me stand in the corner as an example to the rest of the restaurant? But I needn’t have worried, they were all very pleasant didn’t mock me in the slightest (at least not to my face anyway).
And the best thing? You could go up and get another helping as many times as you wanted. I went six times, my brother went five. That means I win Sam, I win.
I tag anyone who fancies a go.
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Kangaroo? I don’t think I could do it.
When I was a kid there was a big fuss in the states, which may or may not be an urban legend, that Jack in the Box was caught using kangaroo meat. It didn’t go over well.
Yes, the chef’s scorn is most likely delivered behind the diners’ backs, much as it was in the days of Genghis Khan. Catty, those Mongolian warriors were.
Ooh, I’m not that adventurous. For whatever reason, if it ain’t beef, pork, chicken, or fish I probably won’t want to try it. I’m not even interested in venison and that’s like a staple around here. They have these huge “game feasts” around here every year and every year I get invited and don’t go. I’m such a wuss.
Dan,
We have these in the states too. I think it is a brilliant ploy for a restaurant. If you complain about your food they can just say, “hey bozo, it’s your own damn fault, you picked it.”
At home at lunch these places have a “one bowl” deal. I used to work with a truly worthless engineer who figured out a way to build a high barrier around the bowl with sliced onions so he could get about 2.5 bowls packed in there. Brilliant.
I have modified my post and replied to your comment! Please read!
Not that you complained in the slightest but I think my post was overly harsh. I have had too much sun today!
Anyway, please if you have a moment visit me again and read my reply. :)
Really? How come? :)
Apparently, that Mongolian restaurant in Huddersfield is owned by a South African who lives in Hebden Bridge. What a diverse world we live in.
You only went up six times Dan? Next time I’m back, I challenge you! I think I still owe Jim lunch too, so we should get a few of us along, and eat all their crocodile, squid, ostrich and wildebeest. (Do they serve wildebeest, or is that the African Grill from the Old Townhouse in Warrington?)
Oh, I’m off to Spain for a bit. Might catch up with you while I’m out there, but if I don’t reply, it’s not because I’m being rude.
It may have been me who tagged you for this. I don’t remember either. Did the kangaroo make you hop? And I see you play the who-can-eat-more game at all-you-can-eat places too.
I only managed two visits so I must be a lightweight… But I did have kangaroo and ostrich! It was recommended to me by Craig Kelly so thank you Craig.