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China Cottage celebrates Year of the Tiger in grand style
China Cottage celebrated the first of its two-night Chinese New Year dinners Monday, Feb. 22, in grand style. Of course, when the restaurant owner’s first name is Tiger, perhaps it’s no surprise that China Cottage would celebrate the Year of the Tiger with flair.
The celebration at China Cottage’s Centerville location consisted of a lavish 11-course meal and live music from Chinese musicians playing traditional music on traditional instruments. And as it was last year, the new year’s party was capped by China Cottage owner Tiger Wang himself taking the small stage and singing two traditional Chinese songs.
It was a satisfying evening in every respect, made even more remarkable by the relatively modest cost — $50 — and the fact that Tiger is still recovering from several broken ribs he suffered in an auto accident earlier this month.
And tonight, Feb. 23, he’ll do it all over again, to another sold-out crowd. (Click here for more photos of the China Cottage event.)
Tiger pulls in the chefs and several employees from China Cottage’s other locations in Kettering, Springboro and Trotwood to make the evening work, and the staff pulled off the logistical nightmare well.
Highlights from the 11 food courses included a seared scallop served atop a thin slice of sweet pineapple; a complex, flavorful palate freshener of tangerine macerated in orange liqueur and cinnamon; an “Olympic Bird Nest” dish that contained real crab meat; Chrysanthemum Filet Mignon, beef tenderloin stir-fried with sweet red bell peppers and button mushrooms; and the only dish to make a return appearance from last year’s China Cottage New Year’s menu, a spicy, garlicky Sea Bass with XO Sauce.
Tiger said he tested as many as 50 different dishes before deciding on his menu. The attention to detail showed. It was a fabulous evening, start to finish.
Photos by Alexis Larsen, Dayton Daily News
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Restaurant reviews
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By MC
March 1, 2010 8:52 PM | Link to this
Um…I think Happy New Year was making a joke…am I misreading this?
By null
February 24, 2010 8:46 AM | Link to this
What did Tiger Wong do to you, Happy New year? Not very nice to slam a guy who has consistently provided great Chinese food in the area for years. What have you done of note? Everyone knows how to run a paper despite not knowing how a paper is actually run.
By GoodFoodLover
February 23, 2010 12:44 PM | Link to this
The newspaper really should have equipped you with a better camera than an EasyShare to take those photos to show off the attention to details in the restaurant.
By FootLoose
February 23, 2010 12:37 PM | Link to this
China Cottage is by far our favorite restaurant. Always excellent service and outstanding food. Glad to see they are doing well.
By Skeptic
February 23, 2010 12:34 PM | Link to this
Mark, I like seeing pictures on your blog! Nice work.
By Happy New Year
February 23, 2010 12:19 PM | Link to this
It’s gonna be the year of the Tiger alright. Tiger Woods not Tiger Wong.