With my wife out of town , it was serendipity for me to be one of the chosen few to recently be invited to a ten course gourmet meal, with specially selected paired wine for each course.
Not long ago Ed , a friend, neighbor and our poker group’s resident wine steward, proved to be a consummate host and skilled sommelier for a Chinese Banquet that he hosted for his poker buddies and other assorted luminaries at The Royal East restaurant in Cambridge.
Salt & peppered LIVE shrimp flash fried to perfection, kicked off the culinary orgy.
Ed, taking the lead and making certain his guests felt comfortable, demonstrated the proper consumption technique of popping the entire shrimp complete with head and shell into your mouth for a crispy delicious treat. It was a first for me!
The pairing of a 2005 Muscat D’Alsace proved a good match for the shrimp.
Do you have certain kinds of food that you just don’t eat? I used to avoid oysters with a passion, and learned at this banquet to keep an open mind.
The steamed Pacific Oysters on the Half Shell with black bean sauce proved to be SUBLIME!
Presented table side for our viewing pleasure was a colossal LIVE Alaska King Crab. While the guests sipped a 1989 Riesling Grand Cru, the chef was busy at work transforming the writhing crab into a beautiful two course presentation of succulent steamed legs and tender lumps sauteed in garlic butter.
Additional courses included: fresh chinese bamboo shoots and black mushrooms, vegetarian goose, pea tendrils in crabmeat sauce, rack of lamb, and beef chow foon with yellow chives.
The final course of black sesame-filled dumplings in rice wine soup was accompanied by ‘liquid gold’. The Quarts De Chaume, 1995 Domaine Des Baumard was pure bliss!
So my suggestion to you is this: if you’re looking for AUTHENTIC CANTONESE & SZECHUAN CUISINE prepared with finesse, stop by the Royal East near Central Sq. in Cambridge…it’s an experience for the most passionate of foodies!
Oh..and Ed..props to you for an incredible dining experience! Our poker group is indeed fortunate to have such an incredible sommelier and food enthusiast!
Royal East Restaurant in Cambridge
Yelp Review Royal East
JOHN PRESCOTT
-BostonKayakGuy
Top Real Estate Agent for more than 14 years, serving the real estate needs of Wellesley, South Natick, Weston, Needham, Wayland, Newton, Framingham and other MetWest communities. www.johnprescott.net
JOHN PRESCOTT
Vice President
Century 21 Commonwealth
508-523-9252
BostonKayakGuy…The MetWest Scene
Filed under: Boston, Dining, Food, MetWest, Metrowest, South Natick, South Natick Real Estate, Style, The MetWest Scene, Top Metrowest Real Estate Agent | Tagged: 02138, cambridge, central square, chinese food, cooking, fine dining, John Prescott, John Prescott's The MetWest Scene, kendall square, MIT, poker, Royal East Restaurant, service, South Natick, South Natick Real Estate, Top Natick Real Estate Agent, Top Wellesley Realtor, value, wine pairings | Leave a Comment »
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