New Szechuan Star in ATL

Epicurean Exploits - Food and Recipes
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Last night several of us went out to Gu’s Bistro on Buford Highway. It is located in Doraville Plaza Shopping Mall.

Better than Peter Chang’s new place. As good as Tasty China and better in many ways. Beautiful tea smoked whole duck. Perfectly served with a bit of cilantro and a gorgeous peanut based sauce.
Some of the best dumplings I have ever tasted. Almost life changing Kung Pao Lotus Root dish. Wow! Very good service. This is a new star in our area.

Great place!

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Thanks for the tip, Don.

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Gu’s Bistro opened shortly before Peter Chang’s, but Chang’s got all the publicity. Too bad. Gu’s is better - much better, IMHO, and cheaper. And no corkage fee. But bring your glasses.

A couple of highlights:

Twice-cooked smoked pork - http://app.onlinephotofiler.com/Img1/A_1/0/9/0/300901/653c6cccd27e412ab89340947a342f9c.1600x1200.jpg

Tea-smoked duck - http://app.onlinephotofiler.com/Img1/A_1/0/9/0/300901/9d7b213cd84640008a21f4776690e178.1600x1200.jpg

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I had never heard of this place until yesterday when a friend suggested wego there today. Funny coincidence. Any other recommendations besides the duck and smoked pork?

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In my experience, there are lots of hits and damn few misses. Other dishes I have particularly enjoyed:

Appetizers

  • ‘Husband and Wife’ (beef tenderloin and beef tripe)
  • Ma La Sliced Tofu Skin

Dim Sum

  • Chengdu Dumplings
  • Zhong Style Dumplings
  • Dan Dan Noodles

Beef & Lamb

  • Cumin Lamb

Pork

  • Stir-fried Shredded Pork w/ Smoked Dried Tofu

Poultry

  • Chongqing Spicy Chicken
  • Kung Pao Chicken

Seafood

  • Salt & Pepper Jumbo Shrimp
  • Cumin Jumbo Shrimp w/ Dried Chili Peppers

Tofu

  • Szechuan Style Spicy Tofu Skin

Vegetables

  • Kung Pao Lotus Root (the one Don called “almost life changing”)
  • Dry-fried Eggplant (this may be item D5 on the menu, or it may be off the menu, I’m not sure - ask Yvonne)
  • Szechuan Style Spicy String Beans
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Thank you sir!

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Enjoy!

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What’s Tofu skin? sounds unappetizing to me.

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Google is your friend: Tofu skin - Wikipedia

The first time I ate tofu skin I thought it was mushrooms.

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This place does not disappoint and I agree that it is better than TC and PC. We had much of what Robert suggested, but instead of the Dan Dan Noodles, we had the chengdu style cold noodles. Excellent. The beef jerky appetizer was good as well. I will definitely be back.

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Menu choices look “authentic” enough. Do they use Sichuan peppercorns in some of their dishes?

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Thanks for that. That’s just the sort of east meets west mashup I was getting at in my recent Tuscany meets Szechuan post. Smoked meat is uncommon in China, but smoked pork is very Southeastern US. Using smoking in place of boiling as the first of the two cookings is a great idea!

Any idea what kind of pork they used, pork belly or did they stretch a bit and go with something Western like pulled pork or spareribs?

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Yes, belly.

The twice-cooked pork is offered smoked or not smoked (I prefer the smoked, but both are excellent); either version can be ordered with or without guokui (crispy little flatbreads).

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Yes indeed.

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I’m jealous. I don’t think we have a real Szechuan restaurant in the whole of Northern California

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Berry. You would love this place. One other great dish was the Chengdu Dumplings. Wonderful things.

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Don’s favorite (I loved it, too),
Kung Pao Lotus Root: http://app.onlinephotofiler.com/Img1/A_1/0/9/0/300901/c93ae5f126d048c5b17442ea2506afb4.1600x1200.jpg


At the top of my list for next visit,
Cumin Lotus Root w/ Dried Chili Peppers: http://app.onlinephotofiler.com/Img1/A_1/0/9/0/300901/c6761b5ebdd442b690aeb4ecb715662a.1600x1200.jpg

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You are completely wrong sir. Send me a PM and I can send you info on several.

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Semi off topic, but have you Atlanta folks been to One Eared Stag, yet?