I’m happy to report that our first OTB Economic Stimulus dinner was a fantastic success. On April 25, 2009, 14 foodies converged on Chengdu 1 restaurant in Cedar Grove, New Jersey for a night of major league, mouth numbing and mucus membrane burning Sichuan goodness.
Related OTB Post: NJ Dining – Chengdu 1
Chengdu 1
89 Pompton Ave (Pilgrim Shopping Plaza)
Cedar Grove NJ, 973-239-7726
Web Site: http://www.chengdu1nj.com/
Click on the “Read the rest of this entry” link below for more.
Inaugural Beverage: Economic Stimulus Beer, homebrewed by NJ foodie and OTB reader “HelenaS”.
Amuse #1: Sichuan Pickled Broccoli Stems. I could totally eat a huge jar of these things, they should have them in supermarkets.
Amuse #2: Sichuan Pickled Radish.
Amuse #3: Sichuan Peanuts.
First Course: Sichuan Wontons.
Second Course: “Ants on a Tree”. This is a noodle dish with ground pork and a strong Sichuan peppercorn flavor.
Third Course: Homemade Chinese Sausage with Chili Peppers and Leeks.
Fourth Course: Lamb Spare Ribs. These were a big hit.
Fifth Course: Jumbo Spicy Shrimp.
Sixth Course: Kung Pao Chicken
Seventh Course: Sauteed Chinese Broccoli Tips.
Eighth Course: Chili Pepper Saute with Black Chingkiang Vinegar
Ninth Course: Sauteed Spicy Lamb
Tenth Course: Spicy Rabbit Filets
Eleventh Course: Ma Po Tofu.
Dessert #1: Sweet Sticky Rice
Dessert #2: Mashed Sweet Taro Root
The damage? With double orders of each dish, $30 per person with tax and generous tip included.
If you have ideas for future ESD’s in the New York and New Jersey metro area, please contact me on my About page. If you’d like to organize an Economic Stimulus Dinner in your neck of the woods, please feel free to do so and I’ll be happy to promote it.
Over the next two months I will be visiting the Chicago area. So Chicago foodies, start thinking about where we can pour some money into the Windy City economy!
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Off The Broiler 
Did you just get a new camera or something? Your photos seem, I dunno, poppier.
I’ve had a new DSLR with a 50mm f1.4 primary for about a year, but only get to use it locally. I don’t travel with it. I use a compact when I travel, the difference in quality with that 50mm lens is amazing.
i just wrote an entry about a szechuan place i tried in sd… i love szechuan food and am constantly on the lookout for something “authentic”. i’m gonna have to try this out when i get back :)
The dinner was fantastic — as Chengdu 1 always is. The company was delightful as well. Jason neglected to mention that the Chili Pepper saute was super hot. I only ate the point end of one pepper — stopping well before the seeds — so I was okay, but many of the other folks at the table who ate the whole pepper were suffering afterward.
Yeah, I did neglect to mention that everyone who had partaken of the sauteed chilies were schvitzing throughout the remainder of the meal, The hardcore crew went to Mark and Julie’s Ice Cream afterwords to cool off.
Because nothing cools me off like some yummy coffee ice cream with tons of chocolate pieces in it. Yum as a follow up to yum.
This post is making me hunger for New Jersey! We have no Sichuan in Cleveland. BTW – Lao Sze Chuan, in Chicago’s Chinatown, is an excellent choice for Sichuan food.
Looks amazing! I couldn’t make this dinner, but I’m looking forward to hearing about future events.
Correction: Not “Sichuan Wontons” they are “Spicy Baby Dumplings”
Just wanted to put that out there, because they are a total must order, and wouldn’t want you to get the wrong dish! Also, fyi, I think that platter above is about a triple order, ended up being 2 pieces per person.
The Spicy Jumbo Shrimp were the spiciest we’ve ever had them. I preferred them the way we’ve had them previously, more like salt & pepper shrimp with chili, these were hot & spicy throughout.
OTB,
Brilliant idea and your blog continues to be my favorite. Thanks for all the great posts! Would love to join an ESD and after looking at this post I’m going to host one for myself right now. Finally, $30 for all that seems quite reasonable.
Hey Jason, Great to see you at the Duckathlon. I just realized that Chengu is right down the street from my office! Ack! I’ll be sure to check it out this week.
so I’ve been twice this week. Had the ants on a tree, the Spicy Sichuan Wontons, Dan Dan Noodles and Spicy Lamb. All were great with the ants on a tree being less interesting than I’d hoped. The Wontons and Lamb were big winners. Tasted delicious, my mind enjoyed it too but my stomach was reeling. Not sure the burger I plan on getting after work at The Fireplace is going to make matters any better…
M.
Oh man, I missed this. Why didn’t I discover this site sooner? Where have I been? I love Chengdu 1. That said, we just tried Little Pepper in Flushing for the first time, and that was even better, but it’s a long way from NJ. And it blew the roofs of our mouths off.
Ideas for future ESDs are brewing in my head….
[…] our second event in our series of OTB Economic Stimuli, I’ve enlisted former Bergen Record restaurant writer and fellow food blogger Victor Sasson […]