T-day @ Mohegan Sun: Bamboo Forest

Intro

Our family has never done the traditional turkey dinner because my mom doesn't like the taste of turkey. So, we have always spent Thanksgiving eating lobster/crabs/fish/chicken/duck...etc. Whatever it is, we enjoy it as a family. This year, we decided to travel north into Connecticut for a nontraditional day at the casinos. You would think this is an unusual excursion, but there were mobs of people (especially, Chinese folks) everywhere. We left early in the morning, and we arrived just in time for lunch. We headed to the first Chinese restaurant, Bamboo Forest.

Where should I start? The menu had limited selections for Thanksgiving. The decor of the restaurant had no Asian theme. It was just a continuous stream of the casino. So, I really didn't expect much for authentic Asian cuisine. However, the meal surprised me. We ordered roast duck noodle soup, lau mai gai, Shanghai seafood noodle, wonton noodle soup, and Korean BBQ ribs. All of it was hot and nicely prepared and very authentic. The wontons had a nice "bounce" to them. The noodles were al dente. Everyone enjoyed their choices.

Overall, I give the restaurant an 82/100.

Food 8.5/10 – Good Chinese food considering the place is 2 hours away from the city.
Service 9.0/10 – For a holiday, I was pleasantly surprised by the waitress. She was very cordial and patient with our orders.
Atmosphere 7.5/10 – We were seated at the bar because there was no room in the main restaurant. So, I had no real impression of the place.
Price 7.0/10 – My dad treated. Total cost $90 (incl. tip) for 5 people.
Satisfaction 9.0/10 - I enjoyed the meal, but we could have stopped at Chinatown for a similar meal and for less.

Closing Comments
Really, you go to Mohegan Sun to gamble. So, eating is not the first thing on your mind. However, if you want a good meal, then Bamboo Forest has some good Chinese food.

Umami- The Fifth Flavor

I recently realized that there is very little information or reviews on Asian eateries. I love most Asian foods (including Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Indian, Thai, etc). However, most places that have good quality Asian food at reasonable prices are difficult to research on Google or Zagat. So, I am starting today to find these little gems in my neighborhood and share them with you. I still need time to outline restaurants to visit. So, I'll start with a foodie's word of the day: Umami.
Until recently, Western taste physiology experts traditionally talked about four basic flavors: sweet, salty, sour and bitter. But the Japanese include a fifth flavor: umami ("oo-ma-mee"), often translated as "delicious," "savory," or "brothy." Many fermented products have this quality, including naturally brewed Kikkoman Soy Sauce. A small amount of Kikkoman Soy Sauce will not add a soy sauce flavor but rather meld the flavors of a recipe and make the other ingredients simply taste better. Next time your meal loses its appeal, try using Kikkoman Soy Sauce for its flavor-enhancing, umami qualities:

• Vegetable stews and soups are richer
• More flavorful Vinaigrettes are balanced
• Flavor is multi-dimensional Cream sauces are nuttier
• Tomato sauces are less acidic
• Sautéed mushrooms are more savory

Source: http://www.kikkomanusa.com/