Twice Cooked Pork

This is another favorite of mine, but it has to be made with pork belly. After finishing my search for the best General Gau's Chicken, I decided to try this dish at the top finishers. That plan failed miserably since only a few places actually serve it. All dishes are from the lunch menu unless otherwise noted.

Sichuan Gourmet in Burlington is a long-time favorite of mine since they do everything right and don't hold back on the heat for the white guy. This is how real Sichuan Double Cooked Pork should be done. Tender Pork Belly, Leeks, blistered hot peppers, and a few fermented black beans. There should also be red chili oil on the bottom of the plate. The little cup of pickled veggies is a nice additional bonus. 9/10

Taipei Gourmet in Lexington has reopened under new ownership. This is another perfect example of the real Chinese version. Thinly sliced pork belly with leeks that still had some texture and a few fermented black beans. Most of the slices were cut into bite-sized pieces. There is an excellent chef in the kitchen. 9/10

Sichuan Palace in Chelmsford  Double Cooked Pork Belly ($11.95). Another real Chinese version. Thinly sliced pork belly, tender leeks, spicy green peppers, and some fermented black beans and everything sitting in a pool of chili oil. No more H&S at lunch. You still get a giant wing. 9/10

Beijing Chinese Dining in Lexington. Twice Cooked Pork Belly ($11.95). The thickly sliced pork belly was a nice surprise. The hot peppers were tasty, even more so when the seeds were left in. No leek but some thick onions. The sauce was fermented black beans and was delicious. The fried rice is a proper Chinese fried rice. The crispy spring roll was mostly roll. The H&S soup was very thick. I'll be back for some fish dishes that have been added to the lunch menu. I asked if they had a new chef, but she said it was the same one. 9/10

Szechuan's Dumpling in Arlington. Twice Cooked Pork ($9.95). Is it pork belly? Yes. Does it have fat? Yes. Of course I got pork loin that was seriously overcooked. I liked the cabbage. The tofu and the carrots, not so much. The only thing this has in common with a properly prepared Twice Cooked Pork is the name. It should have been called Pork with Cabbage. It was tasty but could have done better. Turns out that this is the American/Chinese version. 5/10

Failed.

Szechuan's Dumpling in Arlington. Chinese/American version
Sichuan Garden II Woburn. Gone from the lunch menu.
Lin Garden Wilmington. Pork Loin.
Bamboo House Wakefield. Pork Loin. Chinese/American version.

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