China White

Saturday night Michael and I met Chris, Margo, Mike and Chrysalis for dinner at China White (http://chinawhiteusa.com/gallery_purchase/img001.html) in Purchase.  Ryan was performing in The Nutcracker later on that evening.

First off, there is valet parking.  Immediately I thought that wasn't necessary, but after dinner when we went to get our car out of the lot, I realized how necessary the valet was.  The restaurant filled up quickly and the lot is small.  From the outside, the restaurant looks like a lovely home, inside it is more Zen-like with white table cloths, muted tones, paper light fixtures over the bar and lighting that got progressively lower during the meal, causing me to state the age-old comment "I feel like Bette Davis in Dark Victory."

Let's discuss the prices for a) a restaurant NOT in New York City b) a Chinese restaurant and c) on a dark quiet road in Westchester:  Egg drop soup $6-very average-gelatinous and mildly flavored; Hot and sour soup $7-more flavorful yet still gelatinous and Won ton everything soup $8-not quite "everything"-just baby bok choy and mushrooms added-actually had more of a Japanese flavor than Chinese.  Vegetable spring rolls $8-greasy; Chinatown roast pork $9-NOT, may I repeat NOT like Chinatown at all.  Roast Pork chow fun $16-REALLY GOOD; Black pepper beef $26-REALLY GOOD; Spicy fried rice $10-Good and a chicken dish I can't remember (because I didn't try it) but everyone liked it. 

The service is attentive and nothing to complain about.  The organic red Cabernet was good yet Michael asked for 2 cubes of ice in his McCallen, and it came on the rocks, so their bar skills are not up to par.

We will NOT be going back strictly due to the prices.  $26 for beef and Chinese vegetables, I don't care how good it is, is a ridiculous price.  However, the best part of the evening was seeing Ryan perform in The Nutcracker and that was what the evening was all about!