S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night

Tonight Michael and I went into Chinatown.  I was hoping to catch a little Chinese New Year spirit, but there were no parades only a few drum beats down the street.  We ate dinner at Shanghai Cafe (100 Mott Street between Hester and Canal).  We specifically went there for their soup dumplings to be able to compare them with the ones at Joe's Shanghai.  And the verdict is...not so dissimilar from each other, but if I had to pick a winner it would be Shanghai Cafe.  The rest of the food was so-so:  Shanghai pan fried noodles with chicken, shrimp, pork and vegetables and also eggplant in garlic sauce with pork.  They do refill your water glasses without asking and I really liked their hot tea. 

Afterward we went to Ray's Candy Store (113 Avenue A) for beignets (think zeppoles).  They were hot and yummy and dusted with confectioner's sugar.  Here is the most special one of the bunch: