Written for Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge – “one day“
and Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge – “menu”
“Mohammedan-owned Chinese/Tai/Himalayan/Middle Eastern/Indian Restaurant” – well, you certainly don’t see too many of those in Lancaster, Pennsylvania but there it is right in the heart of the downtown dining district. This meeting of culinary minds is definitely intriguing and what an original and humorous name – ‘Tasty Balls’.
That caught my eye and gave me a good laugh as I read about the new exotic fusion restaurant in the newspaper. I wondered if my wife Judith intentionally left the paper on the kitchen table conveniently opened to the dining section for me to see. Judith has many fine attributes; subtlety is not one of them.
We met soon after I graduated college. I took a year off to backpack my way through Asia and the Middle East. Money was tight so I had to be frugal while traveling; that’s how I learned to find really good food at cheap prices.
One day while trekking through Shanghai, I stopped at a noodle and dumpling place. I was drawn to the sound of feminine laughter coming from the next table. There were two pretty blondes who looked to be around my age; I asked if I could join them and they agreed. Judith and Eunice were cousins from England on holiday. I hit it off quite well with Judith and we agreed to meet the next night for dinner. After that night we knew we wanted to be together and the rest, as they say, is history.
As I continued reading the article, I learned this new restaurant was operated by the same people who managed a nearby tea house called ‘The Barefoot Magpie’ – another place I’d never heard of. How can this be? I’ve lived in Lancaster all my life and thought I knew every place there was to eat. Obviously I haven’t been getting out enough lately.
What’s this? ‘Tasty Balls’ serves only one item: dumplings. What made it so special was the staggering number of varieties of dumplings on the menu. Now I knew without a doubt that Judith left this article here for me to stumble upon; she knows I am the world’s biggest sucker for dumplings!
Well now, let’s see what else the article says: “Extravagantly yet handsomely decorated … moderately priced … perfectly prepared dumplings … culinary delight.” My stomach rumbled and my mouth watered as I read a description of just a tiny sampling of dumplings offered at ‘Tasty Balls’:
- Jiaozi – A Chinese dumpling consisting of delicately sautéed ground meat and chopped vegetables wrapped into a thinly rolled dough-ball which is then fried to a golden brown or gently steamed.
- Xiaolongbao – A Taiwanese delicacy, this steamed dumpling has meat and broth inside. The small, succulent orb is meant to be eaten whole; one bite and the fortunate diner’s mouth is filled with liquid ambrosia.
- Momos – A staple from Tibet and Nepal, these delectable pouches are filled with yak, beef or chicken and have become an obsession with the patrons at ‘Tasty Balls’.
- Shish Barak – Middle Eastern ravioli-like envelopes filled with seasoned lamb, onion and pine nuts, these piquant squares are boiled, baked or fried and served in a warm yogurt sauce with melted mint butter and a garnish of chopped cashew nuts.
- Muthia – This Indian delight consists of chickpea flour, turmeric, chili powder, curry powder and salt bonded together with oil. Once shaped, these fritters can either be fried or steamed, depending on personal preference.
- Luqaimat – Originally from Saudi Arabia, this luscious dessert translates into “small bites”. Found in many Middle Eastern countries, this is a treat of fried dough sweetened with date syrup and garnished with sesame seeds. With a scoop of pistachio ice cream, this is a delightful end to an unforgettable meal.
I suddenly realized the newspaper was wet; either I was salivating over the scrumptious description of dumplings or I was crying tears of joy that this heaven-sent restaurant was now located in little old Lancaster. Oh, what joy, what rapture!
Judith came into the kitchen, took one look at my face and asked “What in the world has come over you?”
Holding up the soggy newspaper I exclaimed “This – as if you didn’t know, you little minx! Tempting me with an article about delectable dumplings. Well, it worked. It’s ‘Tasty Balls’ tonight!”
“Oh, I don’t think so, luv” Judith laughed. “That’s Eunice’s. She must have left it behind when she returned to the UK after her visit. That paper is from Lancaster, England!
If I had a sword I would have fallen on it.
NAR©2024
This is Ronnie Spector with “Tandoori Chicken” written by Phil Spector and George Harrison.
All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR©2017-present.
😋😋😋😋😋
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That’s the type of comment any writer would love to get! Thank you!
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🤗 welcome
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Nice twist…
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Thanks, Dylan!
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Well that made me hungry. I felt sorry for your narrator who didn’t get any dumplings.
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You’re in good company with other hungry readers!
Thanks, Iris.
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Bravo. A prize winning article if ever I read one. Thank you for shring this fun read on our blog.
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Thanks so much, Gerry! What a fantastic comment!
It’s always a great pleasure to share the fun!
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Oh, what a good laugh for my body but mouth is still salivating. Nancy, you’ve managed to generate an epic craving for dumplings across the globe.
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Haha! I’m beginning to see that, Manette! Who doesn’t love dumplings? They’re tasty balls of happiness, from appetizer to dessert!
Thanks so much, Manette!
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Not much goes on in Lancaster, PA except for tourists and shopping.
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They need some Tasty Balls! 😂
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Oh, you made me laugh with this. You weave a brilliant story; I’m never disappointed. Thank you very much, Nancy for sharing this with two of our challenges. 🙂
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My pleasure, Sue. I love to laugh and I’m delighted to know my story was fun for you.
Thanks so much for your very kind comments.
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It was indeed.
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🤗 Excellent! Tasty Balls sent me down the path of culinary delights! 😄
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Thanks so much, MM! I’m delighted to know you enjoyed my story!
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I’ve got some Swedish meatballs in the freezer….they’ll be on my plate with mashed spuds and gravy later!
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Yeah! Go for it, Glyn!
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If it ever makes it to the Twin Cities, I’ll be there in a heartbeat.
Sounds infinitely better than Schvettie Balls!
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Who doesn’t like like dumplings??
Schvettie Balls?? Yikes! 😬
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😂
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This was so tasty and real-sounding that I asked my beau if he had ever heard of the restaurant since he lives in Lancaster, PA (before I got to the end of the story, of course…)
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Haha!! How I wish there were some Tasty Balls in my neck of the woods!
Thanks, Dale!
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Seriously! And Marc is bummed that this was “fiction”. He was looking forward to looking for it 😉
I wish we had some, too.
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Sorry, Marc! 🤷🏼♀️
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Hahaha!
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Another superb Nancy Twist! Love it, and boy do I want dumplings right about now.
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HAHA!! I think everyone’s craving dumplings right about now!
I could live on them; of course, you’d have to roll me out of my house!
Thanks so much, D!
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Not only did I enjoy your story, but I learned quite a bit too! They all make my plain dumplings sound very boring!
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There’s no such thing as a plain dumpling! I think I could live on nothing but them and be very happy …. a bit chubby, I’m sure, but happy! 😄
Thanks, Keith!
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How I love those “tasty balls”! Even if I make them myself 😎. Yes, the street food in Shanghai is outstanding.
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How can you pass up something so delicious? I know I can’t and I’m sure your Klösse oder Knödel are fantastisch! 😋
Danke, Fred!
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My ex is Chinese 😎 So I eventually learned a little bit. Now in spring we just go out and pick the filling for our veggie dumplings from the Wienerwald.
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Ah, a little German/Chinese fusion. I love it! I bet those are some fine-tasting veggie dumplings!
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Wild garlic, dandelion, wild fennel – ok, I’ll stop it 🙂
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Oh no! What a disappointment.
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After that buildup, for sure!
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😜
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Excellent little story and yes there is a restaurant chain of Tasty Balls but not near me ! 💜💜
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How great! I did a little research on the actual “Tasty Balls” and I was hoping some of my UK friends would make the connection!
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Definitely 😁😁
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🤣
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😄
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