Bird Feet and Beer

Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Kowloon

You know you aren’t at Denny’s when the specialty of the house is Chicken Feet, Duck Tongue, and Fish Intestines.

I opted for a slightly more mundane path Wednesday night, ordering stir fried chicken with almonds and a Tsingtao (beer, that is...pronounced ching-dow). And yes, it was terrific.

For a restaurant the size of my living room, lit by flickering fluorescent lights and with questionable housekeeping standards, there was no question the food would be good. Every chair was filled with locals. The 8-top table next to ours had ten senior-aged folks squeezed around it, passing dishes, sipping beer, and laughing as only life long friends do. One gentleman facing me was missing his top four center teeth. Every time he laughed, I smiled. As simple as it sounds, there’s something kind of reassuring about seeing life lived without hang-ups or vanity.