On the Yahara A-Z

T.

Tea at Ha Long Bay, Willy Street.  With a new penchant for household tea and a loyal interest in authentic Asian food, it was only a matter of time before we would walk the five blocks to get to the famed multi-Asian restaurant Ha Long Bay.  The location name is based on the Vietnamese legend "Bay of the Descending Dragon," in which it was a dragon defending her children that spit out the jewels that became the islands and islets of the world renown bay.

Once inside, you can come to both see and smell what attracted Andrew Zimmerman to this place for the sampling of the varied and native created menu who included, on his visit, egg rolls wrapped in

spring roll and the amazing pho soup.  We began our culinary journey with a nice kettle of loose leaf ginger tea and sipped its freshness while looking out from a corner seat the window overlooking Willy Street itself and other lunchgoers popping into Grampas Pizza or Lazy Jane's bakery across the

street.  The egg rolls here and dumplings are made with an expert's touch -- instead of the tendency of the homemade versions of these becoming dry or overcooked, these were fresh and delicate to the

touch, like a delicacy bordering on dessert.  My own Ga Kho Gurng (Ginger Chicken) was chosen at medium spicy and was one of the great prepared Asian meals I had had; seeped chicken, broccoli, carrots and asparagus over a wonderful broth was warming and memorable on a rainy sunday afternoon.