Quickie #2 - Big Trouble in Little...Oh Never Mind

April 18th, 2011

Charlotte, NC

Today my main "adventure eating" companion and I visited the Asian Corner Mall in North Charlotte with the goal of checking out a Chinese restaurant we'd never tried - Dragon Court. Known as one of only two Dim Sum restaurants in Charlotte and boasting both a Chinese Menu and a Real Chinese Menu, this had been on our radar for quite a  while. What an incredible meal.

I had my first experience with Chicken Feet.  Steamed then heavily sauced with a sweet glaze, this is definitely something everyone should try. Chewy and gelatinous, they defined "finger-licking good." I will note that should this dish be set on your table along with others, eat this one first. As they cool, that unctuousness quickly turns into jello - eat them fast and while they are hot.  

The appendages were delivered to our table along with Pork Dumplings. Unlike any Pork Dumpling I'd had before, these were contained in a loose skin, not the typically tight noodle to which I have grown accustomed. But this was a good thing. The texture was like fresh tagliatelle, like the way fresh pasta can never be al dente. We were completely unsure of the cut of pork within. The Dumpling had a crunch that was reminiscent of both properly cooked shrimp and steamed organ meat. We decided to focus on the stupendous flavor, rather than try to determine the ingredient list. 

Next to arrive were the Steamed Shrimp and Pork Shumai. These little morsels my have looked like those microwave versions seen on some Chinese buffets and in your grocer's freezer, but they were far from it. These were extremely flavorful yet very clean tasting. Probably in the top two dishes of the meal.

A trio of dishes hit the table next, both Shrimp and Pork Rice Noodle Rolls and Steamed Beef Balls. The noodle rolls were very interesting. When steamed, they became very thick and doughy. When rolled they looked like Calamari mantle. The texture contrast with the filling, especially the roast pork, was quite nice - like little pillows.  

The Steamed Beef Balls were great. When not caramelized, like in your typical meatball, the beef takes on an almost sweet characteristic. The meat mixture must have been ground into a paste as it was very dense with no major signs of a binder. 

At this point, forgetting we had another course coming, I ordered some Shrimp Balls that I saw pass by on the way to another table. 

A few minutes later the Stuffed Tofu arrived. Tofu skins stuffed with what seemed like a very firm shrimp mousse, these were light and soft. The shrimp in the "mousse" were present in flavor only. Having been chopped to an very fine texture, there were no discernible shrimp pieces remaining, just the smooth, coagulated amalgamation of crustacean. They would have been a splendid end to the meal.

However, I had ordered the additional Shrimp Balls. They put the meal over the top - in a good and bad way. Lightly battered and fried shrimp paste, the interior of these was not  fabricated as intensely and left a few larger pieces of shrimp to be enjoyed. The outside was very strongly flavored - a richly deep chicken flavor. I made the comment that they almost tasted like they were wrapped in chicken skin. After a brief look around the internet, I quickly found a recipe for just that - chicken skin wrapped shrimp balls. I will have to ask our my next visit.

Speaking of next visits, there will be many. My friend put it very well when he said "every time we think that what we normally eat has become boring, we can just come here to recharge." That is exactly what Dragon Court has the ability to do, remove all feeling of the mundane, add excitement back into your dining routine and recharge your adventurous eating batteries.

Dragon Court

4520 North Tryon St. #40 

Charlotte, NC 28213