Pilgrimage to Pekin House
iPod (365x205) [3:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (220) Podcast Video [3:30m]: Download (152)
AppleTV (960x540) [3:30m]: Download (437)I lived in Chicago in my early 20s. My roommate used to order take-out from Pekin House, and eventually I got in on it. I cannot describe how good these egg rolls are. They must be wrapped in heaven and fried in peanut oil. We ended up ordering from this place once a week, and we’d get enough food for an extra meal or two. We tried almost everything on the menu, but always, always ordered the egg rolls.
The funny thing is, I never had any idea where the place was. The phone number was on the fridge. The menu was in a drawer. They showed up at the door. With great food. This is something I never questioned, never thought about. It just was, and boy, was it good.
When I moved back to Phoenix, I missed this food so much I could barely believe it. After fifteen years, I still dream about those egg rolls. I could remember exactly how they tasted. The only other foods I dream about, with the exception of a certain Mexican food restaurant here in Phoenix, are foods my mom, dad, or grandma made when I was a kid. So it’s a big deal that I dream of Pekin House egg rolls.
So when I went to Chicago for BlogHer this past summer, I had to see if I could find the place. I found an address on the web, and figured out how to get there. It would be a 45 minute journey by El-train and bus from my hotel room. I talked up these egg rolls all day long to everyone I met, but at the end of the day, nobody wanted to be adventurous and go with me.
There was no way I was going to give up on these egg rolls, so I went all by myself, even though my very favorite thing is sharing good food with friends.
So I brought you with me. It was better with you there. We had an adventure together on the streets of Chicago. I’m sorry I forgot to tell you that you came with me for this long. Thanks so much for coming along with me. It really meant a lot for me to share this with you.
I got truly crappy audio in the restaurant, because I was a little embarrassed sitting there telling my camera about dinner, so I did it quietly. I got even worse audio on the El, because it’s just so loud. So I subtitled myself. If you have trouble reading the wee little version, consider downloading the mid-size.
November 22nd, 2007 at 7:21 am
Always fun to go back to old stomping grounds and see what’s what. Bummer that no one went along with you though. *meh* Screw em. We were there with you
Now Im hungry for some egg rolls and it’s only 8:20am. Damn you.
November 22nd, 2007 at 11:34 am
We were there too, you just took us!
November 22nd, 2007 at 6:15 pm
I would have went, no doubt…..I know that feeling of just wanting someone there with you, to have the chance for someone else to experience and see what you see….but like Beth said we got to see it now…but I know it’s not completly the same but I thank you for sharing….
November 22nd, 2007 at 11:06 pm
That food looked so freakin’ awesome. It was an honor going along for the pilgrimage. Also, the sunset…breathtaking. The sunsets are absolutely beautiful in the Southwest, but people should never underestimate the Midwest’s gorgeous mixture of colors and clouds. Thanks for the trip!
November 23rd, 2007 at 11:27 am
Epic!
What a great story. I’m now so hungry I may well pass out.
In London I tend to head for China Town in Soho which is relatively cheap and usually superb. Now there’s an idea.
November 24th, 2007 at 6:15 am
Clearly we were separated at birth: you mix your hot mustard and your duck sauce together for your eggrolls– just like I do, and you order Mu Shu Pork, which is my very favorite. Are you my long-lost twin?
It may be so.
it was lovely finally having dinner with you!
November 24th, 2007 at 7:07 am
egg rolls are my crack.