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New England Chinese Bar Mai Tai |
redbeardmcg
Member
Joined: Feb 11, 2008
Posts: 3
From: Massachusetts
|  Posted: 2008-02-11 4:27 pm Permalink
I am sure there have been tons of posts about the ever popular Mai Tai, and I have read tons of Mai Tai recipes (trader vics, etc...) but I have never been able to reproduce the amazingly delicious Mai Tai that any Chinese restaurant in suburban Massachusetts makes. When I make a mai tai it always ends up looking like lemonade. The Mai Tai at my favorite place near home (jade east) is WAY darker and tastes so much better.
Every time I ask how they make it I get a similar answer (haha, you take glass add rum and put in lot of ice).
My question... Is the Mai Tai that I have grown to love different here in Boston than the rest of the country? I have never been able to reproduce it and I have tried a few different recipes with no success.
Anybody live near Boston and know what I am talking about?
Thanks!!
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The Granite Tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 02, 2005
Posts: 789
From: Nashua, NH
| Posted: 2008-02-11 4:45 pm Permalink
Jade East in Tewksbury?
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redbeardmcg
Member
Joined: Feb 11, 2008
Posts: 3
From: Massachusetts
| Posted: 2008-02-11 4:52 pm Permalink
Yup!
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pappythesailor
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 07, 2005
Posts: 1563
From: Mass.
| Posted: 2008-02-11 5:03 pm Permalink
I don't think I agree that they're all good. This seems about as good a place as any to say this: Sully and I went to the Empire Garden in Boston. The site is impressive; it's an old movie theater. We got the two worst drinks you could imagine. I'd classify mine as the worst drink I've ever had anywhere. I was afraid to drink it so I didn't. It tasted like Janitor in a Drum. Sully drank his and was sick all night (we didn't eat there).
Anyway, the best Mai Tai in NE is made by Judy Chin at Ken Chin's in Worcester. (I'm going on record here.)
Why not just come right out and ask how they make it at Jade East?
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Tikisgrl
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 03, 2005
Posts: 861
From: Lowell, Mass
| Posted: 2008-02-11 5:10 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2008-02-11 16:45, The Granite Tiki wrote:
Jade East in Tewksbury?
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Just drove by there on the way home maybe I should try the Mai Tai and see if it passes the non-drinker test?
Welcome to TC, to another local person redbeardmcg!
Beth
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leisure master
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 24, 2007
Posts: 428
From: The exotic village, NYC
| Posted: 2008-02-11 7:22 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2008-02-11 17:03, pappythesailor wrote:
Anyway, the best Mai Tai in NE is made by Judy Chin at Ken Chin's in Worcester. (I'm going on record here.) |
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This I gotta try. PLEASE tell me this place is going to be part of the NETT (or at least NETT Jr.)?
_________________
I'm not an alcoholic, I'm an enthusiast.
[ This Message was edited by: leisure master 2008-02-11 19:23 ]
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Scottes
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 18, 2007
Posts: 490
From: A Little North Of Boston
| Posted: 2008-02-12 06:11 am Permalink
Damn, that's 2 new places I have to try. Well, at least the Jade East is close to home...
Jay, we are going to have to plan a meeting at Ken Chin's, just to test you and keep you honest.
_________________
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The Gnomon
Grand Member (5 years) 
Joined: May 01, 2007
Posts: 1276
From: MD-DC-VA
| Posted: 2008-02-12 07:22 am Permalink
Not sure of all the ingredients. Never cared to really pursue it, but the owner of a Chinese restaurant I used to frequent in Bethesda told me that the key ingredient in his Mai Tais was Coca-Cola syrup.
I think if you want to match the Chinese restaurant Mai Tai flavor, you'll have to get yourself some Coca-Cola syrup before you start your experiments.
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Bargoyle
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 18, 2004
Posts: 1025
From: Tolland, CT
| Posted: 2008-02-12 09:07 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2008-02-11 19:22, leisure master wrote:
PLEASE tell me this place is going to be part of the NETT (or at least NETT Jr.)? |
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Sorry LM, not on either. We gotta do something to get you up here for NETT3 right? heh heh (next time you get up here give a heads up & we'll take you out)
Actually I think NETT3 is gonna more focused down your way, but I have an idea for another deal next year, starting in central mass, and heading west...out to the Tiki Hotel in Lake George.
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redbeardmcg
Member
Joined: Feb 11, 2008
Posts: 3
From: Massachusetts
| Posted: 2008-02-12 1:54 pm Permalink
Hmm, the coca cola syrup thing is interesting. BTW what is NETT? Am I correct in guessing it is New England Tiki Tour?
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10599
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2008-02-12 2:10 pm Permalink
Am I missing something here, or is it too obvious for the aficionados so they don't chime in... I cannot speak for those New England establishments, but the reason MY homemade Mai Tais look dark, and not like lemonade, is because I put PLENTY of dark Myer's Rum in them. Only bleach could lighten mine up!
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pappythesailor
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 07, 2005
Posts: 1563
From: Mass.
| Posted: 2008-02-12 2:18 pm Permalink
Myers'?? Oh, that is SO 1986. Nobody puts it in a Mai Tai anymore.
Just kidding. Yeah, that would be the obvious answer but there's nothing obvious about these Chinese Mai Tais. They're inscrutable. Much like the Chinese themselves...
Yeah. NETT is the Northeast Tiki Tour.
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The Granite Tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 02, 2005
Posts: 789
From: Nashua, NH
| Posted: 2008-02-12 2:23 pm Permalink
I've seen ingredients coming out of bottles with Asian markings on them here in New England as well.
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10599
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2008-02-12 2:45 pm Permalink
Hmm...I seeee...seeclet inglidient
Could it be...-a jiao zh (ass hide glue pellets) ? ...or -bi hu ( house lizard) ?
... I do believe we can rule out -can sha (silkworm droppings) or -qiu shi (processed urine deposit) for they would make it lean more towards lemonade again, but
-tu bie chong (wingless cockroach), -wang yue sha (hare's droppings), and -wu ling zhi (flying squirrel's droppings) could very well be effective darkening agents.
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Bargoyle
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 18, 2004
Posts: 1025
From: Tolland, CT
| Posted: 2008-02-13 05:44 am Permalink
I think its got something to do with the "secret sauce".
Pappy & I noticed at the Mon Kou, that pretty much EVERY cocktail got at least a partial ladle-full of this strange yellow juice, kept in a wine bucket. It definately ISNT sour mix, nor is it lemon juice....
one of the mysteries of New England tiki. And while not a traditional Mai Tai....they sure are gooooood!!
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