DISH OF THE WEEK: Baby Cucumbers at CHINA BLUE

Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City

SADLY, CHINA BLUE IS NOW CLOSED.

Sometimes it happens that the best thing you eat at a restaurant is the one thing you haven’t paid for.

That’s what happened on my recent meal at China Blue. This is the second restaurant from the team behind Midtown’s Café China and this one, in the far western reaches of Tribeca, focuses on specialities from Shanghai.

Just like the Midtown restaurant, it is designed beautifully with old 1930’s flourishes. And it seems like a real discovery – especially considering how far it is off-the-beaten path

I came here one day for lunch and was tempted by their lunch specials. Being a Shanghai restaurant, I had to also order the soup dumplings (which I reviewed in a separate post) and a dish called Soupy Rice which I have never encountered before. I was a bit underwhelmed by both dishes, but the thing that got me really excited and the reason I’ll be back to the restaurant were the complimentary baby cucumbers provided to whet my appetitie.

This small bowl was included with the lunch special, but it is also available (presumably in a larger portion) as an appetizer.

The crisp juicy cucumbers are marinated in vegetable oil and plenty of garlic. But there is also a sweet vinegar flavor and a hint of smokiness. Not sure what the secrets are, but the flavors were bold and bright enough to make me devour the entire thing well before the main dishes came out.

I truly considered ordering another order of these. Perhaps that’s how they get you. Based on the mastery and simplicity of these cucumbers, I imagine some of the dishes on the regular (non-lunch) menu are superb and I’ll have to come back to find out. Or next time, order the lunch special, eat the cucumbers, and dash before anything else hits the table. Price: Complimentary with lunch special or $7