Comrades! We're going on a last minute march to Mao's Kitchen in Venice.

Excellent and unusual Chinese food, with many if not most items available in vegetarian and vegan variations. It's somehow different from normal Chinese restaurants... not sure quite how. To my mind it's far superior, but others who expect a Panda Express or PF Chang's taste experience may be disappointed.

It took me a little while to get over the offensive whitewashing of Chairman Mao, but now I figure there's a subtle insult to be found in reframing a brutal communist leader as a restaurant cook...

It's a small and busy venue and there's only one table big enough for all of us, so expect that we may need to sit in two or three groups if the stars so align.

Also, parking can either be easy-peasy or a bit of a pain. You should plan to arrive a few minutes early just in case you need to circle around and walk a few blocks.

^Quinxy

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  Lawrence Ziese

  While I'm sure you're all used to Venice traffic, let me just point out that the driving and parking near this venue is near impossible. The food, however, is quite good. The coconut curry is sublime, you'll find yourself dressing everything else with it.

  Posted Aug 18, 2010 at 4:07 PM
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  bianca

  At 7:30?
  Quincy - I actually think Mao would have been happy to know that future generations would depict him as a chef, as he in fact represented himself as a humble member of the proletariat, through ripped clothes, poor table manners, etc...while, of course, committing the worst genocide of his own (or any) people in the history of humankind.

  Posted Aug 18, 2010 at 4:40 PM