We were ordering Chinese food when Friend 3 said, “I like Egg Foo Young.”
“Good God,” I thought, “I love Egg Foo Young. I haven’t had it in twenty years. How is this possible?”
For the last twenty years I have gone to Chinese restaurants, scanned every single menu item (except for chop suey and chow mein), and ordered Moo Shu Pork, which is essentially Egg Foo Young only with less egg and more vegetation.
I suppose it’s possible that I haven’t seen Egg Foo Young on the menu, because truly — and I say that because I know you won’t believe me — many Saint Louis restaurants serve up our regional variation: the execrable St. Paul sandwich. This is an innocent Egg Foo Young patty served between two slices of bread with dill pickles, mayonnaise, onion, lettuce, and tomato. I don’t even like that stuff on a hamburger.
Of course I had some Egg Foo Young immediately, and now even the next day I want some more. Wikipedia describes it as an omelette dish, so I could grab some for breakfast.