I miss going to Chinese buffets since the world became so broken... (to be clear I miss ALL buffet style eating experiences right now, since that is obviously the issue at hand. Nothing cultural about the avoidance.) Even Genghis Grill would be out of the question for me personally (if they are open) for the shared serving utensils and open air food portion stations not to mention moving through lines in close proximity. Not meaning to go horribly off topic, but simply saying it's the environment alone I'd find untoward. Although I'm betting there are theoretically ways to do it "safer" I'll just leave it there because I feel I'm veering away from my point. All-you-can-eat great food options, or sitting in a nice restaurant with such an awesome menu and flavor combinations, how can one not miss that? I love Chinese food, but there were also great Vietnamese, Thai, and Japanese restaurants near by that were such a taste treat. I would kill for some sushi right now... but I'm too paranoid to tempt fate eating pre-prepared things that are raw, at the moment...
That said I had some tacos the other night and was out of salsa. So I had a jar of wasabi sauce I had not had the opportunity to enjoy yet. Thus some carefully poured lines in the tacos with some taco sauce turned out to be a fantastic mix.
I know a couple of people that have won the wing challenge at B-Dubs. (Buffalo Wild Wings) They said the next day was the worst part. They actually make you sign a health waiver before eating theirs. And Why wouldn't this one still be going who doesn't love (or hate) Chinese food?
Oh yes, the Blazin Challenge, been there done that. I love spicy but that made my eyes water, nose run, and I couldn't taste anything but pain after a while. Also back in college, and this was all posted and done BEFORE the Ghost Pepper/Carolina Reaper advent and resulting craze. Some things are just hot for the sake of hot now, not really enjoyment. I always enjoyed Chinese food a bit spicy, of higher than lower on the spice spectrum. Same with Chili, but some things are just senseless masochistic abuse of one's palate IMO. Sense of taste obviously varies, and one can build up seemingly ridiculous tolerances, but sometimes even I am left asking "why?" My chopsticks have gone mostly unused, except on things prepared at home. Most if not all take out has been removed from my menu, unless getting heated or microwaved separately before consumption. But the few times I've gotten local chinese food takeout recently it's been a real treat. I hope the restaurant industry survives the dark times, or has a renaissance afterward. But please let it not be some tapas centric revival...
