Anyone who was mildly coherent on Saturday realized that it was absolutely gorgeous. We had the pleasure of returning to Jersey City (JC) for a Grand Sichuan pilgrimage. Grand Sichuan never ceases to amaze me. Soup dumplings? Enough said. Top it off with Sichuan red oil wontons, smoked tea duck, and eggplant with garlic sauce, and you have yourself a meal and a half. But readers note, you don't have to traverse across the Hudson to enjoy the cuisine; Grand Sichuan has many convenient locations including Chelsea, Upper West Side, and the East Village. Don't forget to order the crab and pork soup dumplings. Gentle with the transition from steamer to soup spoon. Poke a hole, slurp, add sauce, slurp, enjoy the fragrant soup and meat. These are phenomenal and worth the 10 minute wait. Wontons are good as is the smoke tea duck (if you're OK with fat) but the other home run was the eggplant with garlic sauce. Sweet, citrusy, and savory, this vegetable dish is stellar.
