Events & News

Asian communities worldwide are celebrating the Chinese New Year, a 15-day festival that began January 23, ushering in the lunar year 4710.
At the Oriental Gourmet in the Southbury Plaza, 100 Main St. North, colorful banners draped near the entrance are celebrating more than the Year of the Dragon.

The restaurant was named one of the Top 100 Chinese Restaurants in the U.S., Canada and Australia in the Healthy Menus category in a competition sponsored by Chinese Restaurant News and ChineseMenu.com.

Announced January 9 in Newark, Calif., the winning restaurants were chosen based on customer recommendation and mystery diners’ reports. Those nominated were judged on the consistency, quality and taste of the food offered, as well as decor and atmosphere, service, cleanliness, presentation and value.

Comments received about Oriental Gourmet noted that the dining room was clean and well-maintained, the food was flavorful and served at the right temperature, servers were courteous, employees were professionally dressed and the restrooms were clean.

Besides Healthy Menus, contest categories included Signature Dish, Local Favorites, Takeouts, Buffet, Rising Stars and Overall Excellence.
This is the eighth annual Top 100 competition and the first win for Oriental Gourmet.

Restaurant owner Gil Poon told Voices that Oriental Gourmet’s most popular menu item, General Tso’s Chicken, is not usually known as a healthy choice.

“We find different ways to make every dish as healthy as possible, and make it taste great, too,” he said. “We try to make our General Tso’s Chicken healthier by making the batter not as thick, and the oil we use is 100 percent soybean oil.”

The restaurant makes its own chicken broth and fries its own noodles. Mr. Poon said his sushi contains less rice in relation to fish and vegetables than most Asian buffet or “all-you-can-eat” restaurants, offering better nutrition and more value.

“A lot of dishes on our menu could be steamed,” he said. “We also cut down on as much sodium as possible, and still make the dishes tasty.
“We try and keep the art of Chinese cooking at the highest end.”
While General Tso’s Chicken remains a customer favorite, Mr. Poon pointed to other dishes on the menu for those looking to make healthy choices.

“Our Chicken with Broccoli is a balanced meal with protein, carbohydrates and fiber,” he said. “So is our Steamed Chicken with Mixed Vegetables. You could eat those every day and lose more weight than Jared at Subway!”

In addition to an extensive menu of Chinese favorites, Oriental Gourmet offers Vietnamese, Japanese and Thai-style dishes and a sushi bar.
A three-time, Zagat-rated restaurant, the family-owned restaurant opened in the Southbury Plaza in 1997. Gil Poon took over ownership from his older brother in 2005.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday. The sushi bar is closed Mondays.
Takeout is available, efficiently handled by the always cordial Mr. Lee.

Those seeking additional information may call 203-267-7788.  

by Jean Dunn

Published: Voices Newspaper

Wednesday, February 1, 2012