Glazed Walnut Shriimp

I should have known. Obviously, I wasn't thinking when I ordered. Cynthia and I went to dinner at the ever popular Hong Kong House last night. One of several Chinese restaurants on the island. The place was deserted when we walked in, but it was 6:00pm on a Wednesday evening. Nevertheless, Cynthia and I were enjoying being out together. Talking about our day and our future. We're still undecided about what our next move is so there is lots to discuss and consider in the next few months.

Cynthia ordered the Vegetable & Tofu Chow Mein right away, before I was ready to order. I was a bit flustered. I have eaten at the Hong Kong House several times in the past and have a couple items I enjoy eating, but last night I wanted to try something different. I know the fish cubes with garlic sauce and the fish cubes with black bean sauce are good. There are also several chicken dishes that are nice, but I was in the mood for shrimp. As I hurriedly scanned the shrimp menu items, the usual suspects yawned off the menu at me...Kung Pao Shrimp has peanuts, which I'm allergic to, Shrimp with vegetables sounds ok, but the vegetables here aren't too exciting. The menu item that jumped out at me in the shrimp selection was the Glazed Walnut Shrimp. Sounded exciting and different, something one doesn't typically get here, so without a thought, I ordered the Glazed Walnut Shrimp with a side of steamed rice and went back to discussing the future with Cynthia.

Another couple arrived in the restaurant and sat down at a table out of our site. Our drinks arrived as we continued to talk. Then Cynthia's chow mein was delivered to our table. The vegetables in the Vegetable & Tofu Chow Mein consisted of carrots, cabbage, and spring onions. Not the greatest selection as I mentioned. It was good chow mein though, love those noodles, may not be healthy, but damn they're good. Then the kitchen doors opened and as the other couple had only just arrived, I knew it was my Glazed Walnut Shrimp. As it neared the table I was a bit excited to eat something out of the ordinary.

As it was placed on the table I scanned the dish and was a bit confused at what I saw. Fried shrimp on a bed of cabbage, sprinkled with walnuts, with a carrot garnish was somewhat expected, but what was the white "sauce" covering the shrimp? It looked creamy, certainly not like a "glaze". "Is that mayonnaise?" I queried the waitress. She replied with a slightly embarrassed "yes". Mayonnaise!?! MAYONNAISE!?!??! On fried shrimp?!? My Glazed Walnut Shrimp which sounded so exciting and different was actually fried shrimp sprinkled with walnuts and covered...and I mean covered, dripping, thick...with mayonnaise?!?! I couldn't believe it...and yet, I should have known. I simply should have known. You can never let your guard down and must constantly be suspicious of things, especially food, that sounds too good to be true. Last night I suffered the consequences and cursed myself for doing so as I used the steamed rice to wipe the mayo off my Glazed Walnut Shrimp. I got through half the shrimp and could go no further. The dogs didn't seem to have a problem with it though.