Apparently either there are a lot of Jews or a lot of Chinese around Bass lake, because it took over an hour for them to fill our order. Or Won Ton soup, Spareribs, Kung Pao  Shrimp, Orange Peel Beef………..a traditional Jewish Chrismas Eve dinner. Of course we did have ham, smoked turkey (thank you Traeger) and stuffing, jello mold, all the standards. 

Two weeks ago we saw A Christmas Story: The Musical.  When the Parker family walks into to the Chinese restaurant on Christmas the father waves to the side and says to Mrs. Parker “there is the Swartz (or Schwartz) family.”

Schwartz was one of the characters in the film — Ralphie’s friend. Interestingly, Scott Schwartz played Ralphie’s friend Flick.

But Ralphie had no reaction like he would have if it had been his friend and his family.  And his friend did not appear in the musical, so it had to have just been a joke about Jews going to Chinese restaurants on Christmas. 

The musical? Actually, Ralphie told his mother earlier in the film that he’d learned a swear word from Schwartz. With that his mother called Schwartz’s mother who was furious with her son and began screaming at him, so I guess Ralphie and Schwartz were no longer pals.

Actually, I read that the Mother’s shocked and giggly response to the duck and said’s decapitation was real. Apparently, the actress had not been told what to expect.  One of my favorite parts of the movie and probably authentic to the times since Chinese food was not as mainstream, as yet, in the 30s and 40s. Even now, that type of presentation would get a reaction from me, since I’m not particularly sophisicated culinarily.

Two weeks ago we saw A Christmas Story: The Musical.  When the Parker family walks into to the Chinese restaurant on Christmas the father waves to the side and says to Mrs. Parker “there is the Swartz (or Schwartz) family.”

Schwartz was one of the characters in the film — Ralphie’s friend. Interestingly, Scott Schwartz played Ralphie’s friend Flick.

But Ralphie had no reaction like he would have if it had been his friend and his family.  And his friend did not appear in the musical, so it had to have just been a joke about Jews going to Chinese restaurants on Christmas. 

But My Friend Flicka was a horse.

(Had to)

Two weeks ago we saw A Christmas Story: The Musical.  When the Parker family walks into to the Chinese restaurant on Christmas the father waves to the side and says to Mrs. Parker “there is the Swartz family.”

Schwartz was one of the characters in the film — Ralphie’s friend. Interestingly, Scott Schwartz played Ralphie’s friend Flick.

Two weeks ago we saw A Christmas Story: The Musical.� When the Parker family�walks into�to the Chinese restaurant on Christmas the father waves to the side and says to Mrs. Parker "there is the Swartz family."

A bowl of Pho sounds so good!

We had tamales.  I ran around town yesterday until I found a place that wasn’t sold out.

Sharon isn’t a fan of Chinese food so we’ll probably (if we venture out) go to Dinah’s for their traditional Christmas Dinner which is either a turkey dinner or a ham dinner… just like at home.

Just returned home from our Jewish Christmas Eve Dinner at China Palace in Overland Park (Lenexa?), KS.  We ate light following a big lunch at KC’s current ‘Que hot spot, SLAP’S BBQ.  A good time was had by all, including two goyim and one recent convert.

Merry Christmas to all my Roadfood friends of the Christian persuasion!

Buddy

So guess what we had for Christmas Eve Dinner?

Only places open and no dairy with the meat being served.

Pork doesn’t count!

That was an interesting article, but I’m not so sure that the Jews/Chinese “bonded” in their “otherness”.  Like so many other modern social commentators the author sees the past through lenses ground in their relatively recent ‘higher education’. 

In what is rare for me I’m going to agree with Senator Schumer’s observation that “Chinese restaurants were the only places open”; Occam’s Razor in action![;)]