The Impatient Chef Can’t Sit Still at China Gorge, Hood River, Oregon

The Impatient Chef Goes Vegan (for a meal)

The Impatient Chef stopped in at China Gorge in Hood River, Oregon for the first time in a few years.  He and the Spousal Unit used to live in that pithy, happening burg astride the Mighty Columbia River, but unfortunately had to move away in 2019.  It was nice to be back in town.  

China Gorge has a good reputation locally.  The Impatient Chef has often seen its parking lots swelled to capacity, and stopped in when the line was less daunting.  

The order: 

The Impatient Chef ordered the Hot and sour soup, and the Kung Pao Tempeh.  

The Spousal Unit ordered the Hot and Sour Soup, Imperial Chicken.

The soup:  Spicy and teeming with umami, with Tofu, peppers, pork strips, egg drop, mushrooms, and a thick broth.  The flavors work together, and do not crowd each other out.  This is a stand-out soup.  

Kung Pao Tempeh

Kung Pao Tempeh:  Featuring peanuts, tempeh, zucchini, celery, and fried rice.  It looks like rice tempeh. The Impatient Chef sometimes gets tempeh or tofu when he’s feeling mortal, and needs to line his aorta with a little less fatty deposits.  Tempeh is a cultured cake, usually of soy, but sometimes of rice, that has vitamins like B12 that you can't find in other vegan foods.  

Tempeh is difficult to flavor.  It normally sits like a dull thud on the taste buds without extreme measures.  It would seem a travesty to visit a restaurant with a loyal, local following, and review a tempeh dish instead of chicken or shrimp, but The Impatient Chef can report that they made a valiant effort.  The sauce was spicy and stuck to the ingredients nicely.  A little soy sauce was all it needed.  

The Spousal Unit said that her chicken was uninspired.  The Impatient Chef has apparently spoiled her, but isn’t that what Impatient Chefs are all about?  

All in all, it was a good meal.  China Gorge is solid, American style Chinese food.  It is not adventurous, or even inspired, except for the soup.  Go elsewhere for that.  However, we got a meal for two with food to take home for under $40.00 including tip.

“Can’t Sit Still” is a series of road food reviews based on a single visit.

Thanks for reading!

—The Impatient Chef