{"id":2652,"date":"2024-11-28T19:20:22","date_gmt":"2024-11-29T03:20:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/?p=2652"},"modified":"2024-11-28T19:20:22","modified_gmt":"2024-11-29T03:20:22","slug":"new-movie-old-friends-new-place-to-have-noodles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/new-movie-old-friends-new-place-to-have-noodles\/","title":{"rendered":"New movie, old friends, New place to have noodles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Gladiator-2000-dgfg.png\" alt=\"Gladiator (2000) dgfg\" class=\"wp-image-2653\" srcset=\"https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Gladiator-2000-dgfg.png 800w, https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Gladiator-2000-dgfg-240x300.png 240w, https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Gladiator-2000-dgfg-768x960.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gladiator (2000).  Cool poster for a Best Picture film.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gladiator was released in 2000 and won Best Picture.&nbsp; I remember seeing it in the theatre with two friends I first met when I began working in politics. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MV5BZThlMWNiZjUtZjM3MS00YWI4LTg2ZGUtNTkxMjgxNzQ5NTk0XkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_QL75_UX1640_-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"MV5BZThlMWNiZjUtZjM3MS00YWI4LTg2ZGUtNTkxMjgxNzQ5NTk0XkEyXkFqcGc@. V1 QL75 UX1640\" class=\"wp-image-2657\" srcset=\"https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MV5BZThlMWNiZjUtZjM3MS00YWI4LTg2ZGUtNTkxMjgxNzQ5NTk0XkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_QL75_UX1640_-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MV5BZThlMWNiZjUtZjM3MS00YWI4LTg2ZGUtNTkxMjgxNzQ5NTk0XkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_QL75_UX1640_-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MV5BZThlMWNiZjUtZjM3MS00YWI4LTg2ZGUtNTkxMjgxNzQ5NTk0XkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_QL75_UX1640_-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MV5BZThlMWNiZjUtZjM3MS00YWI4LTg2ZGUtNTkxMjgxNzQ5NTk0XkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_QL75_UX1640_-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MV5BZThlMWNiZjUtZjM3MS00YWI4LTg2ZGUtNTkxMjgxNzQ5NTk0XkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_QL75_UX1640_-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MV5BZThlMWNiZjUtZjM3MS00YWI4LTg2ZGUtNTkxMjgxNzQ5NTk0XkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_QL75_UX1640_-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MV5BZThlMWNiZjUtZjM3MS00YWI4LTg2ZGUtNTkxMjgxNzQ5NTk0XkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_QL75_UX1640_.jpg 1640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gladiator II, saw it in IMAX!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">24 years later, Gladiator II was released, and I drove down to San Jose to see it with the same two friends I met when I began working in politics. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What can I say about the film?&nbsp; I like it. It\u2019s a good sequel; it ties up many of the loose ends from the first film and leaves one loose end dangling at the end of the film. It\u2019s a Ridley Scott film and I\u2019ve been a big fan of his films since before my USC days.&nbsp; These are my faves, all for different reasons that could come up in future posts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Blade Runner (1982)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/ErwS24cBZPc?si=W_enHcCTZ6Zmumn9\">Apple Commerical <\/a>(1984)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Aliens (1986)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Black Rain (1988)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thelma &amp; Louise (1991)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gladiator (2000)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Black Hawk Down (2001)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Martian (2015)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Blade Runner 2049 (20`17)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gladiator II (2024)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Guess why I like these!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s really sad that to get much of the Chinese\/Asian food I like, I have to leave San Francisco.  Why?  Because the experience and quality of the food in San Francisco is generally lacking.&nbsp; Why? Because more often than not, it\u2019s overpriced and underwhelming.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(<em>Stands on soapbox<\/em>) San Francisco, THE home of the Chinese America diaspora, should do better with its Chinese food.   I understand the difficulties of running a restaurant here, with all its bureaucratic nonsense, taxes, hostile business environment and lack of parking.  Still, that should be incentive to do better.  Despite this, I will continue to endeavor to find good places to eat here.   (<em>Steps down from soapbox<\/em>)&nbsp;Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So that\u2019s why a lot of the good food has migrated to the South Bay and dinner often requires a drive and an entire evening. Anyway, enough about work.&nbsp; Let\u2019s look at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.duanchunzhen-us.com\/ca\/\">Duan Chun Zhen<\/a> (AKA, that \u201cTaiwanese noodle place in Cupertino\u201d). &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/restaurantjump.com\/duan-chun-zhen-noodle-house-95014\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG20220912191520.jpg\" alt=\"oplus 0\" class=\"wp-image-2655\" srcset=\"https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG20220912191520.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG20220912191520-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG20220912191520-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pinched from restaurantjump because when we arrived it was already dark.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s newish, clean and modern.&nbsp; It wouldn\u2019t look out of place in Taipei, except for the size (It\u2019s too roomy for Taipei).&nbsp; It\u2019s located in one of the many ubiquitous mini malls that populate De Anza Boulevard from end to end and its next door to a Pacific Market with good parking.&nbsp; There was a good mix of customers, us and families out for Saturday night dinner. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You get different degrees of spicy beef noodle soup.&nbsp; Regular, (one hot pepper), Mala (two hot peppers) and Sichuan (three hot peppers).&nbsp; You can also have thin, thick or housemade (wide) noodles.&nbsp; Naturally, I went with the housemade. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_8938-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-2661\" srcset=\"https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_8938-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_8938-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_8938-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_8938.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The noodles came out with steaming hot broth and an acceptable amount of noodles and beef stew.&nbsp; The beef was a good in-between; more tender than Hon\u2019s and not quite as scrumptious as Yin Du (see post here to get what I\u2019m going on about). &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_8935-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-2662\" srcset=\"https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_8935-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_8935-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_8935-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_8935.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Chicken broth soup with noodles <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We also ordered two appetizers; xiaolongbao and red oil wontons.&nbsp; The xiaolongbao isn\u2019t the usual ones like you would get at Din Tai Fung or Paradise Dynast with soup inside the wrapper; these are instead standard dumplings that have soup soaked steamed pork inside.&nbsp; Tasty, but not a XLB.&nbsp; The red oil wontons are a home run.&nbsp; They came out hot and the red oil that they soaked in had several different kinds of heat, including some numbing.&nbsp; Yum.&nbsp; The wontons were devoured so quickly that I wasn\u2019t fast enough to get a picture\u2026cos my mouth was full.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Definitely worth eating here if you&#8217;re in San Jose.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Duan Chun Zhen<br \/>10118 Bandley Drive, Suite H, <br \/>Cupertino, CA 95014<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gladiator was released in 2000 and won Best Picture.&nbsp; I remember seeing it in the theatre with two friends I first met when I began working in politics. &nbsp; 24 years later, Gladiator II was released, and I drove down to San Jose to see it with the same two friends I met when I &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/new-movie-old-friends-new-place-to-have-noodles\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;New movie, old friends, New place to have noodles&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2652","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2652","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2652"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2652\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2663,"href":"https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2652\/revisions\/2663"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2652"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2652"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walking-ixus.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2652"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}