Restaurant Review: Congee Noodle House

Congee Noodle House
141 E. Broadway
Vancouver, BC

Will make this review a quick one. Went with a some friends to this restaurant a few weeks ago. The main reason for going here is that it was a bit late at night, (10:30PM), and there are very few restaurants in Vancouver that are open past 10PM on a weekday night.

Congee Noodle House seems to be quite a popular restaurant, as when I walk by it, it is usually quite packed. After eating here, I feel the main reasons for this are the reasonable prices, and the late night hours. The food itself is strictly mediocore. We tried the Pineapple Chicken, Soy Chicken, and Vegetable Chow Mein w/ Black Bean Sauce. The Pineapple Chicken and Soy Chicken were not too bad, but I do not recommend the Chow Mein at all as it is far too salty. The service was quite prompt, and the premises are clean and hygenic.

For fine dining, do not go here. For a late night meal, you can consider this place.

Service: 3/5

Location/Ambiance: 3/5

Food: 2.5/5

The ABCD theory...

I tend to avoid writing very much about relationships. The very subject tends to stir up emotions and is a magnet for controversy. And I end up taking alot of flak. However, I haven't posted anything original in quite a long time, and as such, I am going to put forward one of my theories on Male-Female relationships. I am sure girls are going to get upset with me as it may seem I am belittling them, and guys are going to get mad at me for giving away our secrets... still, presented for your consumption is the: "ABCD theory"


Postulate 1:

There exist 3 classifications of guys in the world...

Class 1: 'Nice Guys' (~20%)
Class 2: 'Normal Guys' (~60%)
Class 3: 'Jerks' (~20%) (I could use a more colorful phrase here, but this IS a family blog)

But how do you place a guy into one of these classes? Let me continue...


Postulate 2:

Almost every guy mentally places each girl they meet into four different categories, ABCD:

Category A: Someone whom he genuinely likes/loves and is interested in pursuing a serious relationship with.
Category B: Someone whom he finds physically attractive, and is purely interested in fooling/around with, nothing more.
Category C: Someone whom he likes and respects, but only as a friend. Not interested in a relationship at a given point in time, and probably never.
Category D: Someone who irritates him, and whom he doesn't want to have anything to do with.

Now, you notice, I said ALMOST every guy. In fact, this categorization is used by 'Normal Guys' and 'Jerks'. 'Nice Guys' do not have a Category B. They are nice enough to respect girls enough either to be seriously interested, or are happy just being friends. But their proportion is very low. Why?


Postulate 3:

Girls want nice guys for friends, but never in a relationship.

Honestly, I don't know what the reason for this is. Maybe girls find nice guys to be too much of a pushover, or maybe they prefer a challenge, I really don't know. Furthermore, I think many girls tend to use 'Nice Guys' to satisfy their own egos. Regardless, upon this realisation, most guys tend to try and act like 'Normal Guys' or 'Jerks'.

So how do you differentiate between these two categories?


Postulate 4:

Someone who plays 'The Game', and misleads a Category B or C girl into thinking they are an A to him, only to end up using her like a B is a 'Jerk'.

Please make note. For 'Normal Guys' HAVING a Category B is not an issue. There is nothing wrong with lusting after a girl as long as the feeling is mutual and she realises nothing serious is going to happen. They are both just in it for fun. On occasion, things might progress down the road, but if not, no big deal. However, a 'Normal Guy' will not lead a girl on. If he does, he has crossed over and become a 'Jerk'. 'Normal Guys' play 'The Game' exclusively with 'B' girls, while 'Jerks' are pretty much desperate losers who will do or say anything if they think they can get a girl.


Postulate 5:

'The Game' very much exists, but only in lust.

When you play a 'Game', it doesn't matter if you lose. Since it is lust, there will always be other girls to score with. Notice my use of sports terms... 'play', 'lose', 'score'. Thats why we call it 'The Game'.


Postulate 6:

Girls don't know the difference between love and lust.

Because girls don't know the difference, they end up misunderstanding a guys true interests, and end up being unable to tell the difference between 'Normal Guys' and 'Jerks'. They think a 'Jerk' is in love with them, when really, all they want to do is screw around. 'Jerks' are exceptional at playing 'The Game', and girls end up falling for them, even though 80% of the population is better than them. No one wants to admit they are wrong... and every girl wants to believe they are involved in some sort of a fairytale relationship. So consiquently alot of girls stay in relationships which are doomed to failure. Ultimately, it isn't fair to either gender, but I guess thats just human nature and how we are.

Well, there you have it folks. Guys, Girls, Egos, The Game, Love, Lust. I have tried to explain it all... My intention is not to offend anyone, so I hope no one takes this personally. Feedback, comments, and criticism will be graciously accepted...

The Ramakrishna Mission

Swami Vivekananda travelled to North America in 1893 to represent India and Hinduism and spread the word of Vedanta to the west. He gained tremendous respect all over the world through his lectures, and helped restore a sense of pride amongst Hindus by teaching the purest, unadulterated form of the religion, and dispelling the myth that Hinduism is an idoltarous, mysoganistic, caste-ridden system. The mission he founded in 1896 has chapters throughout the world, and is dedicated to improving health care and education, promoting spiritual and cultural uplift, rural welfare, and youth development. The mission has stayed free of controversy by disengaging itself from politics and remaining secular.

What very few people know is that Swami Vivekanandas port of entry into North America was actually at Vancouver. He stayed here for a very short time before departing for Chicago, and not much is known about his activities here. However, we are blessed that his point of entry was at our lovely city, and every year, the local chapter of the Mission celebrates his arrival with a small function at a community hall. This year, about 100 people attended the celebration with talks by eminent religious leaders, a North Indian classical music concert, and a delicious vegetarian dinner. I enjoyed the concert very much, and the food was scrumpcious.

I encourage you all to visit the Ramkrishna Mission in Kolkata, India. The Mission is located at Belur Math in Howrah, and is truly a bastion of serenity in an otherwise chaotic, orderless city. Listening to the evening Aarti truly lifts the mind to a different level. The link is given below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9Ovw6sG3sE