Sesame Wings + Gallivanting About in Chinatown

Sesame wings can be really addictive. How so? Well, my kids beg me to make it for dinner every time they peek into the freezer and notice the gigantic bag of frozen chicken wings staring back at them. Even though I made these wings for our 4th of July party and made them again the week after, the words "sesame chicken" came back to haunt me the following week. Mind you, it was a 10 lb. bag that I had bought so I suppose I was asking for it. I know, I KNOW. That's alot of wings. That means I'll probably be making these wings about once a week until they're all gone. Yikes. When I serve them for dinner, my daughter will sit there and polish off 15 wings on her own and won't even look at the other dishes. I don't blame her though. These wings do rock.

I made a batch again for dinner last night, after spending an afternoon gallivanting around in Chinatown with the kids, my niece, BiL and SiL. Instead of battling the nasty L.A. traffic, we took a leisurely ride on the train (Metro) into town.

L.A. traffic is no fun!

The Metro Gold Line

My niece and daughter monkeying around on the train.

Chinatown "Gateway"

I must admit that it's been a few years since I've ventured back to Chinatown but everything looks to be about the same. The Chinatown of today is mostly a tourist attraction, judging by the sheer number of souvenir/gift shops and Americanized Chinese restaurants that line Broadway. If you ask me, the real Chinatown (I'm talking heart and soul here) is actually a 20-minute drive due east where it's thriving nicely in a valley suburb called Monterey Park. You'll definitely get the Chinese hustle and bustle there along with the food and atmosphere but sans the tourists and Chinese dynasty architecture. Still, an occasional trip back to this Chinatown can be a fun thing to do.

Gin Ling Way courtyard

Pretty red lanterns

Gin Ling Way souvenir shops

Of course, the famous Jackie Chan flick, Rush Hour, was filmed here at
Fu Chow Restaurant and they are most definitely using it to their advantage.

Want fresh poultry? You can get it at this slaughterhouse.

Chinatown serves up some super cheap shopping for apparel, shoes, bags,
jewelry and even $5 baby terrapins with the plastic tanks included.
Many of these shops are even set up in a 'pasar malam' style.

Souvenir shop goods.

Americanized Chinese food at a restaurant on Gin Ling Way.

SESAME WINGS

Serves 4.

Ingredients:

2-1/2 pounds of chicken wings or drumettes

3/4 cup of soy sauce

1 tbsp. of minced garlic

1 tsp. of grated ginger

1/2 cup of honey

1/4 cup of sesame oil

3/4 cup of water

2 tsp. of toasted sesame seeds, divided

1 scallion stalk, finely chopped

Method:

Combine the soy sauce, water, garlic, ginger, honey, sesame oil and 1 tsp. of toasted sesame seeds in a large mixing bow. Add the chicken wings or drumettes to it making sure they are submerged in the marinade then cover with plastic and refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Place the marinated wings or drumettes (in a single layer) on a baking pan lined with foil. Bake for about 30 to 35 minutes, turning the wings over once to evenly roast both sides. Garnish with the remaining toasted sesame seeds and chopped scallions before serving.

Sesame wings marinade

To make the toasted sesame seeds, place them on a dry frying pan and toast them over medium heat, shaking the pan occasionally, for about 5 minutes or until they have browned slightly.

Garnish with more toasted sesame seeds and chopped scallions.

Addictive!