Rochester Food Diary 📔🍽️

Rochester Food Diary 📔🍽️ After a big Costco run today, I pushed my overflowing cart out the door, stomach growling loudly 🛒😫. Remembering a Szechuan restaurant called “Chuan Pu” recommended by a friend recently, I decided to give it a try. Pushing the door open, I was surprised by the stylish interior — dark wood tables and chairs, warm yellow lighting, ink-wash style chili illustrations on the walls 🌶️🖼️. The server warmly seated us and said with a smile while handing us the menu, “We just got fresh fish in today — the grilled fish is super fresh!” We ordered two signature dishes: Fu Qi Fei Pian (Husband and Wife Lung Slices) 🥢🌶️ Shiny red oil coated thin slices of tripe and beef, topped with crushed peanuts and cilantro. The first bite brought sesame fragrance, followed by layers of numbing spice. The tripe was crispy-tender, the beef flavorful — spicy but not overwhelming, numbing but not bitter. My spice-sensitive friend kept eating despite panting, mumbling “can’t stop” 😋🔥. Spicy Grilled Fish 🐟🔥 A whole split sea bass, grilled until slightly charred on the outside, served sizzling in a hot iron pot. The broth was richly red, bubbling warmly, piled with tofu skin, wood ear mushrooms, potato slices, and lotus root — all my favorite sides! 🥔🥬 The fish skin was crispy, the flesh tender and flaky, with no fishy taste at all. For a spice lover like me, the heat was just mild, but the aroma was fantastic — each bite carried a hint of Sichuan peppercorn tingle and the depth of fermented bean paste. A mouthful of rice soaked in that broth made me sway with happiness 🍚💃. While eating, I suddenly remembered my early days in the U.S., haunted by “American Chinese food” — that overly sweet sauce, mushy broccoli, the indescribable “General Tso’s Chicken”… But today’s Chuan Pu gave me the authentic, lively vibe of a neighborhood eatery back home. Though maybe slightly adjusted for local tastes, the soul of málà was still there, and the balance of spices was well done 👨‍🍳👍. When paying the bill, the server gave us two mints, smiling, “Next time try our Máo Xuè Wàng!” Stepping outside, the sky was dark, cold wind blowing — but my stomach was warm and content ❄️❤️. This place is definitely worth a return visit. After all, in a Rochester winter, having a pot of bubbling spicy grilled fish waiting for you — that alone is a warm thing 🐟🍲✨. #JustRecordingLife#LiveWellToday#WeekendSelfDate#RochesterFood#SzechuanFoodExplor#StudyAbroadEats#SpicyFoodForWinter