Tso good: Seafood Specials are here! Try one today – General’s orders!

Lent is fast approaching, and I’ve always wondered how it’s determined when Easter and Lent will occur. So, my friends, I did a little research – and I’m here to tell you how it’s done. Stay with me now, because this gets a little complicated. Easter Sunday is always the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. Count backwards 40 days from that day, and you have Ash Wednesday, which is the official start of Lent. Or you can do like I always do - just check the calendar!

Either way, in this region, Lent means that it’s time for Friday fish fries, pierogie dinners, haluski, and the new specials at Eat’n Park. This year, our lineup is better than ever. You will see the return of old favorites like the Tuna Cheddar Melt and Pierogies with onions, but we’re also adding a few brand new items that I’m sure you’re going to love.

The first is our Grilled Salmon Burger. It is made of premier flaked salmon and grilled to order. We serve it to you on our grilled Kaiser bun with spring mix lettuce, a touch of chipotle ranch sauce, and your choice of a side.

Our second new addition is our General Tso’s Shrimp. We start with a bed of stir-fried brown rice and a blend of garden fresh vegetables grilled to perfection. We then toss our golden-crisped popcorn shrimp in our General Tso’s sauce and serve it on top of the rice and veggies. What a treat!

Now, for your second lesson today: Who is this General Tso, and why can his namesake meal be found in every Chinese restaurant in America? Well, General Tso’s real name was Zuo Zongtang. He lived in the Hunan Province of China in the 1800’s and played a key role in stopping a rebellion in 1860. Legend has it that this sweet and spicy specialty was his favorite dish. However, no historical proof of this exists, and in fact, there is no record of such a dish in Hunanese cuisine. It appears that the first instance of General Tso’s chicken actually appeared in New York in the 1970’s, thanks to the creativity of several Taiwanese chefs who had opened restaurants in the area. There have been endless variations ever since.

Regardless of its origins, here’s what I’m betting: You’re going to love our version of General Tso’s! Stop in this Lenten season and give it a try.

See you at Eat’n Park!
Regis