> wrote:

> J.Venning wrote:
> > "James" > wrote in message
ps.com...
> > > Seems a lot of places feature Mongolian Grill. Is it an western
> > > invention?
> > > They feature meats, seafood, vegetables but the only foods native
> > > Mongolians have access to are sheep, horses, milk & milk products.
> > > Never saw a Mongolian Grill in any travel films.
> > >
> > I have never encountered a "Mongolian Grill" during all the times I
visited China, but I have encountered them in the West - both as "Mongolian
Grill" and "Mongolian Barbecue" - and I can't say that I would recommend
them to anyone looking for a good meal. These are merely a take-off from the
"Mongolian Hot Pot", except that customers line up to have their choices of
various meats and vegetables stir-fried on hot plates by the cooks. The
sauces provided were very banal as well, so all-in-all, not recommendable.
For those of you who may have missed the video clip I posted on sushi, you
have to see it by clicking on: http://video.tinypic.com/player.php?v=2v1263c
..
> > J.
>
> A Manchurian (from Beijing) friend of mine introduced me to a version
> of a "hot pot" where various meats and vegetables are cooked in a
> boiling pot of water. She said told me that boiling water not stir
> frying was the traditional/authentic northern chinese method for
> making a "hot pot." I know that cantonese version of "hot pot" using
> boiling water/broth, too. My friend assured me that the "Mongolian
> Grill" was not traditional Mongolian fare but a modern asian-fusion
> restaurant concoction ( e.g. General Tso Chicken and the fortune
> cookie). A while back agos, I did a internet search on the topic and
> a website I found made by female mongolian also asserted that today's
> "Mongolian Grill" setup is a modern restaurant innovation/model. This
> restaurant model is fairly success in the USA and has spawned a
> franchised "Mongolian Grill" restaurants called *BD's Mongolian Grill*
> in the USA (see http://www.gomongo.com/ )


Here in Chicago there is a Midwestern chain called "Flat Top Grill", there
are many similar...:

http://www.flattopgrill.com/

"Flat Top Grill is a create your own stir-fry restaurant. We offer more than
25 fresh ingredients including traditional and exotic fruits and vegetables,
a selection of rice and noodles, signature handcrafted sauces, prime beef
tenderloin and seasonal offerings including game and seafood

We also offer Asian inspired appetizers, homemade desserts, and a full bar
featuring Tiki drinks and urban cocktails. We pride ourselves on being
vegetarian friendly and food allergy aware. Our most outstanding quality is
that we offer full service in a fast casual setting. Our partners guide you
through the food line, make sauce suggestions and serve the food piping hot
to your table. No need to wait at the grill!"



--
Best
Greg