A Lovely Evening at Ping

Named #4 in the Best New Restaurants in the United States by GQ Magazine, Ping is certainly a special place.

"Chef Andy Ricker and his partners took over a building previously occupied by a Chinese restaurant with one of the best names ever: Hung Far Low. Ping is way far better, so ambitious its mere presence is revitalizing Portland's Chinatown. Ricker has assembled a menu that's multi-Asian, not Asian-fusion, the dishes rigorously executed and tasting uncannily authentic—there isn't much kowtowing to the West. The room has an industrial ceiling with exposed pipes, but every new restaurant in Portland has that. Here's where it gets interesting: walls made from crappy old wood, shelves filled with vintage radios scavenged from a repair shop that used to be next door. And then there's the food: stewed duck leg in a sweet broth with a side of sour chili sauce for dipping—have this once and you'll be back. Pork bun stuffed with dried, shredded, caramelized meat, a challenge to David Chang's preeminent version. Tried pork-bone tea? That's boiled ribs in pork broth, served with Chinese crullers and spicy soy. I became so excited eating at Ping that I calmed myself with wide flat rice noodles sautéed in garlic oil with chicken and veggies, then topped with mild, toasted chilies. To me, stir-fried rice noodles are the ultimate Asian comfort food." - Alan Richman, January 2010, in GQ Eats Best New Restaurants in America

This auction is for a $100 gift certificate to Ping Restaurant at 102 NW 4th Ave, Portland Oregon.