A Light Dinner Review

As a woman who aspires to eat for a living (not to be confused with "eating to live" but synonymous with "living to eat"), I hope to act out my vocational fantasy by becoming WSW's first restaurant reviewer. This is not an easy task considering the diverse eating habits of WSW readers, which range from the presently abused typical American appetite to the increasingly popular liberal vegetarian mentality. Although members of these two groups will never break bread together unless there is a loaf of white and one of whole wheat, I will attempt to dine at eateries which have a selection of vegetarian, fish and seafood items. Also, the number of friends who are willing and can afford to go out to dinner with me (including myself, which will influence the frequency of this column) may determine the number of items on the menu I can review for you. Oh yes, my review might also be limited by fellow diners who refuse to let me taste what they have ordered.

The relatively new Pearl of the Orient, 20121 Van Aken Boulevard in Shaker Heights, was the restaurant of choice for my preview column. The reason for selecting this restaurant was based upon the simple fact that I had in my possession coupons offering a $5.00 discount on a dinner for two. However, my joy over being able to save money at a nice restaurant rather than the usual two for the price of one deal at Arby's was overshadowed by my inability to read the small print "Valid Mon. thru Thur."

Upon entering Pearl of the Orient on Saturday evening I was relieved to find a well-designed decor and pleasant atmosphere for a relaxing meal rather than the usual early tacky Chinese architecture which begs you to order take-out.

The restaurant features Northern and Szechuan (hot and spicy) dishes. Although we did not order soup or appetizers, the selections looked interesting and included Hot and Sour Soup ($1.25), Sizzling Rice Soup ($3.50 for two), Spring Roll ($.90), Sesame Shrimp Puffs ($2.25), and Honey Dipped

Spare Ribs ($3.25).

The menu also features a "For the Vegetarian" section with such items as Vegetarian's Delight (sauteed assorted vegetables and Chinese delicacies, $4.95), Hot and Sour Cabbage ($4.25), Sauteed Green Beans with Brown Bean Sauce ($4.50), and Broccoli in Oyster Sauce ($4.50). We chose Sauteed Prawns Peking Style (overgrown shrimp with onions in a red tangy hot sauce, $7.50), Chicken Wor Bar (chicken and assorted vegetables served over sizzling rice, $6.95); Moo Shu Shrimp (shrimp prepared with sauteed vegetables, shredded eggs, sun-dried tiger lily flowers and wood ears-don't ask-served with home-made pancakes, $6.75), and Broccoli Szechuan (Broccoli in a red tangy hot sauce, $4.75). The Broccoli was one of several specials offered that evening. All of the dishes were accompanied by white rice, which was disappointing considering the moderately high prices. I haven't thought of a suitable substitute, but I leave creativity to the chef in a restaurant. Fortunately the vegetarians at the table realized that it's ok to eat white rice in a Chinese restaurant and were willing to trade shrimp for chicken so I could taste their dishes.

The food was all carefully prepared and very tasty. The portions were filling but not enough to pack in a carton to serve as leftovers for the next three days as is usually the case in oriental restaurants. However, the meal bordered on being lukewarm. The service was efficient and almost too quick. Our server was pleasant and knowledgeable about the items on the

menu.

Pearl of the Orient is open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and for dinner from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5:00 to 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Take-out service is also available. Liquor is served and those alcoholic beverages wearing paper umbrellas tend to be slightly higher in price.

Dear World at Cain Park

"Nothing is ever so wrong in this world that a sensible woman can't set it right in the course of an afternoon." Thus says the Countess Aurelia, central character of Dear World, a musical now playing at Cain Park's Alma Theatre in Cleveland Heights. Based on the play The Madwoman of Chaillot by Jean Giraudoux, written in 1944 as an anti-Nazi allegory, the show is as timely now as it was then, dealing as it does with a world in danger of losing its joy.

The plot involves the machinations of a few greedy men who, having discovered that there is oil under Paris, plot to destroy the city in order to increase their already vast wealth. Countess Aurelia, the Madwoman of Chaillot, learns of the plot and within three hours eliminates the evil ones, sending them down to their deaths in the sewers of Paris searching for the oil which she claims to have found under her cellar.

Hester Olson is brilliant as the Countess, who is "mad" because thirty years ago she lost her lover to another woman. "That's how it is with men," she says. "They love you because you're beautiful and clever and soulful-and at the first opportunity they leave you for someone who is plain and dull and soulless." Far from embittering her, the Countess' loss has taught her that love is all-important; she herself radiates love and receives it in return. She knows that each moment of beauty must be savored as it occurs and cherished in memory. The world to Aurelia is elegant and beautiful; she does not want to know that it has become ugly nor will she believe that the men who made it so are invincible. One person, she says, can change the world-and proceeds to prove her point!

F

-Sara Singer

The show is charming, full of lovely melodies well performed and well backed by an orchestra of Cleveland Institute of Music students. The high point is a tea party where the Countess entertains three other elaborately gowned Paris madwomen, superbly played by Dottie Oliver, Miriam Goloboff and Jana Van Vliet, all of whom prefer to live in the gracious past rather than the plastic present.

There are some weak moments in the show, and the first act seems too long for the Alma Theatre's incredibly uncomfortable seats (bring a pillow!). As a whole, however, Dear World is a pleasant and cool way to spend a summer evening. It will be performed Thursday through Sunday nights through July 28 at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $3.00, $1.50 for students and seniors.

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BITS& PIECES

"Women of Steel"

For the past 3 weeks, Commonworks, a Cleveland artists' cooperative, travelled to Youngstown to show its "Women and the Trade Movement" film series to interested union members and members of the Women's Auxillary, Utility Workers of America, Local 118. After the films were shown, everyone I gathered socially to talk a little about each other's lives. Commonworks learned about Women of Steel, a newsletter published by and for the women of U.S.W.A. in the Pittsburgh area. The paper deals with a wide range of subjects from a feminist and activist point of view. It shares knowledge about racial tension, work safety, pregnancy disability benefits, affirmative action and the Weber case, and apprenticeship programs. The women who publish Women of Steel hope to use it as a tool to communicate with other women steel workers and to organize at cach mill to form women's committees. If you're interested in joining Women of Steel or subscribing to the newsletter ($3 per year), write to:

Women of Steel

P.O. Box 250 Homestead, PA 15120

-Carol Epstein

J. P. Stevens Wins 1

(New York Times, June 29, 1979)-The National Labor Relations Board today dismissed for the first time a textile union complaint brought against the J.P. Stevens Company on grounds alleging that an employee had been dismissed for union activity.

In 18 previous decisions since 1966, the Board has determined in all cases that J.P. Stevens had engaged in unfair labor practices.

Child Care Deduction

The Revenue Act of 1978 will permit a taxpayer to claim the credit for wages paid to certain related individuals (including those living in the same household) for child care without requiring that these wages be subject to social security taxes. This will apply to payments made, for example, to a grandparent, sister, aunt, niece, or nephew so long as he or she is not a dependent of the taxpayer. However, no credit is deductible for payments made to a taxpayer's child who has not reached the age of 19. This bill is effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1978.

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---Ohio Report Vol. 5, No. 2

"Great Bodily Injury”

(Her Say)-A measure that designates rape as a crime that constitutes great bodily injury has been approved by the California State Senate. The measure would remove the right of a defense attorney to ask a rape victim to take a psychiatric examination.

Joan Little Paroled

(Her Say)-Joan Little was paroled in June from the North Carolina prison where she was serving a 7-10-year sentence for breaking and entering. Little's case received international attention in 1975 when the young black woman was acquitted of murder charges after killing a jailer who attempted to rape her. Little will work and serve out her parole in New York.

July, 1979/What She Wants/Page 7