LJWorld.com

http://media.lawrence.com/img/blogs/e... Last week's blog attempting to locate a suitable diner, dive, or drive-in suitable for Guy Fieri to visit in and about Lawrence, drew an amazing number of reader responses. Although I am NOT the original blog's author, I did feel inspired, and perhaps, even, mandated to venture forth into the curious admix of places suggested in the hope of discovering , if not the perfect candidate for Guy's show, at least some undiscovered haven of heavenly hash. Hence, the name, "rehashed."

Now true, hash itself is really a fancy term for chopped up and pan-fried left overs, and therefore rehashed seems to infer rechopping it with a few new add-ins, but in this case, I feel it is worth it.

Now almost as soon as last week'[s blog sprang into debate and bickering, I immediately rushed off to try out one of the places touted by a few as the world's greatest (or at least Lawrence's greatest) Mexican joint. I tried it, and the results were dutifully reported in the original blog. Suffice it to say, it was disappointing.

This week, I chose another dive, this time with entirely different results. More than a few of you mentioned a place in Eudora called Jasmin's, a little place that served Mexican and Chinese. Intrigued with such an improbable combination in a little place, I bravely decided it was my civic duty to you all to give it a try.

Jasmine's is located on the main drag in old downtown Eudora, just the sort of place you'd expect to find a genuine diner or dive. I parked, got out and opened the door, and got worried real quick. I walked in at exactly 5 minutes before noon - prime lunch hour, and discovered I was the only one there. I remembered the old adage that if'n it ain't well attended by truckers and local diners, walk, don't run, and get away real quick.

Never-the-less, bound by my solem duty to you all, I decided to give it a try. I walked in. Sat down, and let my eyes wander around the place. One whole wall was covered in brightly colored sombreros and a multi-colored Mexican blanket, and the opposite wall had a 3-d sculpture-mural covered with dragons and Chinese pictographs. Not to mention a Chinese-style room divider in the back. Interesting. Still not intimidated, I braced myself for whatever would come, and boy was I surprised.

The waiter was prompt and really friendly, so I made my opening move with the standard opening question for a diner - "what's the daily special." You can't be a genuine diner if'n there ain't a daily special. And, true to form, there was one. The waiter described it as a Chinese dish, a stir-fry of scallops, shrimp, and other veggies. Along with it came a crab Rangoon, and a choice of Egg Drop or Hot & Sour soup. Having the courage of a kindergarten teacher, I decided, what the hey, and ordered the special, along with an order of egg rolls. Now as some of you might know, the quality of a Chinese restaurant can be judged quickly by the quality of their egg rolls, so here was the first test.

The egg rolls came out quickly, as did the hot & sour soup. I broke the egg rolls in half to let them cool a bit (they came out freshly deep-fried, not out of a pile all done up beforehand), and as they were cooling, tasted the soup. The soup was incredible! It came out fresh and steaming, had a nice body to it, and was wonderfully spiced with just the right hint of pepperiness (is that a word?). After the first spoonful I realized I would have been just as happy to have ordered a bowl of the soup, and maybe a side of rice. The soup was among the best I have had. I asked, and they informed me it was their own recipe, made fresh there and not bought in a big bucket from somewhere else.

About that time I tried the egg rolls. Drum roll, please!!!!!!!!! Carumba! The egg rolls were crisp and crunchy on the outside, and the insides were not all mushy and nasty - they were great! They were nicely seasoned with a mixture of some kind of ground meat and cabbage and egg roll stuff, and were the best I have had in or around Larryville. Again - made right there and not trucked in.

Having nearly swooned in pleasure by that time, my scallop and shrimp entree arrived, steaming, with a side of fried rice. And if the soup and the egg rolls were good, this was even better. The dish had been freshly prepared (not a big seething cauldron back in the back), the scallops and shrimp done to perfection (not cooked into that nice leathery texture so common to mass-produced dishes) and the veggies were still slightly crisp. Each of the ingredients in the stir fry retained its own flavor, and all were nicely brought together with a dlightful sauce.

All in all, this was one of the best dining experiences I have had lately, and I would rate Jasmin's as one of the top Kansas City-Larryville Chinese dining experiences I have had in years.

Now the real problem - I hear their Mexican food is just as good, and as much as I enjoyed their Chinese, it will be hard for me to want to try the Mexican. But never fear - sometime in the ensuing weeks, I will don my Quixote hat, pick up my trusty fork, and charge off again. This time to try their Mexican entrees.

Coming back to Larryville and to some imagined sort of reality, this is a blog. Therefore, my challenge is thus: What are the best, least expected, out-of-the-way places you have found that sweep you up into dining ecstacy, in this area? They need not fit exactly Guy Fieri's parameters of defining Dives, Diners, or Drive-Ins, but here is your chance to brag and show off your experience with your fav's, or, even, those places you've tried that just haven't measured up. Now, if I can just find a place that serves a great plate of hash...