The BEST Chinese Food in Northern Florida!!

Okay, so it's been what.......9 months since I last posted to my blog?  OMG!!!  Needles to say, life took a turn a little while ago.  I got promoted to management at my job, and the word "time" became a very limited and precious commodity in my vocabulary!! Well, seeing that it's Christmas Eve morning, and everyone else in the house is asleep, I found the "time" to do what I love the most!  (Well, eating and cooking is probably what I love most, so I guess posting to my blog would be what I love to do the 2nd most...)

Yesterday I took my wife and kids to this little hole in wall (or as my wife says, ..."hole on the wall") place in a section of town that we call Madarin, here in Northern Florida.  The restaurant in called:   Peony Asian Bistro .


It is hands down, the best Chinese food in Northern Florida! 


With that being said, I must give you a little history of why I make that statement;  I have lived most of my life in Southern California and have traveled abroad to several countries in Asia;  South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines to name a few.  Additionally, I have traveled elsewhere in the world, and love the authentic Chinese food that I have experienced in those places.  In fact, the best Chinese food that I have ever had was in Vancouver, British Columbia.  I was on my honeymoon with my beautiful new wife at the time, and was so enraptured with her, that I didn't even remember the name of the place!   On the other hand I have been in Northern Florida only 7 years, so needless to say, not too fond of the culinary options available here, based on the food I've had in other places.  As I mentioned in a previous blog, where else but in the South, does a vegetable sandwich come automatically equipped with cheese and fried bacon?!?! 


Peony Asian Bistro is truly an authentic Chinese cuisine experience and absolutely, the best Chinese food experience I have had since living in Northern Florida!!! My wife is from the Philippines, has also lived in Southern Cal, and traveled abroad with me, so her palate is the same as mine. She simply adored this place!  Peony has items on the menu like:  JellyFish Salad, Pork & Taro Hotpot and Crispy Mantou.

My wife (the same one that I was enraptured with in British Columbia) had the Curry Chicken and shared some with me. It was out of this world! In fact, is was even better than we've had at any Indian restaurant! I usually don't eat beef that much, but the picture of the Beef Chow Fun on the menu looked so appetizing, I had to try it. It was magnificent! Wide rice noddles with skirt steak, onions and bean sprouts in a very light brown sauce. Simple, but oh so good!! My kids had the Lo Mein noodles and the waitress told me she would put chicken, shrimp, and pork in it since they don't really have an official kids menu. My little munchkins devoured those noodles!! I mean ALL of them!!

The decor at Peony Asian Bistro is very nice and tasteful with a touch of sophistication. The prices are very good too. It is located right on the corner of Hartley Road and Old St. Augustine Road in Mandarin.

If you are in town, try this place. You won't be disappointed!