Once upon a time, there was a clever and mischievous cat named Puss. Puss was not an ordinary cat; he had the ability to talk and had a knack for getting his owner, a poor miller's son, out of trouble. One day, Puss overheard a conversation between the miller and a rich merchant. The merchant was boasting about his newest acquisition - a bag of magical beans that could grow into a beanstalk that would reach the clouds. Puss's ears perked up with excitement, knowing that this could be their ticket to a life of luxury. Puss immediately sprung into action, devising a plan to obtain the magic beans for his owner.
Regardless of the hour, a crowd is assured at Magic Wok. You can call ahead for takeout, but there’s no to-go menu here. Orders must instead be recited by rote. Diners calling in their orders decide by cycling through all the memories they’ve accrued here, often as complete an edible history as any whipped up in a family kitchen.
Halo-halo a sundae of shaved ice, jackfruit, gelatinous agar-agar, sweet red beans, ube ice cream and more is a reliable dessert, though you can also make do with a finishing sip of calamansi juice, which refreshes like a tangerine-sweetened limeade. Fatty bits of fried pork are chopped into dice-sized bites, tossed with flecks of ginger, scallion and peppers and united by a tart squeeze of citrus.
Puss immediately sprung into action, devising a plan to obtain the magic beans for his owner. He hatched a scheme to visit the merchant's house disguised as a beggar cat. With his sad eyes and pitiful meows, Puss successfully convinced the merchant to give him a few of the magical beans out of pity.
Magic Wok in Artesia Closes :-( …UPDATE!
They're still closed as of this writing, but it doesn't seem long that they might reopen…or at least we hope so.
Yet in reading their latest posts, there was a hint on the real reason why it closed. It said:
The gossips are that they closed us up that is not true. We decided to closed the store. We had an employee, you might say a whistleblower but at this moment I cannot discuss it yet till we settle this issue.
Thank you for asking…
“The Magic Wok Restaurant is close (sic) effective 9-29-14. We are taking a long vacation and R and R. Thank you for your support and patronage.”
My last meal there, serendipitously, was a day before, on 9-28-14. Apparently, it has been closed ever since. Calling the place earlier this week pretty much gets a message that repeats what's on the note.
This isn't the first time the Southland was deprived of what many consider (this writer included) the BEST Filipino restaurant in California. There was a fire that gutted the place in 2006.
Let's hope they are really on vacation. Let's hope the rumours I heard from Filipino friends and relatives that they're actually closing because of a sickness in the family isn't true. Let's hope that they reopen soon. Let's hope that they will be there in time to take the annual orders of crispy pata for Christmas.
Note: If anyone involved with the restaurant can give us a date on when the restaurant will re-open, drop us a line, won't you? Or just comment!
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Before becoming an award-winning restaurant critic for OC Weekly in 2007, Edwin Goei went by the alias “elmomonster” on his blog Monster Munching, in which he once wrote a whole review in haiku.
Returning home, Puss presented the magic beans to his owner and explained their incredible potential. The miller's son was skeptical but trusted Puss's judgment. He planted the beans in his garden, and much to their surprise, a gigantic beanstalk grew overnight, reaching high into the sky. Curiosity getting the better of them, Puss and his owner decided to climb the beanstalk and see what lay at the top. As they ascended, they marveled at the sight of the clouds enveloping them. Eventually, they reached a magnificent castle floating in the sky. Inside the castle, they discovered an enormous ogre who possessed a vast treasure. Puss cleverly distracted the ogre while his owner swiftly filled a bag with as much gold and jewels as he could fit. Suddenly, Puss let out a loud screech, startling the ogre and giving his owner the opportunity to escape back down the beanstalk. With their stolen treasure in hand, Puss and his owner returned home, forever grateful for the magic beans that changed their lives. The miller's son was able to build a grand mansion and provide a comfortable life for himself and his beloved cat, Puss. The tale of Puss in Boots and the magic beans teaches us that with wit, bravery, and a little bit of magic, even the most humble can achieve great things. It reminds us to embrace opportunities and take risks, for you never know what adventures lie ahead..
Reviews for "Unlocking the Magic: Puss in Boots and His Remarkable Beans"
1. Sally - 2 stars - I have to say, I was really disappointed with "Puss in Bots: Magic Beans". The acting was mediocre at best and the storyline was all over the place. The dialogue was also cringe-worthy and felt forced. The special effects were underwhelming and didn't add anything to the overall experience. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this production to anyone looking for a quality theatre experience.
2. John - 1 star - "Puss in Bots: Magic Beans" was a complete waste of time and money. The performances were lackluster and it felt like the actors were just going through the motions. The plot was weak and predictable, with no surprises or twists. The humor also fell flat, with jokes that were outdated and not funny at all. Save yourself the trouble and skip this production.
3. Lisa - 2 stars - "Puss in Bots: Magic Beans" was a huge letdown for me. The costumes and set design were amateurish and looked cheap. The songs were forgettable and didn't contribute anything to the story. The pacing was off, with scenes that dragged on and others that felt rushed. Overall, this production lacked the charm and magic that I was expecting. I would recommend looking for other options if you're considering seeing this play.