I’ll admit I’m late to the Chinese food table. It’s only been about five years since I first started enjoying this ethnic cuisine. To complicate matters, I was started at what is considered one of the best Chinese restaurants in the U.S., so any Chinese I’ve tried outside of there has noticeably fallen short, by comparison.

Yet, when I heard of this new fast food experiment in the UK, I was immediately intrigued: fast food Chinese! Alan Yau is the master chef behind this. Yau, while similar in fame to Gordon Ramsay, is not a chef most of the general public knows about. But he’s been down a similar road with fast food before.

Sixteen years ago, Yau changed the fast food game in Britain with his chain of Wagamama restaurants. He hopes to do the same now, with his Asian cuisine.

For the first year, Yau has vowed to not charge more than 3.5 British pounds, per dish. Though he will take a hit to his wallet on some dishes, he feels the low rate is worth it to see what works and what does not.

Isn’t that a fresh idea? I see McDonald’s doing this, often times, with their new menu items, but that’s it. I think more of the fast food restaurants would save money in the long run by following Yau’s example to discount upfront.

No matter what happens, the thought of having quality fast food Sesame Chicken and egg rolls is so drool-worthy that I may not be able to sleep tonight!

Men have a reputation for liking meaty meals. My boyfriend, in particular, seems to enjoy his pizza and subs with every kind of meat available. For me, that’s too confusing to my taste buds. I’d rather concentrate on a couple of complementary flavors. This is why we usually have to order two different pizzas, subs, etc.

At any rate, summer is a great time to try some different meaty meals for your dad, granddad, brother, son, and/or male friends. Even if it’s your first time trying one of these meat-ful recipes, you know guys will be eager to try it!

For one thing, just about anything done on the grill is going to be a hit. You can try an old fave (chicken, steak, burgers) and play with the spicing and marinade. Grill up some veggies to either serve on the side or on top of the meat. If doing burgers, try lightly grilling the buns to add even more manly flare.

Or to get a great meat-meal indoors, try one of the many versions of brisket that you can slow cook in a crock pot all day. I saw a great recipe for chile and beer braised brisket that you can probably find by using a search engine. Be creative and try some different brisket recipes yourself.

Finally, don’t forget to add some good side dishes to whatever meatable meal you choose. Potatoes are always great, veggies make you feel like you’re paying attention to the guys’ health needs, and dessert makes a fabulous finish for anyone.