(February 22, 2008) Genghis Khan was a guy who pretty much got what he wanted. Conquerer of most of Asia, if Ghengis wanted wine, women, song, savory meats... well he got them. I mean, who was going to say no to the guy? So after a hard day of global aquisition, he would get pretty hungry. WOULDN'T YOU BE? But out in the territories, there wasn't the option to sit down in the palace for a ritual feast.

So his soldiers prepared the finest meats available along with willd onions and cooked them on the campfire, inverting their massive war shields and using them as grills. And Genghis thought it was delicious.

That tradition of Mogolian grilling has been preserved and carried down through the years so that now we Westerners can indulge ourselves with the same repast that the powerful Khan so much enjoyed. Which brings us to the subject of today's review, The Mongolian Grille on 2nd and San Jacinto across from PF Chang's.

The food, true to its origins is still delicious and also very healthy for you. They've added some vegetables that Khan might not have had access to out in the wilds of Asia, like broccoli, celery and jalapeno peppers, but the process is still simple and efficient. You grab a huge plate, fill it with an assortmennt of vegetables like cabbage, mushrooms, broccoli, bean sprouts, celery, green beans, bamboo shoots, and much more. Then you can choose additional add-ons like thinly sliced beef, chicken, pork, and generous chunks of tofu. And if you are so inclined, you can then add Asian noodles to your towering mound of meats and veggies.

Then, it's over to the sauce bar where you concoct your own from a vareity of ingredients. I usuallly use ladles of dark soy, garlic, lite soy, rice wine, sesame oil and a fiery hot sauce. Then, as if there wasn't enough on there, I always add some Portugese sausage for a little extra zest.

Then you hand your creation over to the grill master who deftly transfers your creation onto the grill that still resembles the inverted Mongolian battle shield. The grill is extremely hot and allows for the searing of the meats and vegetables. This enhances the pristine flavors. The grill master flips and stirs the ingredients, and with a practiced eye, knows just when to remove your repast at the perfect moment when everything is still crisp and al dente. He then adds the remaining sauce from your dish, give the mixture a final flip and transfers it to a serving plate. A huge bowl of peanuts sits at the counter should you wish to add one final flourish to your meal.

It's no wonder that Genghis and his men got such a kick out of this style of eating. The flavors and the textures are authentic: and what's more, if you pass on the rice, you have a dish that is Atkins friendly: high in proteins and low in carbs. The tastes are immediate. Once it's at the table, Ioccasionally add a dash of pepper, but that's it. This is the total package for healthy and enjoyble eating.

So come on and join me at the Mongolian Grille. You don't have to be a world-conquering warlord to like this food. The place is very cool and the prices are reasonable. The ambiance at the San Jacinto store is not all that great, but look at it this way, the guys who originated this style never got to do more than eat it sitting around a campfire. So that's a step up [lol].

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