By: Maria Moore

Bob and Bill Moore

Right around 6 o’clock on Christmas Day, with husband Bob and his brother Bill hard at work on installing lights over the kitchen stove, our reporter decided it was a good time to grab her camera and take a ride to see what else was happening around town. Darkness had long fallen, but the lights shone brightly in the windows of homes, evidence of activity inside. Outside it was another story: the sparse traffic on the road, the stillness in the air spoke eloquently of our country community that was celebrating indoors. Meandering down Route 44, stopping here and there to snap photos, our reporter approached the Marandino’s Plaza to see another car turning into the mall. Our reporter followed it in, and saw the car stop in front of a store with the word ‘Open’ shining brightly in the window. ‘Master Wok’ the Chinese restaurant was open!

Our reporter stopped in, and chatted with the young lady at the counter. The Restaurant which is owned by the Chen family, is open 7 days a week, she said, and yes, even on the holidays. “Have you been here long?” our reporter asked. “Two and a half years!” Came the response, much to our reporter’s surprise. It seemed to our reporter only yesterday that Jen-El Travel had been in that location! Their chat was interrupted by a customer who stopped in to pick up his family’s order of food. Our reporter placed her own order ~ a double order of shrimp rolls for each of the men hard at work at home, and a single order of spring rolls for herself, resulting in two rolls for each ~ and then went over the menu with the young lady at the counter. She pointed out the Thai food, which is a specialty of the restaurant and then their lunches: the Lunch Buffet served during the week (”Very popular with a lot of people”), and the Lunch Plates, for those who prefer, with every item under $5.50, including rice and a can of soda. Hard to beat for a quick lunch!

“Have you been busy today? Have you had more of any one type of customer, say, single men?” Our reporter asked. “A lot of people all day. Most orders are for families.” Was the answer. And just to prove the young lady correct, another young lady came in to pick up her family’s take-out order: Victoria, who recognized our reporter from the Farmers’ Market this past summer. She said her family was leaving for England early the next morning so they were having take-out. Asked if the food was good at Master Wok, she said: “Very good!” It was a family favorite, even though her family lives in New Britain and has a long way to come for the food.

With a quick photo snapped of Victoria ~ the young lady behind the counter having shyly moved away ~ and her take out order in hand, our reporter left, feeling brightened by the friendly encounter. And as she drove away from the plaza, another customer drove up.

How’s The Food?: Both the shrimp rolls and the spring rolls got the thumbs up, from the men and our reporter. A tasty, if unusual appetizer, for the Christmas dinner which was to follow. And the Master Wok menu was added at the top of the pile of menus, waiting for the next order of take-out.

Master Wok: Is located in the Marandino’s Foods plaza. The restaurant serves Chinese food, take out and eat in. It is open 7 days a week, Monday through Thursday, 11:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11:00 a.m. until 10:30 p.m., and Sunday, 12:00 noon until 10:00 p.m.

For more information: Please call Master Wok at 860-693-8870.

Victoria Gawlik picking up her family's order of take out from Master Wok on Christmas evening. Photo: Maria Moore

The 'Open' sign of Master Wok shines brightly in the Marandino's plaza. Photo: Maria Moore