Brooklyn Wiseguy-Cantonese Beef With Oyster Sauce

This is the story: A certain Chinese restaurant in Brooklyn was known to be frequented by “wiseguys”. One wiseguy in particular (let’s call him Joey) was very fond of the classic Beef with Oyster Sauce, although he often kidded the owner about the thin sliced “mystery meat” it was served with. “Don’t youse guys ever feel like a nice steak?” was the usual question. Eager to please his patrons, the owner instructed the chef to prepare the dish in this manner, as a surprise for Joey. Realising a knife would be needed to cut the steak, a waiter was told to bring one to the table before serving, as knives aren’t part of a usual place setting in Chinese restaurants. The waiter, new and somewhat intimidated by the wiseguys, nervously handed the knife directly to Joey. Joey eyeballed the knife, and looked up at the waiter. “Are youse expecting trouble tonight?” Preparing this dish is no trouble at all.