To think this is the most ridiculous way of saying what you want?!

[KiwiBanana]

I asked DP what he wanted from the Chinese, his answer was sweet and sour chicken Szechuan style

AIBU to not want to go in there and order that? I know they'll just stare blankly back at me, or does this make sense to anyone?

What's wrong with that?

He could have said gangnam style.

Eh, am I missing something? Fairly standard request.

I think sweet and sour is a Cantonese thing. Szechuan is a whole different area. So they'll either stare at you blankly or just lob some more chillis in the Sweet & Sour.

Szechuan and sweet and sour are totally different things am I just tired or does it not make sense at all?

Ask for Szechuan sweet and sour chicken?

That's the correct way to order it. It's delicious.

Also wondering what's wrong with that. I quite often get sweet and sour pork Cantonese style, it's written like that on the menu!

To those that think it's normal, could you describe what it would be? Sweet and sour and Szechuan sauce mixed together??

Ah ok, might be understanding it a bit more now.

It is normal. Szechuan style is deep fried chicken balls with sweet and sour sauce whereas normally the chicken isn't deep fried or in ball form.

"ball form"

Wouldn't you just say chicken balls [snigger] with Szechuan sauce then?

The other way just makes my head hurt.

Save yourself the angst by ordering online.

Since I discovered Hungry House etc., my ordering of Chinese food has been transformed.

No more describing stuff over the phone, I put my bizarre requests into the 'requests' box, and leave it to the chef to figure out what I mean.

I have no idea whether sweet & sour is incompatible with Szechuan though, but if I were you, I'd give it a go!

Doesn't make sense to me and I am Chinese

Recipe here

I fully accept it may not actually make sense, pretty sure the Chinese restaurants round here are about as far from authentic as you could get

My guess would be it's S+S Ch hong kong with extra chilies. I think that's what I would cook if someone asked for it.

Well I went and ordered and got the blankest of blank faces. I have honestly never seen such a blank face in all my life!

Did they give you any food?