![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
Hong’s Gourmet Chinese Restaurant- 4/5 stars
Kshitja Mulam
Located next to the famed La Fondue, Hong’s Gourmet appears miniscule from its location partially hidden from the road . The restaurant makes up for its cramped appearance with friendly service and excellent Chinese dishes.
Hong’s Gourmet is the only Chinese restaurant in the historic Saratoga village, which contains famed eateries such as The Basin, La Fondue, and the Plumed Horse Restaurant. Despite being surrounded by these other notable restaurants, Hong’s Gourmet still attracts countless customers, earning a ⅘ star rating on Yelp.
Entering the restaurant, hungry diners are greeted by bright lights and authentic looking Chinese decoration. The smell of Chinese cuisine wafts from the kitchen towards customers standing at the door. A friendly staff member cheerfully welcomes newcomers, noting down names and party numbers.
Depending on the number of people traveling through the village, the wait time in the restaurant varies. It’s always safer to call the restaurant before arriving to guarantee immediate seating upon arrival.
Even after customers are seated, the service is a bit slow with waiters arriving to take orders after quite some time. However, the waiters are extremely friendly, always smiling and astoundingly patient with customers dawdling with their orders. Even after taking orders, the kitchen takes quite a long time to prepare the meals, so expect a lengthy wait before the food arrives.
The food, especially the meat dishes, is mouth-watering; vegetarian options are tasty as well. One popular appetizer that regular customers enjoy ordering is the hot and sour soup. Most dishes are not too spicy on their own, so my family tends to ask for extra spiciness with every curry or extra chili sauce on the side.
One of my personal favorite dishes is General Tso’s chicken, a crispy chicken dish coated with a spicy chili sauce and sauteed onions. The dish is mildly spicy but has the slightest tinge of sweetness, allowing for a pleasing combination of flavors.
Another popular dish that my family enjoys is the fish fillet with spicy garlic sauce, a dish containing fish sauteed with vegetables doused in a rich garlic sauce. Spicy and served in a generous portion size, the dish is a tantalizing crowd-pleaser.
Hong’s Gourmet is a highly commendable restaurant with an amazing staff and delicious food options that are worth the wait.
Kshithija “KJ” Mulam (12) is the Winged Post Editor-in-Chief. Serving as the Winged Post News Editor in her junior year, Winged Post Photo Editor in...