Hutong takes a step back into history with Shanxi Cuisine Festival (China)
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Hutong takes a step back into history with Shanxi Cuisine Festival (China)
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Category: Asia Pacific - China - Gourmet restaurants
- Gourmet restaurants
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2011-03-17
Set against a breathtaking skyline, Raise the Red Lantern style northern Chinese restaurant Hutong is welcoming spring atop One Peking Road in Tsim Sha Tsui with a seasonal menu from one of China’s oldest provinces, Shanxi. The Shanxi province, meaning ‘Mountain West’, is a stone's throw away from the beautiful Taihang mountains where the Shanxi people have been developing this style of cuisine for generations. Though this unique cuisine has been around for centuries, you might recognise it by its more common name, Jin, which has been meticulously replicated for your dining pleasure in the atmospheric Hutong.
Shanxi bursts with all that is hearty, healthy and earthy, characterised by pleasantly sour but sweet flavours from its regional specialty, mature vinegar (Shanxi lao chencu), which has a history tracing back 2,700 years.
Not only will guests be able to enjoy the delectable cuisine from Shanxi but they will be able to experience authentic décor if they dine at Hutong’s private room which houses a salvaged rooftop from Shanxi. Rescued from being destroyed, this rooftop was build over 80 years ago by a wealthy young man and shaded him as a pavilion in his residential courtyard. With carvings of five bats and an inscription denoting longevity, wealth, health, composure and virtue, the roof was build for the wealthy man’s elder mother to show his filial piety. Bats were carved into the roof as the pronunciation of the word ‘bat’ (fu 蝠) is the same as ‘happiness’ (fu 福).
Shanxi cuisine is becoming increasingly well known as a healthy balance to diet countering high blood pressure, rheumatism and skin diseases and a menu of traditional specialties is now being served at Hutong until the end of April.
The distinct flavour is introduced to the menu with an appetiser of baby green pepper and eggplant marinated with home-made garlic vinegar (HK$88). Another vegetarian specialty of the region is wild fungus, marinated with bamboo shoot (HK$108).
Shanxi is also famous for noodles, showcased during the promotion with wok-fried shredded lamb fillet with typical home style, fermented “open chest” noodles (HK$178).
A specialty of the provincial city of Pingyao, known as the financial centre of China during the Qing Dynasty and today a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is Pingyao stewed beef, in aged dark vinegar and chili (HK$218).
Braised Shanxi lamb fillet (HK$238) is prepared with traditional ‘Dangshen’ root, a plant native to the region known as a “poor man's ginseng”, also used in traditional Chinese medicine to lower blood pressure.
Named after Beijing’s historic but fast-disappearing courtyard alleyways with hand-crafted red lanterns evoking a historic atmosphere and carved wooden screens and tables reminiscent of an Imperial Palace, Hutong is renowned for promoting specialty regional Chinese cuisines.
Hutong was one of Hong Kong’s first Chinese restaurants to be awarded a Michelin star and was voted among Hong Kong’s best restaurants by Australia’s Vogue Entertaining + Travel, US-based Travel + Leisure, and won many awards in Conde Nast Traveler Hot Tables, Miele Guide, and Tatler.
All prices subject to 10% service charge.
About Hutong
Take in the sights and sounds of China of old ….beautifully carved wood screens and tables fitting for the Imperial Palace, billowing Chinese silk curtains, red lanterns and rickshaws. Look up and see the stunning ultra-modern skyline of Hong Kong. Welcome to Hutong.
Set against a breathtaking skyline, Hutong evokes a historic Chinese mood with antique furniture, intimate tables and private rooms secluded by traditional wooden screens and ‘moon’ gates.
Hutong’s award-winning menu is based on traditional spicy Northern Chinese food with a contemporary twist.
Among numerous other accolades, Hutong has also been named among Hong Kong’s best restaurants by Australia’s Vogue Entertaining + Travel and US-based Travel + Leisure. Hutong also received the prestigious Michelin star award for two consecutive years in 2009 and 2010.
Other aqua restaurant group outlets in Hong Kong include aqua (roma/ tokyo/ spirit), aqualuna, WasabiSabi, tivo, vivo, shiro, Yun Fu, ayuthaiya, and La Marmite.
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