Anna Mckay shares a recipe perfect for celebrating Chinese New Year
Laura Reynolds reviews the latest arrival to the York cafe scene
Anna Mckay tempts us to break the new year healthy eating streak.
Just 4 days until Christmas..get in the mood with some festive nosh!
On entry the modern approach to food is reflected in the contemporary appearance of the room. Cool green wavy dividers separate the table casting a green glow around the large area which is surprisingly rarely full. Due to my Chinese heritage, I consider myself a bit of a don in all things Chinese food related but the number of unrecognisable things on the menu reflects the restaurant's highly regional approach to dishes as it specialises in Beijiing and Sichuan cuisine. Normally I'm slightly sceptical of any restaurants that feel the need to accessorize their menu with snazzy photos but here it is entirely justified. If you have a craving for chicken balls, you will be sorely disappointed as most dishes here are very authentic.
The menu is huge, making it hard to narrow down your choice without being asked for your order at least twice by the attentive staff. The large range of quirky dishes comes at a price as choices are often hit and miss. For example, as intriguing as 'Fried Beancurd Coated with Salty Duck Egg Yolk' sounds, I probably won't be craving it again any time soon. A few trips are necessary to figure out your favourites but thankfully this is a job I definitely wouldn't mind doing.
The jingdong roast cake stuffed with minced pork I ordered purely for the reason that is sounded interesting turned out to essentially be a large flat Chinese dumpling cut into slices like a pizza but less stodgier than your average dumpling. Stir fried shredded pork with red chilli is amazing and melted in my mouth unlike any pork I had ever tasted before. Fried sliced duck with young leeks in hoi sin sauce was equally yummy albeit very oily but who really minds when it tastes this good. The portions are very generous and each time I have been I have been able to stave off my pasta staple for another night by taking a doggy bag home. However, the pinnacle of the menu, and one that I would definitely recommend if you're going in a big group, would be the Beijiing roasted duck as the chef personally comes out to carve it up in front of you, making your meal much more of an event.
As for prices, main dishes average out at around £8 without rice or noodles, so it's slightly more expensive than other student staples considering multiple dishes are normally shared. However, their Monday-Saturday 12-2pm lunch deal is great value for money and a student must. If you go with a few friends you can get a good selection of dishes with very generous portions for a mere £5.50 each. I guarantee after a visit there you will look back in shame at yourself for even considering Jumbos across the road which, in contrast to Red Chilli's sophistication, seems to always have an unhealthy number of drunk people sharing one plate of noodles 'lady and the tramp' style.
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