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Northwestern exposure in water city
By Wu Huixin |
July 26, 2012, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
NORTHWEST China, which includes the autonomous regions of Xinjiang and Ningxia and the provinces of Shaanxi, Gansu and Qinghai, is home to Islamic culture and diverse landscapes. There, features such as the vast Gobi Desert and the Loess Plateau attract visitors from home and abroad. Hangzhou locals are no exception.
But while the water city of Hangzhou is geographically far from northwest China, there are several northwestern restaurants here providing a taste of that rugged land.
Here are three northwestern restaurants serving up the region's cuisine in surroundings that also provide a flavor of the region.
Dong Yi Shun (??òá?3)
This restaurant is located in Gaoyin Street, where Hangzhou cuisine dominates. Its halal flavor makes it distinct among its neighbors.
The facade of the two-story building features Chinese wood-carved windows and balcony railings with Islamic arch structures.
Each floor, which has up to eight square tables, is entered through an Islamic arch door. Waitresses wear Uygur head scarves, reflecting the restaurant's ethnic characteristics.
In the doorway, there is an open BBQ, selling freshly made food, including shish kebab, Xinjiang naan, steamed buns and other northwestern snacks.
Its menu is based on mutton, beef and chicken, with fewer vegetables and, as an Islamic eatery, no pork. Salad and pasta dishes are also available.
Stewed chicken, potatoes and fettuccine - also called "Xinjiang big plate chicken"￡¨D???′ó?ì?|￡?- is the signature traditional northwestern dish offered here. It is said that before the liberation in 1945, a Sichuan man escaped to Xinjiang and opened an eatery beside the No. 312 national highway. As drivers tasted the delicious dish he had created, its renown spread and soon Xinjiang big plate chicken enjoyed huge popularity across the country.
Like other northwestern restaurants, the portions here are huge and tasty. A small portion of Xinjiang big plate chicken is enough for five people.
Homemade yogurt is a famous dessert here. Three flavors - original, peppermint and cucumber - are available for consumers to pick from. The yogurt is sourer than supermarket ones. However, diners are offered sugar to add, if required.
Address: 99 Gaoyin St
Tel: (0571) 8780-5163
Halal Restaurant (?÷±±è??ò)
The facade of this three-story restaurant combines Western and Islamic elements, and the signs on the frontage feature Chinese characters, the Uygur language and English.
The inside decor is integrated with Islamic elements, and the walls are painted plain white without decoration.
The first and second floors are open dining areas while the third floor contains booths.
To cater for different tastes, the restaurant also offers some Cantonese and Sichuan dishes.
Sizzling cumin mutton is the signature dish, the fragrance of the herb softening the strong flavor of the meat, creating a peppery but delicate taste.
Customers are recommended to try a light soup which balances the heavy taste of the sizzling cumin mutton. Ingredients include shrimps, mushrooms and preserved eggs.
At the doorway is a drive-through outlet from where passers-by can buy Xinjiang naan and pastries.
Address: 257 Zhongshan Rd M.
Tel: (0571) 8707-5591, (0571) 8707-5592
Sha Mi Lang Restaurant(é???à?2í°é)
The eye-catching facade of this restaurant includes depictions of lanterns and wolves - the latter associated with the wilds of Shaanxi.
The interior walls are pasted with yellow mud, and booths are separated by tree branches, upon which stalks of corn and peppers are hung. Adding to the rustic, exotic feel, the walls are daubed with pictures and apparently primitive designs.
In keeping with the restaurant's alternative name, "Wolf Den," the interior decor evokes the atmosphere of the Loess Plateau in northern China where locals live in cave dwellings and share the landscape with wolves.
However, not all the decor is primitive. A golden fish pond, back cushions and ornaments add different touches to the atmosphere of the restaurant.
Waiting staff have distinctive uniforms which include a wolf tail attached to the trousers. Diners can attract staff by shaking a rattle-drum on the table. Board games are also provided, aiming at attracting young customers.
Dishes served here have traditional northwestern flavors - plus eccentric names. Purple cabbage, fried with green cabbage and topped with chopped peanuts and peanut butter, is named "multicolor."
And pork and potato stew is called "undercover," as the diced pork is thought to be "hiding" among the potatoes.
Address: 49 Pingfeng St
Tel: (0571) 8662-8856
But while the water city of Hangzhou is geographically far from northwest China, there are several northwestern restaurants here providing a taste of that rugged land.
Here are three northwestern restaurants serving up the region's cuisine in surroundings that also provide a flavor of the region.
Dong Yi Shun (??òá?3)
This restaurant is located in Gaoyin Street, where Hangzhou cuisine dominates. Its halal flavor makes it distinct among its neighbors.
The facade of the two-story building features Chinese wood-carved windows and balcony railings with Islamic arch structures.
Each floor, which has up to eight square tables, is entered through an Islamic arch door. Waitresses wear Uygur head scarves, reflecting the restaurant's ethnic characteristics.
In the doorway, there is an open BBQ, selling freshly made food, including shish kebab, Xinjiang naan, steamed buns and other northwestern snacks.
Its menu is based on mutton, beef and chicken, with fewer vegetables and, as an Islamic eatery, no pork. Salad and pasta dishes are also available.
Stewed chicken, potatoes and fettuccine - also called "Xinjiang big plate chicken"￡¨D???′ó?ì?|￡?- is the signature traditional northwestern dish offered here. It is said that before the liberation in 1945, a Sichuan man escaped to Xinjiang and opened an eatery beside the No. 312 national highway. As drivers tasted the delicious dish he had created, its renown spread and soon Xinjiang big plate chicken enjoyed huge popularity across the country.
Like other northwestern restaurants, the portions here are huge and tasty. A small portion of Xinjiang big plate chicken is enough for five people.
Homemade yogurt is a famous dessert here. Three flavors - original, peppermint and cucumber - are available for consumers to pick from. The yogurt is sourer than supermarket ones. However, diners are offered sugar to add, if required.
Address: 99 Gaoyin St
Tel: (0571) 8780-5163
Halal Restaurant (?÷±±è??ò)
The facade of this three-story restaurant combines Western and Islamic elements, and the signs on the frontage feature Chinese characters, the Uygur language and English.
The inside decor is integrated with Islamic elements, and the walls are painted plain white without decoration.
The first and second floors are open dining areas while the third floor contains booths.
To cater for different tastes, the restaurant also offers some Cantonese and Sichuan dishes.
Sizzling cumin mutton is the signature dish, the fragrance of the herb softening the strong flavor of the meat, creating a peppery but delicate taste.
Customers are recommended to try a light soup which balances the heavy taste of the sizzling cumin mutton. Ingredients include shrimps, mushrooms and preserved eggs.
At the doorway is a drive-through outlet from where passers-by can buy Xinjiang naan and pastries.
Address: 257 Zhongshan Rd M.
Tel: (0571) 8707-5591, (0571) 8707-5592
Sha Mi Lang Restaurant(é???à?2í°é)
The eye-catching facade of this restaurant includes depictions of lanterns and wolves - the latter associated with the wilds of Shaanxi.
The interior walls are pasted with yellow mud, and booths are separated by tree branches, upon which stalks of corn and peppers are hung. Adding to the rustic, exotic feel, the walls are daubed with pictures and apparently primitive designs.
In keeping with the restaurant's alternative name, "Wolf Den," the interior decor evokes the atmosphere of the Loess Plateau in northern China where locals live in cave dwellings and share the landscape with wolves.
However, not all the decor is primitive. A golden fish pond, back cushions and ornaments add different touches to the atmosphere of the restaurant.
Waiting staff have distinctive uniforms which include a wolf tail attached to the trousers. Diners can attract staff by shaking a rattle-drum on the table. Board games are also provided, aiming at attracting young customers.
Dishes served here have traditional northwestern flavors - plus eccentric names. Purple cabbage, fried with green cabbage and topped with chopped peanuts and peanut butter, is named "multicolor."
And pork and potato stew is called "undercover," as the diced pork is thought to be "hiding" among the potatoes.
Address: 49 Pingfeng St
Tel: (0571) 8662-8856
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