Pearl River Delta - Shenzhen
With 100 choices on the menu, the dim sum at this stylish Chinese eatery is among the best.
AUTHENTIC CUISINE
Ba Shu Feng reputedly serves some of the most authentic Sichuanese cuisine in Shenzhen. The old multi-storey eatery with a rustic interior has been replaced by a contemporary new outlet in the basement of a shopping mall.
The spiced beef giblets had just the right balance of flavours and textures. The pork slices hung on bamboo stems, while slices of pork and cucumber hung on what looked like a tiny clothes line. Two classic dishes - kung pao chicken and mapo tofu - reflected Sichuanese cuisine at both its best and worst. The chicken was perfectly balanced, with just the right amount of heat, a gooey sauce and lots of crunchy nuts. The tofu dish, however, was too heavy, too thick and too dark. It had so much salt, MSG and numbing peppers that the sauce was powdery. The house tea, full of sour plums, dates and herbs, is served from Sichuanese teapots with long spouts. Michael Taylor