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Nanhai no.1

The freshwater crab season is in – and as Hong Kong is one of its biggest importers in the world, you are likely to be presented with a special crab menu when you visit any Chinese restaurant this month. The popularity of crab here can be attributed to the myriad cooking techniques from Chinese cuisine that turn this visually unattractive creature into delicious dishes that we all love. Among the plethora of upscale Chinese joints in town, we headed to nanhai no.1, which boasts ingredients sourced directly from Yangcheng Lake, the most famous breeding spot for freshwater crabs in China.
 
While the crab menu on offer here consists of 10 items (HK$1,180 per person), we struggled to resist all the crab options - first came the Crab Roe Dumplings, a deluxe version of Shanghai dumplings. The pastry on the outside is thin yet firm, while the inside is moist and steaming hot. We found it a good start to our meal.
 
Next came the Shark’s Fin with Crab Roe, the most sumptuous dish on our menu. We loved the luscious and finely textured roe, however, accompanying the soup, made from pork, Chinese ham and chicken, is a touch too strong. 
 
As for the Steamed Freshwater Crab, we knew it was good just from the look of it - bright and sturdy, its roe is rich and delicious. It took some hard work to crack the shell, but the spanking-fresh meat is well worth the effort. Then we plumped for the Crispy Crabmeat Ball with Crab Roe and the E-fu Noodles with Crab Roe in Superior Soup - the ball is crispy and satisfyingly meaty while the noodles are silky and al dente; and although the soup that comes with it tastes similar to the one served with the shark fin, the flavour is spot-on this time - we enjoyed the latter especially.
 
Having had such rich mains, the desserts managed to wind us down – the Green Tea Cake is light and aromatic, while the Apricot Kernel Tea is smooth and dulcet. Though not as extravagant as the crab dishes, they actually play the important role of refreshing the palate. And given the extra variety on the original crab menu, including a dish featuring asparagus in broth, the 10-course crab feast at nanhai no.1 is unlikely to disappoint, especially for all those diehard fans of freshwater crabs out there.
 
 
nanhai no.1
30/F, iSQUARE, 63 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
+852 2487 3688
www.elite-concepts.com

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