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To match the ever increasing popularity of Chinese food, restaurants offering Chinese food have mushroomed in Chennai. Though food offered by these restaurants are good, it lacks the authentic Chinese flavour and taste typical of the cuisine. The dishes are by and large a hybrid of Chinese and Indian cuisine with a heavy use of Indian herbs. The food is too spicy unlike the traditional Chinese cooking.
Shanghai Club, the signature Chinese restaurant at Chola Sheraton is considered as probably the best Chinese restaurant in Chennai. One, if not the primary, reason is Chef Yag Jia Yu, the resident Chinese cook. Originally from Peking, Chef Yu has been with Chola for three years. He is ranked at the top among Chinese chefs in all the Sheraton restaurants in Asia. The fact that when the Chinese premier visited India Chef Yu was called upon to cook, explains his importance.
The spacious restaurant Shanghai Club with its rich and elegant furniture and styling provides a pleasing ambience for the diner. A place to relish the meal with your friends or family. The polite and efficient service by the staff is bound to delight you. The waiters are very familiar with Chinese cuisine and could offer you suggestions about your meal and suitable combinations.
Shanghai Club is currently celebrating a week long ‘Hunan Festival’. Located in southern China along the river Yangtze, Hunan has a history dating back over two thousand years. Hunan has its own traditional cuisine which is well known around the world. This cuisine is so rich and vast that it is supposed to have 4000 dishes, a mind-boggling number by any standards among cuisines of the world.
 Known for its hot and sour flavour, Hunan food has fresh aroma and deep colour. Each dish has a main flavour that is quite prominent. The humid atmosphere of the region probably has some connection to their use of hot chilli and peppers. The cooking style includes stewing, simmering, curing, steaming and stir-frying. The strong flavours of these dishes are indeed appetizing.
A few of the popular items on the menu include Mizhi Yumi Sun, the crispy baby corn served with chilli honey sauce. The Jiwaner Baicai Tang is an excellent chicken soup with chicken dumplings and cabbage in a tantalizing clear broth. Hunan Lajiding, the diced chicken in hot bean sauce and Yangrous Chao, sauted lamb with onion and chilli are typical of this special cuisine. Many dishes include tofu in some form. A variety of fried rice and noodles give you plenty of choice. Shuiguo Liuli, fruit toffee with ice cream is certainly one of the best desserts. The authentic Chinese cuisine at Shanghai Club prepared by one of the best Chefs from China will delight you beyond your expectations.
With one visit your understanding of Chinese food as well as your taste buds might change, for good. Call 8110101 for information and reservation.
Sam Kumar
sam_kumar1@yahoo.com
Published on 27th
August 2002
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