It all
started when, a couple of months ago, I watched a BuzzFeed video. There were
some guys and girls that scoured Los Angeles looking for the best
soup-dumplings.[1]
Now for anyone that doesn’t know, a soup-dumpling is a ‘tender
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| http://www.yauatcha.com/life /at-the-table/details/ |
wrapper filled
with rich, piping hot soup and a nugget of pork [or] crab.’ [2]The
people really sold it to me: straight after I finished watching the video I
looked for places in London that could accommodate my newly found obsession.
Out pops Yauatcha.
Yauatcha is the only Michelin star rated dim sum restaurant in the U.K.[3] so I supposed that they must do these
dumplings exceptionally well. My friend and I descended down the stairs to the
lower level, a dimly lit, open space decorated in a contemporary style. My
favourite detail was the tiny lights that lined the ceiling to resemble the
stars in the night sky. I was
comfortable upon entering.
My friend and I decided to order two meals each and share everything equally.
We ordered:
*King crab Shanghai siew long bun with pork (soup dumplings!)
*Steamed vegetable dumplings
*Hot and sour soup with shredded chicken
*Striploin beef and enoki mushroom cheung fun
Frankly, everything was delicious. The soup, (my friend’s choice and not
something I would usually order) was great. It had the comforting warmth of
Chinese chicken soup wonderfully accompanied by sourness. The vegetables in our
dumplings were cooked to perfection: flavoursome, al dente and offset by the
soft dumpling. The combinations of the different tastes are mingled so
harmoniously, eating here is a truly enjoyable experience.
The best of course were the soup dumplings; it is the perfect forkful of food
in your
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| http://www.yauatcha.com/life/ dim-sum/har-gau-recipe/ |
mouth at once. As you bite into the dumpling, immediately unleashed is
a burst of meat and soup. When I had the first, I simply sat still and
appreciated the flavours. It was worth the wait.
However, I did register that (as good as the food is), the portions are for
tiny little babies (with great taste). For £7.20 you receive three dumplings.
Me, having already agreed to share everything, had to give a precious dumpling
away. So with two left, I ate my first. It was heaven. But the second and last
one, I pierced with my chopstick and all the soup drained out. I was
heartbroken. Of course the experience taught me that this meal is better eaten
with a spoon, but the lesson was learned too late because it was over. The
portion was done.
This is perhaps my only reservation of the restaurant, it is rather pricey: the
amount you receive for the amount you pay is a little disappointing.
Despite this reservation, I would certainly recommend the Yauatcha but be
prepared to spend at least £50 per person, unless you are not eating to fill yourself.
But if it is in your means to pay this amount then go, because the food is
undoubtedly fantastic.
Yauatcha Soho
15-17 Broadwick Street
London
W1F 0DL
020 7494 8888
http://www.yauatcha.com/
BuzzFeed Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIyMZZyHm50
[1]
BuzzFeed ‘Dumpling Ding Dong Telephone Taste Test’ [accessed 20/03/2016] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIyMZZyHm50
[2]
Megan O. Steintrager ‘You’re Eating it Wrong: Soup Dumplings’ https://www.zagat.com/b/youre-eating-it-wrong-soup-dumplings
[3]
The London Foodie ‘Yauatcha 10 Years On’ <http://www.thelondonfoodie.co.uk/2014/05/yauatcha-10-years-on.html>
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