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February 25, 2018

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Modern, personal twist to China’s regional dishes

PUBEN by Jereme Leung represents the famous chef’s culinary philosophy, inspired by all the regional cuisines of China to provide some of the preferred Chinese tastes to both locals and tourists alike.

Hailing from Hong Kong, Leung is considered one of the most creative Asian pioneers of modern Chinese cuisine, giving the more classic provincial Chinese food a modern and personal twist.

Back in 2000, he received the Five Star Diamond Award from the American Academy of Hospitality Science, which named him one of the “World’s Best Chefs.”

A marriage between modern sophistication and classic aesthetics is shown in the restaurant’s interior. In the Wharf Warehouse on Waima Road, the 980-square-meter space seats 180, with three semi-private rooms separated from the spacious lobby, plus four elegant river view private rooms.

I had a chance to taste some of Puben’s signature as well as new winter dishes. Lao Hei is the must-order dish here. Also known as Prosperity Toss, as it serves as an appetizer to bring good luck and fortune for the new year and is usually eaten during Chinese New Year in southern China. Lao Hei means tossing up good fortune in Cantonese. The salad-like dish is composed of a handful of shredded carrots, green papaya, raw salmon slices, chopped peanuts, dry fruits, sesame oil and sweet-sour sauces.

Each component symbolizes good meaning in Chinese culture. Not only a fortune dish for the new year, it’s a flavorsome Asian salad to start your meal.

The dishes here seriously reflect different regions of the country, from spicy Sichuan-style to more delicate Cantonese creations. Grilled river eel with garlic, eggplant and baby cucumber is a creative dish that is particularly delicious. The eel is marinated and then grilled with a special sauce so the taste is enhanced by a combination of flavors plus its delightful texture.

The crispy boneless goose with an assortment of sauteed potatoes and celeriac vegetables is impressive. The goose is crisp, moist and undeniably delicious, requiring 12 hours’ preparation. Twice cooked beef short ribs marinated with Sichuan chili paste with homemade nachos is also one of the favorites among both locals and expats.

Don’t leave the dining table without tasting some of the signature dim sums from Puben. Some of the must-tries include baby sea clams, luffa melon dumpling, balsamic vinegar pearls and the unbeatable house specialty, black gold egg custard buns.




 

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