New Mayflower, London

                        

It's a good thing that tomorrow is a public holiday. No classes, no having to drop off & pick up V from halte garderie, no errands. I need the time to catch up with quilting mummy's green quilt, study for my exams and process the backlog of photos. So posts will be slow in coming through.

Anyways.... One of my favourite places in London for super-duper no-nonsense bonafide Cantonese dishes is the New Mayflower Restaurant. The place has changed little since my student days of nearly 20 years ago- the service is brisk, the tables cramped close together to accommodate the perpetual crowd and the promise of a complimentary bowl of tong-sui at the end of the meal (for Chinese customers only, they think the ang-mos don't know how to appreciate sweet soups)- I never miss eating here however short my visit to this city is. I remember their khao yuk -belly pork layered with either taro or preserved mustard then slow-braised with bean paste sauce- is especially yum, even better than my mom's. This time though, we opted for the more healthy tofu braised with nam-yu and it was equally good, not too salty or assertive so as to let the tofu taste dominate, simply excellent.

And of course, there's their signature Crab Steamed with Chicken Fat and Huatiao Wine. The wonderfully sweet and succulent crab meat, the thin layer of custardy egg white floating in a slurpily delicious soup that calls to be drenched onto a bowl of rice.

We did just that, and I was happy.

New Mayflower Restaurant

68-70 Shaftesbury Avenue
W1D 6LY
Chinatown
020 7734 9207

Comments

[spellbound]

hihi, those crabs looked so delicious...if only i get those crabs in south africa and i will be laughing till i drop my jaws!

:)

[ivan]

That crab looks delicious enough for me to try it out! BTW, our mutual friend is going over to merry old London for a prolonged stint. Yay!

Now, more than ever, I have reason to visit Europe. ;)

[TTC]

I am drooling. Am I seeing those gorgeous milt ( I hope these are male) in the shell? Can imagine now it taste with the "Hua Diao superior stock"!

[Beaulotus]

I want to go to London, I want to go to London, I want to go to London too.

Sigh, how I envy you and your Crab dish.

How's the French getting on?

[w]

Wow. I should not have stopped by your blog before dinner. I was just lamenting t a friend that I have not yet found a good affordable seafood source here in Antewrp. Must find out where to go. After all the restaurants have excellent seafood. Now seeing this crab makes me want to cry!!

[umami]

spellbound: oh yes it was one very tasty crab

ivan, london is a fun fun city, miles better than paris (but more expensive). and yes, I am looking forward to meeting friend in london too ;)

ttc, yes those are milt, and the combination with the soup- wow, to-die-for. even better than roe, and I've had the female crab version as well.

beaulotus, i waited three months to eat crab you know... :), anwyay, french- it's not too bad, but we'll see if I pass my exams at the end of the month eeps.

w, seafood is just so darn expensive in europe isn't it? hope you find something soon.