Introducing the Chilli Connoisseur Menu at Hutong

Award-winning Chinese restaurant, Hutong, will be introducing a new chilli tasting menu this November.

The menu intends to show the diversity and versatility of the spice in the country's cuisine. The Chilli Connoisseur features five courses, each showcasing different varieties and preparations of chilli. The restaurant hopes this will challenge opinions of ‘spicy’ food and encourage clients to try more.

The meals start with an Abalone and spicy seafood salad, where the heat of fresh red chillis complement sea snails. The salad, dressed in sesame oil, rice wine and chilli oil with fresh coriander, awakens the palate for the dishes ahead.

Following this comes the signature dish, Red Lantern with crispy soft-shell crab. The chillis ensure that the crab takes on the spiciness of the pepper and this balances the saltiness from the crustacean. The next dish is Grouper fillet in Sichuan broth, which has a fiery and peppery heat from the pickled green variety of the spice. The broth also contains three other types of the pepper which include dried Lantern and fresh red. The menu will finish with Lotus root cooked in Ma La sauce and seafood rice.

Patrons can also choose from many of Hutong’s creative cocktails, such as the Red Snapper or the soothing Jade Emperor.

The Chilli Connoisseur menu will cost £49 per person, for a minimal party of two and is available from 3rd-30th November.

By Jenny Williams

Hutong is also taking part in the Magic Feast which takes place on 12th November and is a street-food style festival complete with food stalls - more information about it here.