Helen Zhang

IF you are not fond of hotpot, a popular meal on cold days, some hearty Hangzhou dishes may suit you to a tee. Xi'er Home-style Hangzhou Restaurant (喜儿私房杭菜), recently opened in Jingtian, offers a selection of Hangzhou home-style dishes.

"Home-style, hearty Hangzhou cuisine: this is how we want to differ from big-name Hangzhou restaurants in Shenzhen. Diners here can taste our authentic offerings of Hangzhou dishes at a fairly reasonable price," said Xie Wenxiong, manager of Xi'er.

The two-floor restaurant is brightly lit, decorated to the standard of a classy Chinese restaurant, but not there's much character. However, a waterfall at the entrance and a large chanderlier add tasteful elements to the compact space.

Two things, the chairs and tablecloths, which look rustic, don't seem to match the amenity. Xie explained these were only temporary, as custom-made armchairs and tablecloths would not be ready for a few days.

Most of the food ingredients are flown in from Zhejiang to ensure the authentic taste. Crab is a must in this restaurant. A four-liang (a traditional Chinese unit of weight) male hairy crab from Taihu Lake is just 68 yuan (US$8.5).

The signature Hangzhou dish, braised pork, is a dish you should not miss out on. A good portion of fatty pork is braised with dried tofu in soybean sauce, seasoned with sugar. The dried tofu absorbs the flavors of various spices and is rather tasty, while the braised pork has such rich flavors. It is a nice treat in cold weather, as both tofu and pork fat are rich in protein and calories that will surely warm you up. At only 28 yuan, the dish is quite enough to satisfy two.

The Qiandao Lake fish head (68 yuan), is recommended. Prepared with fish head, tofu, sea cucumber and edible fungus, the dish is a nutritious combination. Those who have faith in therapy through food should not miss this dish.

Ham slices are an ingredient popularly used in Hangzhou dishes, which can even br found in a vegetable dish such as stir-fried gourd slices. The salty ham mixes the dishes perfectly.

According to Xie, the restaurant's investors from Hong Kong have several other successful Hangzhou restaurants in Shanghai and Hong Kong. Xi'er is the first in Shenzhen but another two were expected to open next year.

A minus for Xi'er is that there was no English menu available. However Xie speaks fluent English and can help foreign diners to order.

Add: Xi'er Home-style Hangzhou Restaurant, 7018 Hongli Road West, Futian District (福田区红荔西路7018号喜儿私房杭菜)

Tel: 8272-6454, 8272-6473