Zhang Zhiyong

A CHINESE saying goes "Good wine goes beyond deep alley," implying that quality goods and services will always be popular, regardless of location. However, in Shenzhen's competitive restaurant food and drink market, a good restaurant that is poorly located may find it difficult to draw customers.

Situated on Aihua Road (爱华路), a narrow path connecting Nanyuan Road (南园路) and Binhe Road (滨河路), the Morals Village Hotpot (重庆德莊火锅), which opened two months ago, is seldom packed despite serving high-quality food.

Part of the 400-strong nationwide Morals Village Hotpot chain, the Shenzhen outlet serves the chain's trademark Morals Village Three Treasures (德莊三宝). The three treasures are herbal wine, tasty soup and fresh ox stomach slices.

One of the ways in which Morals Village is unique among hotpot restaurants is the vessel it uses for the broth. The vessel is not divided into three, not two parts -- the spicy broth, the non-spicy broth and one of the "three treasures"--- the tasty soup.

Cooked on low heat for more than 20 hours, the soup comprises many choice ingredients, including pig bone, fungi, chicken, lamb and Chinese herbs. It tastes refreshing with a delightful fungi flavor. The three kinds of broth cost 30 yuan in total.

The fresh ox stomach slices, another treasure that may not be agreeable to most expatriates, are however popular among Chinese diners. Tang Zhiyuan, manager of Morals Village Shenzhen assures diners that the slices are free of industrial alkali. "Besides the ox are raised on the group's own ranch with the guidance from agricultural experts," said Tang: "Although presently our business is not good, we will not sacrifice the quality to cheaper ingredients."

"To assure the most ideal al dente, you need to dip the ox stomach slice into the boiling stock and have it cooked for just 25-30 seconds, otherwise, it will become very crunchy," he added.

I followed his tip and found the taste really delicious. Other good ingredients to be cooked in the hotpot include the restaurant's frozen homemade tofu, goose intestine, duck kidney, lamb and beef slices.

I didn't try the homemade wine, and thus cannot comment on it, but the bottle's label describes the wine as having been made using more than 20 traditional Chinese medicines, which a beneficial for the kidneys. Based on on the other two "treasures, I am sure the wine is worth trying too.

May the word of mouth can spread the morals, I wish.

Add: 23 Aihua Road, Futian District, close to Aihua Market (福田区爱华路23号重庆德莊火锅，爱华市场附近)

Tel: 8363-2279 (Chinese)