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Christchurch
Reviewed by Diana
Other
Christchurch Restaurants
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Date/Time:
7.30 pm Friday 27th October
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Restaurant:
Gingko
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Booking:
ph 374 2523
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Where
to Find:
153-157 Hereford St.,
Christchurch
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Parking:
Limited
on the street but there’s a parking building a block away
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Service:
Wonderful – friendly and unobtrusive.
Cuisine:
Authentic Sizhuan and Dongbei
(North-Western Chinese)
Presentation:
We had expected the food to be very hot, but it was not, and the
chef will modify the heat to your palate if required – and we enjoyed
every dish that we ordered or Sueann chose. She sources the very
best ingredients, directly from China when she needs to, and the
food is sublime: refined, elegant flavours with subtle and contrasting
textures – and a far cry from any other style of Chinese cuisine.
We ordered some unusual dishes ourselves, such as the wonderful
frilly black auriculata fungus with water lily and garlic, and the
delicate kelp with chilli. When she could see we were keen to try
something different, Sueann recommended a few of her specialities.
The magnificent Chinese bacon with hot soybean paste, the sensually
silky slow-cooked braised aubergine and the brilliant sautéed
green beans with pickled mustard greens were highlights for us.
Wine List:
Small but appropriate – currently under review with the assistance
of a local winemaker, and you can BYO. Great selection of beers
(which suit the cuisine well), including the very pleasant Yanjing,
the official state beer of China. We had taken a rather disappointing
bottle of Riesling and rather wished we’d just stuck to the beer.
Value for
Money:
Fantastic
Ambience:
Owner Sueann Wang is passionate
and knowledgeable about her food, and she and her staff are happy
to recommend different delicious dishes. Please step outside your
comfort zone and try them – your palate will thank you! Sueann has
worked wonders in what was a rather barn-like space initially. The
restaurant has been transformed with energy and humour, and now
boasts rich red walls, islands, Tibetan lanterns, a separate banquet
room and a wild tented gold ceiling. Great food and great fun! Sueann
is a warm, energetic woman who ensures that all your needs are catered
for, and all your questions answered.
The feel
good factor:
We’ll be going back, and I
do mean very soon. We had a brilliant evening at Ginkgo, which truly
is Christchurch’s last great culinary secret.
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Highly Recommended
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