This year, More Good Hong Kong hosted its Zou Zit dinner under the theme “Reunion.” Chefs Esther Sham and Yip Sze Cheung joined forces to present a menu blending Shanghai and Sichuan flavours. Aimee Yan brings you the highlights from the evening
In Chinese culture, nothing brings people closer than a shared meal. This was more than an ordinary charity dinner, however it was an evening where culture and cuisine intertwined.
The menu opened with caviar soy marinated egg and four happiness Kao Fu, serving as a graceful overture. The black pepper live surf clam stood out, the tingling Sichuan pepper oil infused the clams’ sweetness with heat and aroma, creating a refreshing start. Paired with Hennessy VSOP, the combination was rich and harmonious. The foie gras wonton chicken soup offers a delightful contrast, the soup is light and refreshing, while the foie gras wonton is rich and tender without being greasy.
For the mains, the Shanghainese sweet and sour pork ribs offered nostalgic comfort, while the prickly ash pepper beef ribs and onion stewed duck delivered a numbing fragrance and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. The most memorable dish of the evening for me, was the Sichuan-style fish maw, a bold reimagining where the heat of the peppercorns infused the broth, and the interplay between the fish maw’s richness and the chewy glass noodles created an indulgent, lingering flavour.
The mala lobster noodles strike a perfect balance, with the lobster retaining its satisfying chewiness yet remaining perfectly tender. The noodles are spicy, aromatic and full of flavour.
Dessert, osmanthus, fermented rice, sesame rice balls, brought the meal to a satisfying close, gently sweet, warm, and fragrant.
But Zou Zit has never been just about food. The evening included hands-on cultural workshops: the heritage noodle maker Man Fung Noodle Co. guided guests in rolling glutinous rice balls by hand, while artisans from Kam Sek Hin carved personalised seals on-site, each imprint a mark of good fortune.
As “Night Life In Shanghai” played softly in the background, the atmosphere felt like a journey back in time, a touch of old Shanghai elegance in modern Hong Kong. Nearby, an auction area showcased works by local artists and craftsmen, from jewellery to paintings, each telling a story of human touch and heritage. Guests also joined in dice games, laughter mingling with the clinking of glasses.
