Shunde Raw Fish Salad
Thinly sliced raw fish served with a host of accompaniments.
A client introduced me to this dish during a visit to his grandmother’s village more than 30 years ago. Since that first taste, I’ve had this a few times in Canton and twice recently in Shanghai. We eagerly didi’d to this restaurant last night for our first dinner in Shunde, the district that made this specialty famous.
A row of lively finning fish, crustacean and bivalves greeted us upon entry, but we are here for the Grass Carp.
We plan to indulge in the fish salad in a few eateries this trip, here in Shunde then later in Canton. For this first dinner, we chose a basic set, to fully appreciate the meal without over embellishments.
We were advised the set will begin in approximately 1/2 hour, as the chefs dispatches and prep the fish. We prepped ourselves with a couple of baiju and some beer while waiting.
The thinly sliced fish were served on custom ice packs in a stack of 5 wooden boxes, an elegant nod to the Japanese sushi-ya influence. Previously, the fresh sliced fish had been served atop Saran Wrap covered crushed ice on service platters.
The Fish is indubitably the Star of The Show, but the accompaniments are very much important supporting players.
Pickled (Shallots, Ginger, Garlic, Turnips). Chiles with some HEAT!! Fine shredded Fried Taro, Coriander, Ginger, Onion. Wok roasted Peanuts provide a nice textural crunch.
Flavors and textures, balance and contrasts, acidic and spicy tossed in the fragrant peanut oil. Delicious, and fun to boot!!
As @Saregama noted, not much goes to waste. True Nose to Tail, not just wannabe marketing talk.
Deep fried Bones and Fins. Crispy pieces with the occasional tender morsel of juicy meat. Fins are like fishy crisps.
Fish Skin. Crunchy fish skin served with a vinegar white liquor mix. Had not enjoyed before, did not love it now.
More fish parts, steamed with Black Bean and Chile sauce. The meat is so tender and succulent. Went very well with the Fish Congee.
Our first Shunde Yu Sheng experience definitely met our expectations. Looking forward to trying more variations in the coming days.
