If you’re all about the crustacean craze, FeedMe Guru and the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s Crabalicious campaign will make all your dreams come true. Partnering with 60+ top restaurants in Hong Kong, crab tasting menus span a wide range of global cuisines, from Chinese to Spanish. These tasting menus can be booked online, exclusively on FeedMe Guru’s app and website, until 30 November 2017.
Participating in Crabalicious, Qi – Nine Dragons is the destination to dine when it comes to spicy crab and authentic Sichuan cuisine. Michelin recommended, Qi – Nine Dragons is the sister restaurant of Hong Kong’s only Michelin-starred Sichuan restaurant, Qi – House of Sichuan. Qi – Nine Dragons is a spare and modern eatery on Peking Road in TST, wowing guests with spectacular views of the Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island skylines from the dining room and rooftop.
In a room visible behind sliding doors, the eatery’s chairs look like small wooden Chinese thrones, each carved with “呇” (qi; “bright star”). The restaurant features dark wooden furniture with splashes of red. Of course the atmosphere cannot fill your stomach, but when it is done right, it slowly heightens your senses to the aromas and tastes on the way.
To start the menu, Qi – Nine Dragon’s hot and sour crab soup provides heat in thrilling check with sourness. With just enough spice to make you start taking shallow breaths, pulled crabmeat, cloud-ear fungus and sliced tofu are encased in a thick, flavourful gloss in every spoonful of the dish.
The second highlight, chilli-fried Dungeness crab, makes a bold composition, with each large piece of crab towered on top of the next. The flavours of the crab are potent, and they do not get all their force from the heat. Instead, the chilli-fried Dungeness crab gives way to a fresh crustacean aroma, with heads turning as the impressive dish is freshly brought out from the kitchen. Without a doubt, this Crabalicious finger-licking dish is a must-try and will definitely kick-start your chilli crab obsession.
Strafe your palate into submission with a hail of chillies. One of the hottest things on the menu is none other than spicy soft-shell crab. There is stir-fried spring onion coated in Sichuan peppercorns and scads of minced garlic. Its ability to shock and amaze comes from fresh Sichuan chillies that are roasted until crisp, along with the chilli seeds that cling onto every fiery bite of soft-shell crab. Offset by vibrant green and hellish crimson, the spicy soft-shell crab is a roller coaster of textures and flavours, with the Sichuan spice insinuating itself into every single crevice.
Red bean pancake with ice cream is no revelation, but it offers reliable relief – as do the waiters as water glasses are refilled with remarkable frequency. This sweet dessert extinguishes the hellfire flames and leads you to the final stop of this culinary masterpiece.
Qi – Nine Dragons sets the definitive standard for Hong Kong’s Sichuan chilli crab. Whether you’re an expat, local or tourist, this exclusive tasting menu is highly recommended for dining with friends and family. Available from 1 until 30 November 2017, book here now on FeedMe Guru and experience one of the many Crabalicious delights on offer. No worries if you don’t eat spicy food – there are many more options for you, with lunch and dinner menus starting at only $198.
