If you are into the Chinese entertainment and well versed with dating realities, you must have heard of the dating game show “If You Are The One” (非诚勿扰). Surely, the face of the host Meng Fei (孟非) pops into your mind. Well, today’s food jaunt will very much have everything and nothing to do with him because we are heading to one of his restaurants in London — Mr. Meng (孟非的面).
Located along the bustling street in Soho, London, Mr. Meng is definitely one of those places where Chinese international students head to for a taste of home. When you head in, the dark red and green interiors are reminiscent of the classic Chinese palace interiors with a contemporary and minimalistic spin, transporting customers away from the dull grey streets. Their menu features a variety of Sichuan dishes with their signatures being noodles.
Even though, the noodles dishes are a highlight, but we’ll leave the noodles for another day and take you on a jaunt with the Ice Jelly (开心冰粉) instead.
The Sight
Brown sugar water is drizzled onto a bowl of wolfberries, raisins, peanut crumbs and a mysterious pinkish powder that sits on top of a transparent jelly. The jelly is so clear that it almost seems as if the ingredients are suspended in midair.
The Smell
Definitely the smell of cold air and a light nutty scent.
The Sound
As we take a scoop, the jelly fills the insides of our mouth. And like a vacuum, everything is silenced.
The Taste
A harmony of the icy cold, the sweetness and the light bursting sour freshness just makes you want more. The jelly itself has no taste, but paired with the brown sugar water and the peanut gives it a dull sweetness that lingers on. And when you’re getting a little bored of the sweetness, scoop some of the mysterious pink powder and raisins instead for a sour refreshment. We’re not sure what the pink powder is, but from what we can describe it tastes like hawberry or plum. The coldness mixed with the slight sourness just gives the sparkling kick to your taste buds for some euphemism just like the chinese name of this dish “Happy Ice Jelly”.
The Verdict
Oh! We’re definitely heading there for more of this ice jelly when we’re down or just want to lift our moods even more. The ice jelly is something that can be enjoyed in both summer and winters. Not too sweet and not too sour that fits the palate of the majority and provides that little excitement that we need in our food. Till next time, Mr. Meng!
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