Above: Interior of Kamei
‘Authentically Inauthentic’, might be the most precise description of the culinary offering at Kamei, its repertoire, whilst unmistakably oriental and largely faithful to the essence of traditional dishes, is nonetheless adventurous, flirting somewhat overtly, and in many cases even outrageously with younger, more contemporary foreign elements.
Above: Mala Dan Dan Noodles
The most apparent, yet accomplished indiscretion was in the last of the quartet of dishes that I consumed, the Kamei Mala Dan Dan noodle, a devilishly played with, yet delicious version of the original spicy Szechuan dish, both deflowered and subdued by a creamy peanut sauce, the resulting balance not only a huge surprise but also quite the unexpected success.
Above: Shanghai Soup Dumplings
That said, it was a serving of Shanghai soup dumplings, – the original version of which, ‘Xiaolongbao’, I have thus far not encountered anywhere in New Delhi, neither at Kamei – i.e. with the broth inside the dough, as opposed to acting as a seat for the dumpling – absolutely stole the show, if for no other reason than the flavor of the broth, akin to a formidably adulterated master stock with the capacity to seduce both Indian and oriental palate alike.
Above: Prawn Tempura, Bangkok Tartar Sauce
The prawn tempura whilst being discreetly perfidious, was not only skilfully produced – the batter somewhere between a ‘salt & pepper’ batter and tempura – but also extra pleasing to the palate with an accompaniment of what they call a ‘Bangkok tartar sauce’, a far more sophisticated version of both the British and Irish renditions.
Above: Pan Fried Turnip Cake
And the last dish, which in fact came second in the order of eating, in all of its purist glory, for that is how it is invariably best appreciated, was the pan-fried turnip cake, generously garnished with burnt garlic chips and chilli chives, served true to form with the perfect contrast of a crisp outer surface and molten interior…needless to say that four dishes do not suffice for a comprehensive review, so let’s call this a work in progress …
Clockwise From Top Left: Main Dining Area, Bar, Picante Cocktail
… On a final note, Kamei is dark, dusky and elegant in its style of interior décor, without falling prey to the oriental restaurant cliché … moreover, it takes its cocktail making extremely seriously … stay tuned for ROUND 2.