Audi Ambassador Chef Andrew Wong Takes Us On A Culinary Tour Of China At Restaurant A Wong
During our exhilarating Audi R8 Spyder Tour, we ventured into the wonderful realm of restaurant A Wong, presided over by the renowned chef Andrew Wong. The experience was extraordinary—a triumph of flavours and artistry. A Wong is the sole Chinese restaurant outside of Asia to boast two Michelin stars, a testament to its exceptional quality and innovation in gastronomy.
Andrew Wong graciously led us through a captivating narrative of the restaurant’s heritage, sharing anecdotes and personally demonstrating the artistry behind his renowned noodles. He is not just a master chef, he is also warm, charming, funny and extremely engaging. He can weave tales about food that’ll make you wish you were born with chopsticks in your hand.
Andrew Wong trained at the renowned Oriental Culinary Institute in Hong Kong and travelled across China to learn from local chefs and masters. He opened A Wong in 2012, taking over the site of his parents’ former restaurant, and transforming it into a modern and elegant dining space.
The restaurant’s menu reflects Wong’s passion and creativity. He reinvents classic Chinese dishes with a contemporary twist. You can choose from a la carte options, such as the crispy duck salad, the steamed sea bass with ginger and spring onion, or the braised pork belly with preserved vegetables. Or you can opt for one of the tasting menus, which offers a more adventurous and immersive experience.
Think of it as a comedy show starring the five taste sensations – sweet, sour, salt, bitter, and spice! It’s an intriguing exploration where your tongue plays the lead role, delivering the perfect balance on each plate.
The dim sum tasting menu, available for lunch, features 15 courses of exquisite and delicate dumplings, buns, and rolls, each with a different filling, texture, and flavour. You can sample the likes of the Shanghai steamed dumplings, the rabbit and carrot glutinous puff, or the bamboo Pole noodles with King crab. The dim sum menu also includes a wine and tea pairing option, which enhances the flavour and aroma of each course.
We had the evening menu which takes you on a journey across 18 international borders, from Beijing to Sichuan, from Guangdong to Yunnan. Accompanied by an exquisite wine pairing, this gastronomic journey was worthy of Marco Polo’s travels. The symphony of flavours and the carefully curated selection of wines created a dizzying array of taste sensations, offering an unforgettable experience that tantalised the palate and expanded our understanding of China’s rich tapestry of cuisines.
28 dishes were presented, including the Zhou dynasty cured scallop with stuffed crab claw, Cantonese honey roasted pork with foie gras, scalded oysters in aubergine sauce, wood ear fungus, choy sum with century egg, braised abalone with shiitake mushrooms, Shaanxi pulled lamb with pomegranate salad, pulled noodles cracker with Japanese Wagyu and Yunnan seared beef with Sichuan pepper. It’s like a passport to every region of China. The evening menu also has a vegetarian and gluten-free version.
The quality of the food, innovation, and service are exceptional. The restaurant was awarded its first Michelin star in 2018 and won several other accolades, such as the AA Guide’s Restaurant of the Year in 2017, and the Harden’s London Restaurant Awards’ Top Gastronomic Experience in 2018.
A Wong is not just a restaurant, but a destination for anyone who loves Chinese food and culture. It is a place where you can discover the diversity and complexity of Chinese cuisine, and enjoy memorable and absorbing fine dining.
Think of it as Beijing theatre, with convoluted plots, vivid makeup, beautiful costumes and impeccable service, akin to travelling across China in a silk-laden caravan. An experience that’ll have your taste buds doing a standing ovation.
To book a table, visit the restaurant’s website: https://www.awong.co.uk or call on 0207 828 8931.
