Eat longivity food

For a few weeks this midsummer, Mainland China, one of the standout fine dining Chinese cuisine chains in Kolkata and the country, organised across the city's three outlets, a Longevity Food Festival: with dishes made with ingredients traditionally believed by the Chinese to add both quality and quantity to one's lifespan.

Our dining experience began with perhaps the most widely-advertised item of the festival, the Longevity Ginseng Soup, a clear soup with that typical ability of Chinese cuisine to turn blandness into subtle excellence rather than insipidity. In addition to thin strips of ginseng, traditionally considered an energy booster and stress buster, it contained bits of chicken, mushroom and wolfberry. The latter's bright red colour and nutritional richness contributed both optical and gustatory appeal.

The starters opted for were both fish items-Lotus Leaf Wrapped Grilled Fish and Stirfried Fish with Fresh Pineapple. Beckti was used in both, in ways that demonstrated the versatility of the fish as well as the chef.

The grilled dish had thumb-sized portions wrapped in lotus leaves that imparted a delicate flavour and went well with the mildly spicy Hunan sauce served alongside. The stir-fried item, with its minimal cooking ensuring the retention of the original flavours and textures, was given a fillip by the addition of the freshly chopped pineapple, rich in enzymes that aid digestion.

The main dish chosen was Steamed Chicken with Asparagus in Oyster sauce, with an ever-so-faint smokiness that was complemented by the light, non-intrusive flavour of Stir-fried Noodles with Mushroom and Spring Onions. Though some of the dishes, such as the Lettuce Wraps with Sauteéd Waterchestnut, Corn and Mushroom featured on the regular menu card as well, there was a special bill of fare created exclusively for the festival by Executive Chef Rajesh Dubey and his team.

 On offer were varied and exotic delicacies including Skewered Cilantro prawns, and Stir-fried Chicken with Green Mango in the starters section; and Mixed Vege-tables in Spicy Grape Sauce and Baked Fish in Champagne Sauce among the main dishes.

Some of the items listed specially for the festival are due to find their way into the regular menu. So if you missed out during the festival, don't worry. Just live long enough to make it to when the festival dishes are reintroduced-to ensure your further longevity!