Fu-Better Than Chinese shows you how simple and innovative good food can be

Fu-Better Than Chinese shows you how simple and innovative good food can be

When it comes to Asian, I prefer street food. Be it Japanese, Chinese or South Asian, what the aam admi eats there is what I would like a restaurant to honestly serve here. It beats having to deal with thinly veiled
(bastardised) Indian versions of so-called exotic Oriental (etc) dishes any day. So you can
imagine my delight at the three first things I learned at Fu-Better Than Chinese, a much needed new restaurant at GK I, M Block Market.

An interior shot of the restaurant;

One, there are three -- drinks, food, signature -- menus. Two, the menu comprises what owner Gaurav Rekhi ate and loved on his many trips to Hong Kong as an investment banker in London, and what his partner Kula Naidu dug out from old South Asian family recipes. Three, apart from the 'pairing' menu that allows you to choose from a set of seven side dishes with the main course (and comes with recommended pairings), the dim sum selection -- steamed, grilled/baked, and fried -- is the largest Delhi has ever seen. Finally, a Chinese place where the drinks and dim sums are enough to make a good meal.

One foru00a0every occasion
The best way to sample the menu would be to order one each from the three categories of dim sums but you can tell the very helpful staff what your taste is like and I assure you, you will not be disappointed with the recommendations. The Pork (yes, pork!) Ginger Jiaozi steamed in translucent rice flour skin just melts in the mouth. (Don't take my word for it, try it yourself. If you do not eat pork, you should try the Chicken Scallion Jaiozi). The 5 Spice Lamb Crystal is a must-have too. Vegetarians must try the Spinach and Mushroom Crystal and Spicy Turnip Cake. Actually, everyone must try the turnip cakes to see how simple and innovative good food can be.

Giving in to bengaliness
I had to eat the Murtabak (the Malay version of the Mughlai paratha), if not for how delicious it is at Fu but for the fact that I am a Bengali. Now, because I wanted to try the main course, I skipped the fired dim sum section but a friend who ate there told me the Firecracker Prawns are the works. I went with the menu's recommended pairings for the main course: Sumatran Chicken Rendang (brown coconut gravy) with Nasi Goreng and Sambal Fish in Banana Leaf (grilled, as claimed, to perfection) with Sticky Rice. I could eat very little but considering the number of dim sums I had downed, that is a huge
compliment!

Fu awaits a liquor licence (December) but the mocktails and juice infusions more than make up for the lack of alcohol. I loved the Guava Bellini but even the tender coconut water is refreshing. I had a movie to catch so could not risk dozing off after dessert but I am going back if only to try the Mandarin Cheesecake which I am told is baked.

Fu means good luck in Chinese. Given the quality, prices and enterprise, I think Gaurav and Kula have lots coming their way.

At: M-53, 1st floor, M Block Market, Greater Kailash I
Timings: 12.30 pm to 11.30 pm
Ring: 41005221
Meal for two: Rs 1,200 + taxes
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