While the original Min Jiang at Goodwood Park specialises in Szechuan cuisine, this sister restaurant in Rochester Park specializes in more adventurous Chinese fare given an eclectic Asian twist. We started with the wok-tossed lobster medallion with a spicy egg yolk crust: this was unexpectedly delightful – the lobster was firm and juicy and really complemented by the crispy spicy crust. My main of stuffed boneless chicken with prawn mousse and chopped water chestnut – that delicious combination of seafood and white meat that the Chinese exploit so well – was savoury and delicious: the water chestnuts providing a wonderful fresh crunch. And my companion’s dish of shark's fin in pomegranate egg white parcel was unusual looking and said to be “weirdly good”. The rest of the menu listed traditional, crowd-pleasing Szechuan, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing fare, such as barbecued suckling pig and crispy eel coated with vinegar sauce (yum), but we went for the Peking duck – a dish the restaurant takes a lot of pride in - roasted in a wood-fired oven on the premises and brought to our table crackling, sticky and infused with an inimitable smoky note - delicious. A dessert of durian pudding (keeping true to the Goodwood tradition, regardless of how out of place it may seem in a Chinese restaurant) provided a satisfactory end to the meal, with its luxurious, velvety texture and sweet taste.
WINE: Wine selection is limited with three house pours and six premium selections: your best bet is to go with the restaurant’s special home-made cocktails like One North Passion and Ming Jiang's Bellini.
