Quaint and Oriental, Chin Chin by The Biere Club is visually quite inviting with its red and blue colour scheme. We dropped by for a tasting, with simple expectations but it turned out to be quite an unusual experience. The team has curated an interesting menu, using locally available ingredients, with a focus on coconut.
This certainly upped our expectations and we started our meal with a soup, followed by a salad and a few starters. Three dishes stood out from the lot that was served. The Creamy Coconut and Seafood Soup worked its magic on us. The prominent flavour of coconut milk complements the seafood perfectly, making this broth a must try. Next, the Som Tam Spicy Green Papaya Salad with Green Beans was our best pick for its medley of flavours. The bird's eye chillis work in sync with the raw papaya. The tanginess of lemon seasoning balances the spicy flavour. While the nuttiness of roast peanuts adds an additional dimension and palm sugar lends a hint of sweetness. This is what we call, a perfect harmony of flavours.
From the Dim Sum section, we suggest you try the Green Pea Dumpling with Truffle Oil. This dumpling was the star among the starters. The filling of mashed peas and cheese makes it velvety and you will certainly ask for a repeat. From the main course, we tried the Jasmine rice - which is perhaps the best in town considering the fragrance and fluffiness - and paired it with the Mixed Mushrooms Curry With Coconut Spices. The spices and coconut flavours enhance the taste of rice, making it akin to comfort food.
From the three desserts we tried, we highly recommend Water Chestnut Rubies in Coconut Milk. As much as it looks good, it tastes good. The clear red rubies are soft with a crunchy inside and the coconut milk enhances the subtle sweetness of rubies. It's interesting to note how Chin Chin has put local ingredients to apt use, a reason why we were left impressed.
Rs 1500++ for two. At Whitefield. Details: 9845887454
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