Our latest nominee for the Boschendal Style Award at the Eat Out Awards brings some Asian flavour to the mix.
 
The restaurant
Hyde Park Chinese spot, The Red Chamber, is a cosy, atmospheric destination for authentic Northern Chinese cuisine.
 
The food
Eschewing Asian fusion for more classic Northern Chinese cuisine, The Red Chamber is the place to go for Peking duck, served with pancakes, plum sauce, spring onion and cucumber.  Northern-style pork (or vegetable) pot stickers and spring onion pastry are popular, along with the crispy spicy beef, a typical dish of the region with plenty of garlic and chilli.
 
The x-factor
A far cry from the ubiquitous brightly lit Chinese restaurant, The Red Chamber makes a strong statement with striking design and soft lighting by Charles Storr of The Kiteworks. Speaking to Visi, Charles says he simply redesigned the space to make the restaurant work better for owner Emma Chen.

“We aimed to create a genuine classic Chinese atmosphere,” says Emma, who didn’t want to confuse patrons with Japanese elements or broader Asian references.
 
Striking elements include thick, black bamboo poles on the one wall, against a jade green background. “The black theme is carried through by means of Chinese trellis pattern chairs and wooden frames throughout the restaurant,” explains Emma. Light boxes display classical Chinese objects on the walls, adding soft, diffused lighting, as do black wooden frames covered in cotton. The entrances are also striking: a full size terracotta warrior guards one, and the main door is covered in gold leaf.
 
Does the Red Chamber have what it takes to win the Boschendal Style Award at the Eat Out DStv Food Network Restaurant Awards?