Explore the food of Xinjiang, China’s province that borders eight other countries

delicatessenChineseUyghur cuisinerestaurant

15 Jun

Written By Antony

DOMINION ROAD DIARIES - JADETOWN UYGHUR CUISINE

A beautiful thing to witness over the past decade or so has been both the diversification and specification of the dining scene along Dominion Road. Where once we had a good showing of simply Chinese restaurants, we now see outlets proudly specialising in fare from various regions and cities including Shanghai, Sichuan and Chongqing, Fujian, Guilin, Taiwanese, Xi’an, and Hunan, as well as Cantonese eateries flying the flag with roast duck and pork hanging up on display.

When JadeTown opened eight years ago, it added Uyghur cuisine from the Xinjiang region to the mix. Xinjiang, in the northwestern corner of China, borders Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

Although it comes under the umbrella of regional Chinese cuisine, the food of the Uyghurs is quite distinct, heavily drawing on its roots in Central Asia with its historical significance along the Silk Road, and shaped by the geography of the area.

Owners Erpan and Ali grew up in Ürümqi and arrived in Aotearoa in 2010. Coming from a foodie family and with a strong sense of pride in their cultural cuisine, the brothers set up shop – naming their restaurant after Xinjiang’s famed white jade of Hotan. Ali’s on the pans and you’ll meet Erpan managing front of house.

Part of the skill involved in Ali’s role is the careful blending of spices – think cumin, pepper, chilli flakes, and secret marinades and sauces (nope, they won’t divulge!) – these elevate the barbecued and roasted lamb, chicken and fish dishes and give them that distinctive Uhyghur touch.

Erpan’s advice on building the quintessential Uyghur meal at JadeTown:

Make sure you order lamb skewers, polo (a rice dish), and vinegar-dressed salads to cut through the richness. A plate of Uyghur-style steamed dumplings is never a bad idea either – they’re cooked to order so allow 25 minutes at least. Finish with a platter of fresh and dried fruit (Xinjiang is one of China’s key fruit bowls).

An easy way to nail the brief is by ordering the Silk Road platter, perfect for a group of 3-4. For larger groups, JadeTown offers an impressive roast lamb which is available dine-in or delivered.

Erpan tells us a new menu is about to land – expect all the current favourites, plus some new dishes to get excited about (we’ll keep you posted!).

JadeTown is fully Halal, so no alcohol licence or BYO – explore the list of tea, juices, sodas, and ayran (a salted yoghurt drink that weaves its way into cuisines along the Silk Road).

JadeTown Uyghur Restaurant opens its doors daily; Wednesdays is dinner only and the rest of the week it's open for lunch and dinner.