GOLDEN POND
As I liked Golden Pond (in Arcadian Centre, Birmingham) the best among the three dim sum places we tried, Dim and I paid a second visit on 7 July 2007.
Our last visit was before the introduction of the smoking ban, we were constrained to seat in the area near the entrance, but after 1st of July there was no more distinction of two areas and we were lead to the area that used to be reserved to the smorkers.
We ordered porridge for the first time. This is my favourite, fish porridge. It contains only little salt, so it goes very well with other food, especially oily ones. The reason why I have never ordered my favourite until then was that Dim does not like soup like food. But, when he tried it, he liked it anyway.
The price is slightly high £4.60, but it comes in a big bowl, presumably in two portions.
These are "stuffed prawn and chives dumplings". Actually, they are not stuffed prawns, but dumplings stuffed with prawns and "nira" chives (or Chinese chives), £2.90. Three good sized dumplings were really beatiful to look at, but the taste was not as good as their looks, I thought. The flavour of chives overwhelmed prawns, and the skin was bit too weak.
These are beef cheung fun, £2.80.
As I wrote before, at Golden Pond, cheung fun itself is pretty good, but the beef meat was un-inspiring.
It was ok, but comparing prawn or scallop cheung fun, it was much inferior. Yes, it is cheaper, but I would not order it again.
These triplets are char siu pork buns, £2.50.
Not particulary impressive, but they taste as they should. Good value for money, too.
This is how it is inside. There were small bits of carrot, too. Char siu buns require right quantity of pork fat, as well as red meat, and there had the right balance of both.
These are deep fried shredded squids, £2.90. The red sauce is sweet and sour chili.
It tastes as they look, and they went well with the porridge. The oiliness of the squid gets neutralised by mild porridge. Although I don't drink alcohol, I think it goes well with beer, too.
New the above items cost £15, but on this occasion we were charged with £3 for the tea. It tasted actually nicer than the tea of last visit, so we did not complained assuming that they charge when they offer the first brewed tea, but I did not understand when it happens and when doen't.
The address and the phone is as follows.
Address : B201 Cathay Street (Pershore Street), Arcadian Centre, Birmingham, B5 4TD
Telephone: 0121-622-3688
The report about our 1st visit can be found on this page.
