Auntie`s Private Dumplings - Chengdu (China)

Tucked away in a residential complex in Chengdu, a couple serves food in their own apartment.

With the TV on the ashtrays on each table for the ones smoking cigarettes, guests are invited into an actual Chinese household for an affordable and outstanding meal that feels, at least to an outsider, borderline invasive.

Their main specialty are Zhong Shui Jiao, or Zhong Dumplings, which are half-moon shaped and boiled.

The dumpling skin is very thick and doughy, while the lean pork filling has a subtle ginger flavor and is very smooth, like a paste. Overall flavors are pure, without much seasoning, and I found it curious that they were not even fully folded.

Once boiled, the dumplings are served with a combination of their homemade sweetened soy sauce, raw minced garlic and chili oil. It is important to stir everything up, ensuring that the magic sauce coats all sides of each single slippery dumpling.

The place also prepares other Szechuan regional specialties, including sweet water noodles and a refreshing dessert to wash things down following the madness of spicy, aromatic and savory-sweet flavors.

(Versão em Português nos comentários)