Adopted Hakka Classic

盆 菜 Hakka: puhn choi; Mandarin: pen cai

The waitress set a huge metal basin, mounded high with food, in front of us on a portable burner. Our eyes popped. We were at Chung Shing Restaurant in Tai Po, New Territories. The dish was called basin feast for the container that it was served in. Cooks layer many ingredients, from humble white radish to stately shrimp, in a large washbasinor wide bowl to serve a crowd. Guests gather around the basin and eat from the top down. This is a specialty in the New Territories, where many Hakkas live. We also saw this dish served ina Hakka restaurant in Beijing. Some claim it to be a Hakka classic.