Zest Szechuan is located in Midtown East on West 39th
Street near Bryant Park. It is located among storefronts that include other
Sichuan restaurants. Inside, the long space offers seating at both booths and
tables. Neutral décor creates a calm atmosphere.
From a little research that
we did, Sichuan cuisine is one of the four “traditional” cuisines of China; Chuan, Lu, Yue, and Huaiyang, represent West, North, South, and East China, respectively. Similarly,
there are eight “modern” cuisines of China: Sichuan and Hunan are hot and spicy (Sichuan is also called
“Szechuan”); Cantonese (also called “Guangdong”), dishes often feature sauces;
Zhejang and Jiangsu feature light and sweet flavors; Fujian and Anhul use wild
mountain ingredients; and Shandong cuisine is fresh and salty with an emphasis
on seafood.
We shared a few dishes, including the poached chicken with
peanuts and chili, steamed pork soup buns, and cold sesame noodles, with sesame
rice cake for dessert. Zest Szechuan serves beer and wine to accompany their
food.
We enjoyed our lunch at Zest Szechuan; although we often eat
mainstream Chinese food in our hometown, we do not often have the opportunity
to try Sichuan cuisine.
