By Miao Qing (Shanghai Star)
Updated: 2006-04-11 09:40

Can diners really be confident about their safety when eating sashimi in Shanghai restaurants serving seafood? I am afraid not. As many Chinese doctors have warned, some sashimi endangers health due to parasites. I have become somewhat hesitant about ordering any dish which might contain sashimi.

Such worries are reasonable, I believe. But when I see a chef preparing a fish, seemingly so fresh it is still moving a bit on the spot, I am inclined to change my mind and enjoy as much sashimi as I can.

This was the case recently in the Hua Ting Hotel. Its newly renovated Garden Court offers a Norwegian salmon menu through April 30, which includes up to 30 fresh dishes made with the popular fish.

The salmon served there usually arrives two days after being caught and eviscerated in Norway. The fish is big, fresh and clean. After giving an introduction to Norwegian salmon, Chef Feng Xiaolong showed how he prepared the salmon dishes in the dining room.

The meat of the salmon appeared especially thick and orange- red as the chef cut open the body. Feng skillfully scraped the interior meat back and forth with a knife and picked out several bones hidden inside. Then he cut one half of the salmon into several big pieces and peeled away their thin skin.

The salmon's abdomen is usually the best part for sashimi, Feng said. The sashimi fillet he made was much thicker than usual, as he said such servings better preserved the authentic taste of the salmon meat.

The Norwegian salmon tasted good. The sashimi was thick, fresh, very tender and appetizing when accompanied by mustard and soy sauce mixture.

The other dishes made from salmon included sushi, salads and smoked salmon fillets.

Buffet lunch 148 yuan (US$18) plus 15 per cent surcharge per person

Buffet dinner 198 yuan (US$24) plus 15 per cent surcharge per person

Garden Court
Location: 1F Hua Ting Hotel & Tower, 1200 West Caoxi Road

Tel: 6439-1000 ext 3010, or email to F&B@huating-hotel.com for reservation