Millwater Asian Corner

46 millwaterasiancorner

More than Dim Sum and Yum Cha

I have known Joanna since Canton Flavour opened in old Silverdale more than 3 years ago; there is no other place you can find such authentic and delicious Cantonese food. Excitingly, last month they opened their second restaurant in Orewa beach front – I just can’t wait to spread this good news!

Joanna and her brother Raymond came to New Zealand more than 20 years ago. Raymond, who lives in Millwater, was an apprentice dim sum chef and worked his way up to becoming head chef of the restaurant. He also prides himself with the skill of roasting authentic Canton-style BBQ, such as roast duck and pork.

Joanna admitted that it was very risky to open the Silverdale shop three years ago, when Millwater was still ‘young’ and there weren’t many people in the area. But where there is risk, there is opportunity; after all the hard work they have earned themselves a good name and now have the opportunity to open a second restaurant.

Joanna always wants Canton Flavour to be more than just a Chinese restaurant; she sees it as a bridge to introduce Chinese culture to the Kiwis. One example is every Chinese New Year they invited “lion dance” to perform to the public in Silverdale.

In the new restaurant, she even goes a step further. Not only has she engaged a Chinese interior designer, but also spent 2 weeks in China hand-picking furniture, light fittings and ornaments, then shipping to Auckland in a container. I am sure that, once you step into it, you will feel how much efforts she has put in, to express Chinese culture throughout the restaurant.

Joanna has also injected some new ideas into the new restaurant. Not only will you find all day yum cha (which means you can see staff bringing out dim sum at dinner time); also, a covered outdoor waiting area is allocated for takeaway orders and collections (imagine it like a ‘walk-through’ takeaway). This is going to be a very nice facility for beach-goers and it will be available in a few months’ time.

I am impressed how Joanna looks after their staff, since many of them are oversea students who have no family around. Joanna helps them to get though hard times in life. “We are there on the scene when they have a car crash; there to listen to them when they need someone to talk to; we are like their extended family in New Zealand.” How lovely!

The Orewa restaurant officially opened on 13 August. I am sure you will be glad to have them in our neighbourhood.

Nita Wong Millwater resident

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