New Asian restaurant Hou Hou Mei set to open in Inverness this weekend
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
OWNERS of the latest restaurant opening in Inverness are looking to bring something new to the Highland capital.
This weekend will see the awaited launch of Hou Hou Mei, a new modern Asian restaurant on Tomnahurich Street, near Tesco.
With bookings for tables on the opening weekend selling out in two hours, the restaurant will welcome the public for the first time on Friday, with a special opening for friends and family taking place on Thursday evening.
Owner Karen Saint (32) said she and her husband Jon-Paul "JP" (34) want to bring something different to the city.
"We wanted to take the traditional dishes and give them a modern approach,"she said. "It's not your traditional Chinese takeaway food, it's more upper class in that. It's something that Inverness hasn't seen before.
"Our idea is to encourage people to share dishes, and for the experience to be more congregational, almost like Asian tapas.
"Even some of our cocktails are classics but with an Asian twist, but we also wanted to have some really good mocktails on our menu."
Mrs Saint has been running her own baking business for eight years and JP brings an experience of 20 years working in hotels and hospitality. Some of his last roles were head chef at Rocpool Reserve and at Bunchrew House.
A fine dining experience mixes with traditional food as Mrs Saint's mother, Julie, has also been an important actor in the takeaway scene in Inverness, as she had Mr Rice for about 21 years, then she moved to Dennis's for the last five years.
Mrs Saint said: "My mother is from Hong Kong and she has been in the takeaway industry in Inverness for more than 40 years. She decided to retire last year and she will be able to look after the kids and we'll be able to do our own thing.
"We actually have a dish on the menu which is our take on a Katsu curry, but it's made with her curry sauce so we called the dish Paw Paw's Curry - which means 'granny's curry'!
About the opening she said: "I am a bit nervous but I am looking forward to giving something different to Inverness."
Hou Hou Mei (which stands for "very yummy") will be open from this weekend at 18 Tomnahurich Street.
For more information on their menu visit houhoumei.co.uk
