Alderley Edge has always had a lovely food scene but that has really ramped up over the last few years. I thoroughly enjoyed Yu last year and The Botanist later on and I have some great Alderley Edge content coming next week too, with the opening of Les Deux. For today, it is all about Parea.
Parea is a Pan Asian restaurant opened by footballer Emile Heskey’s wife Chantelle with friends James Golden and Peter Hunt. The outside has a terrace, which will be lovely in summer with fairy lights and beautiful white washed planters around to give that sense of privacy, despite being on the main street. Inside there are fairy lights adorning the windows and palm leaf wallpaper that is echoed through to the cushions and the plants positioned around the bar. The low light is complimented with candles and it screams luxury throughout the place with a lovely, welcoming atmosphere.
I was invited to Parea as part of an influencer evening so we shared a lot of dishes, meaning I got to try lots of things without having to order the full portions. It also means I can report back to you guys on what you should order.
The Gyoza have a lovely moist filling, which isn’t something you usually come across as they can be incredibly dry. The Crispy Chicken Wings are also excellent with a well seasoned crispy coating and soft chicken inside. I usually swerve the chicken wings as I am not the biggest fan of chicken on the bone but these ones, I would definitely order.
The Salmon and Tuna Tacos are one of my favourite dishes. Crunchy taco shells are lined with avocado and chilli before being topped with raw salmon and tuna, then topped with caviar. The fish is super fresh, which you absolutely expect from raw fish, but here is melts in the mouth without that weird ‘fishy’ taste. The caviar pops in the mouth to add a little texture and a lovely rich flavour that takes the tacos to a new level.
I also enjoyed the Pork and Prawn Dumplings although I will say, they were no different to others I’ve tried in other restaurants. I guess it is a difficult dish to get wrong, or I’ve never tried bad ones. Either way, it certainly isn’t a bad thing.
I am an absolutely a sucker for Edamame Beans but the spicy version from Parea are something else. Instead of usual chilli and salt seasoning, they are drizzled with a sticky chilli dressing for a kick of heat as the beans pop open in your mouth. They are delicious and we made short work of the bowl presented to us.
Perfect for a night with the girls is the impressive gin cocktail tree that arrives adorned with flower garlands and huge sparklers. It is a real conversation piece and we enjoyed pink gin, tonic and grenadine.
The Glazed Salmon is lovely and tender, whilst the Teriyaki Beef is high on my ‘to eat again’ list with a sticky savoury sauce and soft beef strips. The Katsu Chicken is not something I would normally order but the sauce here is richer and less ‘curried’ than other versions I have tried. I appreciate that is not a word but it tastes a lot more authentic and fragrant than ‘chip shop’, how previous chain versions usually taste. In fact, I would highly recommend dunking the fabulous salt and pepper chips into it, it’s an absolute game changer as Richard discovered on the night!
I had a lovely evening being introduced to the menu at Parea and I can’t wait to head back in summer when I can sip cocktails on the terrace and watch the Cheshire elite go about their daily business. People watching is exactly what the terrace is screaming out for and a plate of edamame beans is certainly on the cards. See you there?
Parea, 34 London Road, Alderley Edge, Cheshire, SK9 7DZ
I was invited to dine at Parea as a guest of GO PR and was not asked to pay.
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