Hunter & Rou

I have been to Hunter&Rou Private Kitchen. It was recommended to me by Qiqi. She has been in Dali for more than ten years and is very familiar with the customized dishes of various restaurants. She also has a local perspective. The general restaurants that fool tourists cannot escape her criticism. At that time, she said: The price is not cheap, but I feel it is worth it after eating.

Xiao Jing and I went with our dog. We originally considered not bringing it into the yard, as it would cause a disturbance. Rou was very enthusiastic and said, "If it doesn't make a fuss, bring it in. It would be sad for them to be in the car." Their family originally liked dogs very much, and they had cats and dogs at home. ​

I am not an expert in catering, but I feel that this family courtyard restaurant is great, from the food to the environment, the details of the furnishings, the atmosphere of the courtyard, and the personality and temperament of the owner. It is comfortable to dine in the courtyard, and the owner also grows microgreens himself, which not only allows for fresh ingredients, but also has a sense of life.

I visited them again later, and it was lunch time. Hunter was busy in the kitchen, and Rou was introducing the dishes. He came to chat with me during the break. After lunch, Hunter also came over and talked about life here, dogs and cats. They are an interesting family. They also had a lot of experience, from working in a big hotel, opening a restaurant in the city, to moving to Dali for a new life.

Excerpts from my daily records on 2024.10.05 :

I took the power bank. Next to his house is Hunter&Rou Private Kitchen. My van was parked in front of his house. Both buildings are traditional courtyard buildings. I came here for dinner a while ago and had a good impression, so I wanted to say hello before leaving. It was almost twelve o'clock, which was the time for lunch. I could also hear the voices of customers inside. I pushed open the door to the courtyard and saw Rou preparing the meal. Hunter was busy in the kitchen. I greeted Rou and told her that I just happened to pass by. She was very happy and asked me to come in and sit for a while. Because I knew she was not being polite, I did not refuse and sat down at the table in the courtyard. The table was under a green shelf, with several clean light blue curtains hanging around it. On one side was a multi-layer shelf with microgreens.

Hunter was busy in the kitchen, while Rou took the time to come over and chat between dishes. In the end, I sat there until the guests left, and then stayed for a while. Hunter works as a Western chef in a high-end hotel, and Rou works in management. Because of various connections, they came to Dali to live and became neighbors. Probably like many people who moved to Dali from the city, they were tired and wanted to change their lifestyle. Hunter said, "It was okay in the first six months, but later I felt bored with nothing to do." He started by entertaining guests, friends, and netizens, and gradually started to be a private chef. Rou said, "If it is used as a restaurant standard, I am not very satisfied with it myself." "Maybe if it is completely in accordance with the standards of high-end restaurants, it will probably lack the atmosphere of life. I like the way your home is now, which has more of your own characteristics."

The restaurant has been running for more than a year and is very popular. When Qiqi introduced it to me, she said, "Although it is not cheap, it is worth it after eating it." This is a high evaluation. It also fits my idea: if conditions permit, such a commercial service should be provided, because everyone hopes that their creation is worth the money. This beautiful courtyard, two people who work hard and have their own characteristics, and professional cooking skills, when combined, have unique value and are a creation. Guests who can appreciate the value of it will feel good.

Not long ago, after the birth of her child, Rou said she was planning to close the restaurant, but then she felt that her child was very well behaved, so she decided to let them have the energy to cook lunch and only stop cooking dinner. Excluding her own schedule, she could cook 15 days a month, which was just the right rhythm.

Hunter and Rou have two dogs. One of them is 18 years old and can walk five or six kilometers in the mountains. Hunter said, "After coming to Dali, it probably feels better and is more likely to live longer."