I WOULD like to say I’ve trekked the world in pursuit of the perfect Chinese beef curry.

But, in reality my search for that type of food heaven has only stretched as far as Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

So I was interested to see how I would get on in the Shining Pearl restaurant in Peterhead.

The Marischal Street eatery serves an exotic variety of Thai and Chinese food to sit down with or to take away.

So, I was disappointed to discover an absence of my first choice of dish on the restaurant menu.

But I was saved when I plucked up the courage to ask if they could rustle me up some curried beef and boiled rice.

This was no problem to the friendly and efficient waiting staff at the restaurant, which has a great atmosphere and beautiful decor.

Before I got my fangs into my favourite dish I was treated to a gorgeous starter of coral king prawns (£4.80). The soft and succulent seafood, served with a sumptuous wee bowl of sweet chilli sauce almost melted in my mouth.

My mate Jenny’s honey chicken starter (£4.60), served in little pastry parcels and coated in almonds, also tasted out of this world. And her main, duck cha an (£8.20), a splendid dish of tender duck with a seasoned sauce, served with egg fried rice (£1.80), was cooked to perfection.

So far, so good, I thought – but the real test was yet to come.

My philosophy when it comes to curried beef is that the darker the sauce, the better. So I had high hopes when I saw a startling contrast between the curry (£6.80) and the pure white boiled rice (£1.50) I had ordered.

But the proof of the pudding – or curry – is in the eating.

I was on tenterhooks as I lifted the fork to my mouth.

And as I took my first bite, I gasped with delight – a bit like Meg Ryan in the movie When Harry Met Sally.

Of course, I’m exaggerating.

But, if you see a customer tucking into a bit of curried beef at the Shining Pearl, nod at them when the waiter arrives and say: “I’ll have what he’s having”.

Bear in mind that I’m pretty difficult to satisfy, and although it’s not the perfect beef curry in my eyes, it came pretty close.