Sink your teeth into fresh, flavorful, and flair-filled food at New World Makati Hotel’s upscale Chinese restaurant

Jasmine, the premium Chinese restaurant at New World Makati Hotel, invites diners to a most memorable culinary affair. Having dined there before and being every bit blown away by the all-around excellence, I was more than excited to sample the additions to the à la carte menu, crafted by Executive Chinese Chef Brandon Ng. This menu showcases the rich flavors and artistry of Chinese cuisine, heavy on fresh veggies and the bounty of the sea—and as someone whose diet is primarily plant-based with the occasional seafood indulgence, I was eager to explore the innovative dishes.

Embracing your inner Chinese chic

Before we get to the hunger-inducing heart of the matter, let’s talk about ambiance; because at Jasmine, good taste (pun most definitely intended!) begins as soon as you walk through the restaurant’s grand entryway.

Jasmine is like your super chic Chinese auntie who has an intrinsic knack for design and an undeniable passion for fashion. The ambiance exudes refined elegance and understated luxury, marked by a vibrant Chinese Art Deco aesthetic. Ambient lighting and warm tones create an inviting atmosphere reminiscent of a contemporary Imperial Palace. Large windows with decorative wooden muntins allow natural light to filter in, framing lush greenery from the hotel’s pocket gardens and enhancing the dining experience. Intimate booths with tapestry-covered banquettes flank the classy main dining area, providing cozy seating and lending a touch of romance. Private dining rooms, aptly named for flowers, offer exclusivity for special occasions.

The combination of stylish elegance and comfort certainly creates the perfect setting for memorable meals. Jasmine is easily the go-to for “no-reason” gastronomic gratification and for special occasion epicurean celebrations, alike.

Conducting culinary compositions

Our feast unfolded in one of the private rooms, as we sampled 14 sumptuous selections from the new menu. With over 30 dishes—ranging from appetizers, dim sum, and soups, to seafood, barbecue, vegetarian options, and desserts—the exciting lineup is available for both lunch and dinner, making for truly satisfying meal options. Boasting bright and balanced flavors, super nuanced in taste profiles, each new dish discloses Chef Brandon’s masterful touch. After all, anyone can drown a dish in dressings. But it takes true culinary talent to know when to hold back on the spices and seasonings and allow the ingredients to shine through. Of course, that is assuming your ingredients are prime, to begin with—a given, at Jasmine.

“This new menu is inspired and motivated by our guest feedback, as well as the cooking techniques that we apply and the ingredients that we use. We support local, farmers, and we use local ingredients, fruits, and also seafood items whenever we can,” Chef Brandon shared, taking time out from the hum and hubbub of the kitchen to answer our questions, over lunch.

The new menu likewise features a marvelous medley of both classic Cantonese and sassy Sichuan cuisines, which harmonize beautifully. With the skill of a Maestro, Chef Brandon seamlessly conducts the flavor notes, profiles, and palates that go into crave-worthy culinary compositions.

“Basically, in this new menu, we have incorporated some Sichuan cooking techniques to the traditional Cantonese style we do here at Jasmine. The new dishes are more harmonious and balanced. So, guests have a choice to taste some of the classics and enjoy the authenticity of the cuisine, as well as some of the more exotic dishes with more of a flavorful touch. A perfect example of this is the pampano, with the Yu Xiang sauce we have created. The fish is cooked more traditionally, but the sauce adds a Sichuan touch. Another good example would be the poached chicken, with the Sichuan chili vinaigrette,” Chef Brandon pointed out.

Savoring bright and balanced flavors

While I passed on the meat dishes, there was more than enough to make for a thoroughly satiating lunch; one I fully savored. The Crabmeat and Spinach Dumpling offered a delightful balance of palate-pleasing flavors with every bite, but the Scallops, Prawns, and Black Caviar Dumpling stole the show, with the black caviar adding lusciousness to the flavor-rich seafood dumplings. The Assorted Mushrooms and Truffle Dumpling proved phenomenal, as well, bursting with earthy truffle notes melded with the savoriness of the assorted mushrooms.

In the soup category, the bold and heartwarming Hot & Sour Seafood Soup captured the essence of Sichuan flavors, with the natural sweetness of the shredded crab and corn delectably complementing the soup’s spicy and tangy profile. I also enjoyed the Fried Shrimps with Crispy Chili Garlic, a must-try cooked ‘Bi Feng Tang’ style, super tasty and cooked to crisp perfection. As for seafood, though, the Deep-Fried Pomfret in Garlic Chili ‘Yu Xiang’ Sauce was the winner; a simply irresistible dish of flaky, succulent fish, perfectly paired with a zesty chili garlic sauce for a mouthwatering contrast that had me craving more…and more…and more! Lastly, I couldn’t get enough of the super umami Stir-Fried Lotus Roots with Black Fungus and Assorted Vegetables, with its lovely textures, just-right crunch, incredible freshness, and subtle, spot-on seasoning.

Of course, the delectable desserts brought the meal to a fantastic finish. The Creamy Taro and Glutinous Rice Dumpling with Pandan and Coconut was a highlight, featuring a soft, chewy texture and fragrant essence. Meanwhile, not to be outdone, the Chilled Cream Milk Pudding with Avocado Ice Cream offered a refreshing, silky finish, leaving a gentle sweetness and lush mouthfeel that lingered beyond the last teaspoonful.

Celebrating and innovating culinary heritage

If you’re a Jasmine regular, you’ll also be pleased to know that all the favorites and bestsellers are still on the full menu—about 100 dishes, total. But please, don’t deny yourself the captivating culinary symphony that comprises the new offerings.

“We have maintained our old menu dishes, of course, which are our guests’ favorites and the bestsellers. But the core reason of this new menu we created is so guests can try some new flavors and new options; dishes with more of a spicy, tangy, savory punch. The combinations are more harmonized, and also more colorful. We also introduce new plating styles, to enhance the overall ambience and concept of Jasmine. So all this comes in, the creative and innovative touches, so that our customers have a good dining experience,” Chef Brandon noted.

Jasmine’s new menu is a celebration of Chinese culinary heritage infused with modern creativity. The restaurant’s chic ambiance, thoughtful design, exquisite food, and efficient, hospitable service make for the whole palatable package—definitely a dining destination worth returning to. Each visit promises delight not only for aficionados of fine Chinese food, but for anyone looking to enjoy top-quality meals that fuse flavor and flair, fabulously. Surely a feast not to be missed!

For reservations or more information, guests can contact +63 2 88116888 ext. 3679 and +63 917 8884194 or visit www.manila.newworldhotels.com/en. 

#expatphilippines
#expatph
#NewWorldMakatiHotel
#JasmineRestaurant
#jasmineatnewworld
#chinesefood