New World Makati Hotel’s premier Chinese restaurant introduces its expanded menu—and it’s fantastic!
There are many mouthwatering reasons that Chinese food consistently ranks in the Top 10 of the World’s Best Cuisines: it is diverse, delicately-balanced, and downright delicious, to name just three of them. On account of the sheer vastness of China, being one of the largest countries on the globe, there are a dizzying number of cuisines, by region and province, with eight main culinary traditions. Specific cooking techniques and ingredients are complex and nuanced, from locale to locale. But the two most well-known types are Cantonese and Szechuan, with the former being the most popular, worldwide, for its subtle spice spectrum and its taste-laden tantalizing textures. Moreover, Cantonese cusine, which has its origins in Guandong Province, incoporates a lot of fresh vegetables and seafood (owing to Guandong’s proximity to the water) in its dishes, making for a hearty and healthful dining experince.
New World Makati Hotel‘s premier Chinese restaurant, Jasmine, is well-acquainted with all those reasons. The classic Cantonese restaurant has been setting the sumptuous standard and delighting diners for decades.
An elegant, elevated dining experience
“The core culinary concept of Jasmine Restaurant at the New World Makati Hotel is to offer premium and authentic Chinese cuisine, with a focus on Cantonese dim sum and barbecue delicacies. The restaurant’s interior is a showcase of Chinese Art Deco, and the menu features dishes that are prepared using only the finest and freshest ingredients,” shares Lionel Kurtz, Executive Assistant Manager of Food and Beverage at New World Makati Hotel.
As soon as you walk through Jasmine’s large entryway, you already know you’re in for a grand gastronomic experience. It is an exacting measure of excellence you encounter, from the get-go, with the ambience leading the way. The restaurant emanates effortless elegance; the kind that defines true luxury. Its subtle yet sassy Chinese Art Deco aesthetic, ambient lighting, rich tones, and super tastefully-put-together interiors evoke the lush and leisurely feel of a contemporary imperial palace. The spacious main dining room is well-appointed and finished in a warm palette of rich rust hues and earth tones. Among my favorite features are the large windows with decorative wooden muntins that frame the room—not only because they provide a glimpse of the greenery outside, but also because they allow natural light to filter into the area. Plush, tapestry-covered wooden banquettes run alongside the windows, in booths that flank the main dining floor. Overhead, a two-toned drop ceiling makes for clean yet interesting lines, with intricate glass-and-wood accents on the posts and lintels of each recessed booth. Cozy tables and chairs in the same dark wood design scheme offer more than ample seating in the main service space.
Guests who prefer a more intimate and exclusive experience also have the option of booking one of Jasmine’s private dining rooms named after flowers, as well—for their special functions.
Thirty new offerings that brim with delight
While Jasmine has gained widespread popularity for its yum cha (all-you-can-eat dim sum) promotion, which they offer for lunch and dinner on select days of the week, their ala carte offerings are equally satisfying. Kurtz explains: “Our team has mastered the preparation and presentation of each of our signature dishes. You can expect with each visit that, in addition to the selection of classic dishes that are consistent and cater to both the local affluent Chinese-Filipino market who are our loyal patrons for decades, as well as the international guests we serve daily, there are other dishes that are just as noteworthy.”
Having been on a limited menu for a time, during the pandemic, Jasmine is back with a much-awaited belly-busting bang. The new menu showcases 30 additional dishes, an auspicious number to commemorate the hotel’s milestone anniversary, next year. Jasmine’s latest ala carte additions complement the restaurants’ beloved bestsellers, for an expanded menu that brims with delight, in every bite.
“We believe that it is the perfect time to expand our a la carte selections, as we are back to pre-pandemic levels. When we were slowly opening up mid-2021 and learning about the evolving landscape while there was a pandemic, we primarily offered all-you-can-eat dim sum as this resonated well with our diners. More than two years later, our loyal patrons are seeking new dishes to try so they can look forward to having more options whenever they visit,” Kurtz says.
Fresh and flavorful palate-pleasers
The expanded menu features delectable dishes that are heavy on seafood and veggies, as well as an array of creatively concocted tea-infused Chinese cocktails that pair well with the dishes.
To start, there’s the must-try Deep-Fried Stuffed Crab Claws, a truly indulgent appetizer of shredded crab meat, cloaked in perfectly crisp panko batter. Foodie favorite starters also include the interesting combo of Soft Shell Crab with Mango Salsa and Sweet Chili in Bao Bun, deep fried, lightly battered softshell crab swathed in sweet and tangy salsa with a hint of spice, served in a doughy bun; and oh-so scrumptious Crispy Shrimp Balls with Cheese, finely minced seafood with velvety melted cheese at the core of each golden-crisp panko-battered ball. Fair warning, while these are meant to be appetizers, they are all really rather heavy and could serve as small meals, on their own (I’d honestly be happy having any of the appetizer as a main, with how hearty and heavy they all are!).
For the main courses, the Scallops with Broccoli and XO Sauce is a winner for its succulent scallop medallions and super fresh steamed broccoli flowers, topped with sautéed shimeji mushrooms and red capsicum, best paired with a steaming hot bowl of super flavorful Seafood Fried Rice with Conpoy, Egg White, and Pine Nuts.
If you, like me, prefer your meals with a variety of textures, the Deep-Fried Crispy Golden Enoki and Shiitake Mushrooms, irresistible in crunch and flavor (seasoned with five-spice), satisfies that preference. Not to be outdone by the other veggie dishes, the Crispy Stuffed Eggplant with Sweet Spicy Sauce comes in strong with its umami-rich flavor and comforting texture; crispy on the outside, chewy and juicy on the inside. While I am not a meat-eater, the carnivores at the table enjoyed the Deep-Fried Spare Ribs with “Chan Kong Thye” Vinegar Sauce, a customary way of cooking ribs, Chinese-style, with a base of black vinegar.
To end the meal, Jasmine’s bestselling Mango Pudding with cream is a must, especially for the delicately delicious sesame seed roll atop it.
As for the tea-based cocktails, my favorite on the menu is called Jasmine Bloom, a sophisticated brew of Christian Drouin gin, Mancino Bianco vermouth, jasmine tea, lime juice, egg white, and honey. Tantalizing in taste with a mellow yet mean kick; just the way I like my mixed drinks!
Whether you go with the restaurant’s popular yum cha offering, stick with a beloved bestseller, or opt to try one of the tantalizing new tastes on the expanded menu, you’ve made the right choice, at every turn. The food at Jasmine is always fresh and flavorful, natural and nuanced in palate-pleasing profiles, with the authenticity of everything you love about Cantonese cuisine, done right.
Jasmine Restaurant is located at Level 2, New World Makati Hotel, Esperanza Street corner Makati Avenue, Ayala Center, Makati City. Contact them at 63 2 8811 6888 or via the hotel’s Facebook page.
Photos courtesy of New World Makati Hotel.
