Jade Garden: The Country’s First Fine Dining Chinese Restaurant is Back!

One of the restaurants we used to frequent during my childhood is Jade Garden.  Back in those days, digital cameras weren't out in the market yet so it was really cool that they take our photos for free and give them as a complimentary together with a paper photo frame.  I have a lot of those stored somewhere. =))



Aside from being the country’s first fine dining Chinese Restaurant, Jade Garden also specializes in authentic Cantonese cuisine which is hardly evident in the Philippines.  My mom is Fookienese as as such she so don't cook Cantonese Cuisine at home.  So whenver  my Cantonese father would crave for Cantonese cuisine and my little sisters would miss their complimentary snow ball dessert, we would dine there.    

After being gone for nearly a decade, I'm glad that Jade Garden has decided to reopen in a 1000-square meter area in Glorietta 2.  It still has the same fine dining ambiance but with a more modern and lively take.

They also have six spacious private function rooms. 

Food
According to their Restaurant Manager Raymond Ho, "Cantonese cooking is characterized primarily by its freshness. Traditionally, dishes that we serve have a light taste and are not oily.  We make sure our ingredients are of premium quality. If you don’t have good ingredients to start with, you can’t make a good dish."  Cantonese cuisine is also referred to as the "Chiu Chow style" so you'll see that a lot in their menu.

Chiuchow Marinade (Cantonese BBQ)

Roasted Suckling Pig (2,600 php/Half)

Roasted Suckling Pig

For starters we had the Roasted Suckling Pig.  It was sinful but who can resist this!


Soup

♥ Prawns & Dried Scallop with Beancurd Soup (520 php/small)

The Prawns & Dried Scallop with Beancurd Soup is delicious as well.  It was pleasantly mild tasting with comforting texture.

Abalone (Dried Seafood)

Mini Fortune Poon Chai (1,400/Good for 4)

The Mini Fortune Poon Chai is traditionally eaten during Chinese occasions.  The size of the container gets biggers and more ingredients are added as more people are joining the feast.  This one is good for four and contains: Honey Glazed Barbecued Pork, Soy Sauce Marinated Chicken, Black Mushrooms, Brocolli, Fresh Suaje, Sea Cucumber and Beancurd Stick.  You can add 350 php for every additional person.

Mini Fortune Poon Chai

I don't know if its in my blood or the dishes at Jade Garden is really good but every item just seemed to captivate my taste buds!

Seafood

♥ Sauteed Shredded Lapu Lapu with French Beans (Seasonal Price)

The Sauteed Shredded Lapu Lapu with French Beans is an innovative way of enjoying Lapu Lapu!  Yes! I enjoyed this so much I think I'm the one who emptied the platter.

Poultry

♥ Steamed Diced Chicken in Egg White Wraps "Chiu Chow" (720 php/6 pieces)

My favorite among our orders would probably be the Steamed Diced Chicken in Egg White Wraps "Chiu Chow". This requires an order in advance.  You can also order per piece at 120 php.

♥ Steamed Diced Chicken in Egg White Wraps "Chiu Chow"

With the thin egg white wrap are steamed diced chicken, Yunnan ham, black mushrooms, bamboo shoot and singkamas. 

Rice

♥ Fookien Seafood Rice in Abalone Sauce Casserole (520 php/small)

If you're an avid reader, you would probably know that Fookien Fried Rice is my ultimate fried rice favorite.  I can even eat that alone without any viand.  Well, the Fookien Seafood Rice in Abalone Sauce Casserole is an upgraded version of that so you can imagine my glee!

Hot Sweetened Almond Puree with Dumpling

The Hot Sweetened Almond Puree with Dumpling is are dumplings with black bean paste swimming in almond puree.  I liked it very much because it is similar to the peanut dumplings that my family eats every 15th of January in the Chinese Lunar Calendar as a tradition.  I've always enjoyed that and even look forward to it year by year.  My companions were not as ecstatic as me though.


Drinks

Four Seasons (150 php)

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