A feast of authentic Chinese cuisine

"This is authentic Chinese cuisine," Maribi Garcia, PR coordinator of China City, broke into a wide smile as the (of course) cheongsam-clad waitresses laid the feast on the round table. "Everything is authentic, including the ingredients."

As soon as Maribi said, "Bon appetit!," our very hungry (yes, we starved for the dinner date) group launched a relentless attack on the mouth-watering offering, with nobody daring to resume the pre-dinner small talk. "We" included Universal Records lady boss Bella Tan and husband Jack, Dr. Mita Yap, Marian devotee and scriptwriter Baby Nebrida, Ronald Constantino, and brothers Mario and Cesar Hernando (who came late, but mercifully able to partake of the memorable dinner).

China City, which opened only recently, occupies almost the whole third floor of the Pan Pacific Hotel (Adriatico Street, Malate, Manila) and on the night we were there, it was packed full with, like us, hungry people. Occupying a long table in one corner was a group of food-tasters, together with two chefs "imported" from China. Authentic, as I was saying.

Maribi was so proud of China City that she couldn’t wait for us to sample the food. Not being a gourmet (my idea of a good meal is white rice topped with scrambled eggs and sardines with lots of onions, done by the office canteen and gobbled up while doing my column right on my desk), I went by Maribi’s helpful suggestions.

Take these: Hong Kong Crab and Chili Crab which are among the most popular items on the menu, Deep-Fried Fermented Beancurd and Deep-Fried Pigeon, Shanghai Smoked Fish in Honey Sauce, Lobster Baked in Superior Soup, Smoked Vegetable Rolls and four other dishes whose names I could hardly remember (when you’re "full and wonderful," you sometimes lose your memory, don’t you?).

The food itself is heavenly, all right, as all fine-dining fare is expected to be, but the place’s ambience is something else, different from that of any other Chinese restaurant we’ve been to. Glazed glass walling in the entrance welcomes the customer to a huge aquarium (take your pick of the live fish in there). Carpeted floors are matched with multi-colored lamps and giant lighted oriental frames on walls done in pastel color combinations. As you eat, soothing Chinese music, alternating with jazz selections, is piped in.

"You’ll never know what authentic Chinese cuisine is until you try China City," Maribi reminded us again as she asked the ever-smiling waitresses to bring in the desserts (buchi, almond jelly, etc.). "After tonight, you’ll never be the same again."

Slowly getting to be known for its "quality fine dining at the best prices," China City offers 99 delectable – "And creative," added Maribi – dishes too many to enumerate here.

"From the soup to the appetizers to the main courses to the desserts," Maribi continued, "everything is given quality attention by the two main Chinese chefs, one from Hong Kong and the other one from Shanghai. More than 70 percent of the ingredients and spices used are imported (from China and Hong Kong). The managing directors, Jewell and Jackson Go, belong to pure-Chinese families and practically grew up in the food business with experience of more than 25 years."

China City specializes in lauriats and set menus (prices are reasonable), usually good for 12 persons per table, but also offers small, medium and large a la carte orders. Soon, a set lunch/dinner menu will be introduced.

"The place is open seven days a week, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and then from 6 to 10:30 p.m. The clients usually come in groups, pamilya-pamilya," said Maribi.

After wiping the table almost clean, we burped, not so much because Chinese tradition said that you have to as a gesture of appreciation to your host but because the dinner was highly "burpable."

After the feast, Maribi invited us to an upper floor for foot massage, all 10 of us reclining in a neat row. What a royal way of digesting the "authentic Chinese cuisine" we had just lapped up!

(For inquiries about China City, call 522-2333.)