Yum Cha is all about bonding with family and friends

Dimsum lovers agree that xiao long bao is probably the most challenging but fun dumpling to eat as this soup-in-a-dimsum treat must not be eaten immediately after it’s served  — the broth inside is too hot and might scald your palate — yet one shouldn’t wait too long either as the broth will congeal.

New World Hotel’s Jasmine restaurant executive Chinese chef Wong Kam On reminds diners of the right way to best enjoy this gem of a dimsum.

“Using your chopsticks, pick a piece from the basket, then transfer the dimsum to a soup spoon with black vinegar,” chef Wong instructs. “Then count from one to five before taking a tiny bite into the wrapping as it takes five seconds to cool down the ‘soup’ inside. Now that it’s warm, sip the flavorful liquid that oozes out of the tiny hole.”

And if  the mark of a good xiao long bao is that it doesn’t break upon lifting the morsel with your chopsticks, then chef Wong passes the test with flying colors.

Not only that, the thickness of the “skin,” the flavor of the meat, and the richness of the stock come into play in chef Wong’s xiao long bao.

The amiable chef upholds Chinese cuisine by maintaining traditional cooking techniques and ingredients, giving guests an authentic oriental dining experience at Jasmine.

“Good dimsum dishes are made with clear translucent pastry to allow the diners to see the ingredients inside. This entails using quality ingredients, the right cooking techniques, and the chef’s attention to detail,” notes chef Wong.

Let’s do Yum Cha

Xiao long bao is just one of the many delectable dimsum treats we sampled recently at Jasmine restaurant, which offers unlimited yum cha for lunch for P795+ to P950+ per (includes a glass of soft beverage and a glass of champagne, respectively).

Yum cha is a Cantonese term which means “drinking tea.” It refers to the custom of eating small servings of different food items while sipping Chinese tea.

In typical Chinese restaurants, the dimsum is usually wheeled around in trolleys. At Jasmine, diners are presented with a yum cha menu divided into six categories: Steamed (shao mai, xiao long bao, har gao, bean curd roll, superior soup, assorted veggie dumpling, mashed lotus buns, steamed shrimp spinach dumplings, spare rib taosi, minced beef balls, glutinous rice roll and pork buns); Baked and Fried (barbecued pork pastry, Wagyu beef mango roll, sweet coconut cake, pan-fried radish cake, seafood taro puff, shrimp cheese spring roll, wanton in sweet and sour sauce and shrimp bean curd roll); Sweet (glutinous dumpling, deep-fried sesame ball, hot red bean cream, thousand layered coffee jelly); Congee (chicken and pork); Soup (corn, minced chicken and hot & sour); and Noodle (braised e-fu noodles).

For first-time yum cha diners, it’s best to order a few dimsums at a time. Start with the steamed variety.

“Steamed dimsum is lighter, enough to tease your palate. If you start with the fried stuff right away, too much oil will block/numb your taste buds,” advises New World Hotel F&B director Paawan Engineer who relishes the har gao (shrimp dumpling) not with hot tea, but with a glass of ice-cold beer.

I personally love the spinach dumpling, which is stuffed with healthy green veggie, shrimp, and minced meat. It’s delish and quite filling. Vegetarian diners can enjoy this dish minus the shrimp and the meat. Just inform the waitstaff before ordering.

Jasmine has long established its reputation for offering exceptional Chinese dishes in a traditional Chinese setting. The resto’s Chinese art deco interiors and warm ambience set the mood for a superb dining experience. The main dining area can seat around 100 persons, while those on a romantic date can opt to be seated in the cozy booths. Jasmine also features four private dining rooms for corporate functions or intimate family gatherings.

“Yum cha is an integral part of the culinary culture of southern China, Hong Kong, and Macau,” explains Paawan, who is happily married to a Chinese national. “But more than just enjoying good dimsum, yum cha is all about bonding with family and friends.”

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New World Hotel is on Esperanza St. corner Makati Ave., Ayala Center, Makati City.

For reservations, call 811-6888 or visit www.newworldhotels.com.