Saturday, September 17, 2016

Authentic Cantonese Flavors with an Elegant Spin at Crystal Dragon

Have a taste of premium Cantonese and regional Chinese specialties in an elegant setting at the heart of City of Dreams...


Crystal Dragon at City of Dreams' Crown Towers takes authentic Cantonese cuisine to new heights for a memorable and elegant dining experience. Take a peek at one of City of Dreams' true gems...

Located within the expansive 6.2 hectare entertainment complex at City of Dreams, Crystal Dragon at the upper ground floor of Crown Towers offers authentic Cantonese cuisine in an elegant setting, matched with impeccable service. And definitely one of the metro's best destinations for Cantonese fine dining. 

Inside Crystal Dragon, traditional and contemporary themes blend in an elegant fusion, the perfect setting for their signature dishes. At the private rooms, each table features an elegant and ornate crystal centerpiece reflecting the inspiration behind its name. A warm smile by Crystal Dragon's courteous staff starts your experience...

City of Dreams' Executive Chef for Chinese Cuisine, Bong Jun Choi (R), brings with him 39 years of culinary experience, a journey that began at the tender age of 15 working at his father's dim sum stall in Malaysia, followed by impressive stints in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Macau's fine dining establishments...


...where he garnered numerous culinary awards along the way. In fact, many of the metro's top Chinese chefs have all mentored under Executive Chef Bong Jun Choi, a clear indication of his masterful expertise. And Executive Chef Bong Jun Choi showcased his culinary prowess with the first course, the Cantonese Steamed Three Dim Sum Combination, an intricate selection of their exquisite dim sum with (clockwise from left) Steamed Crystal Prawn Dumpling, Steamed Crab Meat and Abalone in Squid Ink Dumpling, and Steamed Scallop and Mushrooms with Spinach Dumpling. The vibrant colors are a visual cue to the rich and inventive yet traditional flavors of Crystal Dragon's signature dim sum selection.


At the table, diners are served a trio of dipping sauces to pair with the dim sum and the rest of the courses, from tart to sweet and sour and spicy.

The Crystal Prawn Dumpling delivers fresh and clean notes, with the briny sweetness of the prawns bursting in your mouth with a snap in every bite. The Crab Meat and Abalone in Squid Ink Dumpling has a distinct nutty sweetness that's different yet familiar, while the Spinach Dumpling with scallop and mushrooms delivers a subtle richness.


After a satisfying and tasty first course of dim sum, Executive Chef Bong Jun Choi then served a bowl of his comforting Braised Supreme Sea Treasure Broth with Fish Roe, a thick and tart broth loaded with thin and succulent slices of seafood and vegetables. Slow cooked, the subtle and delicate notes of the various seafood combine well with the mild sweetness of the vegetables capped by the light sour hint of the rich broth for balanced flavors.


Executive Chef Bong Jun Choi continued to impress with the third course, the elegantly plated Wok-Fried Tiger Prawn, Asparagus with Creamy Butter, pure and bold flavors perfectly executed. The brightly colored butter sauce adds a layer of creamy richness to the clean notes of the tiger prawn for a light and tasty third course. Executive Chef Bong Jun Choi's reinterpretation of traditional Cantonese cuisine offers diners a a new and refreshing taste of familiar flavors, presented with a graceful and elegant style.


Executive Chef Bong Jun Choi then served his Braised Fine Pork Ribs with Kaur boa in Mongolian Sauce, another tasty and flavorful course with tender and juicy pork capped with a light crispness with its rich notes tempered by the tart pickled vegetables, perfectly complemented by the creamy and mildly sharp Mongolian Sauce. The soft mantou-like bread completes the dish.


For the final course, Executive Chef Bong Jun Choi presented his Hand-Pulled Noodles with Shredded US Farmed Duck...


...with tender slices of succulent and savory duck on soft yet firm hand-pulled noodles. Each noodle is draped by the sweet sauce with a layer of soothing heat from the chili, capped by the distinct richness of the tender and juicy duck.


Our dining experience at Crystal Dragon is capped by the indulgent Chilled Sweetened Mango Sphere Coconut Mousse, with the velvety smooth coconut mousse contrasting with the sweetness of the mango...


...followed by a tasty preview of Crystal Dragon's seasonal mooncake offerings, with White Bean Pandan, Red Bean Chocolate, and Custard Strawberry Mooncake for the mid-Autumn festival. From intricate dim sum creations to mains and desserts, Crystal Dragon recreates authentic Cantonese flavors with a modern and elegant spin. And Executive Chef Bong Jun Choi has even more flavorful surprises with his new culinary creations...at Crystal Dragon.

Crystal Dragon is located at the Upper Ground Floor of Crown Towers Manila, Tower 1, City of Dreams Manila, Aseana Boulevard corner Macapagal Avenue, Entertainment City, Paranaque City or call 691-7772 or 800-8080 for more information.

Dude for Food is now on Facebook and Instagram, check out the FB Page and IG Feed for regular updates on good eats. Better yet, click "Like" and "Follow" and enjoy the ride...just look for the FB and IG widgets on the right sidebar.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Got something to share? I'd love to hear from you...