Grey skies and the pouring rain always triggers a craving, an involuntary reaction that automatically leads you to one place. It's time for some soup dumplings at Paradise Dynasty...
That soft and delicate bite followed by a palate draping and warm flavorful burst of savory richness, there's just nothing quite like it. The famed "little basket bun" or Xiao Long Bao remains an iconic enduring staple in Chinese cuisine and one place always serves the perfect steamer of indulgent meticulously handcrafted bites. Read on and join me at Paradise Dynasty...
The intricate steps behind each fresh batch of dumplings starting from the freshest ingredients to the tedious handmade preparation and finally the steaming process becomes an elaborate choreographed performance...
...seen from the glass enclosed kitchens of Paradise Dynasty for an insightful peek at a culinary tradition. At the new Greenbelt 5 location of Paradise Dynasty, you can witness the entire process as you wait to be seated (for more on Paradise Dynasty and their fourth and newest location at Greenbelt 5, see my post Noodles, Dim Sum and More at Paradise Dynasty in Greenbelt 5 from early this year).
As your order of Xiao Long Bao is steamed, start with the refreshing Jellyfish and Seafood in Vinaigrette (P 498) for clean and pure flavors with its bold briny sweetness. The bountiful medley of the day's succulent catch in a bowl opens up the palate with its rich yet delicate notes complemented by the sharp finish of the vinaigrette.
Then, your Specialty Dynasty Xiao Long Bao (P 488) with eight flavors is served. Paradise Dynasty infuses creativity and tradition in one elaborate steamer of pure and fresh flavors with eight unique renditions. Before you dive right in, there's a recommended sequence to properly enjoy each variant. And only recently did I appreciate this, experiencing the subtle and nuanced notes of each specialty dumpling with the right sequence. And trust me, it does make sense.
Start with the Original Xiao Long Bao with the traditional pork soup filling wrapped in a thin and soft yet mildly firm sheet of flour dough. Paper thin with a melt-in-your-mouth finish, the delicate pliable wrappers are intricately crimped and pleated to seal in the pork filling and broth. The subtle richness of the pork then lingers on the palate after that first bite. From the dough to the filling, Paradise Dynasty's traditional rendition has to be one of the metro's best examples of Xiao Long Bao.
Next, the Foie Gras Xiao Long Bao brings a more decadent layer of flavor with its silky smooth buttery and creamy notes for an elevated take on the traditional soup dumpling...
...while the Black Truffle Xiao Long Bao builds on the richness of the previous variant with its more defined and nutty, earthy flavors and a lingering flavorful depth.
The Cheese Xiao Long Bao may not be your traditional soup dumpling but its unique notes and creamy finish just works for a refreshing alternative to the usual. Who doesn't love cheese, right?
The Crab Roe Xiao Long Bao with its indulgent briny notes has to be at the top of the list. Succulent, rich and decadently savory with unrestrained flavors, the Crab Roe Xiao Long Bao has to be one of the most creative soup dumpling creations yet from Paradise Dynasty. And if you follow the prescribed sequence, you can enjoy each variant at its optimal flavor as succeeding renditions bring bolder upfront notes.
The deep nutty hints of garlic becomes the dominant feature of the Black Garlic Xiao Long Bao, setting up the palate for the next variant...
...the spicy Szechuan Xiao Long Bao with just enough heat to temper the savory richness.
And finally, the Korean Kimchi Xiao Long Bao completes your soup dumpling experience with its sharp yet clean notes. The progression of flavors builds layers of richness while allowing you to enjoy each distinct variant. Then again, you may follow your own rules and change up the order but I suggest you try the proper sequence. That means getting your own steamer of the Specialty Dynasty Xiao Long Bao. And that's not a bad idea at all.
More dumplings? The Prawn and Pork Dumpling (P 688) hits the spot...
...topped with crisp garlic and slathered in chili oil that's perfect for the rainy day.
And don't pass up on the noodles. After all, there's just nothing quite like noods on a rainy day.
The La Mian with Prawn Pork Dumpling in Hot Chili Vinaigrette (P 430) at Paradise Dynasty is a dry noodle dish packed with bold flavors to brighten up any cloudy day. Soft yet firm hand-pulled noods topped with succulent prawn pork dumplings draped in spicy chili oil? Yes, please...
When rainy days get you down, change it with a fresh steamer of the Specialty Dynasty Xiao Long Bao with eight flavorful variants. And some more dumplings. And noods too. At Paradise Dynasty...
Paradise Dynasty is located at Level 3, Greenbelt 5, Greenbelt Drive, Legazpi Village, Makati. You can also visit their FB Page and IG Feed at https://www.facebook.com/paradisedynastyph/ and https://www.instagram.com/paradisedynastyph/ for more information and upates or call 7001 9143 for inquiries and reservations.
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