Hearty Bites and Soothing Sips: Jasmine Unveils New A La Carte Specialties Plus Chinese Cocktails Too...

Known for its traditional and elegant Chinese cuisine, Jasmine at New World Hotel Makati ups the game with the release of new and enticing a la carte specialties including appetizers, dim sum, savory entrees and desserts adding to its long list of customer favorites along with refreshing cocktails in its menu. Lunch and cocktails at Jasmine? Absolutely...

One of the popular menu items at Jasmine has always been the wide selection of dim sum, and the new Truffle Duck Dumpling is as indulgent as it sounds. The savory richness of duck and the deep lingering notes of truffle combine for a double dose of pure and unrestrained indulgence unlike any other dim sum. 

The dim sum menu at Jasmine in New World Makati Hotel is already star-studded with its all-time bestsellers, but the Truffle Duck Dumpling is a welcome addition so add this new item on your list next time you visit (for more on Jasmine at New World Makati Hotel, see my previous posts Dining in the Next Normal: All-You-Can-Eat Dim Sum Weekends at New World Makati's Jasmine from 2020 and Let's Do Dim Sum for Lunch. At Jasmine... from 2018).

A few more bamboo steamers from Jasmine's dim sum menu calls for some refreshing libations. And Jasmine's new cocktail menu is the perfect choice to pair with your dim sum. In fact, it's the most perfect and coolest pairing yet when you think about it. You can always enjoy dim sum and tea, change up the game with cocktails for a whole new and different vibe. The new cocktail creations feature a mix of gin, rum and cognac-based libations to make any dim sum feast at Jasmine a memorable one.

Start with the Yin Yang with its sweet and sour blend of Martin Miller's Gin, elderflower cordial, chili, egg white, lemon juice, rose buds and tea syrup to open up the palate. Almost like a whiskey sour, the Yin Yang has that balanced and clean, tart sweetness pairing well with the selection of dim sum at Jasmine.

The Lapsang Cooler concocted with Pierre Ferrand 1840 Cognac, black tea, basil, ginger, lemon juice and sugar syrup offers more complex yet soothing notes with its fragrantly herbal and tea flavors complementing the deep smoky sweetness of cognac. Light and smooth, you're ready for another bamboo steamer fresh from Jasmine's kitchen.

The Jasmine Bloom made with Christian Drouin Gin, Mancino Bianco Vermouth, jasmine tea, lime juice, egg white and honey is a deceptively smooth and sweet number but she can bite back if you let your guard down. Treat this lady with respect, and enjoy a well-paced dim sum feast at Jasmine. 

Jasmine also offers a rum-based cocktail, the Xiang Mao Drop with That Boutique-y Rum Signature Blend, lemongrass, fresh mint, lime juice and tieguanyin tea syrup. 

A few rounds down the hatch and a dim sum lunch or dinner at Jasmine still remains one of the best options in the metro. But if you're hungry for more, the new menu at Jasmine may have a few more surprises to add to your long list of personal picks.

The new menu at Jasmine includes succulent crab dishes, and if you love crabs these Deep Fried Stuffed Crab Claws goes straight up to the top of your list.

A golden crisp layer over crab meat brings both texture and flavor with each bite, while a dip in the sweet chili sauce completes the flavors. The fresh and clean flavors of the crab drapes the palate with a lingering briny sweetness, and soon you're reaching out for another claw. Masterfully executed and beautifully plated, the crisp outer layer of the breading and soft crab meat is a seafood lover's top pick adding even more tasty options for tasty nibbles at Jasmine.

And seafood lovers are in for a treat with Jasmine's new menu additions. The new menu features not one but two more crab dishes with the Soft Shell Crab, Mango Salsa, Sweet Chili, Bao Bun...

 ...and the Fried Soft Shell Crab, Salt, Pepper, Cilantro to complete the all-crab trio of starters. The Soft Shell Crab, Mango Salsa, Sweet Chili, Bao Bun delivers solid notes along with textural contrasts from the crisp soft shell crab and soft bao bun with the sweet chili and fresh mango salsa completing the flavors. The Fried Soft Shell Crab, Salt, Pepper, Cilantro lets you enjoy all the rich flavors of crabs in its near purest form for that vibrant burst of sweetness and crunch followed by the distinct hints of salt, pepper and cilantro for that flavorful finish.

All three crab dishes from the new menu of appetizers along with the Truffle Duck Dumpling are the perfect starters before a hearty feast at Jasmine. And it's even better when paired with the new cocktails.

For the main courses, Jasmine served a continuous parade of savory new offerings starting with the Crispy Shrimp Ball, Cheese. The golden deep-fried shrimp balls teases the palate with its delicate crunch before being draped in the succulent richness of shrimps. But it's the cheese that comes in for that tasty surprise, adding that silky smooth layer for both textural contrast and creamy flavors.  

The indulgent seafood feast at Jasmine continues with the new Fried Prawn"Peking Style" slathered in a thick, sweet, tart and sour sauce for an elegant weave of flavors. Each bite is announced by an audible snap with the bold, fresh and clean notes of the prawns lingering on the palate completed by the sauce.  

Jasmine's kitchen then switched into high gear with even more dishes from the new menu...

The Deep-Fried Crispy Golden Mushrooms, Shitake brings fresh and distinct nutty flavors to the table for a sumptuous spread at Jasmine. And there's more... 

Jasmine's new menu additions features a variety of comforting dishes to complete a memorable dining experience with friends or family...

...with the Seafood Fried Rice, Conpoy, Egg White, Pine Nuts pairing well with the savory new mains. The medley of fresh seafood and vegetables infuses a subtle sweetness to the soft and fluffy rice while the conpoy or dried scallops, egg white and pine nuts brings its lavish play of flavors and textures to the dish. It's just not a complete Chinese feast without fried rice, right? 

The Taiwanese Style Chicken in Clay Pot offers delicate, mild even nuanced flavors...

...while the pronounced hints of pepper from the Sliced Chicken, Black Pepper Sauce brings both sharp and deep notes into play to complement the delicate flavors of tender chicken.

The Wok-Fried Beef Tenderloin, Black Pepper, Taro Cream in Clay Pot has to be one of the more unique dishes in the new menu at Jasmine. The savory beefy richness is perfectly complemented by the subtle earthy sweetness and silky smooth finish of the taro cream combining for comforting flavors. The elegant and refined flavors of the new dish is another enticing play on textures making this an absolute must-try on your visit to Jasmine.

Bring some soothing heat to the table with the fork-tender Poached Beef Tenderloin, Chinese Cabbage, Bok Choy, "Sichuan Style" to spice up your feast at Jasmine. The spice isn't lip-numbing but it's there lingering after that first sip of the light yet flavorful broth. Some may prefer more heat but this works for me.

Don't forget your vegetables, and Jasmine has two vegetable dishes for a well-balanced feast starting with the Crispy Stuffed Eggplant, Sweet Spicy Sauce. The delicate crispness and fresh sweetness of the eggplant is amplified by the thick sweet and spicy sauce...

...while the Scallop, Broccoli, XO Sauce brings layers of sweetness with its different ingredients. The use of the freshest and finest ingredients delivers all the flavors. 

Like fried rice, noodles are mandatory for a real Chinese dining experience. And the new E-Fu Noodle, Mapo Tofu, Seafood hits all the right notes for a satisfying dish.  

Soft yet firm and springy noodles, creamy tofu and succulent seafood like fish, shrimps, squid and scallops in a thick savory sauce makes this dish another savory pick at Jasmine.

Can't say no to more rice at Jasmine, and here's why. The Seafood, Rice Pop in Clay Pot is a hearty spin on a classic staple combining the day's freshest catch with the crunch from rice pops for yet another creative play on textural contrasts. The blend of seafood infuses the soft rice with its briny richness while rice pops adds an interesting and delectable "pop" to the dish. You'll want an extra bowl ready with this one.

For dessert, Jasmine served its indulgent duo of Mango Pudding with milk and Egg Tart for the perfect sweet ending to yet another memorable dining experience at New World Makati Hotel. The freshness of the mangoes and the creamy and silky smooth finish of the egg tart are just one of many reasons to visit Jasmine. From appetizers to mains, desserts and cocktails, Jasmine's new menu are all the reasons you need to visit New World Makati Hotel. Lunch or dinner at Jasmine? Absolutely...