Spice could be sneaky, refined and sensational. I do not simply make this assertion to craft a tempting Alliteration. My current eating expertise at Yi Jing, Mumbai was a delicious three-hour demonstration of the identical. Yi Jing is ITC’s flagship Chinese restaurant, which was first incubated at ITC Koheneur in HITEC City, Hyderabad. ITC Maratha, Mumbai marks its second outpost within the nation. In my opinion, town is greater than prepared for it. In a area brimming with Pan-Asian choices, a specialised method at this scale is certain to evoke curiosity. The crowd right here is knowledgeable, open to experiences and hungry for “authentic” flavours. Can Yi Jing handle to not simply impress them, however entice them to return? We discover out for ourselves.
Photo Credit: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai
Our reservation is for dinner and we enter to discover a house with beautiful crimson, black and beige accents. The hanging distinction and floral motifs remind us of scarlet Cheongsam attire. Apart from common tables, the restaurant has seating on the bar in addition to dwell counters the place friends can immerse themselves within the magic of woks, noodle-making, dim sum-shaping and extra. Chinese delicacies has naturally theatrical components and the restaurant invitations you to profit from it.
Photo Credit: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai
At the helm of Yi Jing is Liang Xiao Qing, who’s nothing wanting a legend in the case of this specific delicacies. Armed with over 4 a long time of expertise, Chef Liang is the recipient of a number of prestigious accolades and has wowed dignitaries all over the world along with his culinary prowess. He has additionally served as a number and decide in varied cooking exhibits and competitions. With Yi Jing, he will get to point out Mumbai what it has been lacking in the case of one thing as common as Chinese meals. Through our dialog, his emphasis on high quality components and subtlety of approach stand out. The dishes listed below are primarily centred round Sichuan and Hunan – and Chef Liang is set to move you there.
Let’s dive into our suggestions. If you want to start your meal with a soothing soup, you can not go incorrect with the Vegetable Coriander Soup. Give us this easy, heart-warming broth each monsoon and winter night, and we cannot refuse. The Sichuan-style hen & Mushroom Hot Pot Soup turned out to be a markedly potent counterpart. While we relished it, brace yourselves for warmth after ordering it.
Photo Credit: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai
The preliminary part of the menu will depart dim sum lovers spoilt for alternative. We do not simply imply when it comes to filling. The dim sums at Yi Jing are miniature masterpieces when it comes to flavour and aesthetics. In their very own method, they redefine what we anticipate these crowd-favourite appetisers to be. Take, as an illustration, the Chicken Char Sui dumplings within the type of elegant swans. We are within the behavior of photographing well-plated meals from totally different angles, and allow us to inform you, this one stored us occupied for a couple of minutes. Note the eye to element: the crisp exterior formed like wavy feathers, the white sesame on each ends, the eyes and the beak. After admiring their magnificence, we needed to metal ourselves earlier than disturbing after which consuming their kind. But on doing so, we polished off every satisfyingly crispy chew.
Photo Credit: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai
Among the vegetarian choices, do not miss the Sake and Edamame Dumplings, formed like Edamame pods. These melt-in-the-mouth bites have a touch of truffle, which brings an assured stability of flavours. We have tried a number of truffle edamame dishes earlier than, however this one carried a sure sophistication. The heart-shaped Spicy Carrot And Wasabi Dumplings have been an instantaneous favorite too. The texture was the champion right here – we beloved how the warmth of the wasabi appeared virtually hidden in between strands of the grated carrot. Another texture deal with was the BBQ Pork Buns: cloud-like delicate buns that enclosed a candy and spicy meat stuffing. While this specific order was fairly troublesome to navigate with cutlery, the style triumphed above all else.
Photo Credit: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai
We should not completed with the appetisers. Beyond dimsums and dumplings, Yi Jing boasts a number of different choices for indulgence earlier than you attain the principle course. For an beautiful crunch, go together with the Stir Fried Water Chestnuts Wok Tossed With Crispy Chili. If you wish to play it protected, you’ll be able to select the comforts of traditional Cantonese-style Lotus Stem. These should not small chip-sized bites, however virtually skinny and crisp discs that may span a mean palm. The restaurant sources them from Thailand and tosses them of their model of a candy chilli sauce. Seafood aficionados, do not hesitate earlier than ordering the King Prawn In Two Flavours. Size is the king right here, however so is the consistency of the peerlessly cooked fish and the robustness of flavours.
Yi Jing prides itself on its duck choices and is featured in practically each class on the menu. We appreciated the Crispy Cantonese Duck Cigar Roll served with plum sauce. But, in hindsight, we felt that the opposite starters left extra of an impression. Nevertheless, essentially the most memorable a part of our meal was digging into the Beijing Duck from the Chinese Barbeque part. This dish is an expertise in itself, and Chef Liang guided us by way of the totally different levels. The duck is served with a number of sides: one trio consists of hoisin sauce, garlic paste and effective sugar. The different consists of rice pancakes, spring onion and cucumber. As directed, we dipped the crispy skins into the sugar first. Our palette was thereafter prepared for the subsequent expertise: the mix of the opposite items with the edges within the type of a wrap. This medley was a success: we beloved the freshness of the greens, the tenderness of the meat and the salty-sweetness of the hoisin.
Photo Credit: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai
Before we transfer to the principle course, a quick in regards to the cocktails at Yi Jing. The refreshing concoctions from the bar menu are impressed by the 4 seasons in China: Spring, Summer, Winter and Autumn. We extremely advocate Shangai Rose (a gin-based cocktail with lavender, rose syrup, elderflower and a touch of cranberry juice). If you are a fan of the pineapple and fervour fruit duo, go for the Ocha Sour, made utilizing Roku gin. You also can ask the mixologist to customize a drink specifically for you, with a base of any spirit of your alternative. On deciding on vodka, we have been handled to Sea Breeze, additionally that includes blue curacao, grapefruit juice, cranberry juice and soda.
Photo Credit: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai
After the delights of the Beijing Duck, our expectations reached a notch larger. The Chengdu Style Sliced Lamb With House Special Chilly Powder was one of many delicacies we had been ready to attempt all night. We had learnt that it is one of many menu’s key dishes that options Chef Liang’s favorite Sichuan peppers. He sources them by hand throughout his frequent travels to China. The fiery gravy was served with sticky jasmine rice. In most different eating places, a preferred pairing could be fried rice or hakka noodles. But what we appreciated in regards to the alternative of jasmine rice was that it allowed the distinctive aroma of the peppers to face out. The dish as an entire was thus a symphony, not a cacophony, of spice and warmth. The lamb, sourced from New Zealand, was juicy and succulent.
Photo Credit: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai
If you are searching for a hen choice, go together with the Stir-Fried Shredded Chicken With Preserved Chilli Sauce. This can also be a spicy gravy that packs a flavourful punch. We advocate relishing it with yet one more Yi Jing speciality: hand-pulled la-mian noodles. Don’t neglect to snag a seat on the dwell counter and watch the cooks create this delicacy from scratch – counting on culinary strategies relationship again 4000 years. The noodles themselves are so splendidly healthful: they made us rethink those we had been consuming up to now.
Photo Credit: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai
To finish our feast, we first tried Yuzu Mascarpone Cheesecake, Hibiscus Scented Fresh Seasonal Fruit Compote. It did not fairly hit the mark: the cheesecake was not as creamy because the mascarpone in its title would recommend, and the tartness of the sorbet was fairly overpowering. What we appreciated higher was the Peanut Marquise, Ginger-Pineapple Ice Cream & Five Spiced Caramel. This is a decadent delight excellent for many who have reserved house of their tummies for dessert. But if you cannot deal with one thing too heavy, merely order the home made Ginger-Pineapple sorbet individually. This was expertly balanced: you’re first hit with the earthy flavour of ginger; simply as you anticipate the pungency to kick in, the tangy sweetness of pineapple involves your rescue. We would return for this.
Yi Jing shone a distinct gentle on Chinese staples, in addition to the sort of spiciness and aromas we anticipate from them. We have been impressed with the stability of subtlety and robustness in each dish we tasted. Whether you get pleasure from Chinese meals, wish to discover Asian flavours or wish to bask in a lavish gastronomic feast, Yi Jing guarantees an unbelievable expertise you shouldn’t miss out on.
Where: Yi Jing, Lobby Level, ITC Maratha, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Mumbai, Sahar, Andheri East
When: Lunch – 12:00 pm to 2:45 pm; Dinner – 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm; All Days of Week
Cost for 2 (approx): INR.5000 plus taxes
Source web site: meals.ndtv.com
