Food Review: Delight Yourself with Cantonese Fare at Cherry Garden

Entering Cherry Garden, Mandarin Oriental’s acclaimed Cantonese restaurant, can be quite intimidating. Everything—from the neatly polished wooden walls and windows, down to the chinaware—just seems so perfect that your presence inside would mess everything up. But this gnawing feeling you have will disappear as soon as you settle in your seat and be greeted by the warm and friendly staff. More so when you’re presented with classical Cantonese fare which are especially prepared to comfort us… mind, soul, and tummy!

Recently-appointed Chinese Chef Cheng Hon Chau brings traditional Cantonese fare with a modern twist

With the recent appointment of Cheng Hon Chau as Executive Chinese Cuisine Chef, the restaurant adds more of these dishes we grew up loving—but with a twist. Of course, they’re still prepared the way you want them to, traditionally and in the hands of this Hong Kong Chef who has over 20 years of working in the kitchen. But he mixes it up with new ingredients to cater to the modern palate. Have we got you interested on what he has to offer? Let’s start with the Thick Superior Soup of Lobster, Conpoy and Enoki Mushrooms. This still gives that heart-warming feeling after sipping on the hot stew. But you can easily discern the new herbs Chef used to add character to this otherwise simple dish.

Roasted Chicken Topped with Chef’s Homemade Crispy Crust

Another great starter is the Roasted Chicken Topped with Chef’s Homemade Crispy Crust which is composed of succulent chicken slices coated in crunchy layer of herbs and spices. Almond flakes are sprinkled to it to give this a crunchy bite.

Baked Abalone Turnover with Diced Chicken and Mushrooms and Oven-baked Honey Marinated Cod Fillet
with Black Pepper

Other notable mentions are the Baked Abalone Turnover with Diced Chicken and Mushrooms accompanied by Crisp-Fried Spring Roll Stuffed with Scallop Farce, Oven-Baked Honey Marinated Cod Fillet with Black Pepper, and the La Mien Soup with Shredded Duck and Sichuan Vegetable. All these are good in their own way, but the stand out is the latter with its tender Chinese noodles mixed with homemade broth. The broth is from the duck bones which make the soup rich and flavourful.

Homemade Organic Black Bean Pudding with Japanese Sesame Ice Cream

You can’t really leave the restaurant without trying the Homemade Organic Black Bean Pudding with Japanese Sesame Ice Cream. Served atop dry ice, this has the sweet taste of the black bean mixed with the nutty flavour of the Japanese sesame. Don’t you agree that this is the perfect ending to a satisfying meal at Cherry Garden? See Also: Enjoy more Cantonese cuisine using OpenSnap Check out here for the best dining offers