Spice could be sneaky, subtle and sensational. I do not simply make this assertion to craft a tempting Alliteration. My latest eating expertise at Yi Jing, Mumbai was a delicious three-hour demonstration of the identical. Yi Jing is ITC’s flagship Chinese language restaurant, which was first incubated at ITC Koheneur in HITEC Metropolis, Hyderabad. ITC Maratha, Mumbai marks its second outpost within the nation. In my view, the town is greater than prepared for it. In a area brimming with Pan-Asian choices, a specialised strategy at this scale is certain to evoke curiosity. The group right here is knowledgeable, open to experiences and hungry for “genuine” flavours. Can Yi Jing handle to not simply impress them, however entice them to return? We discover out for ourselves.
Photograph Credit score: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai
Our reservation is for dinner and we enter to discover a area with beautiful purple, black and beige accents. The putting distinction and floral motifs remind us of scarlet Cheongsam attire. Other than common tables, the restaurant has seating on the bar in addition to stay counters the place company can immerse themselves within the magic of woks, noodle-making, dim sum-shaping and extra. Chinese language delicacies has naturally theatrical components and the restaurant invitations you to benefit from it.
Photograph Credit score: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai
On the helm of Yi Jing is Liang Xiao Qing, who’s nothing wanting a legend relating to this explicit 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 together with his culinary prowess. He has additionally served as a number and choose in numerous cooking reveals and competitions. With Yi Jing, he will get to indicate Mumbai what it has been lacking relating to one thing as in style as Chinese language meals. Via our dialog, his emphasis on high quality components and subtlety of method stand out. The dishes listed below are primarily centred round Sichuan and Hunan – and Chef Liang is decided to move you there.
Let’s dive into our suggestions. For those who like to start your meal with a soothing soup, you can not go incorrect with the Vegetable Coriander Soup. Give us this straightforward, heart-warming broth each monsoon and winter night, and we can’t refuse. The Sichuan-style rooster & Mushroom Scorching Pot Soup turned out to be a markedly potent counterpart. Whereas we relished it, brace yourselves for warmth after ordering it.
Photograph Credit score: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai
The preliminary part of the menu will depart dim sum lovers spoilt for alternative. We do not simply imply by way of filling. The dim sums at Yi Jing are miniature masterpieces by way of flavour and aesthetics. In their very own method, they redefine what we anticipate these crowd-favourite appetisers to be. Take, as an example, the Rooster Char Sui dumplings within the type of elegant swans. We’re within the behavior of photographing well-plated meals from totally different angles, and allow us to inform you, this one saved us occupied for a couple of minutes. Observe 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 type. However on doing so, we polished off every satisfyingly crispy chunk.
Photograph Credit score: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai
Among the many 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 now tried a number of truffle edamame dishes earlier than, however this one carried a sure sophistication. The guts-shaped Spicy Carrot And Wasabi Dumplings had been an immediate favorite too. The feel was the champion right here – we cherished how the warmth of the wasabi appeared nearly hidden in between strands of the grated carrot. One other texture deal with was the BBQ Pork Buns: cloud-like smooth buns that enclosed a candy and spicy meat stuffing. Whereas this explicit order was reasonably tough to navigate with cutlery, the style triumphed above all else.
Photograph Credit score: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai
We aren’t performed with the appetisers. Past 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 along 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 aren’t small chip-sized bites, however nearly skinny and crisp discs that might span a median 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. Dimension is the king right here, however so is the consistency of the superbly cooked fish and the robustness of flavours.
Yi Jing prides itself on its duck choices and is featured in almost each class on the menu. We appreciated the Crispy Cantonese Duck Cigar Roll served with plum sauce. However, in hindsight, we felt that the opposite starters left extra of an impression. However, essentially the most memorable a part of our meal was digging into the Beijing Duck from the Chinese language Barbeque part. This dish is an expertise in itself, and Chef Liang guided us by means of the totally different levels. The duck is served with a number of sides: one trio consists of hoisin sauce, garlic paste and superb sugar. The opposite 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 mixture of the opposite items with the edges within the type of a wrap. This medley was a success: we cherished the freshness of the greens, the tenderness of the meat and the salty-sweetness of the hoisin.
Photograph Credit score: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai
Earlier than we transfer to the principle course, a short 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 time, Winter and Autumn. We extremely advocate Shangai Rose (a gin-based cocktail with lavender, rose syrup, elderflower and a touch of cranberry juice). For those who’re a fan of the pineapple and keenness fruit duo, go for the Ocha Bitter, made utilizing Roku gin. It’s also possible to ask the mixologist to customize a drink specifically for you, with a base of any spirit of your alternative. On choosing vodka, we had been handled to Sea Breeze, additionally that includes blue curacao, grapefruit juice, cranberry juice and soda.
Photograph Credit score: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai
After the delights of the Beijing Duck, our expectations reached a notch increased. The Chengdu Fashion Sliced Lamb With Home Particular 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 well-liked pairing can be fried rice or hakka noodles. However 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.
Photograph Credit score: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai
For those who’re in search of a rooster possibility, go along with the Stir-Fried Shredded Rooster With Preserved Chilli Sauce. That is additionally a spicy gravy that packs a flavourful punch. We advocate relishing it with one more Yi Jing speciality: hand-pulled la-mian noodles. Do not forget to snag a seat on the stay counter and watch the cooks create this delicacy from scratch – counting on culinary methods courting again 4000 years. The noodles themselves are so splendidly healthful: they made us rethink those we had been consuming thus far.
Photograph Credit score: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai
To finish our feast, we first tried Yuzu Mascarpone Cheesecake, Hibiscus Scented Contemporary Seasonal Fruit Compote. It did not fairly hit the mark: the cheesecake was not as creamy because the mascarpone in its identify would counsel, and the tartness of the sorbet was reasonably overpowering. What we appreciated higher was the Peanut Marquise, Ginger-Pineapple Ice Cream & 5 Spiced Caramel. This can be a decadent delight good for individuals who have reserved area of their tummies for dessert. However if you cannot deal with one thing too heavy, merely order the do-it-yourself Ginger-Pineapple sorbet individually. This was expertly balanced: you might be 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’d return for this.
Yi Jing shone a special mild on Chinese language staples, in addition to the sort of spiciness and aromas we anticipate from them. We had been impressed with the stability of subtlety and robustness in each dish we tasted. Whether or not you take pleasure in Chinese language meals, prefer to discover Asian flavours or need to take pleasure in a lavish gastronomic feast, Yi Jing guarantees an unbelievable expertise you shouldn’t miss out on.
The place: Yi Jing, Foyer Stage, ITC Maratha, A Luxurious Assortment Resort, 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
Price for 2 (approx): INR.5000 plus taxes
