Crystal Jade Group of Fine-dining Restaurants Unveils an Enticing Array of New Dishes

Crystal Jade Group has introduced refreshed menus across its fine dining restaurants — Crystal Jade Palace, Crystal Jade Golden Palace, and Crystal Jade Pavilion — offering a modern take on heritage Chinese cuisine. These new dishes creatively blend classic flavours with refined techniques, resulting in a memorable dining experience for both traditional and modern palates.

Crystal Jade Palace - Palace Signature Starters Platter 4/5

We began our meal with the Palace Signature Starters Platter ($38.80) from Crystal Jade Palace. This vibrant quartet of appetizers includes Crispy Sakura Shrimp Cracker, Crab Meat & Avocado Salsa Tartlet, ‘Bi Feng Tang’ Whitebait with chili and garlic, and Chilled Jellyfish & Fresh Lily Bulb in a wasabi-aged vinegar. Each bite was thoughtfully crafted, with flavours that balanced savoury, spicy, and refreshing notes, making for a delightful start to the meal.

Crystal Jade Palace - Crispy Chicken 4.8/5

Another standout from Crystal Jade Palace was the Crispy Chicken with Homemade Ginger Scallion & Chilli Lime Sauce ($42 for half, $80 for whole). The chicken features a beautifully crisp “glass skin” that crackles with every bite, while the meat remains juicy and tender. Paired with the ginger scallion and chilli lime sauces, the flavours are lifted, adding a tangy and spicy kick to this Cantonese classic — a true crowd-pleaser.

Crystal Jade Pavilion - Double-boiled Coconut Water Chicken Soup 5/5

The Double-boiled Fish Maw with Coconut Water, Baby Cabbage & Bamboo Pith in Chicken Soup ($72) from Crystal Jade Pavilion was a heartwarming highlight. Made with fresh coconut water, chicken, baby cabbage, bamboo pith, and fish maw, this soup carries a subtle sweetness and a light, refreshing taste. The pure flavours of coconut water create a comforting, healthful dish that resonates with traditional Chinese soup-making techniques.

Crystal Jade Pavilion - Stir-Fried Fresh Crab Meat in Lettuce Cup 4.5/5

A nostalgic and heritage-inspired dish, the Stir-fried Fresh Crab Meat with Chinese Olive Seed, Egg & Conpoy in Lettuce Cup ($58.80 for six pieces) is a unique offering from Crystal Jade Pavilion. The eggs and crab meat are meticulously scrambled over medium heat until they resemble the small buds of yellow osmanthus flowers., and serves in a crisp lettuce cup. This thoughtful presentation enhances the refreshing, crunchy texture and highlights the delicately seasoned crab.

Crystal Jade Golden Palace - Sauteed Tiger Prawn with Morel Mushroom 4.2/5

From Crystal Jade Golden Palace, the Sautéed Tiger Prawn with Morel Mushroom ($42) is a standout. The earthy, nutty notes of morel mushrooms are the perfect pairing for the succulent tiger prawns, resulting in a beautifully balanced dish. The freshness of the prawns and the umami depth of the morels showcase the chef’s expertise in ingredient pairing and technique.

Crystal Jade Golden Palace - Teochew Seafood Crispy Noodle 4.2/5

We also sampled the Teochew Seafood Crispy Noodle served with Black Vinegar & Sugar ($38), a traditional Teochew specialty from Crystal Jade Golden Palace. The noodles are deep-fried, poached in a flavourful broth, then pan-fried to achieve a crispy golden exterior. The dish is served with black vinegar and sugar on the side, providing an intriguing balance of acidity and sweetness. The black vinegar, in particular, enhances the dish, making it a must-try for noodle lovers.

Crystal Jade Golden Palace - Shunde Style Chen's Village Flat Rice Roll 4.8/5

A taste of Foshan, Guangzhou, comes to Crystal Jade Golden Palace with the Shunde Style Chen’s Village Flat Rice Roll with Minced Pork & Sole Fish topped with Crispy Pork Lardon ($28). The thin, silky rice rolls are steamed and imbued with a smoky “wok hei” aroma. Topped with minced pork, spring onions, and crispy pork lardons, this dish is a satisfying blend of textures and flavours, showcasing the culinary heritage of Shunde cuisine.

Crystal Jade Pavilion - Sugarcane Jelly with Peach Sorbet 4.8/5

To finish, we enjoyed the Sugarcane Jelly with Peach Sorbet ($9.80 per pax) from Crystal Jade Pavilion. The sugarcane jelly, mildly sweet and refreshing, pairs beautifully with the fruity, tart notes of the peach sorbet. This light dessert provides a perfect palate cleanser, bringing the meal to a refreshing close.

Crystal Jade’s refreshed menus across its fine dining establishments skillfully balance tradition with modern flair. Each restaurant brings its own personality and unique interpretation of heritage Chinese cuisine, creating an experience that is both nostalgic and exciting. Whether you're a fan of classic Chinese flavours or looking for something with a contemporary twist, these new dishes at Crystal Jade Palace, Crystal Jade Golden Palace, and Crystal Jade Pavilion offer something to delight every palate.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


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Crystal Jade Palace
Takashimaya Shopping Centre
391 Orchard Road
#04-19
Singapore 238872

Crystal Jade Golden Palace
The Paragon
290 Orchard Road
#05-22
Singapore 238859

Crystal Jade Pavilion
VivoCity
1 Harbourfront Walk
#01-112
Singapore 098585

SanSara @ Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel - Discover Awadhi Cuisine with Influences from North India

It's been a year since SanSara joined the lineup of Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel restaurants, showcasing the best of Awadhi cuisine with influences from North India.

Non-Vegetarian Set Menu 4/5

It is celebrating this special milestone with a limited-time 'A Regal Lucknowi Feast' available from 4 to 17 October and 11 to 30 November 2024. The feast is available in both non-vegetarian and vegetarian options.

Murgh Badami Shorba

Our Non-Vegetarian Menu ($78 per pax) began with Murgh Badami Shorba, a hearty chicken broth. Its garlicky and peppery undertones were reminiscent of a well-seasoned bak kut teh.

Murgh Jahan-ara, Jhinga Dum Nisha

For appetisers, we were treated to the Murgh Jahan-ara, a tender chicken dish richly marinated in a saffron-spiced yoghurt, blending garlic, green chilli, and cardamom powder for a well-balanced flavour.

Alongside, the Jhinga Dum Nisha, a grilled tiger prawn, boasted a subtly spiced cardamom profile with an additional peppery kick. The tangy yoghurt dressings enhanced both dishes with a refreshing contrast.

Main Course

The Main Course featured a fun spread of four distinctive curries served with fluffy basmati rice. These included Murgh Rezala, a creamy chicken curry with mint and almonds, and Gosht Shahi Pasanda, a fragrant lamb curry featuring Mathania chilli and garam masala.

The Dhuandhar Dum Aloo had baby potatoes simmered in a buttery yoghurt sauce, while the Nawabi Dal had yellow lentil curry with saffron and cream.

Sheermal Roti, Warqi Paratha

Accompanying the curries were two types of freshly made bread - Sheermal Roti and Warqi Paratha. They were crisp and flaky, perfect for scooping up the rich curries. Our table quickly polished off the basket.

Chawal Gulab Ka Kheer

The dessert was Chawal Gulab Ka Kheer, a rose-scented rice pudding topped with cashews, pistachios, and almonds. While the combination of fragrant rose petals and nuts was intriguing, the dish felt a bit heavy after the indulgent meal. I personally would prefer a lighter dessert to complement.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


SanSara
Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore
392 Havelock Road
Singapore 169663
Tel: +65 6233 1338
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Nearest MRT: Havelock (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 10pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Havelock MRT station. Take Exit 4. Turn left and walk to traffic junction of Havelock Road and Kim Seng Road. Cross the road. Turn left and walk down Kim Seng Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Song Yue Taiwan Cuisine (松悦台式料理) @ Kallang Leisure Park - Launches Banquet Dishes (辦桌菜)

Song Yue Taiwan Cuisine at Leisure Park Kallang has recently launched a new menu based on the culinary tradition of 辦桌菜 (bàn zhuō cai) or 'banquet dishes'. Originating in the 17th century, 辦桌 are gatherings typically held to celebrate occasions.

Celebratory Lobster Combination Platter 5/5

We started with Song Yue's Celebratory Lobster Combination Platter ($88.8 – Medium / $128.8 – Large) featuring five distinct dishes that synergised well with one another with their different flavour profiles and texture - Lobster and Fruit Salad, Chicken Tossed in Sesame Oil, Soy Braised Duck Wings, Spring Onion Marinated Abalone and Century Eggs in Shrimp Paste. Each dish had its merits, but what stood out for me were the flavourful and tender duck wings as well as the century eggs done in the style of a classic scotch egg.

Traditional Chicken with Pig's Stomach and Abalone Soup 4.5/5

Next was a nourishing Traditional Chicken with Pig's Stomach and Abalone Soup ($98.8). The chicken, stuffed with pig stomach, ginkgo nuts, and baby abalone, is stewed in a superior pork and chicken broth for five hours, resulting in a collagen-rich broth, as reflected in its yellow hue. Unlike a typical Pig's stomach soup, which may occasionally be quite gamey, this is more of a chicken soup with added benefits of a pig's stomach soup.

Steamed Live Lobster Rice Cake 5/5

My favourite dish of the evening was the Steamed Live Lobster Rice Cake ($88.8 for medium, $158.8 for large). Beyond the succulent lobster, the Taiwan glutinous rice, infused with pork belly, dried conpoy, shiitake mushrooms, and dried shrimp, was deeply flavourful and aromatic. Topped with garlic oil and fried garlic, it had a perfect balance of richness and savoury notes, and each bite of it just got more and more delicious.

Golden Phoenix-Tail Tiger Prawns 4.5/5

The Golden Phoenix-Tail Tiger Prawns ($35.8 for medium, $55.8 for large) were another highlight. Giant tiger prawns were wrapped in beancurd skin with a seafood mix, salted egg yolk, century egg, and coriander filling. Skillfully fried to a crisp golden brown, they were paired with a well-matched homemade sweet and sour sauce.

Braised Pork Knuckle with Homemade Mustard Greens 4/5

The Braised Pork Knuckle with Homemade Mustard Greens ($58.8) was a rich, fork-tender dish. The pork knuckle was braised for three and a half hours. However, I felt the mustard greens could have been more bittersweet to better balance the richness of the pork and gravy.

Handmade Crispy Duck with Taro 3.8/5

Lastly, the Handmade Crispy Duck with Taro ($48.8) featured duck slices encased in creamy yam paste and deep-fried to a light and crispy finish. While the flavours were good, the dish could have benefited from a thicker yam layer, as the portions without enough yam felt a little dry.

Photos and words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food.


Song Yue Taiwan Cuisine
(松悦台式料理)
5 Stadium Walk
#01-38/39
Singapore 397693
Tel: +65 6988 3322
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Nearest MRT: Stadium (CC Line), Tanjong Rhu (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 1130am - 3pm, 530pm - 930pm
Fri-Sat, Eve PH: 1130am - 330pm, 5pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Stadium MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn right and walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tanjong Rhu MRT station. Take Exit 2. Walk towards the river. Cross the bridge to indoor stadium. Cut across the open air carpark towards Stadium Crescent Road. Walk to Kallang Theatre. Turn right onto Stadium Walk. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]