Michelin stars don’t come easily. A restaurant has to consistently prove it is one of the best in the world at what it does. So it takes an incredible amount of work and creativity to produce a starred eatery. But, when you’ve got some of those precious Michelin stars, it means that diners know they’re in for something truly special when they book a table and sample some of the restaurant’s outstanding culinary delights. Jade Dragon, over in Macau’s City of Dreams resort, is a shining example of Michelin success. It boasts two stars, a genius head chef, a dedicated team and a constant stream of happy diners eating a host of incredible Chinese dishes. If you haven’t been there before, you’re missing out on an array of star-studded dishes.
Under Michelin, two stars denote ‘excellent cooking and worth a detour’ to try. And, for us Hongkongers, the detour is just an hour’s ferry ride over to our sister SAR and then a bus or taxi to City of Dreams, the stunning integrated entertainment resort developed by Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. Then you head to The Shops at The Boulevard and enter this palatial space that is Jade Dragon. Enjoy a lush interior, some incredible traditional artworks on the walls and a regal experience before you even get close to the sumptuous star-worthy fine dining dishes.
The restaurant, which opened a few years back, received glowing reviews from the start and it wasn’t long before it won its first Michelin star. It’s since moved up to two and some feel that three stars is not too far away. It’s a multi-award-winning restaurant, basically. A Chinese culinary masterpiece. Among its accolades, Jade Dragon won the two-star award in this year’s Michelin Guide, as well as one-star awards last year and in 2014. It was also handed Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star awards in 2014 and 2015, and was listed in the South China Morning Post’s 100 Top Tables in 2014, 2015 and 2016. And then there’s also honourable mentions in other publications’ lists from 2013 onwards.
Lunch is 11am to 3pm every day and dinner is 6pm to 11pm at Jade Dragon. Try the signature dishes here, including the legendary double-boiled cordyceps with fish maw, the steamed Japanese hairy crabmeat dumplings, the Jade Dragon prime-cut barbecued Iberico pork pluma, the Macau sole and the roasted Boston lobster with crystal noodles and coriander, served in a clay pot. And for dessert, don’t miss out on the signature Chinese almond crème brûlée with bird’s nest and honey. All the ingredients are fresh and seasonal, as well as being of the highest quality and from across the globe. And enjoy your delectable delicacies alongside the sort of superlative personalised service that makes Jade Dragon one of the best restaurants in both Macau and Hong Kong.
The restaurant is helmed by Tam Kwok Fung, City of Dreams and sister resort Studio City’s director of culinary operations, who has more than 30 years experience in cooking up outstanding Cantonese dishes. And chef Tam really has a ‘dream team’ at Jade Dragon. Under his leadership, there’s chef de cuisine Kelvin Au Yeung Man Yin, who has 17 years of cooking experience and specialises in creating both Cantonese and Guangdong-style wok dishes. Then there’s senior sous chef Calvin Lee Chiu Fat, who boasts 25 years of cooking in traditional and modern culinary techniques. Also a key member of the team is Shirley Su, a tea master who has brought some really special teas to the menu.
Most of the delectable meat served here is from registered organic farms in Australia and the Netherlands, and the seafood is imported directly from France, Japan and South China Sea. Even the herbs used in the seasoning are sourced from organic farms in England and other countries. Adding a healthy dimension, the restaurant offers an exclusive range of Chinese herbal soups specially prepared by professional practitioners through an exclusive collaboration with the Chinese Medicine research team from the Macau University of Science and Technology.
Jade Dragon is divided into five zones and each of them is designed and decorated corresponding to different seasons and colour tones. There are also two levels in the restaurant with 11 VIP rooms, giving guests a wide choice when they’re deciding where to marvel at the incredible surrounds in the establishement.
So, if it’s the best in Michelin-starred Cantonese cooking that you’re after, then Jade Dragon is a must-try. It’s more than worth the trip over to Macau to taste delights that you can sample nowhere else. Don’t thank us for this tip now. Thank us after you’ve had your fill of star dishes from chef Tam and his team at Jade Garden.
Jade Dragon 2/F, The Shops at The Boulevard, City of Dreams Macau, Estrada do Istmo, Cotai, Macau, +853 8868 2822; cityofdreamsmacau.com.
