Monday, November 1, 2010

Cherry Garden Champagne Dim Sum Weekend Brunch

UPDATE Sept 2013: Cherry Garden no longer serves champagne with its dim sum brunch. The cost is now S$68++ with endless flow of dim sum and one order of soup, appetiser, main course and dessert per person. Two seatings apply: from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 1.30 to 3.30 p.m.

Foursome of dim sum!
Most of us love our dim sum brunches but are afraid of feeling surfeit towards the end, and still not quite satisfied somehow. Well, I've finally found one that gives me the perfect balance of quantity, and doesn't compromise on quality. The Cherry Garden Champagne Dim Sum Weekend Brunch!

I've been to Cherry Garden several times for dim sum and generally have never been disappointed. And now they've added a touch of luxury to their dim sum weekend brunch with Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut champagne (you can upgrade to Belle Epoque if you prefer).

They have also changed the way they serve the brunch, making it a bit more sophisticated than the usual free-for-all gluttonfest. It's now individual portions of dim sum and thoughtful degustation portions of very good mains, soups, appetisers and desserts. They still pamper you with impeccable service and now they've added the option of free-flow ice-cold champagne!


Chilled champagne goes very well with dim sum indeed!
Champagne with dim sum? Yes! While I am quite a traditionalist (normally preferring dim sum with Chinese tea), I found that chilled champagne goes superbly with dim sum too! Even my hubby was pleasantly surprised that they went so well together.


Look at the fine skin on the dim sum
But the exquisite dim sum is still the star of the show. Every dumpling is a delight. We marveled at the fine craftsmanship and the freshness of the ingredients. I counted about 20 varieties - I must go back and try the ones I missed!

Serving the dim sum in individual portions also means everyone definitely gets one - no need to fight or fret over communal servings (Too many? Too few? Who gets the last piece?).


Steamed radish cake stuffed with minced pork and dried shrimps
Steamed radish cake stuffed with minced pork and dried shrimps.


Deep-fried potato dumplings stuffed with cheese crabmeat and onions
Deep-fried potato dumplings stuffed with cheese crabmeat and onions. The thin batter gives way to gooey goodness within!


Hong Kong style minced pork and shrimp dumpling soup with choy sum (foreground) and Double-boiled fish broth with pak choy, fish maw and tofu
It's not just dim sum. You get a choice of soups, appetisers, mains and desserts. Here we have the Hong Kong style minced pork and shrimp dumpling soup with choy sum (foreground) and Double-boiled fish broth with pak choy, fish maw and tofu (background).


Shrimp salad with wood ear mushrooms,  cucumber and ginger - sesame dressing
From the appetiser section: Shrimp salad with wood ear mushrooms, cucumber and ginger-sesame dressing. I can never resist wood ear mushrooms!


Honey-glazed Kurobuta pork char siew and braised soya chicken with shallots
There is a small but good selection of mains. Honey-glazed Kurobuta pork char siew and braised soya chicken with shallots. Both good, although I think the char siew fares better when it's inside the fluffy and not-to-be-missed kurobuta char siew buns (dim sum item)!

There's also a variation of the Kurobuta pork - wok-fried with garlic, leek and honshimeiji mushrooms in chef's concoction.


Braised soya chicken with shallots
Close up shot of the braised soya chicken. I'm not usually a fan of soya chicken but I liked this. I have previously tried their slow-cooked beef brisket with radish, onions and ginger which is also good, and I was happy to see it on the menu. Too bad Chef Hiew's spectacular roast pork is not listed though!


Crisp wasabi-aioli prawns with fresh mango and fish roe
From the seafood mains: Crisp wasabi-aioli prawns with fresh mango and fish roe. Always enjoyable here. If you prefer something healthier, you can try the Steamed patin fish with crispy bean crumbs in light soya sauce.


Braised Ee-fu noodles with nameko mushrooms, silver sprouts and yellow chives
One of my favourite dishes since childhood, done pretty well here. Braised Ee-fu noodles with nameko mushrooms, silver sprouts and yellow chives.


Dessert!
Desserts at Chinese restaurants tend to be quite an afterthought. But the folks at Cherry Garden have put quite a bit of thought into creating some unusual desserts. We found the “Watermelon Chutney with Aloe Vera, Crystal Pears and Refreshing Lemongrass Jelly”, and “Cream of Avocado served with Walnut Ice Cream” both very refreshing. There's also the traditional royal steamed red bean sponge (on the right).

We ended the meal feeling very good. You feel like you've eaten just the right amount, and your palate is very satisfied.

For the quality of food, I'd say this brunch is a very good deal. If you are not a drinker (like me), you can opt for the brunch without the beverages.

The weekend champagne brunch is available Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 12.30 to 3 p.m. and reservations are essential:
  • S$48.00++ per person with endless flow of dim sum and one order of soup, appetiser, main course and dessert per person. This lighter brunch is available for two seatings: from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 1.30 to 3 p.m.
  • S$118.00++ with endless flow of dim sum, soups, appetisers, main courses, desserts, Champagne, wine, beer, juices and soft drinks. No seating time limits.
  • S$338.00++ with endless flow of dim sum, soups, appetisers, main courses, desserts, Belle Epoque Champagne, wine, beer, juices and soft drinks. No seating time limits.

My most heartfelt thanks to Kelly of the Mandarin Oriental for this lovely invitation, and for the discovery that champagne is perfect with dim sum! We'll be back for sure.


CHERRY GARDEN
5th Floor, Mandarin Oriental Singapore
5 Raffles Avenue
Singapore 039797
Tel: +65-6885-3538 (call this for reservations)
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18 comments

  1. Everytime i read your blog i wanna go back home badly...I love the third dish most

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  2. Geez great presentation. They look so pretty! Love your blog!

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  3. Still my favorite place for dim sum, ever since I read your very first Cherry Garden review yonks ago! ;)

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  4. I certainly have never had dim sum with champagne before... what a luxury! :)

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  5. ooo..everything looks so good. :)

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  6. hi.
    I lived in USA but will visit Singapore in February 2011. I want to make a reservation for this dim sum brunch but don't know who to contact. I tried to do it through Open Table website but i am not sure they have reservation for the brunch or just regular dinner table.
    Would you please help me ? Thank you.

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  7. Hi there!

    Cheers for the awesome photos and review always.

    Very tempted to visit this place soon after my first book out in the Army.

    Really thankful for all the post!

    :D

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  8. Thanks, everyone!

    Luongduyen: You can make reservations directly with the restaurant/hotel at the number listed above (right at the end of the post). Tel: +65-6885-3538

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  9. champagne dimsum is a BRILLIANT idea, LOL. in fact, places that don't serve bubbly should get slapped on the wrists if I had my way.. mwuahahaha! great post! looks as divine as the elegant in dimsum in KL!

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  10. Wonderful blog - Have spent about 3 hours looking at nearly every post! Not only are you a fantastic photographer, but you are also an articulate writer and you have a beautiful family. Hope you are recovering well. All the best to you, take care.

    Love from just another reader.

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  11. Haha, thanks, Ciki! It IS brilliant, isn't it? I guess champagne goes with everything!

    Hi Anonymous: Thank you so, so much for your wonderful comment. I'm very touched and thrilled! Glad you enjoyed browsing! I am getting better, though not as fast as I would like! All the best to you too!

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  12. the deep fried potato dumplings look really tempting ...

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  13. I like the mushroom noodles most. but i can eat all of them

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  14. I love this champagne dim sum brunch too!! :D

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  15. Wow this all looks so amazing and tasty - I just love dim sum! I'll be stopping over in Singapore in April but will be travelling alone - you mention in your post that they serve individual portions of dim sum? Is it buffet style or do you order single portions off a menu? I thought I could maybe try this restaurant since I'll be staying at the Pan Pacific nearby. Dim sum on your own is usually difficult due to the normal 3 or 4 pieces per portion but their single portions sound like the perfect solution.

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  16. Thanks, y'all.

    SydneyBound: Yes, you order off a menu, and they bring the single portions to you. Hope you get to try this. It's one of the better dim sum in Singapore too!

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  17. How amazing they can look. You made ​​my appetite with this article.

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