Spice will be sneaky, refined 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 restaurant, which was first incubated at ITC Kohenur in HITEC City, Hyderabad. ITC Maratha, Mumbai marks its fourth outpost (after Delhi and Ahmedabad) within the nation. In my opinion, the town is greater than prepared for it. In a area brimming with Pan-Asian choices, a specialised method at this scale is certain to evoke curiosity. The crowd right here is knowledgeable, open to experiences and hungry for “authentic” flavours. Can Yi Jing handle to not simply impress them, however entice them to return? We discover out for ourselves.

Photo Credit: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai

Our reservation is for dinner and we enter to discover a house with attractive purple, black and beige accents. The placing distinction and floral motifs remind us of scarlet Cheongsam attire. Apart from common tables, the restaurant has seating on the bar in addition to reside counters the place visitors can immerse themselves within the magic of woks, noodle-making, dim sum-shaping and extra. Chinese delicacies has naturally theatrical components and the restaurant invitations you to profit from it.

Photo Credit: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai

At the helm of Yi Jing is Liang Xiao Qing, who’s nothing wanting a legend relating to this specific delicacies. Armed with over 4 many years of expertise, Chef Liang is the recipient of a number of prestigious accolades and has wowed dignitaries all over the world along with his culinary prowess. He has additionally served as a bunch and choose in numerous cooking exhibits and competitions. With Yi Jing, he will get to point out Mumbai what it has been lacking relating to one thing as fashionable as Chinese meals. Through our dialog, his emphasis on high quality substances and subtlety of approach stand out. The dishes listed here are primarily centred round Sichuan and Hunan – and Chef Liang is set to move you there.

Let’s dive into our suggestions. If you want to start your meal with a soothing soup, you can’t go incorrect with the Vegetable Coriander Soup. Give us this straightforward, heart-warming broth each monsoon and winter night, and we cannot refuse. The Sichuan-style hen & Mushroom Hot Pot Soup turned out to be a markedly potent counterpart. While we relished it, brace yourselves for warmth after ordering it.

Photo Credit: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai

The preliminary part of the menu will go away 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 means, they redefine what we count on these crowd-favourite appetisers to be. Take, as an illustration, the Chicken Char Sui dumplings within the type of elegant swans. We are 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. Note 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 kind. But on doing so, we polished off every satisfyingly crispy chunk.

Photo Credit: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai

Among the 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 steadiness of flavours. We have tried a number of truffle edamame dishes earlier than, however this one carried a sure sophistication. The heart-shaped Spicy Carrot And Wasabi Dumplings had been an prompt favorite too. The texture was the champion right here – we liked how the warmth of the wasabi appeared nearly hidden in between strands of the grated carrot. Another texture deal with was the BBQ Pork Buns: cloud-like tender buns that enclosed a candy and spicy meat stuffing. While this specific order was moderately tough to navigate with cutlery, the style triumphed above all else.

Photo Credit: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai

We should not achieved with the appetisers. Beyond 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 need to play it secure, you’ll be able to select the comforts of basic Cantonese-style Lotus Stem. These should not small chip-sized bites, however nearly skinny and crisp discs that may span a mean 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. Size 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. But, in hindsight, we felt that the opposite starters left extra of an impression. Nevertheless, essentially the most memorable a part of our meal was digging into the Beijing Duck from the Chinese Barbeque part. This dish is an expertise in itself, and Chef Liang guided us via the totally different phases. The duck is served with a number of sides: one trio consists of hoisin sauce, garlic paste and positive sugar. The different 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 perimeters within the type of a wrap. This medley was a success: we liked the freshness of the greens, the tenderness of the meat and the salty-sweetness of the hoisin.

_{Photo Credit: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai}

Before we transfer to the principle course, a quick 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, Winter and Autumn. We extremely suggest Shangai Rose (a gin-based cocktail with lavender, rose syrup, elderflower and a touch of cranberry juice). If you are a fan of the pineapple and fervour fruit duo, go for the Ocha Sour, made utilizing Roku gin. You may 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.

Photo Credit: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai

After the delights of the Beijing Duck, our expectations reached a notch larger. The Chengdu Style Sliced Lamb With House Special 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 preferred pairing could be fried rice or hakka noodles. But 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 a complete was thus a symphony, not a cacophony, of spice and warmth. The lamb, sourced from New Zealand, was juicy and succulent.

Photo Credit: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai

If you are in search of a hen choice, go along with the Stir-Fried Shredded Chicken With Preserved Chilli Sauce. This can also be a spicy gravy that packs a flavourful punch. We suggest relishing it with yet one more Yi Jing speciality: hand-pulled la-mian noodles. Don’t overlook to snag a seat on the reside 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 to this point.

Photo Credit: Yi Jing, ITC Maratha, Mumbai

To finish our feast, we first tried Yuzu Mascarpone Cheesecake, Hibiscus Scented Fresh 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 moderately overpowering. What we appreciated higher was the Peanut Marquise, Ginger-Pineapple Ice Cream & Five Spiced Caramel. This is a decadent delight excellent for many who have reserved house of their tummies for dessert. But if you cannot deal with one thing too heavy, merely order the selfmade Ginger-Pineapple sorbet individually. This was expertly balanced: you might be first hit with the earthy flavour of ginger; simply as you count on the pungency to kick in, the tangy sweetness of pineapple involves your rescue. We would return for this.

Yi Jing shone a distinct mild on Chinese staples, in addition to the type of spiciness and aromas we count on from them. We had been impressed with the steadiness of subtlety and robustness in each dish we tasted. Whether you get pleasure from Chinese meals, prefer to discover Asian flavours or need to take pleasure in a lavish gastronomic feast, Yi Jing guarantees an unimaginable expertise you shouldn’t miss out on. 

Where: Yi Jing, Lobby Level, ITC Maratha, A Luxury Collection Hotel, 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
Cost for 2 (approx): INR.5000 plus taxes