After several months of renovation, Summer Palace of EDSA Shangri-La Hotel which is touted as one of the best Chinese restaurants in the Philippines finally opened its door again recently with a spanking new fresh and contemporary look. In line with the unveiling of the newly renovated restaurant, Summer Palace also introduces new menu items which give people more reasons to visit them again.
Summer Palace has been serving delicious and authentic Chinese cuisine to its guests for 22 years now. It has surely become part of the many milestones for most of us.
Can I share a little personal fun fact here? Yeah, my first ever official date was at Summer Palace. The guy and I did not end up together but to this day, we are still good friends and we still share the same love for Chinese cuisine at Summer Palace. I’m sure some of you have fond memories of this restaurant.
With the news of its re-opening, I joined some of my friends to check out the newly renovated Summer Place and to try some of the new dishes on the menu. Upon walking the hallway along the entrance of Summer Palace, one can immediately tell the newness of the vibe and ambiance.
I immediately fell in love with the tiled wall that features various Chinese porcelains which shows that the new design at Summer Palace was inspired by the Manila Galleon Trade of the past.
Inside, the iconic Crystal Room - the circular enclosure made of wooden latticework and the impressive crystal chandelier - was no longer in sight. However, the elegance and classic vibe of the place is still palpable.
While I love the previous interior, the new one feels more welcoming. Even the Peony Rooms exude the same vibe. We were told that in the coming days, new sets of plates and cutleries that match the new vibe of Summer Palace will soon replace the old ones.
Our luncheon start with servings of different types of pork buns. A delicious prelude to the amazing dishes that chefs Tony Sum, Andy Liew, and the awesome Ms. Nancy Farm created for Summer Palace's new menu additions.
Pleasant to the eye as well as to the palate, a band of appetizers were served and all of us were astounded by its beauty. The appetizer platter comprised of Oven-baked Shrimps and Eggtart in Wasabi Sauce, Summer Palace's Special Thousand layer Radish Roll, Sauteed Fresh Peeled Crab Meat and Scallops with Egg, Stuffed Crispy Dough with Minced Seafood and Pomelo in Wasabi Sauce.
Everything on the plate was impressive but my favorite among the lot was the Oven-baked Shrimps and Eggtart in Wasabi Sauce which reminds me of the seafood quiche my late grandma used to make for our family on special occasions. The Wasabi sauce on the tart was such a revelation. Another favorite was the Sauteed Fresh Peeled Crab Meat and Scallops with Egg. It simple echoes the freshness of the ingredients and the talent of the chef in one go.
We also had the Double-Boiled Nourishing Herb Maca with Kurobota Pork. It was a soup dish yes, but all things considered, it was a nourishing and comforting dish that one may enjoy een without the accompaniment of all the other dishes. It was so good, it was a universe of its own. From the tenderness of pork up to the flavorful broth, it was one of the best dishes I have had recently.
One of our main dishes was the Roasted Peking Duck served with Flavored Pancake. There were two generous platter servings of the Roasted Peking Duck so we got to enjoy one with the pancake and the other one, as it is.
Both were good especially the one served wrapped in flavored pancakes. The flavored pancakes which colors were a feat in itself includes beetroot flavor, pumpkin flavor, spinach and pandan flavor, and the original flavor.
There was also the U.S. Kurobota Pork in Mamak Sauce which I find downright delicious in its tenderness and savory flavor. It was Kurobota pork after all, hence the quality of the meat is expected to be stellar.
For the dessert we had Snowman and Baby Duck Bun Filled with Egg Custard and Chilled Lemongrass Jelly with Sherbet. It was so cute it was so hard to eat. My favorite was the Lemongrass Jelly with Sherbet as its refreshing flavor was perfect ending to our festive meal.
With its newly refurbished location and new items on the menu, now is the high time to visit Summer Palace at EDSA Shangri-La Hotel once again to enjoy all the delicious offerings they have.
Summer Palace is located at the second floor, Tower Wing of EDSA Shangri-La Hotel, Tower Wing, 1 Garden Way Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City, Manila, 1650, Philippines. For reservation, you may call (63 2) 633 8888 ext. 2929.
