Dim sum trail and dessert platter at Yauatcha Bangalore

I have been to Yauatcha many times, I have also written a blog post about their new additions. As you would have read Yauatcha is an asian/chinese restaurant which serves great cantonese food which is one of the Eight Culinary Traditions of Chinese cuisine. Yauatcha is actually wordplay on the Cantonese phrase ‘Yum cha’, which means ‘to drink tea’- traditionally. But this visit was all about dim sum trail which was held during the 4th FBAB (Food Bloggers Association Bangalore) meet. 

You can avail the dim sum trail between 12 noon and 7PM. It cost Rs. 2000, all inclusive which is served for a minimum of 2 people. You can choose any 6 varieties out of 6 vegetarian and 7 non-vegetarian options. Yauatcha decided to choose 6 variants for the bloggers on the table.

Started with vegetable crystal dumpling and Chicken char sui bun. I have both of these in the past and they taste really good. The Chicken char sui bun is a little sweet but I have never had such a dim sum anywhere else so its turns to be my favorite. The Vegetable crystal dumpling was a clear dim sum where I could see the vegetables inside and taste good with a sauce.

Vegetable crystal dumpling

Chicken char sui bun

Baked vegetarian chicken puff, it contains egg and baked chicken puff was next. I got to try the Baked chicken puff and it was indeed good to taste. Oh by the way you read it right, the other one on the table was baked vegetarian chicken puff which was a vegetarian option. Prawn Har gau was next, a simple prawn dumpling filled with flavors.

Baked chicken puff

Har gau 

Fried turnip cake with vegetables was next on the table and is supposed to be their speciality. The vegetarians loved it while I did not like it much. Crispy duck roll and Crispy asparagus, pumpkin and corn roll was next. I have had the Crispy duck roll earlier and I still did not get the taste of the duck meat much. The veg roll was better.

Fried turnip cake with vegetables

Crispy asparagus, pumpkin and corn roll

Crispy duck roll

Chicken char sui cheung fun was the last one. The vegetarians had Crispy vegetable cheung fun. I am never found of cheung fun because of seasoned soy sauce. I would never mind eating the rice noodle roll lightly dipped in the sauce.

After this yummy dim sum trail, dessert platter was on the table. It had 4 desserts. Selection of macarons, Religieuse, Chocolate hazelnut mousse and Jasmine tea cake was on our platter. I guess the best way to enjoy the desserts at Yauatcha is when you share them. Having them all alone is no fun. Moreover they are amazingly good looking desserts. The dessert platter is priced separately.

It was a fun evening with loads of talking and dim sum tasting. Those craving to try only dim sums for their meal or pairing with tea, this would be the best option. 

The bunch at the dim sum trail

Lingering Lunch at Shiro with GourmetItUp experience

Mid week blues hit me and I wanted some change in my routine. Shiro was at my rescue service. I was invited by GourmetItUp for a review of the Lingering lunches at Shiro. I have been to Shiro many times and I knew my afternoon is going to be good with Chef Priyank taking care of the menu.

A little bit about GourmetItUp, it creates and curates customized food experiences. They are in their third year currently and have a strong hold in Mumbai, Delhi and Pune, entering the Bangalore market. They help in creating unique and exclusive dining experiences for its members, from off-menu meals to tasting experiences.

You must be wondering on how GourmetItUp works? Here is the answer: Diners register at GourmetItUp.com and browse through an extensive set of exclusive dining experiences. Diners can make a reservation at the click of a button and payments are made directly at the restaurant. Each experience clearly displays the menu, pricing and table availability and the GourmetItUp concierge can be easily reached via a call or live chat to answer any questions about an experience or to suggest experiences that best fit the occasion. 

I starter my meal with a refreshing mocktail names Orange and min virgin mojito. This is also Chef Priyank's favorite and has been on my order every time. It is refreshing and pairs my food well. During my meal I also had a mocktail with watermelon and soda.

The lingering lunches have 2 options for unlimited food apart from ala carte service. One can choose from Unlimited dim sums special and Unlimited Sushi and Maki special, both priced at Rs.850 plus charges and taxes. 

I started with the assorted veg dim sum platter which had Zucchini and coriander dumpling, spinach and corn dumpling, celery and pepper mushroom dumpling and chi chow dumpling. Can you believe that I enjoyed all the veg dim sums? I was very amazed with the taste and authenticity of the dim sums that I loved every bite. Without any dip, I enjoyed all, you can try with soya sauce or chilli paste which is served with it. Even I find it hard to believe that I enjoyed a veg platter more ;)

Next came the assorted non veg dim sum platter which had Celery and prawn dumpling, sui mai, hargau and chicken gyoza along with steamed chicken and shitake mushroom. I personally did not like marinated steamed chicken and shitake mushroom much. But the dumplings were amazing. As a prawn person, I loved hargau which had marinated prawns and steamed inside a translucent wrapper. While Sui mai had minced chicken and prawns and shitake mushroom steamed in a wonton wrapper. Given any weekday, I would prefer a dim sum special and have unlimited dims sums which floored my taste buds.

Steamed chicken and shitake mushroom

Next was Sushi and Maki Special. Starting with Veg sushi, I tried the cucumber, asparagus and shitake mushroom. I enjoyed the cucumber and asparagus sushi more than shitake mushroom. In non veg, I tried the red snapper sushi. I do not have taste buds for non veg sushi so I was hesitant to try tuna, spicy tuna mayo and salmon sushi.

Veg Maki and Veg Sushi (Left to right)

Non veg Sushi

Then came Maki. I have had Maki many times earlier but nothing tasted as good as Shiro. In veg, Crispy spicy avocado, vegetarian spicy California and Kappa maki was served which tasted exceptionally well. In non veg, california maki, tuna maki, prawn maki, new york maki, spicy chicken with shitake maki was served. I have developed a strong taste for Maki. I never knew they could be tasty especially when Chef Priyank has got his innovations too.

Non veg Maki

Ended my meal by having a cup of green tea which was very refreshing. I rarely have enjoy a good cup of green tea but Shiro did a fabulous job in bringing this lunch together. 

I had an amazing lunch taking my mid week blues out and raring to enjoy the weekend.

You can check the menu below for lingering lunch (ignore the spelling error in my name)

Yauatcha - New additions to the menu

Yauatcha is an asian/chinese restaurant which serves great cantonese food which is one of the Eight Culinary Traditions of Chinese cuisine. Yauatcha, might sound very different but it is actually wordplay on the Cantonese phrase ‘Yum cha’, which means ‘to drink tea’- traditionally. Not for today though as I was here to have a tummy full dinner.

They have some new additions to their menu due to which I was very excited to try them and also have some of my old favorites from the menu. I went to Yauatcha for my Christmas dinner with Arjun. Read on to know what I had and how did I find it.

Well stocked bar

I started my evening with Tokyo Sunrise, a combination of lemongrass, raspberry, guava juice, peach juice and elderflower syrup. It tasted well and a little sweet, just as I like. I have had this earlier too so I preferred this again. While Arjun had Orange & chilli mocktail which had a combination of orange juice, lemongrass, palm sugar, chilli and mint. A choky and spicy flavor settles with every sip.

Now, the dimsums were arriving, one after the other, the best one's. Started with Beetroot and celery dumpling followed by Pan fried Charcoal Lamb Bun which became my favorite. I wouldn't mind having another round of it but saved my tummy for other dishes. This could be had as an evening snack or even morning breakfast as I loved it.

Beetroot and celery dumpling

Pan fried Charcoal Lamb Bun

Crispy duck roll was served next where I did not get much taste of the duck meat, just a hint of it was felt. Then, Sugar chicken roll was served. As I took the first bite, I felt the presence of sugarcane which was firm and holding the entire chicken while fried. I found it innovative.

Crispy duck roll

Sugar chicken roll

Prawn and seaweed dumpling was served. While my love for seafood is obvious in my blog, this dumpling had the perfect taste of seaweed and prawn, it blended well and none of the ingredients over powered the taste. I requested for Sesame Prawn Toast which is my favorite. Minced prawn on a toasted covered with sesame seeds. I do not like sesame seeds but I prefer it in this dumpling only as juicy minced prawn on the toast is my comfort food.

Prawn and seaweed dumpling

Sesame Prawn Toast

I was absolutely hesitant to try Spicy squid cake as I feel nothing much can be done with squids except for frying them golden brown. With no expectation I tried this dumpling by which I was taken aback. The meat is mixed well with the batter, not giving me those onion rings type of taste or feeling. I am sure I will never ever miss this. I am glad that I did give this a try as this was the best squid I have ever had.

Spicy squid cake

Next, Wrapped chicken with black pepper was served. It was my choice as it was cool and breezy night. I wanted to have something with black pepper. A simple dish but full of its flavors. I can surely ask for one more as every bite was worth having.

Wrapped chicken with black pepper

Ok to much on non veg? Next I tried Vegetable yin yang dumpling. This dumpling was dipped in a sauce and served. Veggies aren't that bad too.

Vegetable yin yang dumpling

Don't judge me now. I asked for some soup. I chose the Hot and Sour with shredded chicken. Hot soup with chicken can be best had on a cool night. A little extra soya sauce was felt but I cannot complain as my tongue felt it right. Arjun had some Sweet corn soup with chicken where corn and chicken was minced. I would preferred mine soup more.

Hot and Sour with shredded chicken

Before main course was served, I tried Nara Iced tea which had Chilli vanilla sugar, cinnamon, passion fruit juice and jasmine tea. This was suggested by the server and I can trust his choice next time too. I love iced tea but this was different. the combination gave it a new feel to the tongue.

Nara Iced tea

I was still hungry, ok I have a good appetite especially when the food is very tasty. So it was time for main course. Stir-fry prawns in home town chilli sauce was served with Steamed Jasmine rice. Sweet in the beginning and spicy towards the end, this was the taste of the dish. Hints of cucumber, carrot, capsicum, cherry tomato along with prawns was exceptionally tasty.

Stir-fry prawns in home town chilli sauce

Steamed Jasmine rice

Stir-fry kam heyong lamb with steamed jasmine rice was next. I cannot choose which main course was better. Lamb was juicy and delish too. Jasmine rice did not have much taste of jasmine. I was too engrossed in prawn and lamb gravy.

Stir-fry kam heyong lamb with steamed jasmine rice

After long gap, dessert was served. Selection of macarons was served which had orange, chocolate and pista flavors. Raspberry delice was next, an amazing looking dessert which had Raspberry insert, dark chocolate mousse and hazelnut brownie served with raspberry ripple ice cream. I was too busy admiring the dish and did not feel like disturbing it, yet I had to else Arjun would have finished it. It was good and I prefer it having it with ice cream as it neutralizes the sweetness.

Selection of macarons

Raspberry delice

Next, Mango mascarpone gateau was served which was feuilletine crunch, parline (sugar candy) mascarpone (cheese) cream, litchi sorbet. Another superb looking dessert and every bite was cheesy and hints of crunchiness too.

Mango mascarpone gateau

Lastly, Religieuse was served which I have had earlier too. A chocolaty and filling dessert in true sense. It was a chocolate choux pastry with hazelnut cremeux, chocolate praline ganache (sauce) served with ginanduja (sweet chocolate) ice cream. One yummy chocolaty dessert it is and extremely filling too.

Religieuse

I was still standing on my feet after having all what was mentioned. It's very difficult to point out the mistake in any dish. My goodness, I can never ever get enough of Yauatcha. I am waiting to go back and try their other dishes too. Let me know which is your favorite.

Yummy