Having a good meal is integral to our culture, good food and celebrations go hand in hand. The exceptional food quality from the Crystal Jade group of restaurants needs no introduction. Since it opened 25 years ago, Crystal Jade has since grown to 120 outlets strong, spreading the meaning of Chinese food and culture across 21 cities in 10 countries.

Despite the accolades, the team at Crystal Jade clearly did not rest on their laurels.  Its newest restaurant, Crystal Jade Prestige (located at the bustling Marina Bay Financial Centre) offers an intimate and elegant dining venue for families wishing to experience award winning modern interpretations of classic Chinese recipes. 

Its current promotion is the 10-course Signature Weekend Brunch that comes with an optional free flow serving of fine Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Champagne, often referred to as one of the most recognizable quality champagne in the world. Having dined there over the long Labor Day weekend, we found it the perfect place for special celebrations (e.g. Mothers’ Day, Fathers’ Day, a Wedding Anniversary perhaps) to harmoniously reconnect through good food.

The Signature Weekend Brunch allows every guest to customize their brunch menu according to their preferences. You can pick your 10 courses from the following selection and be served with an individualized portion (ala fine dining style):

• 5 out of 10 selections of Dim Sum
• 1 out of 4 selections of Appetiser
• 1 out of 3 selection of Roasts
• 1 out of 3 selection of Soups
• 1 out of 5 selection of Wok-Fried Dish
• 1 out of 3 selection of Desserts

Ambience:

Before I go any further, I must commend on the service and the ambience of Crystal Jade Prestige. It’s certainly not your usual usual Chinese tea-house restaurant. The décor and chandelier exude class while the prompt, personalized service made every guest a VIP in their own right. Excellent.

The Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Champagne:
This is one of the world’s best champagne due to its quality. The champagne is sweet, dry and pairs very well with food. Although I called for a pot of Pu-Er tea to cleanse my palette in-between dishes, the taste of the champagne lingered on.

Let me give a brief overview of the exemplary weekend brunch we had at Crystal Jade Prestige.  For Appetizers and Roasts, we chose:

BBQ Pork with Honey Sauce: This was tender and succulent BBQ pork, done just right with a slightly crispy outer layer balanced with honey sauce. Had us asking for more. 

Served on the same platter was the Deep-fried Cod Fish Cube with Passion Fruit Sauce. This had us go ‘wow!’ Fresh Cod fish coated in lightly fried batter but swathed in ‘not too sweet’ passion fruit sauce – sweetness and texture all melt in the mouth. 

For soup, we had the Scallop and Asparagus Thick Soup. Done light and not too thick, the soup had sweet succulent Scallop which surprises the palette with its freshness accompanied by the firm but yet not too thick texture of the soup. The fresh slices of asparagus added the crunchy texture to the entire soup.

Talking about texture, the next dish – the Crispy Pork Belly certainly has it. A light and crispy crust that adorns the soft, tender and succulent pork belly underneath. Savoury and tender flesh with a crispy exterior, best of both worlds.

The next dish has a personal nostalgic significance for me– Chilled Pig’s Ears: a delicacy which I used to enjoy with my late Grandfather. The layers are finely fused together, offering a crunchy yet delicate taste garnished lightly with its own sauce. Well done!

The Soya Sauce Chicken with Rose Wine was lightly roasted and its crispy skin with soft strips of tender flesh gives a light hint of the Rose Wine. Looks ordinary but seriously delicious!

For Dim Sums, we started with the Steamed Pork & Shrimp Dumpling topped with Caviar – a classic with a touch of Crystal Jade opulence. They taste so juicy and fresh. The caviar made the siew mai exceptional.

The unassuming Steamed Shrimp Dumpling with Bamboo Shoot is next. Beneath the delicate and translucent skin are chunks of fresh succulent shrimps accompanied by strips of bamboo shoots soaked in slow-brewed soup. Traditional goodness through and through.

Next, we had the Steamed Dumpling with Shrimp and Black Garlic. This savoury dim sum dish offers a tinge of sweetness from the fresh shrimp and the premium-quality wolfberry that tops it. Another traditional dish done perfectly!

The fine pastry of the Premium Abalones and Diced Chicken Puff had us full of praises. This is certainly a dish to remember for a long time to come!

To complete our dim sum experience, we had the Deep-fried Dumpling with Chinese Parsley. This pastry looks like our familiar curry puff but within its crackling pastry are lightly cooked fresh parsley that add that twang of herb to excite one’s palette. Be pleasantly surprised!

The final dim sum dish we savoured was the Poached Beancurd Skin rolled with Prawn in Superior Broth. I love this Beancurd skin dish because it soaked up the broth and the texture is smooth yet savory.

For the Wok-fried dishes,  the Deep fried Fish Skin with Salt and Pepper was Dana’s favorite. We couldn’t stop munching on the fish skins once we started.

The Sauteed Prawn with White Pine Mushroom and Black Truffle Sauce was phenomenal too. Accompany this with the champagne and the essence of the truffle sauce caps the dish off with a ‘wow’ sensation.

We also ordered the Simmered Fillet of Garoupa with Egg White and Sake. The Sake is added lightly onto the fish, well enough to accentuate the fresh taste of the thick fresh Garoupa fillet. 

I couldn’t forget how tasty the Crispy Chicken with Foie Gras and Mango was. Thick slices of premium Foie Gras accompanied by lightly crisp chicken, done just right. Never expected to eat Foie Gras in a Chinese restaurant. Exceptional!

For desserts, we opted for something light: the Lemongrass Jelly & Sour Plum in Lime which was a refreshing end to our delectable and very sumptuous brunch at Crystal Jade Prestige.  The Signature Weekend Brunch went beyond our expectations in both taste and service. Crystal Jade has outdone themselves once again, giving us a truly exceptional and unforgettable dining experience worthy of that special occasion.

An exceptional dining experience makes even the littlest jubilant! 

In celebration of Mother’s and Fathers’ Day, Crystal Jade Singapore will be launching a limited Weekend Champagne Brunch at their latest ‪ CrystalJadePrestige‬ outlet at Marina Bay Link Mall. 

$58/pax ($48 for DBS/POSB/Jadeite members), or $98/pax ($88 for DBS/POSB/Jadeite members) with free flow Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label champagne.

Available on Saturdays and Sundays, 11:30am to 3pm, from 1 May to 26 June 2016.  Make your reservation at 6509 9493! 

Crystal Jade Prestige

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8A Marina Boulevard, Marina Bay Link Mall (Ground Plaza of Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 1), #02-01

Operation Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11.30am – 3.00pm & 6.00pm – 10.30pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 11.00am – 3.30pm & 6.00pm -10.30pm
(Reservation for Mon-Sun, include eve of PH & PH)