NOTHING BEATS devouring a unique chicken specialty like the one at Jasmine, the restaurant at New World Makati Hotel. It’s flavored with meticulously prepared, great-tasting ingredients and carries a rich history you can almost taste, though only after a little hard work.
Maybe “hard work” is an overstatement, but little did we know we’d need some carpentry skills before tasting the famous Beggar’s Chicken, wrapped in dough and cooked slowly in an oven for more than four hours.
When the specialty was served at our table, we were handed a wooden hammer and told to start tapping the top of the dough with care until the chicken meat wrapped in lotus leaves was revealed. It wasn’t hard, but the feeling of putting in some effort before tasting the famed chicken adds to the charm of dining at Jasmine, which is known for its authentic Chinese cuisine and is one of The Philippine Tatler’s Top 20 Restaurants of 2016.
The Beggar Behind the Dish
Beggar’s Chicken got its name from the story of a beggar who once buried a chicken in the ground for the next day’s meal. Fate had other plans: fire swept through his place for several hours, and when the beggar went looking for “his chicken,” he found it well cooked and tastier than the usual kind. That story inspired the Jasmine chefs to make the specialty, said Jannette Delgado, the hotel’s director of sales and marketing. She and the hotel’s social media manager, Kye, hosted us during our lunch and filled us in on their offerings in between stories about tourism and, yes, the much-heated Philippine politics ahead of the May 9 polls.
Executive Chinese Chef Wong Kam On expertly prepares Beggar’s Chicken with the freshest ingredients and traditional techniques. Sought after for its customary presentation, aromas, and savory flavors, it’s offered for lunch and dinner at P1,680. Call the hotel at +63 2 811 6888 (ext. 3338) in advance if you wish to order one, as availability is limited each day.
Kim hammers the dough covering before the meat is revealed.
Feel free to taste it. This is Beggar’s Chicken at New World Makati Hotel’s Jasmine.
What to Order With It
Beggar’s Chicken is best enjoyed with a variety of finely crafted dim sum, including Xiao Long Bao, Wagyu Beef, Mango Roll, Pork Spareribs, and more. Diners can also partake of the unlimited dim sum offer daily for lunch, for only P998 per person. Jasmine also offers a new variety of premium teas. Prices include service charge.
Located on the second level of New World Makati Hotel, Jasmine is open daily for lunch and dinner and has four private dining rooms for special occasions and functions. Check out their website for more info.