Got an invite for Dragon Boat Festival at Taj Vivanta, MG Road, Bangalore – got to know that it’s a Chinese festival through social media. But after reaching Taj Vivanta got a clear picture about Dragon food festival from their Chef TONG (Executive Chinese Master Chef of Taj Vivanta) – The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival has a history dating back to thousands of years, Duonuvu Festival is usually celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar. It is one of the most important festivals in China, celebrated by colorful and lively races featuring narrow boats shaped like dragons.

Dragon Boat Festival at Taj Vivanta, M.G. Road, Bangalore

Dragon Boat Festival at Taj Vivanta, M.G. Road, Bangalore

Dragon Boat Festival at Taj Vivanta, M.G. Road, Bangalore

Dragon Boat Festival at Taj Vivanta, M.G. Road, Bangalore

Dragon Boat Festival at Taj Vivanta, M.G. Road, Bangalore

Dragon Boat Festival at Taj Vivanta, M.G. Road, Bangalore

Dragon Boat Festival at Taj Vivanta, M.G. Road, Bangalore

Dragon Boat Festival at Taj Vivanta, M.G. Road, Bangalore

With chef Tong

Dragon Boat Festival at Taj Vivanta, M.G. Road, Bangalore

Dragon Boat Festival at Taj Vivanta, M.G. Road, Bangalore

Dragon Boat Festival at Taj Vivanta, M.G. Road, Bangalore

I have been in Kuala Lampur for almost 1.5 yrs, at that time we use to have Chinese food, which liked to the core. But after I am away from Kuala Lampur and not it’s been almost 10 years, I had food at few Chinese Restaurant and nothing was upto the food that we get in Kuala Lampur. But after that the very first time I was about to have an authentic Chinese food was in this Dragon Food Festival which was specially created by Chef TONG, who has been here in Bangalore for almost decades.

Tomato sauce, Chilli sauce, Soy sauce and Cabbage pickle

Chinese Pok Choy and Waterchest nut Dumpling

Salt and Pepper Prawns

Sauces

Seafood Spring Roll

Tea

Double boil chicken with apple and ginseng (Chinese herb) soup

Sweet Corn Chicken soup

Virgin Pina colada

The restaurant was fully decorated right from the interiors till the bowls and plates they served us. The place was calm and peaceful, we enjoyed the place and more over the food. The chef prepared specially sweet corn soup for my kids, made the day more special. Also he explained about the food they served us and also about the festival. The Dragon Boat Festival was mind blowing and we had a wonderful time there. Let me share the food we had along with the pictures…

• Jasmine Tea – First of all they started with a jasmine tea, the aroma, taste was awesome. No sugar was added but I never ever had the bitter taste, as the tea was brewed to perfection.
• Starters –

o   Salt and Pepper Prawns – The prawns was very crispy and crunchy as they were fried with the skin and coated with loads of garlic and ginger. When accompanied with hot tomato sauce it was excellent. My kids too liked it to the core.

o   Deep Fried Seafood Salad Spring Roll – Usually I like spring roll, but as a seafood lovers, I liked the seafood salad spring roll. The spiciness and flavor was well balanced as good for kids and adults.

Traditional glutinous rice dumplings Zongzi

Steamed fillet grouper with black pepper and bean sauce

• Diced Tenderloin in yakiniku sauce and twist of mint

Stir fry slice chicken with seasonal Mango and Bell peppers

Noodles

Mango Dumpling

Steamed Mango Pudding

Coconut Ice cream with Mango slices

• Double boil Chicken with apple & Ginseng (Chinese herb) soup – We all liked this soup to the core and would suggest everyone a must to try. The flavor, taste and aroma was too good. When I asked about the chef – he told us that they take almost 2 hrs to prepare this soup. The apple, chicken and ginseng was cooked excellent as it gets melted in the mouth. A perfect soup for everyone.
• Stir fry slice chicken with seasonal Mango and Bell peppers – The chicken was juicy and the mangoes were soft but not soggy with the bell peppers. It was too good as the name, which will be a super duper kids among kids.
• Steamed fillet grouper with black pepper and bean sauce – The fish was softly cooked and was covered with the black pepper and bean sauce.
• Diced Tenderloin in yakiniku sauce and twist of mint – The flavor, aroma, color and texture was awesome. It was soft as it gets melted in the mouth.
• Traditional glutinous rice dumplings Zongzi – The very first time I had this rice and liked it. Soft, sticky and melts in the mouth.
• Steamed Mango Dumpling – Dumplings are usually too good in Chinese cuisine, Imagine a mango dumpling, mango lovers go crazy for it. A must to try.
• Chilled Mango Alponso Pudding – No words for the pudding, perfect texture, taste and color.
• Coconut Ice cream with Alponso Mango – Coconut Ice cream, very first time had such a delicious coconut ice cream served with small pieces of Alponso Mango. When consumed both together – no words need to find out something new (Heavenly). I am drooling now…

A must to try, never ever miss this Dragon Food Festival and fulfill you cravings for perfectly done Chinese cuisine.

Thanks to Taj Vivanta, for your invite and thanks to chef TONG, for serving us yummy, delicious, heavenly and outstanding Chinese cuisine, we all liked it to the core.