Splendor Garden Cantonese Restaurant 1049, JianShing (ChienHsing) Road, 15F (The Splendor Hotel) (04) 2328-8000, ext. 6881 Hours: 11:30 am-2 pm, 6-9.30 pm

Exquisite Cantonese dining at Splendor Garden

By Niang Chen (³¯¥§©ù)  Translated by Heidi Yong (·¨ÀRÁø)

       The Splendor Garden Cantonese Restaurant has opened its doors to serve authentic Cantonese food since the renaming of the Grand Formosa Hotel to The Splendor Hotel in July, 2001. This 15th-floor place is spacious and luxurious, providing diners with a mesmerizing night view of Taichung through the large windows. This contrasts starkly with the traditional "yam char" places that serve dim sum and tea all over Hong Kong.

All the items are served a la carte style and everything on the menu is low-fat, low-salt and low-cholesterol. There is, however, no compromise in taste, as the chefs specialize in authentic true-blue Cantonese cuisine. Some of the delectable dishes include the Assorted Seafood with Bean Curd ($380), which combines fresh scallops, squid and other seafood with yummy, melt-in-your-mouth tofu.

      If you are one who adores dim sum, there's the Dim Sum Platter for $180. The Stir-Fried Lotus Stem with Garlic Sauce is said to be second to none and love at first bite for most. The Chinese Pastry Stuffed with Minced Prawn in Spicy Sauce ($320) is a delight to the palate and the XO sauce gives the dish that extra "oomph". This truly Cantonese dish can hardly be found in any other run-of-the-mill Cantonese restaurants.

       What is Cantonese cuisine if it's not rounded off with the restaurant's exquisite nouvelle desserts, like Papaya with Almond Sweet Soup ($120) and Water Chestnut with Lemon Soup ($120). Splendor Garden also serves Vegetarian Set Meals at $680.

       The restaurant has private function rooms and is open all year. For those who are tired of slaving over the stove for that yearly reunion dinner, give your family a treat. Call Splendor Garden and have them reserve a table for you.