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| flatlay by @johnbunag |
Origins Yu Lei is originally from Okada in Hongkong and so is its Michelin-starred Japanese Chef Mikiya Imigawa.
Yu means Jade
Lei Blossom
Per Shelly Bernardo ( Marketing)Yu Lei or Jade Blossom, apparently symbolizes the beautiful Lotus flower which blooms amidst adversity.
First Sight Elegant. Opulent. Extravagant – the adjectives that came to mind when I entered Yu Lei. 
A wall to ceiling wine cellar housing the most expensive and rare wines all over the world 
A glittering hallway with lofty ceiling and more than 10,000 pieces of delicate hand blown lotus flowers (by a Czech artist ) encased in glass walls on both sides intrigued and impressed! 
In the main dining area, 10000 pieces of hand blown crystal lotus flowers adorn the ceiling while a predominantly purple, gold and maroon theme greets the eyes. 
Just outside the restaurant, you can go for a romantic stroll before dinner and catch an unobstructed view of the amazing sunset . 
First Bite.
What happens when a Michelin-starred Japanese Chef uses Japanese ingredients in Modern Shanghai cuisine? You get a unique cuisine that is distinctly Yulei. 
Seasonal Vegetables in Tofu Skin Roll
Think spring roll. In lieu of the regular wrapper though, Chef Mikiya used Tofu Skin . Another difference was that it was served cold
Pan Fried Steamed Kurobuta Pork Belly & Vegetable Buns
Home-made and house-knead bun no less filled with savory minced pork and assorted vegetables.
Seasonal Mushrooms and Vegetable Spring Rolls
Familiar and comforting, this dish clearly echoes our very own local lumpia which is understandable considering the Chinese influence in our history
Grilled Chicken & Black Truffle with “YouLin” Sauce in Casserole
Chicken was marinated in youlin sauce then garnished with black truffle. This is the most popular dish of the night with most foodies liking how tender and flavorful the chicken was.
Stir-fried King Prawns in Kung Pao Sauce
Stir fried King Prawns were succulent and scrumptious. Loved the mushroom and the Kung Pao Sauce.
Oven-Baked Grouper Fillets with Rice Wine Sauce
I loved that the fish were baked and in awe of the technique that went into it. Fish can be easily overcooked with this method of cooking
Crispy Sweet & Sour Kurobuta Pork in Three Types of Vinegar
Interesting how the apple jam, black vinegar, white vinegar and apple vinegar blended together create a harmonious backdrop for the crispy Kurobuta. Might just replicate this at home using the 3 types of acidity to create sweet and sour pork
Stir-fried Ten Types of Seasonal Vegetables in Soy Sauce
Tried to identify the 10 types of vegetables in the dish. I tasted the brussel sprouts, bokchoy, carrots, different types of mushrooms . This dish reminded me of our very own chopsuey
Yangzhou Fried Rice
The rice was really delicious and it married well with the different dishes served that night especially the chicken.
Black Sesame Dumplings with Sweet Jasmine Soup
This dessert is reminiscent of our very own bilo bilo sans the coconut cream
Chilled Almond Tofu with Seasonal Fruit
Mango jelly with Coconut Milk & Tapioca
Quite enjoyed the silky mango jelly and how it was nicely complemented by the “gata” and the “sago”.
Deep-fried Golden Sesame Balls
Among all the desserts served that night, this was my favorite. I loved how perfectly thin, crunchy and chewy the outer wall is preparing the palate for the filling inside which was also delicious
Egg Tart
The crust is perfectly thin and chewy with flaky layers. Think puff pastry instead of the shortbread crust you would expect from the quintessential egg tart we know.
Overall,
One goes to Yu Lei not only for the food but for the whole experience.
Michelin-starred Chef, top notch service (thank you Joseph and Shelly) , elegant surroundings, what’s not to love?
Well perhaps the price. It is really expensive. So you go here for the special milestones in your life.
Personally, I feel we just grazed the tip of the iceberg on this one. I am still wrapping my head around the idea of the fusion of Japanese ingredients into Modern Shanghai cuisine.
I am all agog for a second visit to try the best selling items in the menu.
I keep having the nagging feeling that we did not order the dishes that would best showcase Yulei’s cuisine.
