New Dishes from Ping Pong Diplomacy, SM Aura

I love Chinese food mainly because of my family background, and  I've come across a new restaurant that doesn't just serve "fusion" cuisine. Interpretation would be a better word to describe their Chinese-American menu. So what exactly happens when two cuisines make amends? It's the Ping Pong Diplomacy. 🏓

Let's take a short history lesson first. After the Cold War, the first formal communication between the United States and China was the exchange of table tennis players. This was their first act of diplomacy. It was their first attempt to thaw the ice, and the inspiration behind the theme and name of this new restaurant conceptualized by techpreneur turned restaurateur Charles Paw. Together with Chefs Noel Mauricio and Him Uy de Baron, they came up with dishes designed to leave each customer surprised, intrigued, and definitely wanting more.

Stepping into Ping Pong Diplomacy is like taking a trip back in time to the seventies - when Americans didn't know much about China beyond stereotypes. The restaurant's interiors are reminiscent of Chinatown in the decade of bell bottoms and disco, and one can expect to enjoy music from the likes of the Beegees, Gloria Gaynor, and Queen as they enjoy their meals. Even the servers sport retro graphic tees with the names of the streets found in the different Chinatowns in the US printed across the front.

Ping Pong Diplomacy recently launched some new items to add to their current menu. Let's take a look at some of their progressive Chinese dishes! 😋

Crunchy Eggplant (P195)

battered eggplant, fragrant sauce, prickly ash

Soy Lacquered Roasted Chicken (P495)

roasted chicken, sweet potatoes, mandarin orange

Sweet & Sour Pork (P485)

pork spareribs, pineapple chunks, grilled apples

Sesame Beef and Broccoli

Lump Crab Scallion Oil Noodles (P585)

lump crabmeat, ginger scallion, spring onions

Yang Chow Fried Rice (P280)

shrimp, char siew, mustard greens, mizuna

Dan Dan Chicken Skin Rice (P335)

crispy chicken skin, fermented chili bean, toasted peanuts

Their most popular dishes include a Wonton Cheeseburger (P265), wagyu beef wrapped in a crispy wonton and served with a sharp cheddar as a starter. The Typhoon Shelter Grilled Prawns (P945), one of Hong Kong's culinary legends, is done Ping Pong Diplomacy-style, covered in crispy garlic and charred pickled vegetables. The Caveman Beef Rib (P625), a melt-in-your-mouth braised beef rib cooked in crispy shallots and zhenjang vinaigrette, is definitely not one to miss.

Fortune Balls (P150)

taro, ginger, and black sesame mochi, sesame crumble, pistachio cream

Mungo Buchi (P220)

deep fried buchi, red bean puree, mungo hopia ice cream

Why not have the Fortune Balls for dessert? Mochi is done with a Ping Pong Diplomacy twist, made with taro, ginger, and black sesame, dusted with sesame crumble, and served with a pistachio cream.

Ping Pong Diplomacy also has a takeout menu for when you're hungry in a hurry. There are buns, drinks, and other desserts you can grab through the grills. 

Oriental Burgers

Their oriental burgers come in three variations, 5-spice Chicken (P150), Cumin Pulled Lamb (P265), and Szechuan Pork Belly (P160) - each one skillfully layered between toasted baos. As a takeout dessert, you may choose between Ping Pong Diplomacy's own version of the Original Egg Tart (P80/piece, P299/box of 4) and Ice Cream Bun (P150), which is comprised of peanut cake, vanilla ice cream, and toasted bao.

Drinks

Ping Pong Diplomacy also boasts of a drinks menu that includes Rose and Plum Iced Teas (P150 and P110, respectively), a Cucumber Ginger Cooler (P110), and even a Hong Kong Milk Tea (P150).

For a unique experience of progressive Chinese fare, visit the Ping Pong Diplomacy at the 3rd floor of SM Aura Premier.

For more information:

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FOLLOW @pingpongdiplomacyph on Instagram

Love,

Helen

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