Rockpool Dining group’s newest dining destination, Jade Temple, officially opened yesterday in Sydney’s CBD.
Jade Temple is the new sister of Spice Temple in the Rockpool Dining Group portfolio, offering a classic and engaging Cantonese dining experience underscored by an outstanding drinks list to complement the refined flavours.
The menu features classic dishes, delivered with a little creative licence and a bounty of Australia’s finest and sustainable produce.
Hero dishes include roast meats such as char siu and whole roast duck; fresh seafood from the tank, wok-tossed and served with a variety of Cantonese sauces; and lemon chicken. The lunch menu includes a selection of dumplings, steamed buns and wontons.
Relaxed and eclectic, the restaurant’s decor is inspired by the heritage Burns Philp & Co. building it inhabits at 11 Bridge Street, as well as Asia’s colonial past.
Designer Grant Cheyne has drawn on a melting pot of influences, with touches of Chinese nostalgia in a pair of antique, cast iron Chinese guardian lions at the entrance, a western interpretation of traditional Chinese motifs and artworks, and light fittings imported from China with custom-designed chandeliers and handmade bamboo shades.
Elegant folding screens gracefully conceal the kitchen, duck drying cabinets and seafood tanks from dining room, while plantation shutters add an intimate note. A mezzanine area offers additional dining space, as well as a bar that provides a more discrete space for guests to enjoy pre or post-dinner drinks.
There is also a drinks list to match, including fun-loving cocktails named after mythical characters from Chinese folk lore with Cantonese flavours at their core. Cocktails feature in-house, tailor-made ingredients, syrups and infusions that put a signature Chinese tiki spin on the list.
A 300-strong wine list strikes a balance of bins from around the world with a strong focus on wine regions that lend themselves to Cantonese food, including Loire Valley whites, Austrian and German whites, red and white Burgundy, and Rhone Valley reds. The list also extends to a solid range of more familiar Australian wine styles.
Rockpool Dining Group Culinary and Brand Director Neil Perry said the group’s philosophy of incorporating world class service with a deep respect for the highest quality produce was at the heart of the Jade Temple experience.
“Cantonese food is very produce driven and at Jade Temple we will present some wonderful classic dishes, some that may even seem a cliché such as sweet and sour pork, lemon chicken, and honey prawns, but are classic for a reason,” he said. “When cooked well, with beautiful produce, they sing.”
Rockpool Dining Group Chief Executive Officer Thomas Pash said it was exciting to join forces with Neil and to open the first new restaurant concept as a combined group.
“This is an amazing time for our group as we add another memorable brand to our premium restaurant portfolio,” Mr Pash said.
“We believe Jade Temple will resonate well in Sydney and will have enormous potential to expand into other markets.
“We’re very much looking forward to showcasing our exceptional Cantonese food, innovative and fun.
Jade Temple is located on 11 Bridge St, Sydney NSW 2000.
