Bill Ip
Google
I had the opportunity to dine at Blossom last Sunday, hosted by a friend. While I can't deny that the ambiance of the restaurant is undeniably beautiful, the food did not live up to expectations, especially when compared to other renowned restaurants in Vancouver, the Bay Area, or even Hong Kong.
We started with the soup of the day, which was a significant letdown. Priced at $16 per bowl, it tasted more like a plain broth with salt, rather than the rich, flavorful Cantonese soup traditionally slow-cooked for hours.
The appetizers, including goose liver, duck wing, and jellyfish, were the only dishes that met an acceptable standard. However, the main dishes left much to be desired. We tried the crab with garlic and pepper, chicken in hot oil and scallion, steamed salty fish, garlic choy sum, and dried scallop fried rice. The ginger paste that accompanied the chicken was flavorless, and the chicken itself was disappointingly mushy.
The crab was poorly cracked, and while it was passable in taste, it didn’t live up to expectations. We had to ask for a crab cracker, and no moist towels were provided, which is a common courtesy in seafood restaurants. Despite the restaurant not being busy, our plates, piled with crab shells, were left unattended, and there was no busser to clear them away promptly.
The steamed salty fish, a traditional Cantonese dish, was also a disappointment. The meat patty was paper-thin and lacked any notable flavor, which was surprising for such a classic dish. The fried rice and vegetables were decent, but the overall experience fell short.
Considering the many glowing five-star reviews, I can only assume the chef was having an off day. The pricing of the dishes was fair, and the wine, although marked up, was priced at three times the market rate, which seemed reasonable.
A word of caution regarding dessert: there is a bird's nest in coconut priced at $198, which is quite extravagant.
Based on this experience, I cannot recommend Blossom as an authentic Cantonese restaurant. It seems more suited to tourists or gamblers staying at the Aria who prefer convenience over culinary authenticity.