One lone Dragon is making a roaring roar at Universal Orlando Resort new theme park Epic UniverseOn May 22, the first American-themed park in 24 years will open. There’s a whole world dedicated to this mythical creature. How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of BerkA giant statue of a dragon greets visitors to the pan-Asian Restaurant across from the Celestial park section. The Blue Dragon.
Robert Martinez Jr., Universal Orlando Resort’s executive chef and director of culinary, said: “We wanted to respect the cultures.” Travel + Leisure About the full-service restaurants located near the park Universal Helio Grand Hotel, A Loews Hotel. “We did not want to reinvent our own twist but rather have pan-Asian influences, encompassing different parts of Asia.”
The menu includes chicken khao soi Thailand inspired peanut shrimp noodles tonkotsu ramen By Japan, double-fried chicken wings from Korea. Even more complex Chinese dishes are available, including dan dan noodle soup and wonton in spicy oil that highlight Sichuan’s southwestern flavor, beef noodle soup from the western province Xi’an and dim sum from Guangdong. Snowflake potstickers are also available, fused with a lace-like crust like the ones I saw in Taiwan.
Chef explained that the chef added even more inclusion by substituting tofu for the pork used in the traditional mapu-tofu recipe. This provided a vegan choice.
“What’s wonderful about Universal and our team of chefs is that we’re all so diverse,” he noted, pointing out that many team members are of Asian descent. “A number of us were asking the chefs, as we worked out the recipes, if this brought them home. Does this look like something your mother or grandmother might make?
To ensure the food is authentic, it was taste-tested in the dining areas of team members with a larger audience. “More diverse team members who have their own unique twist would say “You know, my family does it that way” as they adjusted the flavors.
He said that the only dish we added our own twist to was the moon cake, which is a Chinese sweet treat filled with red beans paste. In our case, it’s a delicious passionfruit-cheesecake with a bit of mango jelly in between. He explained that the change came from a love of food and was done with guests’ preferences in mind.
In addition to the food, the style of serving is thoughtfully done. “We have a special place in our heart when it comes to Asian cuisine—it’s how we like to eat,” he said, explaining that it’s not just about the dishes, but about the communal style of dining too. “Things are served as they are made. This allows for the culture of eating and sharing with family around the table that is so closely associated with Asian cultures. “It’s about the whole experience, not just the flavor.”
The neon signs in the restaurant made me squeal with delight. They were so reminiscent to my Asian travels. There was one with cartoons that showed soup dumplings being snatched by chopsticks, and another with shapes of foods from Taiwanese street markets. My favorite piece of decor—perhaps in all of Epic Universe—was the happy noodle cat over in the restaurant’s Tiger Bar. It’s a mix of two Asian customs: the cat beckoning, which is believed to bring in good fortune and prosperity, and the slurping, which is seen as a way to politely show that you are enjoying your meal.
The main dining area was awe-inspiring with its traditional red pagoda and a fake night sky. Rodriguez described it as “a golden garden with moving lanterns, so you are literally dining under stars while listening to music with an upbeat beat.”
The room on the left had place settings and tableware which reminded me of the Asian restaurants that I used to frequent in California and Taiwan. The room had traditional screen doors and it wasn’t until Rodriguez clued me in that I noticed art was of Celestial Park’s skyline but in the style of traditional Asian illustrations—a little Easter egg hidden for those in the know.
Adam Rivest, Universal Creative’s vice president for creative management and brand, told T+L that The Blue Dragon offers a full tea service. He said that it’s not something you would normally find in a theme-park. “But, it’s awesome to sit down and enjoy a relaxing Asian inspired tea during the day.”
Rivest noted that Epic Universe has 30 restaurants, which are a crossroads of cultures. If you’re looking for French-inspired cuisine at Café L’air De La SirèneNordic cuisine is available at Mead HallOr barbecue at The Oak & Star TavernIt’s all about getting your dishes right.
Rodriguez stated that they did not want to create anything which would disrespect cultures. “We want you to feel the authenticity of our message in a way to show that we are really paying respect.”
