As an Asian myself, I am extremely picky with Asian food. For Filipino cuisine alone, I feel like someone has committed a mortal sin when he serves a less-than-stellar version of my favorite dish, something I grew up eating and know how to cook. Asian flavors are so distinct that you know when a dish has been modified or “muted down”, but at Azure Beach Club at the Crimson Resort & Spa, this was accomplished without disrespect to the recipes you are used to—while trying to elevate them, as well.
Azure Beach Club’s menu features a wide selection of Asian fare—including Thai, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Singaporean, Indonesian, Chinese, Vietnamese, and of course, Filipino. With the chef de cuisine, Rajesh Kumar Chouhan, being Indian, I knew I was in good hands in terms of Indian food, so we ordered mostly Indian dishes. From the open kitchen, you will see him working expertly in front of the tandoor, making delicious naan and piercing pieces of chicken with oversized steel skewers.
The naan gets to your table piping hot, beautifully crisp, buttery, and delicious. Chef Rajesh’s version is somewhat thinner than what you typically get in other Indian restaurants, but it still has some of that chewy parts that I like. The chicken tandoori has charred parts from the clay oven. There’s a kachumber salad on the side—made of tomatoes, cucumber, onions, and lemon juice—as well as delicious mint chutney.
Chef Rajesh’s Indian food, although admittedly a little toned down for my taste, stays true to the flavors and cooking methods. Another testament to this is the Prawn Biryani, which was incredibly delicious that it basically vanished in seconds. Azure makes their biryanis in a dum; this is a traditional Indian slow-cooking method using a clay pot sealed with dough. I would’ve liked it to be spicier to be honest (I went to India years ago, there’s no such thing as “not spicy” in there), but I understand that the food needs to cater to all kinds of tastes and preferences. I didn’t mind because flavor-wise, it was spot-on (also, how can I complain, I basically inhaled the whole plate, YUM). I loved the cilantro pesto used in it as well as the side cumin garlic raita.
(Tip: if you love Indian food and you prefer stronger flavors, you can probably mention that when you order—I’m sure they will be happy to accommodate your request.)
With Azure’s beachside location, it’s unwise to skip seafood, so make sure you order from their selection of fish and shellfish freshly caught daily. We tried the Fresh Aklan Oysters which are served on ice with a side of yuzu mignonette. The onion, pepper, vinegar, and yuzu flavors further highlight the simplicity and freshness of the oysters. What an indulgence, this one.
Whatever happens, don’t skip dessert. My brother and I shared a Matcha Lava Cake, which is—do I dare say this?—the BEST LAVA CAKE I’ve had so far. Slicing the cake reveals a delicious and powerful matcha and white chocolate sauce. I remember my Gaggan experience wherein we had to lick our plates in one of the courses—this matcha sauce is worth licking! No, it demands to be licked, actually! It comes served with a scoop of pili nut ice cream that is almost as mind-blowing as the cake itself. This is probably one of the best desserts I’ve ever had.
Azure Beach Club sits right next to Crimson’s private stretch, so if you’re planning to head over for dinner, I recommend getting there in time for sunset so you can enjoy some cocktails while admiring the view. The restaurant also has an alfresco area, which is a lovely choice for small groups. As for the cocktails, I highly recommend their gin-based cocktails like Pipino (cucumber, rosemary), and Azure G&T (star anise, cinnamon, clove). J’s Pool Bar is just right next to Azure so you can enjoy 50% off on drinks from 10AM to 12 midnight!
Azure hosts a Foam Party as well every Saturday from 12 noon to 3 pm, where walk-ins and checked-in guests can enjoy a lunch buffet and play in the pool for 3 hours. With a DJ to complete the beach party vibe, this is a Saturday Boracay thing you wouldn’t want to miss. I’m doing a separate post on this so stay tuned!
For the fussy epicurean, a visit to Azure Beach Club is a must. The whole team has carefully thought of everything and it shows—from the fun, relaxed vibe and friendly service to the amazing food and drinks. Up to this day, I am still thinking about the food, most especially the biryani and the lava cake, and I can’t wait to hit up the island again just to trudge over to Azure for some refined, delicious Asian food.
~*~
Azure Beach Club
Crimson Resort and Spa
Station Zero, Punta Bunga Beach, Boracay, Aklan
+6336.669.5888
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