BLOSSOM UNFOLDS AT CITYCENTER WITH CHINESE CUISINE FOR EVERY PALATE

Diverse Menu Offers Far-Eastern Authenticity and Western-Friendly Variations

LAS VEGAS – Guests to Blossom discover the triumphs of Chinese cuisine through a 100-dish line up that spans every preference, from comfortably classic to cutting-edge.

The meticulously researched menu offers the best of China’s culinary wisdom tailored for the western palate and a more contemporary Chinese collection brimming with trend-forward dishes fresh from Beijing and Hong Kong. Blossom’s modern décor by Studio A Design brightens traditional Chinese design principles with a contemporary color palette apropos of the restaurant’s festive Las Vegas context. Bursting with exotic ingredients, intoxicating aromas and welcome surprises, Blossom invites to its table fans of both classic and modern Chinese dining.

The restaurant’s diverse menu, printed in both English and Chinese, allows diners to traverse the expansive terrain of China’s gustatory heritage, with generous listings of appetizers, soups, meats and seafood, noodles, rice and vegetable dishes. Many dishes, designed for western tastes, offer smart modifications of the classics, while others venture into less-charted territory with authentic traditions and nouveau discoveries straight from China’s urban centers.

Specialty items offer universal appeal and enliven Blossom’s menu with creativity and esprit. A specialized wok makes possible the restaurant’s signature appetizer, Goose Liver with a touch of Black Pepper. Temperature settings of up to 500 degrees allow the flash searing that foie gras requires and introduce a capability rare to Chinese restaurants. Beef Tenderloin enjoys the high heat as well, gorgeously charred on the outside, cooked to order on the inside, and served on a bed of portabella mushrooms with black pepper sauce. Another signature dish fries Veal Cheeks with scallion, cilantro and jalapeno for a spicy Chinese variation that preserves the delicacy’s tenderness and unique texture.

Blossom’s live seafood tank provides another atypical offering, with individually regulated compartments that recreate thermal requirements for sea creatures from around the world. Cold water critters like Alaskan Crab (some up to 25 pounds) and Maine Lobster neighbor near warm water species like Australian Crystal Crab and tropical fish from Thailand. California’s plentiful coast is well represented by Spot Prawns from Santa Barbara and Dungeness Crab. Preparation possibilities are similarly expansive, from sashimi style to garlic steamed to crispy salt-and-pepper fried.

For those prepared to further explore the Chinese culinary imagination, Blossom’s authentic Chinese dishes offer transport. Chef Chi Kwun Choi researched the menu with a quest-trip to China in search of the most current cooking trends. Alongside old-time standards like Chilled Marinated Pig’s Ear, Marinated Duck’s Tongue and Braised Bamboo Fungus, guests will also find delicious abalone preparations, such as Braised Sliced Fresh Abalone with Fish Maw (air bladder), and Geoduck (giant clam) prepared in a shibu-shibu style currently en vogue in Hong Kong and Thailand. With advanced notice, at least 20 additional, hard-to-find specialty items can be procured for guests as off-menu requests – perhaps Cordyceps Soup, a popular trend, made from a winter “worm” fungus known to benefit the respiratory system.

The art of tableside prep brings a touch of festivity to a number of Blossom’s gourmet selections, as attendants carve Peking duck, fillet seafood and poach geoduck in boiling broth for guests’ enjoyment. Desserts similarly cater to disparate inclinations, with a variety of French pastries from Jean Philippe Patisserie (the creation of ARIA’s executive pastry chef) available alongside traditional Chinese choices like Sweet Soup of Chilled Mango, Sago, and Pomelo.

Blossom’s wine menu draws from ARIA’s vast master list to offer an impressive range of vintages. Both well-established and emergent wine regions find representation, as do labels both affordable and rare. In keeping with ARIA’s environmental commitment, the list showcases a selection of sustainable, organic wines from the world’s best producers and regions.

Sensual and sophisticated, the restaurant’s décor by Studio A Design integrates a contemporary color palette of deep pinks, jade greens and woody browns into the classic red and black chromatics of a more traditional Chinese aesthetic. Ceiling-high screens of svelte beauty divide Blossom’s 134-seat dining room into avenues of tables, then interlock overhead to create delicate, arbor-like shelters. Smooth white pillars twinkle with lacy, blossoming branches made of inlaid mirror, while across a deep gray ceiling, the same swirling, mirrored design achieves a contrasting effect. Curved and covered banquettes fashion intimate alcoves wrapped in tiered architectural structures reminiscent of circular pagodas. Deep wood floors unite the space throughout, and white tablecloths finish it with elegance. For private dining, five VIP rooms seat up to 32 guests between them.

Located near ARIA’s VIP gaming area, Blossom offers a rare taste of authentic China for those ready to explore its depths, as well as exquisite renditions of tried-and-true favorites for its American audience.

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Media Contact:
Andrea Brown
MGM Resorts International
(702) 650-7534
abrown@mgmresorts.com