Wining and Dining at the New JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton Macau

The countdown is well under way for the grand opening of The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott in Macau. Wondering what is in store on the gastronomic front? Read ahead to find out what tantalizing treats will be on offer from the two hotel giants from May 27 until the end of July.

Brian Tong, general manager of JW Marriott Hotel Macau, says that “[food] is one of the passion points at the JW Marriott Hotel Macau.” So what does the hotel have on its plate to offer epicureans in Macau? To start with we have Urban Kitchen, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant which will offer a semi-buffet that will include Macanese, Portuguese, Tuscan, Cantonese, Sichuan, Beijing, Japanese and Korean cuisines as well as the now de rigueur seafood bar and a dessert station. Guests who indulge in Urban Kitchen’s buffet during the opening period will also be able to enjoy Peking duck for no extra charge. MOP228++ for lunch and MOP428++ for dinner.

Photo: Afternoon tea at JW Marriott's Lounge

The JW Marriott’s Lounge will offer the ever-so-popular afternoon tea set, as well as cocktails, beverages and what they are calling comfort food. Perhaps the ultimate high tea, the Perrier-Jouet Afternoon Tea Indulgence (MOP558++ for two) pairs tasty treats including ivory chocolate-dipped strawberries, hot berry strudel, and Champagne sorbet chocolate fizz with Champagne. We dare you to pass up the opportunity to make it free-flow bubbles at half off the original price of the upgrade (check back for the price) For a more responsible afternoon (but not nearly as much fun), try the signature set (MOP338++ for two) which includes the best of Macau with a modern twist: egg-white tarts, almond cakes, pork chop buns, and bak kwa. There is also a 50 percent discount offered if you just can’t resist adding a glass of bubbles (check back for the price).

Photo: Fried noodles with abalone and sliced pork from JW Marriott's Cantonese restaurant Man Ho

The JW Marriott Hong Kong’s restaurant Man Ho will be opening in Macau offering traditional Cantonese dishes and dim sum. To kick off the Macau opening, eight signature dishes from the Hong Kong outlet circa 1989 will be available including: Kurobuta pork loin glazed with honey, roasted chicken marinated with preserved red taro sauce, double-boiled sea whelk soup with matsutake mushroom, pigeon simmered with vintage hua diao wine, prawn with mayonnaise, pomelo skin braised with preserved shrimp roe, rice vermicelli sautéed with conpoy and scrambled egg, and chilled rice flour dumplings filled with strawberry cream. The best part is the 1989 prices, with dim sum starting at just HKD18.

Photo: Steamed crab claw with egg white in lobster bisque from The Ritz-Carlton's Lai Heen

Upstairs is the Ritz-Carlton and Lai Heen, the Cantonese fine-dining restaurant overseen by Head Chef Bill Fu. Chef Fu’s signature dishes include barbecued Iberian pork with honey, baked abalone puffs with roasted goose, steamed crab claw with egg white in hua diao wine, doubled-boiled chicken soup with fish maw and sea coconut in bamboo. Also, as an opening promotion, diners will be given a sample of Chef Fu’s signature XO sauce to take home.

Photo: French Valrhona hot chocolate from The Ritz-Carlton Cafe

The Ritz-Carlton Cafe will be bringing a range of traditional and simple French classics to Macau along with seafood platters, oysters, and a French afternoon tea set (free-flow hot chocolate for the opening period). French chef Raphael Kinimo is offering a free glass of French wine with the plat du jour menu. Guests will also receive a complimentary peach Melba when dining at the cafe.

Photo: Try one (or all) of the gin & tonics at The Ritz-Carlton Bar & Lounge

The Ritz-Carlton Bar & Lounge offers a Jewelry Afternoon Tea Set which includes smoked salmon with tangerine jam, sakura cream cheese puffs, and scones with blueberry jam and clotted cream. Have a cheeky (and complimentary) glass of Champagne as an opening offer along with a miniature Ritz-Carlton Grand-Marnier-infused Valrhona chocolate sponge cake layered with bitter caramel and orange ganache. Head to the bar and lounge in the evening for live music, a drink from the special gin and tonic menu (with a side of foie gras praline) and Asian tapas.

Other restaurants that are set to open in Macau in the future include a yet-to-be-named Gordon Ramsay restaurant that will be housed in the former Pink Grill in Sands Cotai Central, 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana to open in the Galaxy, and Shinji by Kanesaka in Crown Towers. Stay tuned for more information.

To read more about The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott Macau click here.

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