A year or so into operations at The Ritz-Carlton, Nanjing, three things are apparent as to the dining therein. That the quality of ingredients employed is second to none, that attention to detail is at a level to be expected and that Sprite does not equal Pepsi.
Rolled out last month, “Tour Around the World” is The Ritz-Carlton, Nanjing’s Sunday brunch-time extravaganza, one created with a delightfully simple concept in mind. If practicalities prevent us from visiting other countries to sample their delicious cuisine, then they should come to us.
And so we swanked up to Deji, where in The Ritz-Carlton, Nanjing, May is destination Argentina. And you know what that means. Meat, and as it appears, literally tons of it.
Rather than dive straight in, we sensibly took a relaxed stroll to explore the bountiful offerings in such an exquisite setting. Indeed, it is very difficult to know where to begin.
Just seeing the size of the meats had this correspondent pining for days in Shanghai 2 decades ago when a quarterly treat was the Argentina-inspired joint that seemingly got the whole city talking.
Putting those memories firmly aside, and now knowing the price tag of ¥398 per person looked like it was going to undoubtedly present us with value for money, we turned to the appetisers.
Steak salad, in which the meat and custom dressing are impeccably paired, remains highlight of the experience for this correspondent. Coming a close second, Grilled Chicken Mango, another Argentinian specialty.
Elsewhere, cheese lovers will be attracted by the Pastel De Choclo and Canelones de Espinaca Ricotta Caseros, while yes, Argentina seemingly does pizza too.
For the sloth in you, then there is a kind of buffet in reverse, whereby a chef wheels a veritable cauldron of meat cuts from table to table. Simply sit back, select one (or three) and snap a WeChat Moment.
But what about those cuts? Whether it be beef, lamb, pork or chicken, the intensity of the flavours therein really shines through. For some, it will be frankly too much, but perhaps Argentinians don’t like it any other way. Either that, or the German chefs at Ritz Carton, Nanjing don’t like it any other way.
Also worthy of special mention is the Peppermint Chocolate Mousse Cake; dessert perfection and another favourite in Argentina, or so The Nanjinger was told.
As for the liquid end of things, Mate tea, the South American country’s national drink, is presented with a somewhat unique metal straw (tea is hot, btw), which flattens out at the lower end into a filter for the leaves. It’s also perhaps intended to hide the fact that the tea itself is, well, a little too “English”.
Meanwhile, for an additional ¥138, indulge yourself with free flow of beer and a truly outstanding Argentinian Merlot.
So until worldwide travel becomes a possibility again for most of us, Sundays at Lavandula remain the next best bet. And they even stamp your passport for you.
The monthly Tour Around the World continues every Sunday, by visiting Italy in June, followed by Australia, Spain, Indonesia, Russia and Turkey, before appropriately ending the year in the USA for Christmas. Visit five countries and get a free lunch.
Lavandula is located on 38F of The Ritz-Carlton, Nanjing, at 18 Zhongshan Lu (above Deji Plaza Phase 2). Tel: 69788888.
