2020 has been a long decade. But it is indeed true that good things come to those who wait. Ladies and Gentlemen, the moment you have all been waiting for! Brunch in Nanjing, at the Ritz Carlton.
We ventured downtown for the premier brunch at Lavendula, the newest foodie destination for lovers of fare with flair. I was accompanied by The Brunch Bunch, in whose illuminating company I travel to Shanghai every once in a while, to delight in the Epicurean fabulousness of The Shanghai Brunch scene. Expectations are high.
Upon arrival, the service is self-assured and attentive. We were greeted at the lobby and escorted to the elevator. Located on the 35th floor of The Ritz Carlton in Deiji Plaza, the views from the floor to ceiling windows lay Nanjing at the feet of the enthusiastic bruncher.
The understated elegance of the dining room sets the scene for a chic dining experience. Lamps, noble woods and light fabrics all bathed in natural light make the stroll through the anterooms almost ethereal, though I was also probably lightheaded by the hunger which suddenly overcame me. Packed ice nestled lobsters, prawns, oysters and scallop, crab claws and mussels, together with fresh fish and lemon wedges. Cheeses and charcuterie, fresh salad and lightly braised vegetables, bubbling noodles and a readying creperie fought the cityscape for attention. We are warmly greeted and seated.
It is noon, and the salons have yet to fill up. Anticipation is heavy in the air. Very Bloody Marys arrive, crisp and spicy, mixed to perfection on tiny wooden trays. Before us, the city spreads to the horizon. The linen is of high cotton count. The Brunch Bunch appraises the menu. There is a basic option starting at ¥688, and a free-flow Perrier Jouet Gran Brut Champagne option for ¥988, both discounted by 10 percent as an opening gift from the establishment. There is a page of cocktails and another of main courses, which the Bruncher may order. The first course is served to the table, “family style”.
A mountain of ice arrives, bedecked with lobster, oysters, mussels, scallop and octopus. Spanish cold cuts, impeccably plated, with Mediterranean veg dishes and a cheese plate, salad and charcoal breads filled with crab cake that melt in the mouth and leave black bits between your teeth, giving us all a rather ghoulish look, until one kind soul has the benevolence to tell us.
The champagne flows freely. A freshly baked breadbasket is devoured and replaced. Despite a certain restlessness in the Bunch; wandering and designing plates is such a joy of the experience and we are unaccustomed to forgoing this particular delight, we are also happy to be served dish after dish of superbly prepared victuals. It also doubtless minimises waste and maximises the quality of the produce. We order more oysters. They are obscenely good.
The main courses arrive to oohs and ahhs. Crab cake, topped with poached eggs and hollandaise; and an imposing rack of lamb on a bed of braised baby potatoes and carrots are showstoppers. The beef is delicious, but somewhat unambitious in its format, more akin to a true family meal made in the Dutch oven by Nana. Yummy, but underwhelming in the overall loveliness of the rest of brunch. Lavendula is not finished yet. Dessert is yet to be experienced.
Tiny pots of tiramisu, cheesecake, mousses and coconut tarts crowd around the crepe station, where a talented crepe artist serves wafer thin, melt-in-the-mouth French delicacies, hot and dripping with toppings of choice. We are defeated. Coffee finishes the experience; an espresso, strong and rich. Ok, and one last Baby Bloody Mary. They are the best in town.
The Ritz Carlton is located above Deji Plaza Phase 2, at 18 Zhongshan Lu. Tel: 69788888.
