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on afternoon tea.
In Hong Kong, some of the finest hotel res-
taurants are not downstairs, but upstairs, such as
the elegant Petrus, overlooking Victoria Harbor from
the 56th floor of the Island Shangri-La. Earning two
Michelin stars is Amber at the city’s Landmark
Mandarin Oriental. Richard Ekkebus, the restaurant’s
Dutch-born culinary director, is a recipient of the Ordre
national du Mérite, a prestigious award presented by
French President Hollande.
“I think the main objective when starting
Amber is that we never wanted it to be perceived as
a hotel restaurant, reports Ekkebus, who adds, “We
wanted an independent freestanding restaurant feel,
with its own website.” And while the chef believes
that philosophy has greatly contributed to the suc-
cess of Amber, he concedes that being located in a
Mandarin Oriental property has been beneficial, par-
ticularly given the organization’s culture of extraordi-
nary service. He also demonstrates a level of com-
mitment no less intense than if his name was on the
building. “I’ve been personally involved from a year
prior to the opening until now, 12 years down the line,
continuously refining and fine-tuning our products and
services,” explains Ekkebus.
The modern, Asian-accented French menu
at Amber includes dishes like sea urchin and lobster
gelée with cauliflower purée and caviar, and Miyazaki
wagyu beef with dulse-red cabbage slaw and horse-
radish-pepper berry emulsion. Conceived by New York
designer Adam Tihany, the dining room is strikingly
modern, but quite sophisticated, much like Ekkebus’
artful plating.
Morocco’s grand La Mamounia resort is an
oasis whose opulence does not detract from the ex-
otic destination of Marrakesh. Among the property’s
impressive collection of restaurants is Le Marocain,
which showcases elegant interpretations of the local
cuisine. Traditional dishes like pastilla, a meat pie typi-
cally stuffed with pigeon, is elevated with lobster, while
multiple tagines (classic Moroccan stews) include a
version sweetened with strawberries for dessert.
Destination Dining Rooms
Alain Ducasse at Plaza Athénée, Paris, • Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, London,
Amber, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, • Imàgo, Hotel Hassler, Rome,
Le Cinq, Four Seasons George V, Paris, • Le Comptoir du Relais, Relais Saint-Germain, Paris,
Le Meurice, Le Meurice, Paris, • Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London,
Le Marocain , La Mamounia, Marrakesh, • Matsuhisa, Le Royal Monceau, Paris,
AMBER, HONG KONG
COURTESY LANDMARK ORIENTAL HONG KONG