The Ritz-Carlton Chengdu is located in the heart of downtown Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. Since opening its doors in 2013, this luxurious hotel has become a ‘go-to’ destination for local and out-of-town foodies keen to experience culinary delights at the property’s flagship Chinese Restaurant, Li Xuan. Greeted by Michael Liang, the award-winning Cantonese chef and The Ritz-Carlton Chengdu’s Chef de Cuisine, is promise enough that this gastronomic destination is indeed one to remember.
Li Xuan, a fine dining restaurant featuring modern interpretations of Cantonese and Sichuanese cuisine, takes center stage in China’s millennia-old culinary culture. Chef Michael Liang [or Chef Mike as he prefers to be called], has been schooled in classic Cantonese cuisine methods at the highly respected Lei Garden Restaurant in Hong Kong. Taking an innovative approach by blending a variety of flavors, textures, aromas, with each dish designed for visual appeal, Chef Mike certainly knows how to stimulate all senses, thus creating thoroughly unique culinary masterpieces.
Culinary inspirations from The Ritz-Carlton Chengdu’s Chef de Cuisine Michael Liang
Against the backdrop of the restaurant’s imperial style décor inspired by ancient Shu civilization, the vibrancy of the gold-trimmed interior is as vivid as the creative display of Chef Mike’s creations that arrive in great anticipation. As Chef Mike explains, “our guests – whether they come from the surroundings of Chengdu, or whether they stay in one of our beautiful guest rooms, are increasingly becoming more adventures in taste experienced through the composition of different styles of preparation. We observe that guest today are more respective to explore new taste and menu combinations; not least to experience something new, but also to learn about the use of ingredients and methods in our preparations”.
Culinary inspirations from The Ritz-Carlton Chengdu’s Chef de Cuisine Michael Liang
Blending Cantonese with Sichuan cuisine requires skill and understanding of different techniques used in the preparation of each meal. Chef Mike explains, “each region has its unique culture differences, and food traditions can vary greatly in both flavor, texture, staple foods, and the preference toward the cooking technique”. Indeed, in traditional Cantonese cuisine the flavors of a finished dish are well balanced and spices are used in modest amounts to avoid overwhelming the tastes of the primary ingredients. Quite in contrast to the Sichuan cuisine, where flavors are as bold as is the use of garlic and chili peppers, or the unique spice of the Sichuan peppercorns.
To achieve such balance between these contrasting cuisines, Chef Mike and his team have certainly mastered the art of blending texture [stir frying, steaming, baking and fast-frying], and seasoning [hot, sweet, or spicy] while combining elegantly the quality ingredients. The experience lies in as much as the visual impressions of each item served, as for this culinary team’s innovative approach to the harmonious taste-blending of two of China’s most popular of cuisines.
Culinary inspirations from The Ritz-Carlton Chengdu’s Chef de Cuisine Michael Liang
At The Ritz-Carlton Li Xuan, both foodies and regular patrons of this unique Chinese restaurant destination, appear united in their quest for heightened eating experiences in such innovative ways of combining culinary flavors. In fact, the modern [and digital] age has brought about emerging trends and consumer behaviors that will no doubt continue to inspire new horizons. These, as we concur, are best experienced through Chef Mike’s unique gastronomic innovations.
Restaurant Address: The Ritz-Carlton Chengdu Li Xuan Chinese Restaurant, 269 Shuncheng St, Qingyang, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610017, Phone:+86 28 8358 8888
