Man Wah launches Asian wine pairing experience - review
- Asia Family Traveller
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Man Wah at Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong hopes to introduce diners to the potential of Asian wines. Gayatri Bhaumik raised a glass or two
Man Wah review - Wagyu beef fried rice with ginger and pine nuts
There are plenty of exquisite Chinese fine-dining experiences to be had in Hong Kong, but Michelin-starred Man Wah at the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong consistently turns out some of the best.
And now the elegant restaurant, renowned for its innovative cuisine served alongside picture postcard harbour views, is once again elevating its offerings with a new set dinner menu crafted by chef Wong Wing-Keung and paired with a curated selection of Asian wines.
My experience took place in one of Man Wah’s blue-hued private dining rooms, those million-dollar Victoria Harbour views backdropping the experience.
To open the palate, the menu begins with an appetiser trio featuring the restaurant’s signatures: barbecued Iberian pork loin with longan honey, pickled celtuce with dried plum and deep-fried prawn with salted egg yolk. This is paired with a 2021 Rosé of Merlot from Estate Goichi in Nagano, Japan. The dry, fruity wine with a blush pink colour contains hints of strawberries and cherries that perfectly complement the meatiness of the pork and prawns.
The next two dishes showcase premium seafood ingredients and a 2022 Kanaan Reisling from Helan Mountain in Ningxia, China. The wine offers a piquant minerality with tropical fruit notes and perfectly elevates the subtle ocean flavours. It also adds extra depth to the hot and sour bird’s nest soup with seafood (specifically, crab meat, scallops, and prawns), while bringing extra zest to the steamed lobster and glass noodles with fresh, crispy, black garlic.
For the final trio of mains, Man Wah’s sommelier has chosen a 2020 “Yihu” Cabernet blend from the Mystic Island Winery in Shandong’s Qiu Shan Valley. Situated on the same latitude as Bordeaux and Napa Valley, the winery produces a robust wine with toast and biscuit aromas which offer a sophisticated counterpoint to the rich flavours of the wok-fried grouper fillet with fresh lily bulb and Red Vinasse sauce, poached seasonal vegetable in supreme broth, and Wagyu beef fried rice with
ginger, pine nuts, and soya sauce.
To finish the expertly curated meal, a refined yet simple walnut cream with sesame dumpling dessert – chef Wong’s signature - offers a touch of sweetness and comfort that’s a satisfying crescendo to this symphony of flavours.
In this decadent set dinner menu, Man Wah explores the rich flavours and wide range of Chinese cuisine while showcasing the innovation and potential of Asia’s wineries.
The Asian Wine Pairing Menu at Man Wah, Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, is priced at HKD2,468 and is available for dinner only. Dishes will change seasonally. Guests can choose to add a Chinese Baiju flight experience for HKD328.
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