Enticing French Seafood by Power Chef RICHARD EKKEBUS
Sunlight illuminates the eponymous hues at lunchtime while evenings feel as Parisian as the restaurant’s two Michelin stars. Eyes swing upwards on arrival at Amber, attracted by the uniquely dramatic chandelier of 4,320 bronze rods suspended above the refined dining room located on the seventh floor of The Landmark Mandarin Oriental. At night, the artful ceiling radiates a gilded halo over the restaurant’s rich spectrum from amber to russet, creating a warm metallic glow of simple elegance. The elegant dining room boasts the interiors of visionary Adam Tihany, as Hong Kong’s most conveniently located power tables sit at generous intervals for privacy while allowing diners to cast their eyes upon enticing contemporary French dishes coming from the talent-filled kitchen of Chef Richard Ekkebus.
Trained in the illustrious kitchens of Alain Passard, Guy Savoy and Pierre Gagnaire, the Dutchman cooks firmly in the French tradition while taking full advantage of Hong Kong’s unique crossroads between East and West, incorporating amadai fish, line caught and delivered the same day from Japan, seasonal blue lobsters from Brittany, Tasmanian truffles, Spanish fraise de bois and Chinese dragon fruit into menus that are refreshed every three months. The menu’s emphasis is on seafood: think scallop ceviche with avocado cream, kyuri cucumber and smoky bay oysters; satisfying current preferences for healthy cuisine and inspired by the chef’s upbringing by the seaside. Every ingredient is purposeful and recipes are minimalist yet indulgent, like duck foie gras ravioli simmered with black truffles over a creamy violet artichoke in poultry velouté and of course, the Valrhona Albinao 85% chocolate soufflé. To satisfy the hectic Hong Kong lifestyle, the Amber team has developed a power lunch, and to please the more committed palate there are multi-course banquets and an ever-changing nine-course degustation menu that is sophisticated but will not overload.
For a premium dining experience, book an intimate evening in one of two private dining rooms. World-class wine bottles fill out the glass walls inside this sophisticated oasis of luxurious privacy, creating a singularly sumptuous nest for discerning diners. Supple leather clad doors can be opened or closed to turn the gracious 18-seat dining room into two even more intimate settings for up to eight and twelve guests, making these refined rooms ideal gathering spots for personal and professional affairs. Enjoy your gourmet retreat by pairing Amber classic dishes like Mieral Bresse pigeon breast with wild cep mushrooms with the sommelier’s selection of over one-thousand references, all artisanal, top quality wines culled from old world vintages in France and Italy as well as exciting bottles sourced from Chile, Argentina and Portugal.
