Weekend brunches have always been a favourite of mine – a pick-me-up that I look forward to after the end of a work week. It is also a welcomed habit when I’m on vacation, like the weekend brunch I enjoyed at Ebony, Mandarin Oriental Guangzhou.
Bubbly for brunch
Truffle popcorn
Cold appetizers — love the pate and beef terrine!
For RMB388 per person, Ebony’s brunch offers a selection of buffet appetisers, dessert, eggs station, a choice of main course and free flow wine, sparkling, sangria, soft drink, coffee and tea. They do a pretty decent Eggs Benedict here, served with smoked salmon. Also good was the egg mollet with crab – soft-cooked and runny with a sweet flavour from the crab.
Appetizers, while waiting for the main course
Egg Benedict with smoked salmon and caviar
Yolk porn
Egg mollet with crab
Among the main courses available, my favourite was the chicken tagine with salted lemon, almond cous cous and dried apricot saffron broth; warm and well-spiced with a lovely texture from the nuts. I also enjoyed the leg of lamb, salt-baked for 7 hours till tender perfection and served on a bed of truffle risotto and tomato basil concasse.
Saffron chicken tagine with salted lemon, almond cous cous and dried apricot saffron broth
7 hours salt baked leg of lamb with truffle risotto and tomato basil concasse
Wagyu beef burger with foie gras, onion confit, parsley fries and caramel ketchup
Less exciting was the wagyu beef burger – this was rather simple, with onion confit and foie gras, and a side of parsley fries. I thought it could have done with more foie gras as the flavour wasn’t quite pronounced. The grilled tuna nicoise makes a light meal, where the slices of fish is tossed with potatoes, green beans, tomatoes, capers, olives and quail egg.
Grilled tuna nicoise with potatoes, green beans, tomatoes, capers, olives and quail egg
Slow roasted pork loin with braised red cabbage, chestnut prune dumplings and orange balsamic sauce
I was fortunate to try one of Ebony’s weekday specials – slow roasted pork loin with braised red cabbage, chestnut prune dumplings and orange balsamic sauce. This was my personal favourite among the mains. Pity this isn’t included in the brunch, for I would definitely recommend it.
Sangria
Bloody Mary
They do a mean Sangria here, so give it a try when you’re at brunch. Alternatively, go for the bartender’s Bloody Mary – potent and full of kick from the tabasco.
Dessert
While the dessert spread is pretty substantial, try the Baked Alaska, a treat of sponge cake and ice cream in meringue shell. This requires table service by the staff where they douse the meringue with liqueur and set it alight before serving.
Baked Alaska
The weekend brunch at Ebony was recently launched – it was made available for the first time when I arrived at the hotel. For more information about Ebony’s Weekend Brunch, click here.
Ambiance: 7/10
Price: 6/10
Food: 6.5/10 (non halal)
Verdict: Reasonably priced for the amount of alcohol and food served. Order the Eggs Benedict!
Mandarin Oriental Guangzhou
389 Tianhe Road,
Tianhe District,
Guangzhou 510620,
China
Tel: +86 20 3808 8888
Website