Creating a Cantonese cuisine experience with exquisite craftsmanship and mordern presentation
The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin, appointed Mr. Johnny Lai as Executive Chinese Chef in February 2017. With nearly 30 years of experience as a Cantonese cuisine Chef at many international hotels and luxury restaurants, Johnny will create a unique and unforgettable Cantonese cuisine experience for guests at The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin, using his creativity and premium ingredients.
Johnny is a Cantonese cuisine expert who is very particular about food ingredients and heritage. He also has a special gift for food presentation. His modern presentation of classic Cantonese dishes combines delicious tastes with art to create exceptional masterpieces.
Out of the eight major Chinese cuisines, Cantonese cuisine places the most importance on the quality of food ingredients and nutritional value. As a result, Cantonese cuisine has a widespread influence and is used in many fusion foods, making it one of the signature Chinese food cultures. Over a career that has spanned nearly three decades, Johnny has reviewed and refined each new dish repeatedly before introducing it to the menu. After that, he would gather customers' feedback to continue to enhance the dish to reach a certain level of perfection in terms of taste and presentation.
Johnny believes that as a Cantonese cuisine Chef, he must ensure that the traditional flavours of each dish are retained during the cooking process, which requires stringent control of raw materials and heat. Building on this foundation, he enhances the flavours by introducing other food ingredients, such as caviar, truffles and other rare western food ingredients to elevate each dish to an all-new level. His blend of delicious tastes and careful presentation makes each Cantonese dish a contemporary art piece.
Cooking has become an essential part of Johnny's life. In his free time and during vacation trips, he would scour different places to try local foods and discover new ingredients and experiences that he can bring to his creations. This passion in his life and work is the reason behind many of his cooking inspirations.
Before joining The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin, Johnny was the Executive Chinese Sous Chef at The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong. In 2016, the restaurant he served was awarded as a Michelin One Star restaurant.
As the Chinese Executive Chef of The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin, Johnny will oversee the products and operation of Tian Tai Xuan, as well as the hotel's Chinese banquets. He strives to bring guests authentic Cantonese cuisine and a unique sensory experience that encompasses both vision and taste with his cooking and food presentation skills. His on-boarding injects new energy and excitement to The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin, and will take guests on an unforgettable Cantonese cuisine journey.
Tian Tai Xuan is a stylish and contemporary Chinese restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin. Tian Tai Xuan conveys elegance, sophistication and prestige through a warm, organic design palette punctuated by dramatic, natural design. This two-story contemporary Cantonese restaurant features 10 luxurious private dining rooms and a private elevator for the discerning guest looking to wine and dine in privacy. A menu of authentic Cantonese cuisine with regional influences is artfully executed by the Hong Kong Chef with a focus on seasonal local Tianjin cuisine.
Cooking has become an essential part of Johnny's life. In his free time and during vacation trips, he would scour different places to try local foods and discover new ingredients and experiences that he can bring to his creations. This passion in his life and work is the reason behind many of his cooking inspirations.
Tian Tai Xuan is a stylish and contemporary Chinese restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin. Tian Tai Xuan conveys elegance, sophistication and prestige through a warm, organic design palette punctuated by dramatic, natural design. This two-story contemporary Cantonese restaurant features 10 luxurious private dining rooms and a private elevator for the discerning guest looking to wine and dine in privacy. A menu of authentic Cantonese cuisine with regional influences is artfully executed by the Hong Kong Chef with a focus on seasonal local Tianjin cuisine.
