Following a successful run last year, The Ritz-Carlton’s Stellar Dining Series 2019 returns with seven chefs from restaurants that boast a total of nine Michelin-stars, and a host of workshops and collaborations in Tokyo, Kyoto and Guangzhou

Foodies can thank their lucky stars, because the opportunity to partake in an itinerary only the most discerning of gourmands could have dreamed up has returned. This year, the Stellar Dining Series by The Ritz-Carlton boasts seven of its best chefs behind its feted Michelin-starred restaurants across Asia and even Europe, who are joining hands to provide guests with a gourmet trek across Tokyo, Kyoto and Guangzhou. Come September and October, these dining destinations will play host to six-hands dinners, wine pairings and masterclasses that will help you sink your teeth into the lay of the land, and more.

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Above For the first time, awarded Basque chef Erlantz Gorostiza from The Ritz-Carlton in Abama, Spain, will be part of the Stellar Dining Series

These sojourning of the Michelin stars begins with a trip to Tokyo from September. And the first thing you will want do upon checking in at The Ritz-Carlton Tokyo on September 11 is to join a cheese workshop conducted by in-house fromager Jeremy Evrard. Taste through unique flavour profiles of eight cheeses and learn about the history and techniques behind the art of cheese-making in a cosy class of 12 guests. Then get into some inspired tipples on September 13 at the Four-hands Mixologist Night with The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong’s Head Mixologist Oscar Mena and 2018 Chivas Masters winner Kentaro Wada, who is also from The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong. The latter is known to take inspiration from art, music and sports, as well as the stars — last year’s cocktail was specially created to emulate a constellation.

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Above Sakura-Saku, by The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong’s Kentaro Wada, is inspired by Japanese ingredients

Conclude your Tokyo journey on September 14 with two dinner options. For a more global table of flavours, head to Michelin-starred Azure 45 and join its chef de cuisine Shintaro Miyazaki, Christophe Gibert of Michelin-starred La Baie at The Ritz-Carlton in Osaka, and Erlantz Gorostiza of two Michelin-starred M.B at The Ritz-Carlton, Abama, for an eight-course six-hands dinner that showcases Basque influences on Japanese-inspired French cuisine.

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Above Duck Foie Gras Terrine by Chef Gilbert, The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto
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Above A carefully curated afternoon tea experience awaits

Alternatively, if you’ve never tried Kappa-style cooking, book a seat in an intimate dinner of only eight guests at Hinokizaka. Taste tradition with Chef Ishida’s masterful techniques that tide you through the seasonality of Japanese cuisine with wines from esteemed Burgundian estate Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. If this is all too much to take in one day, there’s also an opportunity to immerse your senses in the bold, authentic flavours of Gorostiza’s signature Basque-inspired cuisine over lunch at Azure 45 on September 15.

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Follow Gorostiza down to Japan’s imperial capital to dine at The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto from September 18 to 19. This time, a four-hands dinner at La Locanda on September 18 will see the chef joining forces with Chef Shuichi Inoue as Basque and Italian influences lord over local ingredients such as Kamo eggplant and Manganji peppers.

For a sweet taste of Paris, Pierre Hermé pâtissier Régis Demanet will present a 2000 Feuilles Pastry Masterclass on September 19. Pick up tools of the trade as you watch the master create the iconic sweet treat, a harmony of caramelised puff pastry, crushed hazelnuts and praline mousseline cream.

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Above Stardust River, inspired by the light of night sky

Continue on to The Ritz-Carlton Guangzhou from October 9 to 13 to immerse in the culinary prowess of three Michelin-starred chefs Paul Lau, Jackie Ho and Gordon Guo. Cantonese cuisine takes centre stage at Lai Heen where a six-hands menu will be available for lunch and dinner. Up the ante and savour the exclusive Château Margaux Wine Pairing Dinner on October 11 with tipples that best show off the savoir-faire of the celebrated winemaking region of Bordeaux.

There’s also an exclusive wine dinner on October 12 for lovers of Perrier-Jouët, where the delight of pairing champagne with your meal is elevated.

In the meantime, if you’re keen to include some tête-à-tête over tea, indulge in an afternoon tea buffet on October 10 or 11, when pastry chefs Jean-Luc Vasseur, Calvin Sia and Hubert Ly will liven things up with live demonstrations of making cakes and pastries with panache.

If, however, you’re still craving something uniquely Japanese, The Ritz-Carlton Tokyo’s head bartender Wada takes on a guest shift at The Churchill Bar, serving his signature recipes that muddle mixology with an appreciation for quality ingredients, paired with specially crafted appetisers.

Fill those remaining passport pages and check in at these culinary cities with The Ritz-Carlton—it’s already written in the stars.

 

For more information on the Stellar Dining Series by The Ritz-Carlton, please visit www.ritzcarlton-stellardining.com.

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The Ritz-Carlton

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