I'm off to Macau for a quick "media fam" trip at the kind invitation of Grand Lisboa Macau. We had a little bit of time to catch our breath after checking into our rooms at the Grand Lisboa Hotel, and I noticed that some parts of the room decor seemed different from my last stay a couple of years ago. We would be told later that the rooms have gone through renovations, as it's been 10 years since the opening.
Our first stop would be dinner at the recently renovated and rebranded Casa Don Alfonso. I always felt that the former incarnation - Don Alfonso 1890 - was probably one the most underrated and under-appreciated fine dining restaurant in Macau. But on my two previous visits - both on a Monday night - I was the only diner in the restaurant for most of my meal. I could not imagine how manager Salvatore and the chef could have spent years feeling unloved.
With the new rebranding and format change, the restaurant is now squarely aimed at entertaining diners family-style. This outpost of an Italian 3-star is going down-market, which may be the right strategy for them... although I would miss the more refined dishes.
We received a warm welcome by Ada Chio de la Cruz when we arrived at the hotel, and she would accompany us for dinner. But I was a little surprised to be greeted at the door to the restaurant by Kenneth Lai, who has taken such good care of me over the years each time I dined at The Eight (8餐廳). It has been more than a year since I last saw him, but my mood brightened instantly.
Calzone con salame, ricotta e pepe nero - it has been years since I last had a calzone, and I was curious to see what the new pizzaiolo Maurizio Ferrini would deliver.The dough was nice and soft, and the filling of ricotta and salami was delicious. A good start to our dinner.
And each piece of bignè was filled with banana and chocolate, then covered in powdered sugar. Slurp!I never dine at any establishment within the two Lisboa hotels without ordering wine off their incredible list - which I think is the best in the world. Just yesterday I posted on FB that I was browsing through the 582-page wine list online and putting together a "shortlist" of wines for this weekend, and the powers that be took note.
Kenneth knows well my penchant for old German rieslings, and moments after I sat down, Ada informed me that she had done her homework on me, and our hosts had chosen a suitable bottle of dry German riesling as an alternative to something I was thinking of opening.
I assumed that the hotel was kindly taking care of the first bottle, so when it was finished, I proceeded to order two additional bottles... thinking that, per usual practice, I would take care of the bill for them.
Frank Cornelissen Magma 6VA - a natural wine from a maker recommended by Vladimir Kojic at Gaggan, this limited production (500 bottles in this 2007 vintage) wine was made with grapes grown on Mount Etna and come from vines that are more than 100 years old. I was surprised to see this bottle of "bongwater" on the list, and was dying to try it.Opened and decanted for 1½ hours prior to serving. Really sweet and jammy on the palate, very alcoholic... enough to clear one's sinuses. Almost herbal notes, like putting one's nose near Brin d'Amour. I didn't mind this, although I don't think there were many fans at the table. Oh and I don't buy the 14.5% alcohol for one bit... It's gotta be at least a point or two above.
When I asked for the bill at the end of the evening, none was forthcoming. Ada insisted that she was taking care of all the wines, not just the first bottle. Chasing Kenneth around the restaurant did not yield an alternative outcome, as he kicked the ball back to Ada while running away. In the end I accepted our hosts' kind offer, with the understanding that I would simply return the favor at lunch tomorrow.
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