The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne today announced the duo who will lead its culinary team, ahead of the hotel’s highly anticipated debut in March 2023. Executive Chef Michael Greenlaw will take the helm, in partnership with Culinary Advisor Mark Best, with a shared vision to deliver hyper-local, innovative and inspiring cuisine.
Michael Greenlaw brings to his new role as Executive Chef of The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne a wealth of experience, both international and local. With over 15 years spent in five-star hotels and Michelin-starred and hatted restaurants – including the legendary Bibendum in London, Gilt in New York and Melbourne’s own Vue de Monde – Michael has evolved his culinary philosophy and talents alongside some of the world’s great chefs.
Michael is a chef who cares about the detail. His ingredient selection and technical precision moulds his creative, inventive menus, and his passion is creating dishes that are refined but never stuffy, exciting but not obscure. A recognised leader across all aspects of culinary management, his acute understanding of the intrinsic balance between hotel and restaurant operations allows him to build the high-performing teams that are essential to delivering his vision.
Working alongside Michael is Culinary Advisor Mark Best. An icon of the new Australian Cuisine, Mark Best is an innovative – even iconoclastic – chef whose culinary pedigree spans three decades. Mark opened his first restaurant Peninsula Bistro in 1990, and second restaurant Marque in 1999; the latter achieved global fame and was in the San Pellegrino 50 Best Restaurants list for three successive years as well as scoring three Australian Chef Hats for a decade. A published author, avid photographer and passionate advocate for Australian produce, Mark is widely recognised as a thought-leader and mentor in the Australian food scene.
Says Michael Greenlaw, “Our vision for the dining experience at The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne is driven by a quest for the unusual, the hard to find and the hyper-seasonal. It’s this quest that shapes the way we source our produce, informs our menus and inspires the culinary experiences we create for diners. We want Melbournians as well as guests to adopt our restaurant as their own.”
Adds Mark Best, “Michael Greenlaw is one of the quiet heroes of the Australian culinary scene. His food is thoughtful but also unexpected, beautiful but never stuffy. The experience will be all about what is on the plate, and Michael and I just love the fact that you can look out the windows and see where the food on your plate is sourced; from the Macedon Ranges in the west to the Dandenongs to the east, and Port Philip Bay stretching out in front of you. It gives a deep sense of connection and that sense of place that sits at the heart of what The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne is all about.”
Soaring above the CBD, The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne will redefine luxury in the city when it opens in the first quarter of 2023. Designed with materials inspired by the unique stories of the city, the hotel presents luxury accommodation, holistic wellness spaces and an iconic infinity pool, as well as elevated culinary experiences and a new signature restaurant on Level 80. Blending The Ritz-Carlton’s refined luxury with an authentic Australian experience, the property celebrates the country’s ancient stories and vibrant cultures, filtered through a distinctly Melbourne lens.
“We are thrilled to have culinary stars of the calibre of Michael Greenlaw and Mark Best join our leadership team”, says Antony Page, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne. “With their combined talent, passion and experience, The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne’s restaurant and bars will be an exciting addition to Melbourne’s vibrant food scene. Our ambition is for our signature restaurant to be a must-visit destination for locals as well as our in-house guests.”
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