Destination Macau: Dining at One Michelin Star Feng Wei Ju

StarWorld Hotel in Macau, the flagship hotel of the Galaxy Entertainment Group is a 39 storey hotel located in the heart of Macau’s business and entertainment hub in Macau Peninsula, Avenida de Amizade. The hotel features 500 rooms and suites offering views of the sea, Nam Wan Lake or the Macau City. There is also a choice of eight food and beverage outlets here.

Located on level five of the hotel is Feng Wei Ju restaurant which has been awarded one star by the Michelin Guide in 2016. I had the chance to try out the Sichuan cuisine here during a media familiarisation tour with UnionPay in July this year and still have fond memories of the dining experience.

 

 

Inside Feng Wei Ju

The interiors of Feng Wei Ju are lavish with rich gold finishings, marble as well as carpeted flooring and dining tables for four or more, befitting royalty. Whilst business folks come here to wine and dine their clients, it is also great for travellers from around the world to come here to soak in the atmosphere and enjoy great food.

 

 

Enjoy a tipple at the bar before dinner. Not very common in Chinese restaurants, the bar counter at Feng Wei Ju is great for a drink before your dinner, or if you decide to just have drinks instead of dining. But why would you not want to dine here.

 

Besides earning a Michelin Star, Feng Wei Ju has also been awarded Macau’s Best Restaurant 2016 by Hong Kong Tatler Best Restaurant. After dining here, I can understand why Feng Wei Ju has won these awards.

 

The Food

Executive Chinese Chef for StarWorld Hotel Chef Chan Chak Keong heads the kitchen at Feng Wei Ju. Chef Chan and his team of elite chefs has been recreating the essence of Hunan and Sichuan using the freshest local produce to cook up mouthwatering dishes. Not only are the food rich in flavours and delicious, the presentation of the food is equally impressive.

 

 

The Appetisers

 

Start off your meal with some of these appetisers. The chilli and sour okras help to open up your appetite. Not overpowering, this okra or lady’s fingers as we commonly call it here in Asia are extremely delightful.

 

This Pork Neck Meat with Garlic Sauce is not to be mistaken for a hand towel. But we just love the presentation of this dish. Meticulously rolled up with cucumber within, the meat is not too dry and goes well with the cucumber.

I love preserved duck egg. The century egg is displayed like a flower in full bloom. And oooh, that plate set.

 

 

In a quick glance, and you would easily have mistaken the kidney with peppercorn and chilli dish for a dish of bamboo shoots. Looks oily and slightly unappealing, the kidneys do not taste anything you would have imagined it to be.

 

 

Having a bowl of soup in a Chinese restaurant is a must. The “Dalian” superior soup dumpling has all the delicious ingredients within a huge dumpling.You’ll want to have more than one bowl of soup but keep your appetite for the mains as well.

The Mains

 

 

The Boiled Mandarin Fish Fillets in Hot Chilli Oil is one of the restaurant’s signature dishes. Soaked in a sauce with lots of dried chilli, be prepared to get those tissues out. You will be touched by this dish because it tastes so good, and it is also spicy. And it is somewhat too pretty not to take a photo of the fish before digging in.

 

The Crispy Chicken Fillets with Red Chilli and Peanuts actually go very well with beer. Think Bar Food. But it also goes well with a bowl of fragrant white rice.

 

Ah, the Braised Pork Belly “Mao’ Style. Too good not to order this dish. The pork belly has already soaked up the flavours of the sauce and melts in your mouth. What more can one ask for.

 

Another signature here is the Braised Beef Loin with Lotus Paste. Each loaf of  the tender braised beef is so good. Looks like meat loaf and tastes even better than meat loaf.

 

Dessert

Already overwhelmed by so much food from the appetiser and mains, I almost said no to the Fried Banana with Pulled Sugar. The dish is first presented on a tray like an art installation. After that it is soaked in ice water to cool the dish down and served. A rather unique way of serving the dessert and it is the perfect ending if you like sweets.

 

Feng Wei Ju
StarWorld Hotel
Level Five
Avenida da Amizade, Macau
Opens daily from 11am to 11pm