Imagination in the Restaurant and Innovation in the Kitchen

Lakeview Palace – a vibrant new Jiangnan dining destination at Wynn Palace

Designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2017, despite Macao’s relatively small geographical size, it commands a profound influence in the sphere of Chinese cuisine, and proudly accepts both the honor and responsibility that this privilege entails. It is, therefore, of no surprise that there are many excellent restaurants and eating establishments to tempt diners’ tastebuds, excite their appetites, and expand their appreciation for the depth and richness of Chinese gastronomy.

Double-boiled Jinling Style Duck Soup with Hairy Fig Root

In a city blessed with an abundance of talent and choice, there is now, more than ever, a greater call for innovation in the restaurant industry, and the need for applying time-honored skills, methods, and techniques in new and creative ways to create a dining experience that pays homage to a deeply cherished culinary heritage, while also providing a canvas for modern chefs to unleash their creativity on.

It is precisely for this reason that Wynn’s Lakeview Palace has been making waves recently, as their newly appointed executive chef, Kevin Zhu, is injecting a unique blend of imagination and innovation into classic Jiangnan cuisine. The menu he has designed features an array of specialty dishes that many will agree has undeniably added his unique flavor to the new era of Huaiyang cuisine. Renowned for its elegant presentation, finely balanced flavors, and fresh and sweet aroma, Huaiyang cuisine is one of the four pillars of Chinese gastronomy that emerged in the “land of fish and rice” and has evolved into a global sensation and celebrated culinary culture.

Steamed Snow Crab with Lobster Bisque Hua Diao Egg White, Spinach Sauce with Shredded Tofu

Chef Zhu has long been a student of a variety of Chinese and Cantonese cuisines, which he perfected while working in top-tier Michelin restaurants, the most notable being Xin Rong Ji in Shanghai. He then went on to master Huaiyang’s intricate knife skills and balanced flavors while he worked under the highly esteemed Huaiyang master, Chef Hou Xinqing, at Shangri-La Qiantan, also in Shanghai.

Wynn Palace has now invited Chef Zhu to Macao where he is using his skill and experience to produce new and innovative interpretations of dishes with classic and traditional ingredients, such as his signature Steamed Snow Crab that is served with lobster bisque and hua diao egg white, topped with a delicate spinach sauce and finished off with shredded tofu for texture.

A dish that fully embodies Jiangnan cuisine but enhances it one step further with a distinctive modern taste. Another of Chef Zhu’s signature dishes is his Braised Wagyu Beef, a dish that takes one of the most succulent and tenderest cuts of marbled red meat juxtaposed with a crispy skin for texture, and combines it with sweet and sour finger lime and a medley of fresh seasonal vegetables.

Lakeview Palace Executive Chef Kevin Zhu

[On top] Braised Homemade Gluten Puff Mushroom, Bamboo Shoots and Vegetables [Bottom] Braised Wagyu Beef with Crispy Skin and Finger Lime

The creative menu designed by Chef Zhu for the Lakeview Palace is characterized by a fusion of traditional culture with modern innovation, a defining feature that also extends to the restaurant’s cutting-edge cocktail menu designed by Wynn’s Head Mixologist Mark Llyod.

Going beyond the time-honored classics that are mainstays in the repertoire of any cocktail bar, Lloyd’s series of innovative cocktails are inspired by Chinese tea culture and add the perfect complement to the rich cultural connotations that Lakeview Palace embodies and celebrates.

Of course, no restaurant that embraces both tradition and innovation would be complete without a selection of wines that can satisfy any preference and complement any dish.

Here, Lakeview Palace does not disappoint with their offering of over 100 award-winning wines from the Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards, a selection that has won the praise of many wine connoisseurs and aficionados. 

There is a wide variety of refreshments and culinary delights on the menu at Lakeview Palace, where the savor of the food coupled with the panoply of colors emanating out of the regional ingredients and fragrant aroma cultivated by Chef Zhu’s skill and patience is intimately connected to Jiangnan cultural roots by virtue of the emerald-green décor and elegant cloud motifs that adorn the interior.

It is without question that the experience of fine dining is not limited to the dishes on the table, but the whole ambience of the environment in which the diners’ experience takes place, and the panoramic view of Wynn Palace’s vast Performance Lake offers a breathtaking backdrop.

The beauty of the landscape coalesces seamlessly with the elegance of the restaurant’s architecture and the innovative and award-winning cuisine to offer a unique and unforgettable dining experience.