Galaxy Macau™ is a dining monolith and has so many places to eat, from food court gems to fine Michelin restaurants. One of the newest restaurants is Café de Paris Monte-Carlo, younger sister to the legendary Monte Carlo establishment, which has been popularity since its opening. This month they are adding more French items to their menu, including some classics and some lesser known, but equally tempting ones. We bring you the lowdown on these new items.
Hors d’Oeuvres
Bread and butter
The essential element of any French meal besides wine is bread and butter. France rightly takes pride in their bread and so does Café de Paris Monte-Carlo. They bake it in-house and serve it with authentic French Beurre d’Isigny butter made of Isigny milk. The brand creators call it the “grand cru of the dairy world” and it is indeed exceptional. One might not find any significance in this pre-dinner aperitif, but the truth is it can tell you a lot about the level of a restaurant, especially if it is French. The devil is in the details.
Duck Liver Terrine with Plum Compote
Duck liver is an essential element of French cuisine. It is quite common to start a meal with appetizers where either foie de canard or foie gras is a star ingredient. The new hors d’oeuvre at Café de Paris is a kind of deconstructed starter. Fatty and rich duck terrine is perfectly balanced with warm fluffy brioche, sweet and sour plum compote and flakes of sea salt. All these flavors come together in thoughtful harmony.
Octopus and Potato Salad
Mediterranean octopus, young potatoes, bean sprouts and generously scattered assorted salad leaves – yum. First of all, this salad (see featured image above) looks like an artist’s palate with beautiful bright colors. It is rather filling and has a well-balanced combination of elements. It is an ideal option if you are looking for a healthy meal. Octopus is not that easy to cook — too much time in the pot and it becomes chewy and rubbery. So, our compliments to the chef — it was cooked to perfection!
Entrées
Beef Pot Au Feu
This recipe is as simple as it is hard to nail. Controversial? Not that much. The taste of the dish fully depends on the choice of ingredients and respect for them. Some might argue that a chef’s skills are defined by his level of creativity, elaboration, and such. We are completely convinced (any many master chefs would agree with us), that the most important quality in a chef is about choosing the right material and respecting it. Being able to cook simple dishes is not as easy as it seems.
This recipe leaves no opportunity to disguise flaws under the aromatic bouquet of spices or rich sauces. Beef Pot au Feu is all about the meat. The dish is built on a foundation of three carefully picked parts — oxtail, cheek, and loin. Slowly cooked with herbs until tender and moist, the meat rests in a hearty beef stock surrounded by flavorful veggies. Try it with the condiments served on a side — mustard, pickles, and horseradish.
Côte de Porc “Normande” with Apple Sauce
Legend has it that this recipe was born in the XI century. Back in old days, it pleased Guillaume II, the Duke of Normandy, for whom it was created. Côte de Porc is still quite popular in many restaurants across the northern region of France and French homes, and now it arrived in Macau.
Basically, this is a French comfort dish. And let’s be honest, as much as we love impressive food experiments and luxurious ingredients, it is the dishes that remind us of home we crave most of the times. Especially when away from home. The thick juicy pork chop is excellent by itself, but the apple cider sauce and smoky apple on a side add some character to it. Pork and apple make a truly winning culinary couple!
Dessert
Tarte de Fine aux Pommes, Vanilla Ice Cream
Apple pie has a special place in the hearts of many. Whether it’s your favorite autumn treat, a comforting recipe inherited from your grandma or a top quality French patisserie style one, like the classic variety served at Café de Paris Monte-Carlo. Their Tarte de Fine aux Pommes is delicious.
This dessert represents one of those examples of good old friendships between two equally tasty components. Apple pie and ice cream goes way back, and together they complement each other’s flavors. This Apple Tarte baked by the chef might have been a bit too sweet for some, but with a refreshing portion of ice cream, it is just what a dessert admirer is looking for. Flaky tart with sweet and slightly sour apples enveloped by the creaminess of vanilla ice cream, what a combo!
Besides the new items on the menu, Café de Paris Monte-Carlo also offers a lunch menu, renewed weekly, and an afternoon tea set, making it a great spot for all kinds of occasions.
It is refreshing to see Galaxy Macau™ constantly refining and revamping their restaurants and menus, bringing new dishes to please the pickiest of foodies and offer new experiences to locals and visitors. They are a significant reason Macau is on the global gastronomy map. Café de Paris Monte-Carlo and their new menu is an obvious proof of this.
Café de Paris Monte-Carlo Galaxy Macau™, Estrada da Baía da Nossa Senhora da Esperança, Cotai, +853 8883 2221
www.galaxymacau.com/en/dining/restaurants/cafe-de-paris
Opening hours: 11:00am–11:00pm, daily
Lunch: 11:0pm–3:00pm, Monday–Friday (MOP $198 for 3-course lunch set, MOP $158 for 2-course lunch set)
Afternoon tea: 3:00pm–6:00pm (MOP $98/138)
