Toothsome twosome sign on with new Melbourne hotel

When I lived in Sydney some years ago, the late lamented Marque was our "special occasion" restaurant. Chef Mark Best has a rare talent.

This week it was announced that the soon-to-open Ritz-Carlton in Melbourne has unveiled its culinary team. Executive chef Michael Greenlaw will take the helm, in partnership with culinary advisor Mark Best.

The pair apparently shares "a vision to deliver hyper-local, innovative and inspiring cuisine".

Greenlaw has a track record of over 15 years spent in five-star hotels and Michelin-starred and hatted restaurants - including Bibendum in London, Gilt in New York and Melbourne's Vue de Monde.

Best is, of course, an icon of Australian cuisine, whose culinary pedigree spans three decades.

Greenlaw says: “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.”

Best says Greenlaw will shine when the hotel opens in March next year.

“Michael Greenlaw is one of the quiet heroes of the Australian culinary scene," he says.

"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.”

The signature restaurant will be on Level 80 of the high-rise building.

"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.

"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."

For further information, you can visit the hotel's website here.