As we eagerly await the opening of The Langham Hotel, Gold Coast this month, we interview Craig Robertson, Executive Chef of The Langham, Gold Coast to find out more about the exceptional dining opportunities we can expect to enjoy.
What are the hallmarks of a Langham experience?
The Langham has a famous reputation for luxury accommodation and dining experiences. Since the first Langham opened in 1865 in the heart of London, Langham hotels right across the globe have become known for providing a true 5-star experience and an unrivalled level of luxury, with a touch of British flair.
I think, across any Langham Hotel you visit, you’ll really feel luxury at every moment. There are absolutely stunning room and suite options that include all the most luxurious finishes you could imagine, guest-focused service from Langham team members that is really second-to-none, and a wide range of dining options to accompany a stay. We really pride ourselves on offering something for everyone when it comes to dining – whether it’s dropping by for one of our signature cocktails, experiencing the famous Langham Afternoon Tea or tasting exquisite flavours with fine dining.
For which dining experiences is The Langham renowned?
I think the most renowned Langham dining experience many would be familiar with would be the infamous Langham Afternoon Tea. This Langham tradition actually started at the very first Langham hotel in London where they served luxury afternoon tea to hotel guests. Since then, it’s become a timeless tradition and real icon of Langham hotels globally. Today, the famous Langham Afternoon Tea allows diners to experience that traditional London afternoon tea, with a few touches of modern elegance and sophistication. It really is a must-try.
We’re excited to bring this tradition to life at The Langham, Gold Coast. This offering will be presented by our talented pastry team led by Executive Pastry Chef, Ryan Stevenson, who is globally renowned for his skills in Belgium chocolate and pastry making.
How will signature restaurants [eg T’ang Court] at The Langham Gold Coast differ from their counterparts worldwide?
T’ang Court is The Langham’s signature Michelin-starred destination for fine Cantonese dining. It has a long history and really reflects the timelessness of the Tang Dynasty, China’s golden age of authentic, high-quality Cantonese dishes. Once T’ang Court comes to life here at The Langham, Gold Coast, it will have the same unique experience of its sister restaurants from all corners of the globe, but with a focus on using local Gold Coast produce. We’re particularly excited to have world-renowned quality seafood right here on our doorstep, which will form an integral part of the menu offering at T’ang Court.
Some of the signature dishes that diners can expect include the baked seafood rice with cream sauce in crab shell, baked Australian oysters in port wine, traditional Peking duck served with Cantonese-style barbecued pork, and the crispy, salty chicken – one of T’ang Court’s most famous recipes.
Interestingly, authentic Cantonese at a fine dining level is quite rare here in Australia, compared to other parts of the world, so we’re excited to bring this to life here on the Gold Coast as it’s something locals and tourists can really look forward to trying out.
How is the choice of dining options at each Langham hotel tailored to its location or culture?
One of the things you’ll find across all Langham hotels globally is that they each have their own look and feel to reflect the individual culture and flavours of their respective local areas. It makes for a really diverse group of hotels that are all built on providing a consistent, iconic level of luxury to guests.
Like other Langham hotels, The Langham, Gold Coast will be one-of-a-kind. It will have exciting new dining options with heavy influence from local produce and high-quality regional ingredients, brought to life in that iconic luxury setting Langham hotels are known for.
If you were taking your partner to The Langham, Gold Coast for a special anniversary, what would you plan as part of the experience?
The Langham, Gold Coast’s Presidential Chairman’s Suite would have to be my recommended luxury experience to try. The suite includes private dining options tailored to each occasion so guests could enjoy a spectacular menu cooked in-house by a private chef and waiter from the comfort of their room. Guests would be enjoying some of the very best food and wine the Gold Coast has to offer whilst overlooking the spectacular direct ocean views from the 20th floor – perfect for an extra special occasion.
What different dining experiences does The Langham bring to the Gold Coast dining scene?
The hotel offers an exquisite dining food and beverage offer, to be the perfect extension to luxury. We’re hoping that with the range we have on offer, The Langham, Gold Coast will become the dining destination of choice for both guests from near and far, and locals dropping by. Anything from a tasty club sandwich through to award-winning Cantonese or Japanese robatayaki, we’ll really have something for everyone.
Our Palm Court restaurant is iconic to The Langham, with the coveted Langham Afternoon Tea as its centrepiece experience. This will be brought to life by our award-winning pastry chefs. The Lobby Bar is our all-day destination with an extensive range of light bites, bubbly, wines and cocktails. It’s the perfect spot to drop in for a drink, or a few. The Akoya restaurant is where guests and locals can enjoy a refined-casual, all-day dining experience. We’ll have some of Australia’s finest meat, fish and poultry across breakfast, set and buffet lunch, champagne brunch and dinner. 26 & Sunny is our casual, beachside dining option. We’re excited to bring a great spot for locals to pop by for a coffee, juice or deli sandwich. Then, we’ll also soon have Langham’s signature Michelin-starred destination for fine Cantonese dining, T’ang Court which will really change the game of authentic Cantonese dining here in Australia.
The Langham, Gold Coast, 38 Old Burleigh Rd, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217 Ph: 07 5638 8888
NOTE: All photographs in this article were supplied by The Langham, Gold Coast.