Local color adds to the menu

In Tianjin, there is a very popular streetside snack that many people grab for a quick breakfast. This is jianbing guozi, a crepe-pancake wrapped around a fried fritter of dough, or youtiao, and liberally seasoned with a salty-sweet fermented beancurd sauce.

But the surprise here is that it will soon appear on the breakfast menu of the Ritz-Carlton Tianjin, soon to open in October - all thanks to a chef who believes local delicacies must be highlights on his menus.

Executive chef Ornato Antunes comes from French-Portuguese ancestry, and his cooking style has been influenced by many cuisines. With the Ritz-Carlton group opening up hotels in major Chinese cities, Antunes was already exploring ingredients and cooking methods in China.