Tangla Untangled: Q&A with Fintan O'Doherty, General Manager, Tangla Hotel in Tianjin

Q&A is a regular feature in the Beijinger magazine in which we ask notable celebrities in Beijing's culinary world about their favorite dishes.

After stints in Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City, Fintan O’Doherty has taken on the management of the Tangla Hotel, Tianjin. He tells us about Peking duck, homegrown lamb and his favorite place to eat in Asia.

What Chinese dish do you enjoy eating the most?
This is going to sound boring, but since I always enjoyed duck while living in the West, for me a succulent Peking duck is a real treat. It’s fun to share with friends and a great talking point when entertaining.

What is your favorite dish on offer at the Tangla Hotel’s restaurants?
It’s hard to pick just one! I’d start with a breakfast of wonton noodle soup at Café d’Or. Then for lunch, the sizzling claypot seafood and homemade tofu at Tang Palace. Finally, I’d finish with a dinner of freshly-cooked teppanyaki at our 49th floor SóU Restaurant overlooking the Tianjin skyline.

If you could sum up the essence of the Tangla Hotel in three words, what would they be?
The essence of Tangla is actually four words, not three: harmony, elegance, excellence and serenity. It’s about delivering modern Chinese hospitality and instilling a sense of pride in our team members.

Having worked in hotels for more than 16 years, how do you think the industry has changed?
In the 26 years since I left Ireland, people have started to travel more, so their expectations are higher. Whether you live in London or Beijing it’s easy to get your hands on fresh and exciting ingredients, so people are definitely more adventurous about what, when and how they eat!

Of all the places you’ve travelled to in Asia, where has the best food?
If you want to try a wide variety of Asian foods in one location it has to be Singapore. Search social media and online reviews and you can unearth amazing hawker stalls. Of course, Singapore also has outstanding high-end restaurants featuring cuisines from all across the world.

What dish from back home do you miss the most?
The spring lamb grown on my father’s farm in the west of Ireland. The lambs are raised by the Atlantic Ocean, so they pick up a delicate flavor from the sea – delicious simply roasted.

Finally, if you could only eat one dish for the rest of your life, what would it be?
What a horrible thought! I suppose being Irish I would have to say potatoes, since they’re so versatile. They also go well with a lot of other things … but I guess that’s cheating!

During the World Cup period, Tangla Tianjin is offering a buy-six-get-one-free promotion on bottled beers ordered via room service. Guests will also receive a complimentary snack platter.

Photo: Chinatown Connection