Friday, January 30, 2015

The Chinnery

The Chinnery is a british restaurant in the Mandarin Oriental and is home to one of the world's largest collections of single malt whiskeys. I've always wanted to grab lunch here and it was the perfect spot for a catch up with C during his work lunch break. The space was a lot smaller than I expected but I enjoyed the dark wood paneling and leather accents. Service was very professional and the food was also enjoyable. Here is the menu.

Chicken Wing - Deep fried, Sweet Chili Sauce
Mmm these were super crispy and very juicy! The skin was very nicely seasoned and the sweet chili sauce was very tasty. I loved the little detail of how they scraped the meat so that it became a perfect little ball of meat with the bone protruding out for easy handling. 

Squid - Breaded and Honey Glazed, Mustard Mayonnaise
The squid was very tender and the batter was also light and crispy. Probably not the best calamari I've had but definitely a very decent one. 

Shepard's Pie - Classic Lamb Pie with Creamed Potatoes and Cheddar Cheese Topping
This was absolutely perfect for a chilly day. I convinced C that it was not very lamby ("so" in Cantonese) but when he tasted it he grimaced and was not happy at all. The potatoes were very buttery and fluffy and the lamb underneath was extremely flavorful and rich. 

Pork - Slow-cooked Organic Pork Belly with Apple Cider, Creamed Potatoes, and Pickled Fennel
This was C's dish and he seemed to enjoy it. I had a bite of his pork and felt that it was very fatty but it was tender and seasoned well.
Overall the dining experience was enjoyable at The Chinnery, However, I do not think that it is a must try or a place that I would always be visiting. But if you are looking for solid british fare in a sophisticated atmosphere, The Chinnery would definitely be a solid choice. 

The Chinnery
1/F
Mandarin Oriental 
5 Connaught Road
Central
Hong Kong

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Islam Food 清真牛肉館

The veal goulash is super famous at Islam Food and that was the only thing I ate when I came here the first time. We got the veal goulash to go and it was a bit difficult to eat on the street as the meat juices were flowing out and it was also super hot! This time C and I had a sit down dinner and it was definitely much wiser and I also got to try out more dishes. The veal goulash is seriously pretty damn good and I regret only eating one now. 

Shredded Chicken with Bean Vermicelli
The sesame sauce was thick and fragrant and the bean noodles were chewy and springy. Loved it! 

Curry Beef Brisket
This was pretty subpar. The brisket was not super tender and the curry was just normal. It was not bad but I would rather try other dishes next time. My mom had the lamb curry before and I tried it when she brought the leftovers home, I thought that was SUPER good so maybe I will try it next time (since C does not eat lamb). 

Salt and Pepper Fried Squid
One of my all time favorite dishes. It was fried to crispy perfection and I LOVED the crispy garlic, chili, and scallion bits on top. One tiny complaint is that the squid could be a tad meatier. 

Veal Goulash
Ugh this is SO good. The outside is thin and crispy and the inside is bursting with meaty flavors and juice. This goulash can do no wrong. 

Islam Food 清真牛肉館 
1 Lung Kong  Road
Kowloon City
Hong Kong

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Sichuan House

I am a sucker for spicy food. My favorite fish cooked in chili oil was from Golden Valley in Happy Valley but recently C told me that Sichuan House in Central had a even better one! I've been to Sichuan House when it first opened and was not too impressed as I found a bone in my fish (I cannot handle fish bones AT ALL), but C guaranteed that I will love it so I decided to go again. The food was pretty decent the first time, just not too memorable.

The second time was definitely much better and I will be returning with my Dad who also loves spicy to this restaurant! The atmosphere is modern and sophisticated and service is polite and professional. I could tell that this restaurant really cared about their food and the experience of the customer because during my first visit they really took the effort to get feedback from customers.

口水雞 Chicken in Chili Sauce
While this is a very tradition Sichuan dish, Sichuan House put a little refined spin to it but deboning the chicken and making it into perfect little bite sized pieces. The chicken was very juicy and tender and the sauce was great.

夫妻肺片 Beef Slices and Beef Offal in Spicy Sauce
Another classic dish, well executed and visually appealing!


Pork Ribs with Celery, Onions, and Chilies 
The ribs were melt in your mouth and the spices that utilized in this dish was extremely appetizing and robust.


水煮魚 Fish Fillet Cooked in Hot Chili Oil with Potato Starch Noodles
There was no bone this time! The flavor profile was on point and I loved how the noodles were broad and plat instead of being thinner which is the norm in most places. This was extremely spicy and while I love spicy, this was definitely off the charts. We were all suffering slightly but recovered soon and continued eating. A definite must order for spice lovers!

Dumplings in Sesame Sauce
The dumpling skin was soft and tender and the filling was very generous and juicy. I loved the sesame sauce as it was very aromatic and delicious! I would definitely order this again. 
I was really glad that C convinced me to give Sichuan House a second chance! It is really close to my house so this will be a perfect and convenient place for me to get my spicy fix!

Sichuan House
7/F
M88
2 Wellington Street
Central
Hong Kong

Bread Street Kitchen & Bar

I've always loved watching Gordon Ramsay on TV and since he seemed like such a badass with high standards on TV, I had high expectations for his first restaurant in Hong Kong. I am pleased to say that I was definitely not disappointed with the food at Bread Street! While I wouldn't say it was a mind blowing must return ASAP experience, the food was absolutely delicious and I look forward to going again when I return to Hong Kong in the summer. Bread Street has definitely earned a go to spot on my list.

The Jan babies decided to have our joint birthday dinner here and therefore we were able to order a wide range of dishes to try. We had a party of 16 people and were seated in the private room. Our server was very helpful and sweet and made our birthday dinner enjoyable and smooth. They also initially charged us a pretty hefty cake cutting fee but the manager happily waived it after some persuasion from the birthday girls :)

Some of the pictures are a little blurry but most of them are ok! Will definitely steady my hand more next time!


Beef Tartare, Quail Egg, Onion, Aromatic Herbs
The beef was super fresh and it had very clean flavors. I personally prefer my tartare to be a bit more boldly seasoned but this was still pretty good! 

Honey Glazed Beef Short Ribs with Pomelos, Scallions, Sesame Seeds
This was super indulgent and delicious. The short rib is tender and melt in your mouth while having a crispy exterior. The addition of the scallions was a perfect! I didn't have it with the pomelo but I can imagine it to be a great contrast of flavors and textures. Next time! 

Tamarind Spiced Chicken Wings, Spring Onions, Coriander 
Juicy and perfectly fried chicken wings with a sticky and robust sauce. What could be better?!

Flatbread, Caramelized Onions, Taleggio Cheese, Cured Pig's Cheek, Basil Pesto
This was one of my favorites of the night. The flat bread was nice and crispy and the caramelized onion was perfectly sweet and went perfectly with the crispy pig's cheek. The basil added a nice herby kick to the mix. Overall the flavor profile was just perfect and I loved this! 


Cote de Boeuf with Peppercorn, Red Wine Marrow, and Béarnaise Sauce
This was definitely a feast for the eyes! The steak was cooked well but in terms of meat flavor it was quite normal and it was also a tad lean for my tastes. The red wine marrow however, was extremely delicious.

Bread Street Kitchen Short Rib Burger with Monterey Jack Cheese, Spicy Siracha Mayo
The patty was very rich and bursting with flavor, this is definitely a burger worth trying! 


Fish & Chips, Crushed Peas
I think I was rather stuffed at this point so I only had a small bite. It was a pretty decent rendition of the classic british dish. I personally dislike super thick fries though. 

Bread Street Kitchen & Bar
Mezzanine Level
LKF Hotel 
33 Wyndham Street
Central
Hong Kong

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Hing Kee 避風塘興記

Hing Kee is a famous seafood restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui. I haven't heard of it before but you could tell that it was quite popular as the walls were covered with lots of autographs. Another interesting perk of this place is that it is opened until 5 am, however I doubt I would ever venture to TST at such hours personally.

Roast Goose with Flat Noodles (Hor Fun)
Their flat noodles is one of their most famous dishes and therefore we were very excited to try this out. It certainly did not disappoint! The texture was perfect and while the roast goose was quite normal, the soup was very flavorful. This was very tasty and comforting. 

Razor Clams with Garlic and Vermicelli
This is one of my favorite things to order at seafood restaurants and this was a solid rendition. The clam was very meaty and the vermicelli soaked up all the juices and garlicky flavors. 

Clams Sautéed with Black Bean Sauce 
This was done perfectly. The black bean sauce was extremely tasty and the clams were very juicy and meaty. I did not expect to enjoy this dish as much as I did! 


Salt and Pepper Mantis Shrimp 
Once again a classic dish done well. Mantis shrimp can be a hassle to eat sometimes but these were very meaty and the salt and pepper was very appetizing. 


Crab wit Deep Fried Garlic 
This was definitely a showstopper! The garlic with white rice was delicioussss but this was definitely very "yeet hey" as soon my mouth was hurting and W's mouth was also feeling a bit uncomfortable. This crab was also MASSIVE so it was quite easy to get a lot of crab meat without too much effort. 



Everything was done well at Hing Kee, but I don't think I will be able to eat this often as so many things were deep fried and it definitely took a toll on me. However, I will definitely be happy to come again if I was in the mood for this type of food.

Hing Kee 避風塘興記
180 Nathan Road
Tsim Sha Tsui 
Hong Kong 

The Chairman 大班樓

The Chairman has been on my to try list for a while (I know I almost say this about every restaurant haha). I have heard a lot about its signature crab dish in Shao Xing wine and while that was definitely very unique and memorable, I felt that it would be unlikely that I return to Chairman any time soon. The food was definitely well done, but it was quite overpriced. This could be because we ordered two servings of the crab and also some unnecessary bottles of wine, but from what I hear in general, the Chairman is generally quite overpriced. While some of the dishes were praise worthy, others were quite normal and did not justify the 700-800 HKD price tag. I think the crab dish and smoked duck is worth a try if you do visit the Chairman, but in terms of the more common Chinese dishes, you can get them at lower prices elsewhere.









The Chairman 大班樓 
18 Kau U Fong 
Central 
Hong Kong

Sushi Hiro

Sushi Hiro is my parents new go to sushi spot (although it's been around for some time) and my dad decided to go here for dinner before my flight back to New York the next day. I've had sushi here many times before but this is the first time having the omakase at the sushi counter. The sushi was exceptional and I would highly recommend everyone to come here! The price was also very decent given the freshness of the food and the type of seafood that we had (kinki, two types of uni, toro, etc). Our sushi chef was friendly and professional, he was very attentive to the type of food that we liked and was polite and amiable.

And FYI for those who do not know, the first picture is shirako, aka cod sperm. I know it sounds disgusting but once you get around the thought of what it is, it is absolutely delicious. It is definitely worth a try! I also had many other pieces of sashimi and sushi apart from the pieces pictured.

Also, while there is also a Sushi Hiro branch in TST, our sushi chef told us that the quality of the ingredients is higher in the Causeway Bay branch!









Sushi Hiro
10/F
Henry House
42 Yun Ping Road
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong 

Sunday, January 11, 2015

8 1/2 Otto de Mezzo Bombana

Wooo it's truffle season! I haven't had my truffle fix yet in New York so I was so glad when Ss told me that she had booked 8 1/2 for our girls dinner on the 27th. While I have been to 8 1/2 for drinks, I've actually never eaten here! Everything was superb, albeit the servings were a little small. The truffle had a lovely aroma and the pasta were all done perfectly. The short rib was also incredibly tender and flavorful. We also ordered a red prawn pasta which was executed perfectly. Service was also polite and professional.







8 1/2 Otto de Mezzo Bombana
Shop 202 
2/F 
Alexander House 
5-17 Des Voeux Road Central 
Central