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There are quite a few Japanese restaurants near my office in Central, and I try to go to different ones in rotation instead of sticking to my favourite ones in case I get bored of them. Hanagushi, which relocated from Lan Kwai Fong to M88 in May 2012, is a homely, cosy restaurant that specialises in yakitori. Even though the restaurant can get a bit packed during lunch hour, their lunch menu is more extensive than those at many other Japanese restaurants in Central, with dishes such as sushi, sashimi, yakitori, beef, Japanese curry and rice available. (1) The Minced Toro with onion Sushi Rice ($200) had an alluringly fatty taste and a smooth texture that was nicely broken up by the chopped onions. (2) The Fried Sliced Beef Set ($195) was also tangy and satisfying. (3) However, it is the Red Bean Paste & Mochi ($25) which keeps me coming back to this place. The red bean paste had the right level of sweetness and the perfect consistency, without being overly watery or mushy. The grilled mochi had an excellently crispy surface, and was wonderfully gelatinous - it is a pretty addictive dessert if you like chewy foods as much as I do! Hanagushi may not offer the best value for money or the finest Japanese food in the area, but it is certainly decent enough for me to come here every once in a while. Other Japanese restaurant reviews on my blog: http://www.stephs852diary.com/?cat=258 Other Ratings:Taste 4 | Environment 2 | Service 3 | Hygiene 4 | Value for Money 2 Recommend |
While I am very willing to spend money on good food, I also enjoy visiting budget-friendly restaurants that serve up fantastic meals without a hefty price tag. Recently, I discovered a Japanese restaurant chain, GyuJin, which took "value for money" to a whole new level. We ordered two set lunches, the GyuJin Lunch Set ($58) and the GyuJin Supreme Lunch Set ($78), which included an appetiser buffet and unlimited Häagen-Dazs ice cream in four flavours. (1) There was a range of vegetables, noodles, rice, fried rice and Japanese beef curry available at the appetiser buffet. Everything was all right except for the tofu, which was a bit stale. (2) We chose pork instead of beef for the GyuJin Lunch Set. There were around 8 slices of pork on the plate, which was not a lot, but you would definitely be full from the appetiser buffet and the ice cream if not from the plate of meat. The pork was quite flavourless, but one had to bear in mind that the lunch set only cost $58 + 10%. (3) The beef for the GyuJin Supreme Lunch Set was rather bland too, but at least the level of freshness was acceptable. You could pay $10 more for a "Special Soup" for the shabu-shabu (e.g. Sukiyaki Soup, Tomato Soup, Soy Milk Soup, Pork Bone Soup etc.), but we just went for the original soup base. (4) The best part of our meal was definitely the ice cream. As it was a hot day, we each had a few scoops of Häagen-Dazs ice cream. I went for the Dulce de Leche flavour, which was very sweet but was how I liked it! The food at the appetiser buffet and the meats at this restaurant were certainly mediocre, but I think the Häagen-Dazs ice cream alone already justified the price of our lunch sets. Other Japanese restaurant reviews on my blog: http://www.stephs852diary.com/?cat=258 Other Ratings:Taste 2 | Environment 3 | Service 3 | Hygiene 2 | Value for Money 5 Recommend 0 |
I am always keen on discovering great private kitchens in town, and recently, I went to try Amina Modern European, a private kitchen in Tsim Sha Tsui that serves modern European cuisine. Located on the 5/F of a nondescript building, Amina's setting, in a black-and-white tone, is very simple and homely. There are two private rooms and a few tables in the main dining area. The bigger private room can accommodate 8 to 10 people, and the smaller one accommodate 4 people. If the restaurant is not fully booked on the day, you can try asking for the small private room even if your party is smaller than 4. I was told by the staff that the restaurant is very popular for romantic dinner dates. Amina Modern European is the sister restaurant of I-Amina Italian & Oyster in Causeway Bay. Chef Jason has a background in preparing European cuisine, and has worked at several hotels before, including the Mandarin Oriental. A set dinner costs $550 to $660, depending on the main course you order, and the restaurant doesn't impose a 10% service charge. Amina does not charge a corkage fee, but does not serve any alcohol on the menu either, so do bring along your favourite bottles of wine! (1) The bread basket arrived at our table, and I tried the housemade Eggplant dip, which was light and airy, with a subtle taste of eggplants. I was told that other popular dips for bread include the black truffle, black olives and sweet corn dips. (2) The Pumpkin, poach egg, prawn salad was a lovely appetiser. The pumpkin purée was smooth and naturally sweet, and the prawns were fresh and firm; the ingredients worked together very well. (3) The Kobe Tartare tasted a bit unusual to me, as it was a tad sour and was less rich and mustardy than the usual beef tartare. Chef Jason later explained that he used an innovative way to prepare the beef tartare - instead of using egg yolks, he concocted a balsamic reduction to create a ligher version of the dish. (4) The restaurant offers a selection of freshly shucked oysters, and we tried oysters from Angel, Australia ($65 for two), and from Gillardeau, France ($78 for two), which were on the salty and chewy side and were delicious. (5) The Squid Ink Cream Soup was one of my favourite dishes at the restaurant. It had an excellent consistency, which was thick without being overly creamy, and the squid ink was bursting with sea-fresh flavours. (6) The Beetroot Soup was much lighter in comparison, and was refreshing with a mild crunch from the chopped beetroot. (7) The Foie gras was skillfully seared, and was delicately crispy on the outside and tender and supple on the inside. The sourness from the balsamic vinegar and fruity sweetness from the grapes complemented the foie gras marvellously. We had a guava sorbet as the palate cleanser, which was bright and exotic, but could have been a tad sweeter. (8) For the main course, we tried the Chef's Special Scallop. It was cooked in three different ways - the one on the right was caramel-glazed, the one in the middle was covered in caviar, and the one on the left was fried in shrimp roe. The presentation of the dish was aesthetically pleasing, and there was also a generous amount of parma ham in the dish. The scallops were tender and juicy, but would have been even better if it was crispier on the surface. (9) We also ordered the Chef's Special Beef Cheek, which was well-seasoned and meltingly tender. Instead of being silky smooth, the mashed potato was more rustic with a bite. (10) Normally, I would have looked forward to a massive dessert at the end of the meal, but having eaten 5 courses already, my friend and I were full to the brim. Therefore, a scoop of strawberry ice cream and a macaron were enough to keep us satisfied! The setting of the restaurant is down-to-earth and cosy, making it suitable for a casual, relaxing dinner, and the price of the set dinner was also very reasonable given the amount of food we had been served. Our meal took around 2.5 hours in total, with each course taking around 15-20 minutes to arrive - there was a bit of a wait, but at least the dishes were all freshly prepared and brought straight to us from the kitchen. Overall, there is some room for improvement, but it is not a bad venue for hearty European food and free corkage! Dining Offers: Tasting Event Other Ratings:Taste 4 | Environment 3 | Service 4 | Hygiene 4 | Value for Money 4Recommend |
A canelé is a small French pastry made from egg, sugar, milk, rum, vanilla and flour. It is a specialty from Bordeaux in France, but can be found in other parts of France too. Le Canelé d'Or is a company that sells and delivers freshly baked canelés everyday. The canelés come in 2 sizes, Grand size (about 60 g) and Cocktail size (about 15 g), and come in a few different flavours. A box of 6 grand size canelés costs $178 and a box of 12 costs $328. For the cocktail size canelés, a box of 25 costs $218 and a box of 50 costs $398. The canelés are delivered in a smart paper box to most locations in Hong Kong (you can check their website http://www.lecaneledor.com.hk/ for the locations that they deliver to.) You are recommended to eat them within the same day of delivery, or at most within 5 days. You can also customise your order, so my friends ordered a box of 6 grand size canelés and two cocktail size canelés in three different flavours. The canelés are delivered chilled, but you are recommended to reheat them in a preheated oven at 200°c for 6 minutes, or in a microwave using the grill function for a few minutes, so that the exterior hardens. (1) We tried the Traditional Canelé first, which was vanilla bean and rum based. The canelés from Le Canelés d'Or are actually some of the most authentic ones that can be found in Hong Kong. A lot of canelés in Hong Kong have a cake-like texture, but these ones had a soft and custardy centre and a crunchy, caramelised crust, which is what authentic canelés should be like. The vanilla and rum flavour in the canelés were very distinctive, but the egg flavour could have been a tad stronger. (2) We also tried the Orange Canelé, which was refreshing with a citrus, fruity note. We didn't bother reheating the canelés when we ate them, but the centre was still soft and velvety, and the crust was also quite crunchy even when chilled. Some premium canelés found in Paris would be even more spongy and airy in the middle, but these ones were accomplished enough. (3) The Coffee Canelé was delicious, with the lovely aroma and taste of coffee forming a remarkable contrast with the sweetness and softness of the pastry. Canelés can be eaten for breakfast, for snacks, and as dessert. I enjoy eating them in the afternoon with a cup of coffee the best. Some people find the prices of these canelés a bit hefty, but considering that the canelés are delivered, I find them acceptable. I think that a box of delectable, authentic canelés would make a very nice gift! Other Ratings:Taste 4 | Service 4 | Hygiene 4 | Value for Money 3 Recommend |
第一家BLT Steak 是在紐約由大廚Laurent Tourondel開設的，現在在尖沙咀海運大廈的香港分店由Dining Concepts管理。BLT Steak 的牛排很有水準，而其他菜式的味道也不錯，價錢適中，大概每位$350至$450左右。餐廳的服務有點慢，人手似乎不太足夠，但室內布置很舒適，又有一個面海的露天平台，是一個週末吃飯的好地方。 There are the really high-end and stuffy steakhouses that serve premium steaks, and there are the more laid-back and cosy steakhouses that also serve up fantastic meats, and BLT Steak belongs to the latter camp. Straying from the old-school steakhouse interior with dim lighting, dark wood and leather benches, the decor of BLT Steak is elegant and modern, with a lovely al freso dining area that overlooks the Victorian Harbour. Conveniently located in Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, BLT Steak (which stands for "Bistro Laurent Tourondel") is a steakhouse that was opened in New York in 2004 by Chef Laurent Tourondel and brought to Hong Kong in 2009 by Dining Concepts. The menu offers an attractive selection of prime US and Australian steaks, appetizers, salads, poultry, fish and shellfish. The desserts, in French and American style, were also tempting. (1) Some warm and appetising BLT popovers were brought to our table after we had made our order. The popovers had a nice eggy taste, and were light and slightly doughy. You could taste some Gruyère cheese in them but the cheese flavour wasn't overwhelming at all. (2) The first dish to arrive was the Tuna Tartare with avocado and soy-lime dressing ($162). The flavours of the tuna and the avocado were delicious and indulgent, and the dish was lifted by a citrus note from the lime juice. However, the soy-lime dressing was just a tad too salty. (2) We shared an American USDA Rib Eye (14 oz, $398), and it was beautifully grilled and incredibly juicy in the middle. We asked for medium rare and the kitchen cooked it just right. The serving of bone marrow on the side was umami-rich and not greasy at all. (3) Besides the rib eye, the Red Wine Braised short ribs with sage-garlic ($278) were also utterly delightful. The red wine sauce was brimming with flavours, and the short ribs were tender without being overcooked. The sage-garlic added a fragrant kick to this accomplished dish. (4) We ordered a portion of French fries ($68) on the side, which was presented in a tin cup. (5) The Black truffle mac & cheese ($78) smelled enticing, and tasted fantastic too. The mac and cheese was cooked to an excellent texture and was rich and creamy, finished off with a refined taste of black truffle. (6) The Crepe Soufflé in passion fruit sauce ($98), in a half-moon shape, was excellently light and spongy. The passion fruit sauce was citrus and summery, and the passion fruit seeds nicely cackled in the mouth. (7) The Bittersweet chocolate tart with praline ice cream ($80) was delightfully chocolatey and satisfying, and each bite of this goodness was enhanced by the iciness of the praline ice cream. (8) We ordered a " Make your own sundae" ($58) for the two kids at the meal, and they have thoroughly enjoyed mixing up the toppings with the two scoops of homemade ice cream. The finished product didn't look appetising to us at all, but the kids assured us that it was absolutely delectable. We were given some mini chocolate brownies as our petit fours, and they had an airy texture and were not heavy at all, which was perfect as we were all incredibly full by then! BLT Steak is a great eatery that offers a fantastic range of scrumptious dishes. The setting is stylish yet relaxed, and its location is convenient. However, our only complaint was that the service was rather inefficient and unenthusiastic at times. Having shared the steaks, we only paid around $400 per head for the meal, which was very reasonable for a steakhouse. Overall, BLT Steak is a reliable restaurant for a relaxed and comfortable dining experience. Other Ratings:Taste 4 | Environment 5 | Service 2 | Hygiene 4 | Value for Money 4 Recommend |
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