Chef's Secret (荔枝角)

座落荔枝角 D2 Place 這棟新改建商場簡直是我的 dream shopping mall，結合了林林種種獨有的小店，有別於鬧市中商場裡千篇一律的連鎖商舖食肆。

甚少出沒荔枝角的我其實幾個月前曾經慕名而來想一嚐 Chef's Secret 的菜式，可惜週末下午太多客人等位所以放棄了。主廚 Chef Brook 擁有多年且資深的 fine dining 烹煮經驗，採用 organic 的健康食材。裝潢也是簡約淡色為主的風格，感覺好舒服 relax。

Appetizer I- "Sweet Corn Bisque"
有別於坊間的粟米忌廉湯，Chef Brook 這裡的西湯款式全部都沒有添加忌廉。雅緻的透明杯子盛粟米湯伴隨著一碟薄脆，第一口已經令人回味，清新的鮮粟米味加上滑溜的口感，卻嚐不到任何附加調味料。

Appetizer II- "Organic Blue Mussel pot-au-feu"
上菜時侍應生揭開 cassarole 煲蓋一剎那，嗅覺、視覺都被徹底俘虜。那白酒煮的鮮味加上堆得滿滿似座山的藍青口，以新鮮檸檬絲為 garnish，色香味俱全簡直令人食指大動！最重要，記得將白酒汁淋上伴隨著清甜新鮮的 blue mussels 及有機雜菜進食啊～ 齒頰留香！另外不得不讚係旁邊的 garlic bread，好脆而且重蒜蓉味，點白酒汁一齊食更好味。

Main course- "Grilled Angus Sirloin"
熱愛吃牛扒的我嘴刁又怕太昂貴，快餐店或高級餐廳賣的牛扒都不在我考慮的範圍內。反之 Chef Brook 的烹調經驗、對食材嚴謹挑選、加上餐牌上的價錢經濟平民化，所以毫不猶豫點了一份 rare sirloin。肉質鮮嫩加上特製 boletus jus 好好味！Side dish 配搭小甘筍 & 馬鈴薯。

基於太飽所以這次省略了甜品環節。
這裡的咖啡師也值得一讚的！我點的Latte，奶溫熱度適中不燙口，拉花藝術別於外面千篇一律的心心或葉子。奶泡很幼滑，整杯咖啡喝完了仍然有一層泡在杯子裡。咖啡豆亦屬於品質好的完全不用加糖，怕苦的我平時喝坊間的新鮮咖啡必須加一至兩顆方糖。

好一陣子失去寫食評的動力，可想而知這次光顧 Chef's Secret 給我多大的感動～哈哈！😆👍🏼

莆田 (將軍澳)

每次去 Pop Corn 逛街路過莆田，媽媽必要停一停睇餐牌，因為餐目差不多款款菜色單憑照片已經令人食指大動。將鄉村風味融入現代感嘅閩菜餐館而且屢獲飲食獎項，我斗膽肯定香港僅此一家。不過次次都好大群客人等檯。終於八月有一晚涯餓逛到差不多九點，唔需要等位接待員就直接帶我哋入席。

肚子餓嘅時候「眾多選擇」真係特別難做決定，幸好侍應生好好耐性介紹莆田最受客人歡迎嘅菜色，而且又講解廚師大概如何準備某些菜色嘅食材。

頭盤叫咗一份蝦苗伴紫菜，一份花雕酒蒸蟶子。混入香醋嘅紫菜爽口彈牙，帶點酸酸嘅味道令人特別開胃，美中不足就係蝦苗迷你到唔係好顯眼。上碟後嘅賣相亦值得一讚，因為餐牌上嘅圖係無青瓜片圍住紫菜ga！花雕酒蒸蟶子簡直一百個讚！其實我同媽媽都好鍾意海鮮，不過每次想食貝殼類海產都好怕有沙。莆田嘅侍應生極力推介蟶子因為係季節性限量供應，而且廚師亦晨早讓蟶子吐沙可以令客人安心享用。清香嘅花雕酒味配合蟶子簡直絕配，而且密密麻麻排滿容器有 16 隻，童叟無欺！雖然其中一兩隻有少許沙要吐出，不過都係好幼細嘅沙唔會咬壞牙齒，我哋亦好明白貝殼類再清洗N次都無可能完全去沙。所以真係好期待下季蟶子當灶，再次黎莆田品嚐其它蟶子類嘅菜色。主菜叫咗一碗莆田滷麵。端上檯面時嘅賣相一般，吸目嘅海鮮材料都被混入湯麵裡。濃稠嘅湯汁亦稍嫌過鹹，麵條有煮過熟嘅口感完全不彈牙而且好易斷。唯一好嘅係特別大碗，兩個人 share 食剛剛好。甜品叫咗每人一客蓮子木耳湯，取名木耳其實係「白雪耳」。雪耳嘅份量好多，不過紅棗、蓮子嘅數量都係只得兩粒，好可憐⋯飯後感：最初只係被莆田嘅餐牌、裝潢門面吸引。而食物質素、接待員及侍應生嘅殷勤耐心服務，係令我必定回頭光顧嘅重要因素！

Simplylife Bakery Cafe (將軍澳)

每次路過呢間 Simplylife 晚飯時間都必定有好多人喺餐廳門外等檯，但係每次見到人太多都放棄等候。終於有一日忍唔住，耐心等咗 1hr 先有檯。

唔知係咪因為坐滿客人侍應忙到不可開交，我哋坐低咗大概 15 分鐘除咗 reception 提供嘅 menu，一杯水都沒有，舉手都要 keep 住舉大概 5 分鐘先有侍應過黎招呼。明白嘅，可能客人多，燈光又昏暗，差不多張張檯都有客先後對侍應招手⋯

Simplylife 嘅 menu 選擇好少，一張 A4 紙就已經係概括餐廳所有嘅 menu option，想叫個合心水嘅 starter 都難，唯有直接要 main course。基於我係一個 super beef lover，所以叫咗一份 Grilled U.S. Angus Rib Eye (rare cooked)，朋友就叫咗一份 Grilled Black Cod。

點餐後侍應好快送上 bread basket 及 butter。好失望，新鮮放檯面嘅 baguette 竟然冷冰冰硬繃繃，每咬一口都必須要牙齒同手合力扯開，咬口感覺奇差。平時我特別喜愛baguette 頂端，當晚都被逼放棄，皆因真係硬到咬唔到，唔可以攞自己排牙齒同一件麵包拚命。認真，如果廚師會先預熱 baguette 一定好好多！好出乎意料地快，當我哋仍然同 baguette 搏鬥中，點餐後嘅 5 分鐘 main course 就送到面前！朋友覺得 black cod 嘅肉質完全唔嫩滑，配附嘅 sun-dried tomato 醬亦偏鹹。朋友食每兩口都要飲水沖淡嗰種又鹹又喈嘅口感。而且薯蓉亦沒有 sauce 伴隨都真係幾 dry。$188 一份唔算貴，但係 cod 魚嘅口感加上超級有限嘅配菜確實仍然需要有好大嘅進步空間。Rib eye 嘅賣相令人好滿意，雖然比我想要嘅 rare cooked 輕微過熟少許，但係 $198 一份 Angus rib eye steak 我都唔會太挑剔，配菜多種類亦值得一讚，特別係配有 green asparagus。不過係薯條炸得過燶，放入口比較乾。餐後感：若果 menu 可以加插多d starter 會好好多。服務亦有待改善，侍應生忙碌到個個黑曬面口，簡單想要杯水都好似我哋好麻煩咁。不過雖然全個餐廳d職員都好忙碌，receptionist 嘅笑容同禮貌認真令我哋好滿意，值得嘉許！另外，餐巾、水杯同埋刀叉都分別有污跡需要要求更換，特別水杯被上一位客人留下嘅唇印真係好嘔心！

文華扒房及酒吧 (中環)

It was such a headache when we needed to choose a place luxury enough to celebrate one of our good friends back from New Zealand for her new job with long term settle in HK. Well, here we finally chose Mandarin Grill, a dream place where I wanted to try since ages ago.

After my booking was made through website, I was really surprised with the warmth gesture of Mandarin Grill, they replied to offer us a complimentary pastry for our celebration! (*that was really thoughtful, whilst other restaurants seldom approach to offer us a small cake but only wordings on dessert.)

Such a long week with much expectation to the date of our dinner! When we arrived at the door, the receptionist greeted us nicely for pre-drink, we refused because all of us were starving (next time we would definitely come for drinking, the bar itself looks really unique and comfy!)

Their servers were really helpful and patience whilst we all having difficulties to make decision of our menu choices, which we have asked such lots of questions~ xoxo!! We truly thankful for the attentive service and explaination from Jacky! We finally chose different options to share for starter & dessert, but same choice for main course - roast beef.

For myself, I do really love the "Matcha", its presentation with traditional Japanese matcha culture was the most adorable fact, it was not hot green tea but a cold soup, a really nice starter! Well, there is nothing to comment about roast beef, which is always perfect! Especially for beef-lover and those who love to eat "rare", this is a must try, and should return again for this! We were so lucky that we all ordered the last three portions of roast beef as it is limited per each dining period.For desserts, we shared among the "Chocolate Fondant", "Cherry", and "Chocolate-orange Soufflé". I specially like "Cherry" which was amazing with a real alike cherry presentation, but it was actually a sugar mold filled with ice-cream, excellent for photo~ and the soufflé was so delicious too! Besides, it came the small pastry in white with rose patel, how cute with a candle and printed inscriptions of "Welcome Back to HK!". (Our friend was so touched!!)This was a great evening to welcome our good friend from overseas, and we sure will come back again soon for the roast beef!

At last but not least, a real BIG THANK YOU to all servers for your wonderful hospitality!

Scarlett Cafe & Wine Bar (尖沙咀)

曾經聽個 friend 介紹過尖嘴呢間 Scarlett Café，座落喺天主教玫瑰堂隔離街。撞彩打去試下有無位，估唔到咁幸運 book 到！餐廳裡面全部都係高檯高凳，裝潢設計都係摩登歐陸風格配微黃和諧嘅燈光，一入門口已經有種返到屋企嘅 relax 感。點餐無幾耐就有 bread basket。Baguette 外脆內軟可惜稍嫌冷冰冰，牛油要來回塗幾次先可以慢慢溶入麵包裡面，如果係 olive oil 會更加好。不過麵包盛放於一個類似錢箱嘅盛器，感覺都幾特別～頭盤揀咗 Mussel Mariniere，Parma Ham 同埋 Beef Tartare 一齊食。份 mussel 真係好值得嘉許，特別係個 creamy bacon sauce，不油膩之餘鹹淡度適中亦帶有撲鼻嘅海鮮味，忍唔住用黎沾 baguette 食！份 Parma Ham 就不過不失無驚喜，但份量好似稍微少得有點兒那個。Beef Tartare 好新鮮，剁碎咗嘅 tenderloin 加上清甜嘅醬汁 & 新鮮沙律，入口即溶真係贏曬！主菜我揀咗澳洲和牛 Rib Eye，比較失色係侍應生聽錯order⋯ 原本呢我係點 rare cook，配 béarnaise sauce，以 mashed potato 代替 potato wedges。送到黎嘅係 medium cook + blue cheese sauce + potato wadges 都算，侍應生嘅翻白眼表情俾我見到真係好失望。重複一次 preference，最後都依然係俾 potato wedges。其實我哋檯面總共有 4 至 5 籃薯角，全部悶兜兜都係配菜。講返份 rib eye，期望嘅 rare cook 亦稍微過熟沒有半點血水，不過肉質易切開仍然微紅，勉強收貨啦🤔。飯後感：最值得下次再返去食嘅係 Mussel Mariniere 同埋 Beef Tartare。不過我覺得小店可以考慮配菜除咗 potato wedges，可以換換其他選擇⋯ 每個 dish 都配 wedges 真係太寡喇。最後因為有下一場節目，所以叫咗杯 Café Latte，等 20 分鐘都唔到原來又漏單😔。另外，其實我遲過d朋友去到，有少少失望係幾個侍應生明明見到有新客人入黎坐低，一直完全忽視，直至舉手主動問侍應生先過黎招呼我酒水。