Winter Wonders
When the weather feels like its bringing icicles, what better way to keep it at bay than exploring new and comfort foods? Our round up of the latest eateries will not only keep your temperature up, but also please your growling stomach.

O Sip Hah (G/F, 15 Old Bailey Street, Central, 3622 3222) is a breath of culinary fresh air. The decadently decorated interior is a monochrome masterpiece, with chandeliers, smooth leather seats and even, a ‘secret garden’: a small outdoors section with low seats and a wonderful ambience. The cuisine is what chef and designer Calvin Yeung calls “Thai-inspired European”. Simultaneously contemporary and traditional, the food, with its key Thai ingredients, is a minor riot of colour and flavour. Signature dishes include the linguine with mixed vegetables in tom yum and Thai herb sauce ($98), which is delicately spiced and subtly flavoured, as well as seafood favourites like spice ‘secret’ sauce calamari with okra, red onion and coriander ($88) and mud crab and creamy crab roe glass noodles salad served with spicy Thai dipping sauce ($188).
Explore two of South-east Asia’s most popular cuisines at Vietnamese and Thai restaurant, Lian (Shop 2004, Podium Level 2, IFC Mall, Central, 2521 1117), recently opened at the IFC Mall. Lian means ‘lotus’ in Mandarin, and the décor subtly reflects the beauty of this flower. A lounge-type area is circular with rounded chairs and tables, and the main wall has geometric looking lotus leaves cut out of the wood panelling. The centrepiece of the restaurant is a large dining bench area encircling a water pond with floating lotuses. The menu is updated every month with fresh and seasonal varieties of classic and modern dishes. To begin with, we tried the son-in-law egg with chilli caramel and slow pot-braised tomatoes ($85), which is a delightful mix of runny yolk and slightly spiced caramel coating tempered by the rich-tasting tomatoes. Following that, the Thai beef salad ($115) made with US prime beef had a nice blend of subtle tastes – slightly spicy, juicy and tender meat with a lingering aftertaste of lemongrass. For the main course, we had braised ox cheek in red curry with peanuts, basil and baby potatoes. The meat was tender, the potatoes wonderfully soft both infused with the rich flavour of curry. Accompanying the curry was a French bread, crisp on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside.

Chocolate is a temptation few can resist and with Godiva’s (Shop 1029 and 1030, Podium Level 1, IFC I, Central, 2805 0518) revamp of the Gold collection, recently launched to celebrate their 80th anniversary, it’ll be hard to keep away from their new store. The collection has 28 new chocolates added to its already full palette, including truffles and slabs of pure chocolate. Give in to the lust, you know you want to…

Hokkaido Katsu Sushi has opened its second shop in Prince Edward (G09, G10 and G24, G/F, Pioneer Centre, 750 Nathan Road, 3549 6000). Still tempting is their fresh scallop, surf clam and whelk sushi from Hokkaido – and at a very affordable price ($35-$50). Or order a plate of assorted sashimi with sweet shrimp, salmon and squid. But if raw fish doesn’t do it for you, try broiled salmon belly sushi ($16) with melted cheese on top. Or for more luxury, don’t chew too hard on the goose liver steak sushi ($35) – just let it melt on your tongue.

In Tsim Sha Tsui, keep an eye out for a new seafood place from the King Parrot group, who have brought favourites like Balalaika, El Cid and Merhaba to the city – Cadero (Shop G315, Harbour City, TST, 2721 2181) is a new grill and oyster bar perfectly located to relax in after a hard day’s shopping. Enjoy steak on an open terrace at Black Stump, Australian Grill & Bar (G/F 1 Knutsford Terrace, TST, 2721 0202). Part of a chain of restaurants well established in Sydney and Tasmania, the restaurant offers premium steak, like wagyu rib eye, and seafood, such as flambéed baby barramundi, grilled Australian style.

On a little side street just off of Star Street, Spoil Café (G/F, Shop 1-1A Sun Street, Wanchai, 3589 5678) is a bright, cosy spot with an intimate setting. With mostly European food, the lunch menu is simple and can be ordered a la carte or as a set ($68) which includes a daily soup or garden salad, a sandwich or pasta of the day and ends with coffee or tea. The a la carte dinner menu comprises appetizers like mango and avocado salad with prawn in Dijon mustard sauce ($88) and pan-fried foie gras with the chef’s style balsamic sauce ($108), while for the main you have choices such as crab meat linguine in pesto sauce ($128) and the café’s signature dish, king prawn linguine in cream sauce. Desserts range from fresh cakes of the day ($30) to tiramisu ($28) and the café’s signature cakes ($40). Please note that they only take cash.

For a selection of grilled meats and seafood, drop by Mark One (G/F 21 Gough Street, Central, 2512 111). Their four-course set dinner menu starts with a Caesar salad, followed by soup. For mains they have 15 choices, including linguine with fresh clam in white wine olive oil sauce ($118), roasted king prawns with garlic butter sauce ($148), grilled Angus rib eye (12oz.) with French herbs gravy ($188), and grilled Australia wagyu beef (9oz.) with French herbs gravy ($298). Finish it all off with dessert and coffee or tea.

Au Belge (G/F, Shop B, 11 Old Bailey Street, Soho, 2524 1818) has a sumptuous and luxurious interior and offers Belgian cuisine. We’ll have more on their food in the next issue.

Just in time for the winter months, First Korean Restaurant (Shop 102B, 1/F, Block A, DB Plaza, Discovery Bay, 2987 9123) is opening its doors to Korean BBQ, hot and cold appetizers (including kimchee, of course!), hotpot, noodles and many more dishes.