A La Commode
There are many reasons (hygiene being the main one) why I would not normally eat out of urinals, let alone toilet bowls or bath tubs. However, arriving at Modern Toilet (3/F, MPM Building, 240-244 Portland Road, Mongkok, 2308 1166), the bright, colourful walls and sparkling clean surfaces gave me peace of mind that the utensils I was about to eat from would be sanitary. The restaurant in Mongkok, a branch of the toilet-themed restaurants originating from Taiwan, guarantees a unique dining experience. The name basically describes the experience. One wall is covered with rows of urinals, the other decorated with bathrobes and a shower, and at the back is a mini gallery of toilet seat covers adorned with the flags of various countries. To complete the set up, all chairs are made from plastic toilet bowls (that you can actually open up), each with an artistic design. Ironically, the actual washroom facilities were unexpectedly bland.

All food and drinks, appropriately, are served in replica toilet bowls, urinals, washbasins, or bathtubs. On offer is a range of Asian and European dishes including Indian curry beef ($60), Texas smoked chicken fillet ($55) or the assorted hot pot ($75). To finish off the meal, if you don’t mind eating food in the shape of a turd, try the chocolate soft-serve ice cream ($15).

Truffle Season
Three-star Michelin chef Pierre Gagnaire will be in residence at Pierre at the Mandarin Oriental (5 Connaught Road, Central, 2820 4202) from 21-26 January, his arrival heralded by an eight-course tasting menu named ‘Autour de la truffle’ ($2,888). This indulgence, served exclusively for dinner, is a truffle-lover’s dream, each dish containing the black fungus. The menu includes pan fried oysters with shallots, sweet onion and bacon marmalade, and scallop corolla, savoy cabbage, chicken bouillon with champagne. And you can enjoy these delicacies as you gaze over the expansive view of Victoria Harbour through the restaurant’s windows.

Chef Vittorio Lucariello is also presenting a special black truffle-tasting menu at Angelini (Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel, 64 Mody Rd, TST East, 2733 8750). The Norcia black truffles, imported from Northern Italy, are served in a variety of ways, including as a black truffle soup with buffalo milk cheese and porcini mushrooms, and roasted milk fed veal chop topped with green chard and Norcia black truffle. The four-course dinner is available until February 10 at a price of $780.
Also celebrating the black truffle season, The Steak House Wine Bar and Grill (InterContinental Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Rd, TST, 2313 2323) is offering a selection of unique dishes created by chef Tin Ka Ming. To begin with, choose from four appetizers, including lobster medallion on watermelon strips flavoured with truffle mayonnaise and baby spinach salad ($330) or the duck foie gras terrine on truffle sponge cake with dark cocoa crisp and herb salad ($280). Complement your appetizer with a warm potato and leek soup with black truffle and crushed hazelnuts ($120) before treating yourself to a main from a selection which includes chargrilled US filet mignon which chef Tin stuffs and marinates for 24 hours with black truffle ($620). If you still have room for more truffles, try one of the desserts created by executive pastry chef Pascal Schwalm, such as the truffle crème brulee with black truffle-honey ice cream ($180). This complete truffle experience is only available until 28 January.

End of an Era
On 31 January, the classy Ritz-Carlton Hotel will be closing down, so this is your last chance to experience the tastes of the hotel’s restaurants. The oh-so-sophisticated Toscana (3 Connaught Rd, Central, 2877 6666) will also be closing its doors. For a final fling, you could bid farewell to their a la carte menu with its range of fine Italian dishes such as the beef tenderloin carpaccio with rucola, black olives and parmesan ($220). Toscana is also offering a special selection black melanosporum truffle menu at a price of $988 without wine or $1,388 with wine. It includes lobster on leeks and ratte potato with black truffle, and poached tropical fruit with exotic coulis, ivory cream, and banana passion fruit sorbet.

In With the New
Looking to try something new? The Muslim Restaurant (222 Wan Chai Road, Wan Chai, 2891 9479) opened in December last year and is ideal for Muslims or just anyone interested in trying halal food. Halal refers to food permissible by Islamic law. As dictated in the Qur’an, Muslims are forbidden to consume certain items, including pork, alcohol, blood and meat dedicated to false gods. Every rule that governs authentic halal food preparation is strictly followed at The Muslim Restaurant – no pork or alcohol is served and all meat is worshipped before being slaughtered. This popular restaurant offers a range of Asian cuisine – Indian, Shanghainese, and Beijing – made from halal ingredients. Popular dishes include mutton dumplings ($25), beef samosa ($15), Shanghai fried noodles ($36) and beef curry ($45). The beef cakes ($18 for two pieces) are top-sellers – and with good reason. The soup from the juicy beef patty within the fried pastry is so delicious you’ll be reaching for the next spoonful before you finish the one in your mouth. The restaurant is open daily from 6am-10:30pm.

Another new addition for HK diners is Yagura (LG, Eaton Hotel Hong Kong, 380 Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei, 2710 1010) which opened in November last year. The restaurant boasts five individual eating areas – a ko-agari traditional private room, another semi-private room, a sushi bar, a tempura bar, and a general dining area – all stylishly combining modern Japanese with traditional décor. The sushi counter is a casual and brightly lit area whilst the other dining spaces have a more cozy and intimate atmosphere. In accord with the fusion of modern and traditional interior design, Yagura offers creative new dishes as well as classic Japanese delights. Try their signature favourites such as the special sushi rolls: yat tung heen roll with roasted Peking duck and Hoi Sin sauce ($48) and unagi roll with eel, cream cheese and black capelin roe ($58). Or opt for the classics such as grilled daimoyou lobster with sea urchin ($208). The less decisive may like to try the omakase menu with its multi-course tasting dishes prepared by the chef ($268, $338, $438).

Will Meyrick, former head chef and part owner of Jimmy Lik’s, one of Sydney’s most celebrated contemporary Thai dining venues, is the creator of the latest menu additions to Lotus (36-43 Pottinger St, Central, 2543 6290). Meyrick was named Australia’s ‘Young Chef of the
Year’ in 2001 and gets inspiration from Southeast Asian street food, inventing new starters such as chilled yadong of Mekong oyster shooters with lemongrass syrup and chili ($145), crispy duck with yellow bean, ginger, tamarind and mandarin ($150) and stir fried squid with snake beans, baby corn and holy
basil ($85).

O Sip Hah (G/F, 15 Old Bailey St, Central, 3622 3222) recently introduced a French-inspired set lunch and a la carte menu. Priced from $68-$98, the set lunch includes an appetizer, soup, main course and coffee or lemongrass tea. In addition to the popular spicy beef salad, O Sip Hah has added new appetizers such as Thai fish cake with fresh grapefruit salad, smoked duck-breast salad, and winter melon and mushroom soup with truffle oil. The new main courses on the lunch menu include baked spring chicken with ginger salsa ($88 per set) or pan-fried beef fillet with goose liver topped with fresh peppercorn cream sauce ($98). The a la carte menu includes appetizers such as pan-fried duck foie gras with tender young spinach and lychee ($118) and pan-fried king scallops with creamy lemongrass sauce ($98).

Inagiku Japanese Restaurant at The Royal Garden (1/F, The Royal Garden, 69 Mody Rd, TST East, 2733 2933) has a new seasonal hot-pot menu. Recommended selections include anglerfish hot pot ($380), Hokkaido Taraba crab hot pot ($280) and Kagoshima sliced pork shabu shabu hot pot (460). Enjoy a hearty and nutritious meal with a group of friends for a fun and casual dining experience.

Buffet Bliss
2+2 Café (3/F, Royal Park Hotel, 8 Pak Hok Ting St, Shatin, 2694 3886) has gone all Australian for its seafood dinner buffet. Priced at $218 for adults and $118 for children/seniors (weekday prices), the buffet offers a variety of maritime delicacies such as roasted Australian scallop and roasted Australian jumbo oysters. Those looking for more titillating tastes might like to try the baked Australian sole fillet with orange, roasted lemongrass and blue ginger salmon or Australian egg-white crab with beer. The menu also includes high-grade Australian meats for dishes like ostrich and
venison satays, Tasmanian lamb chop, and Australian short rib. Trying the desserts at a buffet is almost compulsory – finish off with some traditional Down Under desserts such as lamingtons or pavlova.

Located between the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, Spain and Portugal are both renowned for their seafood. The Royal Pacific Hotel and Towers brings the exceptional dishes of these two countries to Hong Kong in a ‘Spanish & Portuguese Culinary Delights’ seafood buffet at Café on the PARK (33 Canton Road, China Hong Kong City, TST, 2738 2322) until 29 February. The chef recommends the Spanish seafood paella, spicy lobster and capsicum gazpacho, crispy-fried Spanish-style sardines, and, to finish off the Mediterranean experience, deep-fried berries with saffron-Madeira sabayon. The buffet dinner (6:30-9:30pm) is priced at $288 for adults and $188 for children Monday-Thursday and $308/$208 from Friday-Sunday, including public holidays. Buffet lunch (12-2:30pm) is $148/$118, Monday-Friday, and $168/$128 for weekends and public holidays.

Café Aficionado at the Regal Airport Hotel (9 Cheong Tat Road, Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok, 2286 6238) is serving a Swiss dinner buffet this month created by Swiss-born executive chef Hans Nussbaumer. The selection includes raclette (melted cheese served with boiled or roasted potatoes with small gherkins and onions) and the traditional air-dried beef, ham and sausage. Those with a sweet tooth can also go for the range of traditional desserts such as the classic carrot cake, zuger kirsch torte or pear and cherry fritter. The Swiss dining experience is available from 6-10pm, $298 for adults and $198 for children.

Looking for something to settle those sugar cravings? The Lobby Lounge at the Renaissance Kowloon Hotel (Level 2, 22 Salisbury Road, TST, 2734 6650) has introduced a chocolate fantasy tea buffet. Highlights include the chocolate expresso custard, chocolate mango roll, fantaisie, chocolate cheese and mousse cake, and chocolate coconut cake. This enticing range of chocolate delights can be experienced at a price of $148 for adults and $98 for children on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 3:00-5:30pm.