bc magazine

Megabites: Mine @ Lan Kwai Fong

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Mine opened recently in Lan Kwai Fong, and is the latest by the team behind Ra, Zinc, and Port. The raw industrial look that characterised Port in TST is again in evidence with rough wooden plank walls reminiscent of a mine shaft while a mine truck rumbles above the fuel station (bar). The subterranean feel continues throughout with stones wrapped around protruding surfaces. The effect is of a mine tunnel but the bar is high ceilinged open and friendly with a dance floor at the rear. The outside tables, which include some cool saddle style stools, offer prime drinking and people watching opportunities.

The drinks menu and cocktail list feature a range of themed cocktails ($120/HH$80) martinis ($120/$80) and shooters ($85/$55). Draught beer is ($78/$45) while house / premium spirits are $80/ $90. Happy hour is 5-9pm daily.

The food menu is small with interesting takes on traditional pub dishes designed to be enjoyed or shared with a drink.

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Served in an iron skillet the Mac and Cheese Bullion ($78) is macaroni and cheese rolled into balls, breaded and deep fried and served with a sauce of mayonnaise, sour cream, ketchup and chilli flakes to give it a little bite. Very tasty.

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The Smoked Pork Quesadillas ($138) are filled with pulled pork, lashings of jack and cheddar cheese lightly grilled until the cheese melts and served with fresh guacamole and sour cream. Delicious.

The Bacon Chicken Fries ($98) are thin fries covered in melted cheese, bacon and grilled chicken. A lovely combination that just screams out for a topping of gravy to transform this into a delicious poutine. A touch choice here between these and the nachos.

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The Chicken Waffle ($148) is a homemade waffle cut into eight and topped with cubes of grilled chicken breast, chipotle jam, jalapeño sauce, maple syrup and ranch dressing. It looks awesome and the balance of sweet and spice is perfect. The only slight problem with this dish is as the waffle cools it becomes soggy and doesn’t support the chicken. The solution, don’t let it get cold.

Served on a cast iron spade the Cuban Sandwich ($98) is pulled pork, pickles, sweet ham, yellow mustard and swiss cheese in a long bun served with a basket of fries. If you order it with the other dishes it doesn’t look quite as attractive, but it’s very filling, tasty and goes well with a cold beer/cider.

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For those looking for a lighter option, the Asian Steak Salad ($128) features rib-eye steak, cubed mango, avocado, cherry tomatoes, spinach, red cabbage and a slightly sweet Thai sauce with peanuts served on the side. A tasty salad for those looking for something more healthy.

The dishes are perfect for sharing or eating alone, portion sizes are good and the food quality is well above your average pub grub fare. The option exists on most dishes to swap the main meat if for example you prefer a chicken salad / quesadilla. Mine is a fun bar for a drink that also happens to serve some nicely presented and tasty bar food.

Mine
31 D’Aguilar Road, Lan Kwai Fong. Tel: 2461 7888
Open: 16:00-04:00 daily
Mine’s food menu is also on offer at Zinc.

Megabites: Indian Curry Express

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Indian Curry Express which opened recently in Sai Ying Pun offers home style Indian cuisine from a small ‘hole in the wall’ style outlet on Water Street. Don’t let the looks deceive you this is local dining at it’s best, small tables a constant stream of customers including even after just a couple of weeks numerous regulars and good food, oh such lovely food and all msg free.

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According to the friendly owners Delhi couple Rajesh and Nanda Maindola good food is the key to any restaurant and concept is at the heart of Indian Curry Express’s kitchen. The menu is extensive offering all the traditional Indian vegetarian and meat dishes. bc started with perhaps the best mango lassi ($10) for the price in Hong Kong, not too sweet and with a well balanced flavour. The vegetarian samosas (3 for $30) were delicious with firm pastry a well cooked filling and not oily at all. The Khadai Paneer ($70) was full of texture and flavours but maybe a little light on paneer.

The Daal Makhni is superb, lovely texture and consistency and full of flavour – if you can’t eat it all, it tastes perhaps even better cold the next day! The Vegetable Biryani ($60) is a large portion of perfectly cooked and flavoured rice served with a slightly sweet curry. The Butter Chicken ($80) features a nicely balanced creamy textured lightly sweet sauce embracing tender soft chicken, while the Lamb Roganjosh ($80) just crumbles in the delicious sauce. All of these delightful light, tasty and filling dishes are best eaten and sopped up with soft freshly made Tawa roti.

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We’re always reticent to talk up a new restaurant too much especially a small one, as people then go with expanded expectations but bc visited with two Indian foodies and both enjoyed their dinner. Street side dining is not for everyone – so take your lunch/diner away or enjoy free local delivery.

Indian Curry Express currently offers some of the tastiest Indian food around and bc hopes as they invariably get busier they can keep up the quality, that ‘made at home’ style feel and the extra bit of tlc that all these dishes feel like they have. Delicious!

Indian Curry Express: 27 Water Street, Sai Ying Pun. Tel: 6744 6915
Opening Hours: noon-3:30pm; 6-10pm
www.facebook.com/indiancurryexpress.hk
[email protected]
(If you enjoy your Indian cuisine spicy then ask the kitchen when you order.)

Megabites: Gold Coast Prime Rib

Opened at the start of June, the Gold Coast Prime Rib is one of the least inspiring looking places you’ll dine at. It literally is a window area in the corner of the vast lobby at the Gold Coast Hotel over-looking the swimming pool and the marina. The only notable difference to the rest of the lobby is that the chairs are a different colour, but looks shouldn’t deter you.

The menu is sparse, but this is not a bad thing – doing a few things well, is better than a lot of things averagely. The signature US prime rib sets are offered in 3 ($288), 5 ($368) or 7 ($488) racks and carved from a full rack at the table. The set also includes a salad or soup or dessert and a side dish from a choice of garlic mushrooms, creamy spinach, garlic rice, truffle fries or mashed potatoes with black truffle jus.

The menu also offers a selection of grills sets pork fillet mignon (7oz, $348), New York strip (12oz, $428), double cut pork chop (14oz, $398), Australian lamb chop (8oz, $328), French spring chicken (14oz, $398) and Scottish salmon (7oz, $368). All come with the same choice of extras as the rib sets. There are also soups and salads for those looking for a lighter meal.

The Prime Rib is only open in the evening and our media visit was over lunch so bc chose the New York strip. The 12oz steak filled the plate unlike so many of today’s main courses where the meat looks lost among the artistic sauce dribbles. The inch or so thick cut steak was cooked medium rare just as we asked and was juicy, tender, flavourful and really rather good. For those who like a sauce with their steak there’s a choice of cafe de paris butter, bearnaise, black pepper with cognac, creamy five peppercorn or black truffle gravy.

The sides dishes which are served separately are generously portioned. The black truffle mash potato had a nice texture and flavour as did the creamy spinach.

Given its location the Gold Coast Prime Rib is not perhaps worth a special trip – although there’s a free hotel bus from Canton Road (30 mins each way) – unlike the Gold Coast Hotel’s creative afternoon teas (see below). But if you are in the area and fancy a good well portioned meal, then it’s definitely worth considering.

If you have kids perhaps it’s best not to show them pictures of the new fun teas sets at the Gold Coast Hotel they put those bird cage sets to shame with a series of wonderful themed tea sets. Someone had a lot of fun creating them, there are six available ‘Ding Ding’ Hong Kong tram, princess, dinosaur, outer space, pirate and safari with matching themed rooms for those who want to stay.

For visitors only the ‘Ding Ding’ and pirate are currently available a la carte. Full of prime New York steak, bc didn’t extensively sample the full offerings of each set but the bits that we did sample were uniformly good. And compared to some of the tea sets around town there’s a fair of food for hungry parents and kid. The impressive centrepieces are made of chocolate, and not supposed to be eaten, but quite how they’ll prevent kids breaking off a piece of I’m not sure… Each themed tea set is $680 and needs to be ordered a day in advance.

Gold Coast Prime Rib
Gold Coast Hotel, 1 Castle Peak Road (Castle Peak Bay), Tsuen Wan
www.sino-hotels.com/hk/gold-coast

Shake ’em Buns 10th Anniversary Block Party – 15 June, 2016

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It was smiling faces and juicy burgers all around as Shake ’em Buns celebrated it’s 10th Anniversary with a block party on the 15 June that saw hundreds of people enjoying $20 burgers, free fried chicken and craft beer. A big hand to the Shake ’em Buns staff for making so many burgers in such a short time!
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Le Guishu @ Quayside – 15 June, 2016

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Le Guishu, the first ever French rice wine is launched at Quayside on the 15 June 2016.
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Great Texas Laua @ Lantau – 8 June, 2016

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The first Great Texas Laua at Shek Pik Red Cross camp site was organised and hosted by the US Meat Export Federation and Texas Beef to showcase the quality of American beef, pork and chicken and how delicious they taste when smoked and BBQ’d Texas style. World Champion BBQ expert and chef Tim Broderick was in-charge of the pits and created a delicious meal – a big thank you to him and his team and everyone involved for a great night.
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Megabites: Mr Greek

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Amongst the plethora of eateries in Mongkok is the recently opened Mr Greek. The Bute Street outlet is the first Asian restaurant (operated as a franchise) of the popular Canadian chain and offers a wide range of popular Greek and Canadian dishes.

Simple sides and snacks include souvlaki, spanakopita ($35) grilled vegetables ($15), roasted potatoes ($15) and fresh made pita with delicious fresh dips ($15/$19).

The mains are generously sized and include six different variations on the classic Canadian poutine: ‘Bacon Lovers’, ‘Hot Dogging’, Tzatziki, Guacamole and Spicy Feta are all $40. The signature Oh My Gravy ($40) is a piled high plate of chips, of the big fat variety-cooked fluffy in the middle, covered in delicious home-made gravy, mozzarella, cheese curds and feta cheese. It’s a lovely filling plate of carb to enjoy alone or with a friend and perfect washed down with a cold beer (liquor licence coming soon).

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The selection of stuffed pita includes roast chicken ($45), pulled pork ($45) and the signature Apollo Wrap ($75) which is a pita full of 8oz of fresh beef, salad, fresh Tzatziki dressing and a side of chips. It’s a big fresh mouthful!

For seafood lovers there’s calamari and soft shell crab offered as mains ($100) or taster sizes. And for the salad aficionados there are grilled chicken ($55), grilled salmon ($78) and tangy chickpea ($35).

All the ingredients are freshly prepared on the premises or imported from Greece and portions are large enough that you really can share with your friends. Currently there are no desserts, but these should be coming soon.

It’s not fancy, but it’s tasty, filling and good size portions, what’s not to like! So if you’re in the neighbourhood and looking for a snack or a filling meal then check out Mr Greek.

Mr Greek: 64 Bute Street, Mongkok. Tel: 2866 9308
Opening Hours: Noon-Midnight everyday
www.facebook.com/Mr-Greek-Asia

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Megabites: La Bo La

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Tucked away in the corner of the faux Disneyesque street that is the new Lee Tung Avenue in Wanchai it’s easy to walk past La Bo La a French Vietnamese tapas bar, where owner and wine lover Ian Ip pairs his love of wine with a range of Vietnamese tapas. The dark paneled interior is relaxing and offers a range of seating including a private room, screened by a thick rope curtain, and several outside tables are available.

The tapas and main menu are available in the evening, while at lunch there’s a set menu offering a range of pho and Thai noodles featuring Vietnamese ham ($62), US raw beef ($68), shrimp, crab and tomato ($68) with a range of additional toppings and side dishes. The pho is nicely balanced, full of flavour and comes with plenty of noodles and some crisp raw onion to add a bit of texture – a tasty and filling lunch.

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On the main menu the fried boneless chicken bites ($88) served with Tamarind sauce are lovely when prepared well but sometimes come out overly oily. The hand-shaped minced chicken skewers ($108) served on lemon grass stems have an engaging texture and flavour. The signature ox tongue on rice ($128) and the braised oxtail ($208) are both strong rich full flavoured and filling dishes but might not be to everyone’s taste.

La Bo La gets a lot of things right and it’s a nice place to go for a drink, to relax and grab a bite. It’s just not quite a must visit place yet, but with a little more attention to consistency of food quality it certainly could be.

La Bo La
Shops G02-03, 200 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai
Tel: 2871 1711
www.facebook.com/labolahk

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Photos: Jayne Russell