bc magazine

Megabites: 2 November, 2015 – The Chippy, Awfully Chocolate, Taste of Bavaria

The Chippy
As part of November’s Best of British festival there’s an English fish and chip shop, The Chippy serving 100% English fish and chips all imported from the UK. The cod is sustainable, the potatoes are English and cut as chips. There’s even malt vinegar and chip forks… There are two sizes of cod, Signature a 10-12oz fillet ($148) and regular (5-6oz fillet, $108). The quantity of chips served with each is the same and both are served in a “Cod Save the Queen” Chippy Box.

The cod is firm and tender the batter just English and the chips are – as my memory remembers from the eating take-away fish and chips growing up – some of the best i’ve eaten in Hong Kong. They’re cut thick and use a different potato to that used locally and it makes all the difference. They sag and bend (in a good way), unlike most chips or fries served locally which stay firm and straight whether cold or hot, these are proper “chip shop” chips and delicious. They’re also serving Pukka pies ($48) and big thick jumbo sausages – battered ($38) or plain ($28).

The Chippy will be open in Tamar Park from 6pm on the 3,4 November and at the various Best of British Events later this month. Managing Director of The Chippy Craig Barnett hopes to open The Chippy in Soho later this year and serve English fish and chips 7 days a week.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2015/Best-of-British-Open-Air/i-KszJ55n

The open air cinema has loads of space on the grass, just bring something to sit on. You can also bring your own drinks and food. Entry is Free.

Awfully Chocolate @ Hysan
Opening in Basement 2 of Hysan Place in early November is the fifth Awfully Chocolate outlet in Hong Kong. Known for their signature multi-layered chocolate cakes sold, by the inch because size matters, these are now also available by the slice. For chocoholics there’s a wide range of chocolate goodness including chocolate ganache, chocolate brownies, chocolate mille crepe, chocolate truffles, chocolate tarts, chocolate ice-cream and the super stacked chocolate cake… All can be enjoyed with chocolate ice blends and chocolate coffee.
Check out their locations and prices at www.awfullychocolate.com

Bavarian Festival @ Great Food Hall
Octoberfest maybe coming to an end but there’s still lots of Bavarian goodies to enjoy at Great’s Bavarian Food Festival in the basement of Pacific Place. In the bakery there’s a choice of 15 pretzels and logans, wonderfully textured and tasting baked products that put the plastic bread onsale at local chain bakeries to shame. Or try some German dark bread with your Bavarian blu cheese from the ‘cheese room’ or sliced meats and salami’s. Of course there’s Bavarian craft beers from Pfungstäedter – all at around 4-5% alcohol, because Bavarian’s drink beer like the English drink tea. Beer, a drink to be enjoyed at all times of the day.
The Taste of Bavaria festival runs until November 12

Megabites: Seafood – 24 October, 2015

Seafood is hot right now with four new restaurants opening recently that offer the ocean’s not quite as plentiful as it used to be produce. The world’s seas and oceans offer a bountiful source of food, but pollution and fish harvesting have depleted fish stocks, destroyed fish breeding grounds and killed the food sources that fish need to grow and live. Sustainable fishing and fish farms are a start, but it only works if we the customer take an interest in where the fish we eat is sourced.

Organized by Hong Kong’s Ocean Recovery Alliance, November’s month-long Kin Hong “Healthy” Seafood Festival looks to raise public awareness about sustainable seafood and why we should care about what we are eating, and where it comes from. 21 restaurants are participating, but insanely for the restaurant to participate they only have to prove that one fish dish on their menu comes from sustainable sources. Positive idea, poor execution.

Noho’s Pauls Kitchen which opened in 2007 has undergone a renovation and a rebrand to emerge this month as Lobster and Mussels by Paul’s Kitchen. Looking to differentiate itself from a regular seafood restaurant the outlet sells only fresh lobster and mussels cooked and prepared in a variety of ways. Paul’s Kitchen’s signature French Baby Chicken does make the new menu for those who don’t like lobster or mussels.
Lobster and Mussels by Paul’s Kitchen: 16 Gough Street Central. Tel: 2815 8003 www.pauls-kitchen.com

New in Sai Ying Pun is Fishschool a concept and collaboration between Yenn Wong and Chef David Lai which looks to “Bring modern Hong Kong to the plate with a cuisine reflecting the local culture and resources”. Offering farmed seafood and fresh local Hong Kong fish sourced from small, family-owned fishing boats the menu features a range of dishes you might not have tasted before. Or simply pick a fish and have it baked, steamed, roasted, grilled or pan-fried… as you desire.
Fishschool: 100 Third Street, Sai Ying Pun. Tel: 2361 2966 www.fishschool.hk

The Ocean is the latest outlet to open at The Pulse in Repulse Bay. Located on the 3/F The Ocean opened on the 21 October and claims to serve “sustainably sourced seafood”. Neither the press release or website offers a menu and we’ve received no replies to our emails for more information. So all we have currently is the address, more when we’ve taken a look.
The Ocean: Shop 303-304, 3/F, The Pulse, 28 Beach Road, Repulse Bay. Tel: 2889 5939. www.theocean.hk

Seas Ahoy a family themed child friendly restaurant opened in Tsim Sha Tsui last month. The interior looks a little different with a ‘kid-literate’ menu and a ship themed play area for children to enjoy while parents dine. Sadly according the press release “Seas Ahoy’s portion is created smaller so that every plate is a new experience” – the sharing plates concept of micro-sized portions that you can ‘share’ at full meal prices was old several years ago.
Seas Ahoy: G1, Mirror Tower, 61 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. Tel: 3956 5300. www.seasahoy.com

Wine & Dine Festival 2015

The 2015 Wine & Dine Festival at the Central Harbourfront features a dizzying array of food and wine to enjoy over the next three days. The festival is organised by HK Tourism, which ensures that a large number of the territories hotels have food booths showcasing their signature dishes at prices well below what you’d find when dining at the hotel.

There’s wine, wine and more wine, tasting rooms, samplers and wine pairing dinners. To enjoy a glass and to keep things simple wine’s have been divided in to two categories. Classic wine – $20/coupon and Grand wine $50/coupon. You can purchase as many or as few coupons as you desire.

Food… There’s lots of lovely food, a smorgasbord of tastes and flavours from across the globe. The food and wine booths are separated into zones. Sadly, neither the festival map nor the booklet offer a list of all the participating outlets. In a way that good as it forces you explore, but it can also be a pain to locate a booth you want to visit.

Buffets are for grazing and sampling, and this is the best way to explore the large festival area because you never know what you might find. Dishes are paid for in cash and prices range from $10 up. Some of delights we discovered on our wander last night included a lovely artesian french booth offering cones of cheese, ham’s and salami ($50-60). Among the delights in the hotel booth area were a tasty lamb shank and a delicious stuffed crab topped with melted cheese; or enjoy heart shaped meatloaf topped with gold leaf.

Locally it can be hard to find good bread, but several restaurants make their own and are showcasing this on their booths Ciak has nice fresh bread to go with it’s spicy sausages. While Bagoes is offering fresh bagels, bagel sandwiches.

There’s lots of desserts, one definitely to look out for is is egg custard served in a real egg shell. It’s not cheap $70 for 2, but it’s delicious – booth C204.

There’s also a stage offering a variety of live music through the festival.

Frustrations – there’s very little seating, and no shade! So if the sun’s out, bring some suntan cream and an umbrella because without any breeze Central Harbourfront can be very hot.

It’s outside, there’s food, wine, beer, live music… what’s not to like, have fun.

Wine & Dine Festival 2015
Date: 22-25 October, 2015
Venue: Central Harbourfront
Tickets: $30
More info:
22 October – 8-11:30pm
23-24 October – 12-11:30pm
25 October – 12-10pm
More images here

Studio City Macau – Opens 27 October, 2015

Even as Macau gambling revenues tumble from their stratospheric levels of two years ago construction still continues on seven new integrated resorts. They’re casinos in all but name, the Macau and Chinese governments looking to put a more palatable identity for the worlds largest gambling centre. Which is good news for those of us who enjoy Macau, but – much to the annoyance of the casinos – don’t gamble.

The newest resort on the block, opening on the 27 October, is Studio City the latest venture to join the Melco Crown empire headed by Lawrence Loo and James Packer. Located close to the new Lotus Gate border crossing, Studio City is easily identified by it’s unique figure 8 gondola ride located in the middle of the building. On bc’s recent tour of the almost completed resort the ride looks spectacular and is set to become one of the must do things in Macau. Quite where the long queues will line up we’re not sure.

The integrated resort theme runs through the whole 6 million square foot building, competing with the gondola ride for most attractive non-gaming feature will be the 4D Batman Dark Flight ride (MOP$150) where ‘flying’ through Gotham City promises to be a thrilling audio, visual and sensory adventure.

Aside from gambling, shopping and dining Studio City will combine the magic of cinema with the magic of illusion to leave you smiling as your money disappears infront of your very eyes. The House of Magic by Franz Harary is a three theatre experience of illusion and and magic. Three magic shows for the price of one, we’re very interested to see how this works – tickets are MOP$600(VIP), $400.

Studio City will also be hosting concerts at it’s 5,000 seat Event Centre and the first concert announced is Madonna. Tickets for the two shows on 20, 21 February 2016 go onsale on the 16 October priced at MOP$10,588, $8,888, $7,888, $2,588 from www.studiocity-macau.com

CD1509102_MSC_EM_LV Madonna Concert Visual_horizontal_A1_v_op

Megabites: Greenhouse

Greenhouse on the 10th floor of Times Square is the latest outlet from the Gaia Group. The menu shares a theme and several dishes with sister restaurants Townhouse in Lan Kwai Fong and Glasshouse in IFC, but the 7000 square foot Greenhouse’s menu is different enough for a separate visit. The bright open plan layout is big enough that, unlike many smaller places, if you want to relax and chat with friends over some bites and drinks you can – without that feeling that the waiter wants you gone…

The main menu is split into 6 sections – small bites, bigger bites, robata bites, garden bites, pizza bites, main bites with a separate sweet bites menu. Prices range from $48 for the small bites to $568 for a 24oz rib eye. The dishes that caught our eye were the bacon wrapped scallops ($52/skewer) and coco-cola prime beef ($58/skewer) robata. Not cheap per skewer, but the portions are large, the beef juicy. The scallops were big and tasty, but the bacon (sadly) was barely noticeable and (sadly again, as a bacon lover) added nothing to the flavour.

The Masaman curry lasagna with roasted mushrooms, chicken and smoked mozerella ($118) – it’s such an eclectic sounding mix that it shouldn’t work. Yet it does, the curry with the melted cheese and pasta, the vegetables and chicken providing textures. Just a delicious dish and one we’ll return for time and again.

The wagyu burger with black truffle mayonnaise ($148) is a big juicy 7oz fine ground wagyu patty served in a sesame seed bun. The patty was evenly cooked, served pink, nicely juicy with a good meaty bite. The bun is fresh and doesn’t disintegrate as the juice seeps down. It would be nice if the dish came with fries, but you can order those on the side ($68) with more black truffle mayonnaise. That makes a burger and fries almost $250 (including the obligatory 10% service charge) which, in any restaurant, is a lot for a burger.

The signature Balinese style fried chicken ($258) was perfectly cooked, the chicken meat moist, while the skin was crispy. The sambal sauce is spicey, and goes nicely with fries as well.

For dessert there are pizza crepes ($98) and the fun ‘candy crush’ ($118), a selection of ice cream, fruit, chocolate and sweets served in a stone mortar and pestle for you to crush and enjoy with friends.

The drinks menu includes all that you’d expect plus a selection of ice green tea lattes ($48). The green bamboo latte is a combination of sugar cane syrup, green tea, Gaia coffee and cream – a nice mix of flavours, the coffee adding a little sharpness to the green tea. There are ‘frozen’ drinks, the Pandan leaves and coconut is combination of fresh Pandan leaves, coconut cream, condensed milk, soft brown sugar and hazelnut topping. The signature milk tea ($48) served in a jug is a little milky for our taste but there’s a lot worse being served around town.

Service is polite and efficient, the dishes bc tried were well cooked, nicely presented and reasonably sized. It’s hard to find fault in Greenhouse – it is, what it is, an enjoyable place to eat out.

Greenhouse
Shop 1004, Shop 1004, Time Square, Causeway Bay. Tel: 2383 4022

Megabites: Gordon Ramsay’s London House

Newly opened in TST East is Gordon Ramsay’s London House. In the UK, London House is a fine dining restaurant. In Hong Kong it’s a pub, with a small simple menu comprising traditional English pub grub, of the type on offer before the term ‘gastro pub’ saw traditional English staples ‘re-invented’ (bastardised). To start there’s toad in the hole ($108), crispy whitebait ($108). Mains include cod and chips ($198), shepherds pie ($198), steak hash ($188), pork chops ($238). As for dessert there’s bread and butter pudding ($78) and trifle ($78) amongst others.

At a recent media tasting we were offered tasting samples of several dishes, the cod was firm and tasty but was in nugget form not as served to customers… The mash on the shepherds pie was more like a puree than mash, while the minced lamb filling was runny and lacked the rich thickness and flavour that a mince filling should have. The bangers and mash (puree) were ok, although the onions were still stringy and the gravy bland. As we were served tasting portions, regrettably we can’t comment on portion size.

If any restaurant wants to cook ‘staple’ dishes (of any cuisine) that everyone knows and probably makes at home – then there needs to be something ‘special’ about them or diners will be naturally underwhelmed. There’s no need to reinvent them, just make the good. At Gordon Ramsay’s London House you’re looking at $400+ per person for dinner without drinks, the staff are polite and the service efficient. There’s nothing much ‘wrong’ with the food (although, you could eat the same or better for half the price in many pubs across Hong Kong without Ramsay’s name) just nothing to say Yum… and make you want to return.

Gordon Ramsay London House
G5, Tsim Sha Tsui Centre, 66 Mody Road, TST East. tel: 3650 3333

Genki 20th Anniversary

Genki the name synonymous locally, and globally, with conveyor belt sushi celebrates it’s 20th anniversary in Hong Kong this month. Their first local store opened on 3 August 1995 in the Far East Finance Centre, Admiralty. As part of the celebrations Genki have opened their first Kousoku (Speed Train) store in Tsuen Wan. Instead of trays of sushi and sashimi on a conveyor belt snaking around the restaurant each table is served by a three level Kousoku.

The benefits of this to us as customers are that each dish is prepared fresh when you order it and served directly to the table. Ordering is by touch screen pad, with each part of your order limited to four plates (each train only has space for four plates). Individually and for couples this works fine, but with most dishes on the menu only having one item, it might not work so well for groups of four. Each plate is sent when ready and the target is to serve you within 90 seconds of a dish being ordered. The system is fun, portion size, quality and price / value are the same as the conveyor belt stores.
Genki Kousoku Shop B105-108, B1, Tsuen Wan Plaza, Tai Pa Street, Tsuen Wan, Tel: 2499 3172. Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10:30pm

Megabites: Sushi Sei

Sushi Sei
There are a surprising number of restaurants in IFC, one of the more recent arrivals is Sushi Sei. Offering two quite different menus at lunch and dinner the food we sampled at lunch was fresh, full of interesting flavours and well presented. Head Chef Kaoru Mitsuhashi said his style was based around the traditional Edomae Nigirisushi.

In truth we’re not well enough versed in Japanese cuisine to comment on it’s authenticity, but beyond having a very enjoyable lunch we did learn two interesting things. We’ve been eating our sushi incorrectly for years, instead of picking a piece up and placing it in our mouths we should actually turn each piece so that the fish rather than the rice touches the tongue first so as to appreciate the subtle flavours of the fish before the rice dominates the tastebuds. Very obvious, when you think about it….

In many modern Japanese restaurants the rice is squashed tightly together making more of a block to bite into. Chef Mitsuhashi claims the traditional method is to have the rice loser and served warm so that it ‘crumbles’ in the mouth. Unsurprisingly this creates a completely different flavour experience, again allowing the flavour of the fish to remain on the palate longer.
Sushi Sei: Shop 2016, IFC Mall, 8 Finance Street, Central, Tel: 2387 3377