Recently we were down at Bali for a long weekend. As we were planning for the trip, we thought long and hard to decide whether it's worth paying a bit more for a better hotel, after realizing how inhibitively expensive Bali travel package could get. At the end we figured since this is only our first vacation this year, we may as well splurge a bit more for some luxurious comfort, something we felt like we desperate need. Looking back, I think it's the money well spent as we had a great time at St Regis Bali.
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Secret Supper at Secret Ingredient
The brilliant minds behind the gourmet food delivery service Secret Ingredient has began hosting private dinners at their Noho home base since 2 months ago. Only one table for 6-8 persons is available every Wednesday and Saturday, and Head Chef Jesse Teh offer a fixed menu for sharing across the table, with menu items change regularly.
I recently went to check it out, eager to find out what more Jesse can do after my somewhat satisfactory experience with my Secret Ingredient delivery at home a few weeks ago. "Hiking" up to the quiet neighborhood of Tai Ping Shan Street in Noho from the MTR station was quite a challenge after a long day at work but I made it right on time. The venue has simply a long table right outside the open kitchen area - which I think might be a bit tight for 8 people as they have advertised could fit but it's just nice and cozy for the 6 of us this time - at least we didn't feel like we need to snuggle.
I recently went to check it out, eager to find out what more Jesse can do after my somewhat satisfactory experience with my Secret Ingredient delivery at home a few weeks ago. "Hiking" up to the quiet neighborhood of Tai Ping Shan Street in Noho from the MTR station was quite a challenge after a long day at work but I made it right on time. The venue has simply a long table right outside the open kitchen area - which I think might be a bit tight for 8 people as they have advertised could fit but it's just nice and cozy for the 6 of us this time - at least we didn't feel like we need to snuggle.
Tagged as:
2014
,
Amateur Gourmet
,
Dinner
,
Hong Kong
,
Noho
,
Private Kitchen
,
Restaurant
,
Secret Ingredient
,
serious dining
,
Special Menu
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
A Guest Chef Encounter at Brasserie on the Eighth
In Hong Kong, there's no shortage of visiting chefs coming to town for a short stint, but Chef Stephane's background and caliber still caught my interest, being an award-winning chef, a successful restaurateur and a published author of a few books on cooking. And he seems to be very friendly and approachable too, when he stopped by for a quick drink with us before the dinner began.
Monday, June 9, 2014
The Most Expensive Lunch at Sushi Shikon
We started our Dragon Boat Festival long weekend with a lunch at Sushi Shikon, for an overdue return visit to what we think is the best Japanese restaurant in town. It's almost 2 years ago since we last came before it officially opened, and this time we managed to convince 2 of our other friends to join us, assuring them a meal like this is an enlightening experience and well worth spending "a little more than usual". Okay, not just "a little"; in fact it's probably the most expensive lunch I have ever had.
Tagged as:
3-star
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Chef
,
featured
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Hong Kong
,
Hotel
,
Japanese
,
lunch
,
Michelin
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Restaurant
,
Sake
,
serious dining
,
Sheung Wan
,
Sushi
,
Sushi Shikon
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The Mercer
,
Wine and Dine
,
Yoshiharu Kakinuma
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Pilgrimage to the Tempura Temple
The Tokyo trip was put together at very short notice but at the end I got the job done (after all it's primarily a business trip), and as a bonus I was blessed with awesome weather and wonderful meals outside of work. How about that for killing two birds in one stone? I always try to fit in a tempura meal as I did in my previous stays, and this time I could finally make time for "Mikawa Zezankyo", one of the places often mentioned when people talked about top tempura restaurants in Tokyo.
Tagged as:
1-star
,
Dinner
,
Japan
,
Japanese
,
Michelin
,
Mikawa Zezankyo
,
Restaurant
,
serious dining
,
Tempura
,
Tokyo
,
travel
Monday, June 2, 2014
Le French GourMay Tasting at Whisk
I have to admit - in the past I didn't consider Whisk at The Mira seriously when I looked for a fancy night out. True we have had good experiences at their Sunday brunch quite a few times (including once at the hotel's invitation - in the interest of full disclosure), but somehow that never transpired into the desire to come for dinner. Maybe subconsciously we just never bothered to cross to the "dark side" (a euphemism for Kowloon by us people living on the Island side) for a special occasion unless we must. So I was quite delighted when their PR team asked me to join their Le French GourMay tasting, since otherwise I probably would have never tried.
Tagged as:
2014
,
By Invitation
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Dinner
,
European
,
French
,
Hong Kong
,
Hotel
,
Kowloon
,
Le French Gourmay
,
Restaurant
,
serious dining
,
Tasting Menu
,
The Mira
,
TST
,
Whisk
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