Need More Time Perhaps

From one hotel with a view to another, we checked out from our stay at The Murray for brunch at Salisterra on top of the nearby Upper House. The restaurant went through a few iterations in terms of culinary directions with several chefs came and went, and the latest to steer the ship is Chef Cary Docherty, whom we know from his day at Gough's on Gough (now closed) and then Lobster Bar at Island Shangri-la. 

Taste of Mediterranean

We made a short walk across the street to visit a new restaurant before we ended our staycation. A few months ago we said goodbye to Café Gray Deluxe after 10 or so years at The Upper House hotel, and taking up its spot is Salisterra, a contemporary casual restaurant specialized in Mediterranean cuisine helmed by the UK-based chef Jun Tanaka. 

Touring Middle East 10: Dinner at Chakra

We were curious to check out the Jerusalem dining scene the moment we arrived, despite this legendary town is probably better known for its political and religious significance than being a culinary destination. Once we checked in to our hotel after a long bus ride from the north and dropped our luggage in our room, we hopped on the tram to Jerusalem's city center, where it was packed like Causeway Bay with Orthodox Jews celebrating the festival of Sukkot.

Restaurant Week Menu at Mercedes Me

We finally got our chance to try Mercedes Me, taking advantage of the Restaurant Week special menu on a Monday evening with a group of friends.

Our experience with Restaurant Week in previous years has been by and large positive, and we found this a good opportunity to check out restaurants that we have somehow missed out on before. Guess Mercedes Me fell into that category - we have heard good things about this relatively new casual dining establishment in Central too many times, but we never got around to go previously.

Easy Summer Recipe Part 2: Cornbread

Last time, I shared the recipe of a super-easy Pasta Salad to make for a big group meal, and this time, let me show you something even easier. Most people in Hong Kong probably have their first taste of cornbread at KFC, where it's offered one of the side dishes for their fried chicken meal, but this is almost as easy to make at home as to order one at the KFC counter.

Easy Summer Recipe Part 1: Pasta Salad

Pasta Salad was the first thing that came to mind when I thought about what to make as side dish for a barbecue last week. I always look for something stronger in flavor to beat the hot and humid summer days so I think a tapenade dressing - with olives, capers and anchovies - would be ideal. It can be prepared from start to finish within 30 minutes if you push it, and is certainly a crowd pleaser with the appetizing bold flavors.

Detour for dinner - Cococabana

One Tuesday evening we headed down to the southeastern tip of Hong Kong Island for an "impromptu date" at the beach-side restaurant Cococabana in the quiet Shek O neighborhood.

We have been to several other dining outlets owned by restauranteur/chef Jean Paul Gauci previously, but never been to this one nor its old location at Deep Water Bay, but I did appreciate his rustic cooking style coupled with simple but carefully chosen ingredients.