All posts filed under: Steak

3 Simple Wine Pairing Ideas for Weeknights at Home

Published by

I usually don’t make New Years resolutions but for 2017, I decided to make it a mission to cook more. One Sunday I spent the entire day studying Serious Eats and making this slow cooked ragu sauce which took 5-6 hours. But on weeknights, quick, easy and satisfying options are necessary. So one Monday, I decided to make myself this epic, while simple, three-course wine pairing dinner at home. Blowfish Wines & Giveaway (ends 11 Feb 2017) People always say, Thursdays are the new Fridays. People also celebrate Hump Day Wednesdays. Then there’s Mondays. In short, there’s always an excuse to open a bottle of wine. Blowfish wines are good options for non-wine-experts; they’re inexpensive (averaging HK$100 per bottle), pair easily with food and simply crowd pleasers. Now to celebrate the end of the elongated holiday season and welcome a lot of weeknights to come before another holiday, Blowfish are giving out a full case (12 bottles) of wines, which include: Chardonnay (x4), Shiraz (x4) and Cabernet Merlot (x4). Head over to my Instagram page for more details (now!) – it ends …

Guide to Perfecting Your First Homemade Steak

Published by

Steak has to be the most satisfying dish to make at home. It can probably be made in under 15 minutes and as long as you have a decent quality piece of steak, it’ll probably be delicious. I love steak. But if I’m paying HK$1500 to have one at my favourite Grand Hyatt Steakhouse or still quite a lot at any of these Top Classic Steakhouses in Hong Kong, I would save myself from bankruptcy to make this at home more often. Of course there are more affordable options like Le Relais de l’Entrecote or La Vache, but you get the point. Yesterday someone who hadn’t ever made steak before asked me how to cook it and also how to buy a good piece of steak. So I thought I’d write out this simple guide to help you make your first slab of steak.     The easiest way to cook your steak is to sear it Let the steak rest to room temperature before cooking Lightly season with salt and pepper – the salt helps …

Le Relais de L’Entrecote: Fuss-Free French Steak Frites

Published by

Before I found my number one steakhouse of choice in Hong Kong, Grand Hyatt Steakhouse, I compiled a list of Top Classic Steakhouses in Hong Kong, which I personally think captures most of the best quality steaks on offer in this city. But all the places listed were expensive ones, where you’d be spending potentially HK$1200 or even more per person. That’s not something we can all afford to do on a weekly or fortnightly basis, which is why Le Relais de L’Entrecote can easily become a regular steak spot for me. I wouldn’t call it a steakhouse because there is only one choice of dish on offer and you can’t choose your cut – they only serve sirloin. But at the bargain price of just HK$288, you’re getting a decently sized piece of meat which is cooked pretty perfectly, unlimited fries, and a salad as starters. Bread & Salad We started with some delicious French baguettes and a walnut salad. They were both good and a light way to kickstart our dinner. Steak Frites The …

8 of London’s Must-Visit Restaurants for First Timers

Published by

As a student, 10-15 pounds would have been an expensive dinner, reserved only to celebrate birthdays. With that budget, it was hard to appreciate the expertise and good food on offer all over London. So returning to the city as an adult a few years later, finally with money to spend, I got around to properly exploring food in London. Hong Kong may already be known for good food, but I was impressed to a whole new level by the restaurants in London. The thing is, compared with Hong Kong, it’s hard to find good cheap eats in London. But as long as you’re willing to spend, good food is amazing for a relatively decent price. It’s difficult to pick out a handful of restaurants because there are too many outstanding ones. But here’s a list of the ones I think you must consider. 1. Burger & Lobster (Lunch/Dinner) Last year, I was in London for two days and tried Burger & Lobster for the first time. It was the one restaurant I revisited this trip and …

Under Vacuum: Sous Vide Steak Sandwich under HK$50

Published by

Since 5 Great Asian Lunch Spots in Tsim Sha Tsui for under HK$100, I haven’t really found many places which had really good ‘deals’. But I think this newly discovered kiosk in TST east comes pretty close. You can get a decent meal here for under HK$50 and considering it includes steak, that’s gotta be a pretty good deal. The downside is that it’s a kiosk after all and they only do takeaway orders. I sat in the park benches nearby, which was quite pleasant but I can imagine it getting too hot and humid for that very soon. I’m quite opposed to al desko dining but that may be the only choice with this place soon… 8-hour sous vide Steak Sandwich *must order* The steak and cheese sandwich definitely looks like the most appealing item on the menu. The meat is cooked sous vide and turned out to be as tender as its cooking method would suggest. This costs HK$48 and you have to add HK$5 for the scrambled egg. Since every dish is …

Grand Hyatt Steakhouse: The Ultimate Steak Experience

Published by

I always knew Grand Hyatt Steakhouse was one of the most “must-try” steakhouses in Hong Kong. After such roaring reviews, inevitably came the skeptics who felt it didn’t live up to expectations or that it was too expensive. Apart from other people’s disappointment, one reason I procrastinated my visit was because they do two sittings on weekends; I didn’t want to rush a HK$1500 dinner (return the table by 8:30pm) nor dine at an awkwardly late 8:45pm. But I finally gave in. When I compiled the Top Classic Steakhouses in Hong Kong, the “What about Grand Hyatt?” comments were bound to come. Given that I do sometimes disagree with restaurant reviews out there, I needed to give this place a try for myself. Expectedly Excellent Service We came as a big group of 8 on a Saturday. Traffic was unexpectedly smooth and we arrived at 8:15pm… 30 minutes before the start of the second seating at 8:45pm. But the service was great (as maintained throughout the night) and the table was ready. We were sat …

Top Classic Steakhouses in Hong Kong

Published by

[Update] Make way for Grand Hyatt Steakhouse: The Ultimate Steak Experience, which is probably my number one now. And see other steak-related posts here. USDA Rib Eye/Medium Rare is my standard response to the waiter at any steakhouse. Steaks with excellent quality meat which is beefily flavourful and executed well will have be pounding down close to a pound of steak in one sitting. Less-cooked/rarer meat often lacks beef flavours and can sometimes be chewy, but the good places somehow manage to negate these negative qualities and serve a perfectly medium rare meat that’s strong in flavour and extremely tender too – and that’s the only kind of steakhouse I’d recommend! So here’s my list of the best classic steakhouses in Hong Kong. Morton’s Steakhouse (Sheraton Hotel) 16oz USDA Center-Cut Prime Rib Eye: HK$658 It’s definitely a tough choice between first and second. I struggled between Morton’s and The Intercontinental (placed second) for a very long time. Ultimately, the execution is just a teeny bit superior at Morton’s. The 16oz USDA rib eye was full of flavour, had an excellent …