All posts tagged: cheese

Scarlett: Gerard Poulard’s Unmissable Cheese Collection (until 31 May 2017)

Published by

I was charmed by Scarlett’s inviting vibes on my first visit (for lunch) – it’s one of the rare places in Tsim Sha Tsui which isn’t overly fancy or un-ambiently casual. Their wines by the glass are about HK$60-70 which is decent value considering the quality, and if you’re early enough, they have a buy-one-get-one-free deal from 3-7pm. So it’s also pretty ideal for pre-dinner drinks. 2017 Collection of Fromages de France This time I also made it a mission to visit Scarlett because they were housing 30 varieties of France’s official Cheese Ambassador Gerard Poulard’s 2017 Collection of Fromages de France. I do love a platter of cheese to go with my red wine, so it seemed like the perfect weekday indulgence and experience for me. Gerard Poulard is purportedly a renowned fine cheese expert. Each year, he selects a variety of cow’s and goat’s cheeses from boutique farms in France. He then travels around the world to present this collection at different fine dining restaurants. Selection of 9 Cheeses – HK$385 Honestly, we could not comprehend a single name …

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 …

ON Dining: Fine Dining with the Best Selection of Cheese

Published by

I had my eyes on trying ON Dining ever since it opened and my cheese-loving friend sent me photos of their cheese board. It’s not a new restaurant so that was a while back. I suppose the only thing that was delaying my meal here was knowing that it wouldn’t be a cheap meal – after all it did earn one Michelin Star this year. I won’t ignite the debate on how valuable that is, but after finally paying a visit, it’s definitely a place I’d return to and highly recommend. 29th Floor Ceiling-to-Floor Windows ON Dining is located on On Lan Street in Central and it was surprisingly convenient to get to from the office. You’ll never ‘discover’ this place because the street itself is not often frequented and the restaurant is located all the way up on the 29th floor. I loved the ambience of the restaurant and its bar. The decor was formal enough, but the place overall retained a hint of casual vibes, especially at the bar. The almost ceiling-to-floor windows meant that the …

Giando: Authentic Italian with the Best Ingredients

Published by

When an Italian chef is the sole owner of a restaurant, you know things can go really really right. To add to this wonderful microeconomic backdrop, Chef Gianni Caprioli makes it a personal mission to ensure only excellent quality ingredients are used. In fact, I was told 95% of their ingredients are imported directly from Italy – including their eggs. Chefs of top Italian restaurants have been spotted eating here a number of times. I first came here on a Saturday and returned the next Sunday again. With this in mind, it’s not a question of whether you should dine here, but a question of what to order when you come here. Had I come here earlier, it definitely would be among the 5 Italian Restaurants in Hong Kong that Do Stand Out, for being the most authentic and featuring the best quality ingredients. Weekend Brunch at HK$338 for 3-Courses I love my ‘epic brunches‘ and this place would definitely rank high if I ever came up with such a list. The 3-course set runs from 12-3pm …

FRITES Belgium on Tap: Laksa Mussels? Yes Please!

Published by

FRITES has been around in Hong Kong for a few years. But the dramatic number of new restaurants opening up each month (or week) in Hong Kong means that some of the older ones don’t get much attention. That can sometimes be a huge mistake though… Especially if laksa mussels and deep fried camembert cheese are involved! Steak tartare – HK$175 I used to have a lot of good steak tartares in London. But the yummier ones I had in Hong Kong just happened to be the fusion type (at Viet Kitchen and Le Garcon Saigon). In the more western scene, the one at Frites is definitely among the best so far. The meat quality was excellent and fresh, while the spices used were right and the toast was crispy and buttery-ly delicious! Crumbed and fried camembert – HK$135 *must order* The menu at FRITES is heaven for meat lovers (i.e. me) so we were extremely stuck on what else to order… There were 3-4 competing choices just on the starters section. We had hugely mistakenly overlooked this non-meat …

Make Your Own Ricotta Cheese from Scratch with 3 Ingredients

Published by

I shockingly learnt from my invaluable cooking class at Red Feather Inn that you can easily make your own ricotta cheese at home with close to minimal effort and accessible ingredients too. It’s easy, cheaper (than buying it) and you can use it to make delicious ricotta hotcakes, mix it into your scrambled eggs to make it extra creamy or simply use it to top your salad. Here’s how… Ingredients 2 cups of milk 1 cup of cream Apple cider vinegar Method 1. Put the milk and cream into a saucepan and heat over low fire until it is “bearably hot” (I check by dipping my finger) or just as soon as you start to see a bit of steam. Turn the fire off. 2. Pour in about 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Mix and wait 2 minutes. You should see the mixture curdle into small lumps. Add a bit more vinegar if parts of the mixture are not curdling. 3. Strain the mixture using a soup bag (cheese cloth) to separate the cheese …

Scarlett: Chacuterie Boards and Oysters Deal in Tsim Sha Tsui

Published by

It’s always hard to find a good restaurant for birthdays or small group gatherings in Tsim Sha Tsui, unless you go for the fancy (read: expensive) ones atop The One or in some hotel (though I do often splash out at Morton’s). Otherwise you’re left with an overly casual restaurant with good food but doesn’t do reservations or will make you leave within 1.5 hours. Striking a pretty good balance between affordability and ambience is Scarlett, a new French cafe hidden on Austin Avenue (off Kimberley Road). Regardless, with the numerous “deals” they do on weekdays, there are many reasons to give this place a shot. Signature 1-meter chacuterie board – HK$368 *must order* The signature 1-meter board is exactly that perfect sharing item for a group of about 4-6 people. On this board, they serve several cuts of ham and cheese, as well as an interesting pork spread. The bread they serve is also excellent, which is great to go along this huge sharing starter. Priced at HK$368, they’re not stingy with content at …