All posts tagged: French food

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

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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 …

8 New Restaurants for Weekday Lunch Dates

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It was January 2015 when I came up with a list of 10 restaurants in Central for lunch dates – you know, for when someone is counting on you to make a decision on where to go for that team lunch or catch up. But the Hong Kong dining scene evolves quickly (i.e. restaurants frequently close) and people get bored easily – so here are some of my latest suggestions. This time, the list goes beyond Central and to the wider CBD area of Hong Kong. Leave a comment below and share your favourite lunch spot! For locations, check out the map at the end of the post. 1. Mercato – Italian (Central) I first visited Mercato for dinner (see the full review here). I loved the food and vibes so much that I was eager to return for lunch, especially given the restaurant’s convenient location in California Tower. At HK$198 for two-courses, the set lunch didn’t seem like an amazing deal. But the portions were extremely generous, especially for the salmon tartare starter which I …

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

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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 …

ON Dining: Fine Dining with the Best Selection of Cheese

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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 …

Plat du Jour, Pacific Place: Casual French Bistro and Afternoon Teas

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Swire has opened a second Plat du Jour in Pacific Place (replacing the Spanish restaurant Zelos) and this casual French bistro is exactly what this upscale mall is missing: simple and affordable food made with good quality ingredients. It’s no wonder it’s already quickly become popular – I tried making a booking twice but they were full! To be fair, I attempted the reservation on the same day. I enjoyed their first branch in Quarry Bay very much, but the new one is much more location-friendly. Maybe that, along with the fact that they serve Afternoon Tea here, are the reasons I enjoyed it even more this time. Lunch/Dinner They offer the same lunch and dinner set menu for only HK$235/275 for two/three courses. It’s a price that’s hard to beat especially if you’re here for dinner. For starters, the lobster bisque is the biggest must; it’s one of their signatures that has been unforgettable since I tried it at their first Quarry Bay branch close to a year ago. Their house tea-smoked salmon is …

What to Eat in Kennedy Town?

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Kennedy Town is not an area I logically visit often since I live on the other side of Hong Kong, beyond even the “dark side”. But this place is now blessed with a conveniently close by MTR station and a proliferation of new restaurants. Way ahead of me, were the guys at iPick who organised a genius Kennedy Town Food Tour with Foodie magazine. We sampled dishes across various restaurants in the area, and overnight spawned just as many reasons to visit Kennedy Town! So where should you eat? Laid back Comfort: Fish & Chick Fish & Chick is perfect if you’re in a group of 3-4 people and are looking for something casual. Their food is honest and delicious, while portions are quite generous too. We tried their crab croquettes salad, which had a thin crusty edge and very crabby interior. The roasted chicken and fish and chips were both super juicy – impossible to choose a favourite as they were all cooked extremely well! Where: 25 New Praya, Kennedy Town Phone: 2974 0088 …

Plat du Jour: Affordable Casual French Food for Dinner

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I definitely prefer French bistro-style food over the fine dining affair, merely because I don’t like being so formal. While there are a handful of really good French bistros in Hong Kong, such as Bistro du Vin and Le Port Parfume, you can’t get away with paying less than HK$600-700 for dinner there, which makes the whole thing a lot less casual. La Grande Bouffe is another one in Central I like, but would still cost about HK$400 per person. Knowing that affordable dinners don’t come by easily in this city, the menu at Plat du Jour was more than a pleasant surprise. They charge HK$195 for two courses and HK$245 for three courses, which I thought was extremely competitive for any dinner, let alone a French one. The down side is that they serve the same menu all day, so lunch would cost the same (as dinner) and hence comparatively expensive. Cheese Souffle *must order* Our meal got off to an excellent start. The starters section of their menu was populated with many appealing choices, that left us …