Date: September, Birthday Dinner
Price: Four Course Prix Fixe $65 + $13~ for a glass of Sauv Blanc
Date: September, Birthday Dinner
Price: $160 OmakaseFood (3/5 for Cooked; 4/5 for Sashimi): One of the courses was a deep fried scallop. I feel it's not good use of a fresh scallop; it would be better seared or raw. My favorite course was the Sashimi which included my favorite fish - Stripe Jack. Out of the sushi course, I enjoyed the Argentina Shrimp, Tuna handroll (not pictured), and Russian Uni.
Ambiance (4.5/5): I loved the space - light wood, modern and clean feel similar to the restaurants I visited in Japan. I sat at the counter and it was very comfortable and intimate. I always enjoy watching the sushi chefs. However, there was one very large fly & a smaller fly buzzing around during the meal which was a bit of a nuisance.
Overall, it was good, but I expected more. I prefer the omakase at Yasu (that egg!)
Weekend road trip to Chicago in mid-October.
The former Khao San Road space has now been transformed into a Royal Thai dining room, with tons of gold/brass and jewel tones. We came around 5:30pm on a weeknight and were lucky to snag a spot at the bar, but reservations are recommended.
Roy Thai - royal Thai dumplings, $12/person for 4 pcs - Definitely a must order (contains peanuts). My favorite was the blue one and the deep fried one.
Khao Yum - the colourful rice dish mixed with a variety of herbs/spices. Really a feast for the eyes, but taste-wise it was too spicy for me. My mouth was burning!
Sea Bream - salt baked, served with lettuce wraps (baby gem lettuce & Thai kale which is like Chinese Gai Lan). The fish was similar to Chinese steamed fish. I really liked the herbs that were stuffed inside and the salt crust was tasty. Overall, the fish + lettuce + vermicelli + green sauce is a good pairing - a light yet filling dish. The server debones it for you but still be careful when eating.
Service was good and attentive. Price: $50/person.
Verdict: Haven't felt this 'wow' in a while. Everything was absolutely delightful. Will be back! (Pork jowl was not available that night)
Sometimes the best things are unplanned.
One of my best meals in Tokyo was at Afuri Ramen (Harajuku). No guidebooks, no recommendations from friends; simply discovered because we stayed in the area, only to find out after that it's quite 'famous'. We passed by a few nights and there was a long lineup each time – I had to check it out!
Method: Order from the ramen machine and sit at the bar that encompasses the 'kitchen'. I had the Yuzu Shio Ramen which is light chicken broth infused with yuzu – the most refreshing, unique, fusion experience ever. Opted for the thin noodles and light oil. Topped with greens instead of the usual green onion, and the egg was delicious as well.
Overall a totally different experience and flavor than Ichiran. Highly recommend this spot to surprise your tastebuds!
Kaiseki is a traditional multi-course Japanese meal. It
refers to the skills and techniques used to prepare such meals and places a
strong emphasis on highest quality seasonal ingredients and artistic
presentation. (Wiki)
On my recent trip to Kyoto in May 2017, we splurged on a
15,000 yen 12 course meal at Gion Nanba.
Hidden in a dark, narrow alleyway, you will be transported to
a quiet, private dining space once you enter the restaurant. You will be asked
to remove your shoes at the door, which makes for a more comfortable experience.
Choice of seating: Bar, Table, Tatami – I would recommend sitting at the bar so
you can watch the chef prepare the dishes.
English is limited but I found it cute that they had a
dictionary to help translate the ingredients and explain the dishes.
Course 1: Scallop with tomato and a thousand-island-type
dressing
Course 2: Fish Soup with the thinnest sliced celery ever!*
I never thought to try this place until I came for an event a few weeks ago. Came back to redeem my har gao voucher for lunch, ended up ordering four dim sum and the lobster set lunch. Dim sum here in fusion style, impressive presentation and good taste.
珍珠雞 (Sticky Rice w Chicken) - What a surprise in presentation! Usually wrapped in lotus leaf, this was presented in an open style like mini sandwiches, with a crispy rice seared top.
天下第一包 (Baked BBQ pork bun with sweet top) - My favorite fusion dim sum - indeed this was very good, soft bun, perfect balance of sweet & savory.
Feb 25, 2017 | Sweetheart Afternoon Tea, $54 + 15% service charge, includes 1 glass of sparkling cocktail
I'm always excited for afternoon tea time. This was one of the rare occasions where I hadn't checked the menu beforehand; I later learned that we had the Sweetheart Afternoon Tea - the February special featuring an aphrodisiac-inspired menu. They have a different theme & menu each month - guess I'll be back sooner than I thought! (Regular tea set without wine is $44)
Host is a lovely New Nordic restaurant that uses local ingredients and unique preparation & presentation methods I haven't seen anywhere else. Definitely the highlight of my Copenhagen trip. We ordered two each of the set menus: Höst Menu at 325kr and Höst Signature Menu at 425kr. They have new menus each month.
The interior has a really nice cozy, natural vibe. I love this rustic type of style.
To start, we had this lovely amuse bouche platter - squid ink chips, fresh radish, oyster cream, egg yolk topped with fish roe, fresh beans with mussel cream. Wow! This was my favorite of the night and an excellent indicator of the delicate, unique dishes to follow.
Aside from the 3 courses in the set menu, they gave us an additional 3 in-between courses which I actually liked more than the set menu.
Complementary in-between dishes:
Forgot the name of this but it was like a salty, seaweed-ish flavoured "bread" with a bit of chewiness. The salted butter is amazing.
Mini rye and oatmeal rolls with wheatgrass butter ~ the butter was so creamy!
Squid/Octopus with cabbage and poached egg yolk in chicken broth ~ one of my favorites of the night. Such a delicate soup, with layers of ingredients.
Now onto the Host menu that I ordered:
Seared flounder
kohl rabi, spinach and parsley
and an oystersauce
Pork bellies
tomato, cress
and sauce choron
My least favorite of the meal. Didn't like the batter on the pork and the cheese was a bit overpowering.
Corn ice cream
raspberries, popcorn
and yoghurt with chanterelles
This was the dish that drew my attention to come here. Definitely very strong corn flavour!
Complementary Pre-Dessert:
Junket mousse with porter beer ice cream and freeze dried rye and raspberries
All these unique icecream flavours ~ mindblown ~
Signature Menu:
Norwegian Lobster and veal terrine
with white asparagus
and cep mushrooms
Beef tenderloin from Grambogård
with salted black currant, beetroot, cress
and sauce with marrow and terragon
This is really interesting! Unfortunately I only took a video of the inside but it's essential steak covered in beetroot. The strong, sour taste of the beet complements the steak.
Blueberry sorbet
with brown cheese and cicely
og sødskærm
Overall, this is the most interesting gastronomic experience I've had in my life. Each bite had that 'wow' factor that made my eyes and tastebuds light up. While not every dish was perfectly delicious, they were definitely something new and worth trying. We recommended this place to a friend who found it too salty, but I still would recommend this as a unique dining experience with new flavours and ingredients you can't find anywhere else! (esp in Canada)
* Dish names copied from Host website/Yelp reviews since I didn't take notes while dining. Need to document right away next time since by now I have forgotten the names/ingredients! :( *
1. Seafood Platter & Smørrebrød at Torvehallerne Market
Torvehallerne is a quiet, higher-end food market. Here you will find a variety of vendors selling fresh seafood, meats, open-faced sandwiches (Smørrebrød), etc. Smørrebrød is one of the "national dishes" if you will - a slice of rye bread typically topped with egg, shrimp or smoked salmon.
Price: 100-200 kr/person
2. Soft Ice
The icecream here tastes different. Rajissimo is a chain that serves churros, soft serve and gelato. My favorite was the pistachio & mango gelato!
The second place we tried was a liege waffle place at the corner in Nyhavn. Fresh piping hot waffle topped with soft serve, they also have a variety of icecream. We couldn't help but stop by twice (for both dessert shops!)
3. Paper Island (Papirøen) Street Food Market
Paper Island is a 'hipster' indoor street food market that offers everything from tacos to pizza to butter chicken to cheesecake. Here is the Smorrebrod we got from one of the vendors. We also had shrimp & beef burger and pizzas. The food is alright; more about the relaxing & chill vibe, with outdoor seating by the water.
4. Hot Dogs
Hot dogs are a popular street food in Copenhagen. The appearance is quite different from the American version. Didn't try this but it's a cheap & quick meal.
5. 7-Eleven
There will always be your trusted 711 for a budget meal. We had this for lunch a few days - foccacia, hot dog rolls, skewers - not bad for the convenience and price.
Restaurants:
- Höst: new Nordic
- Kødbyens Fiskebar: fish bar
In the past year or so, I've developed an interest in hiking. The popular Dragon’s Back (龍脊) is easily accessible by MTR & Bus that brings you directly to the foot of the hill. The trail is fairly moderate and offers spectacular views of the water, buildings and islands. There are some steep steps and no shade until the latter part of the trail. Since hiking is rising in popularity, it was quite crowded on the paths, but once you reach the top, it is so tranquil and relaxing that you forget you’re in Hong Kong.
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| Views from the top |
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| Starting point |
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| On the way up |
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| Nothing like a cold drink & bowl of noodles after a long hike! Comes with a bowl of house-made plum sauce. |
Date: Early October 2016
Weather: Sunny & Hot
** If you have any hiking recommendations, let me know in the comments below! **
This was my lovely pre-birthday dinner at Speceriet - a small, modern Swedish gastro-bistro that focuses on local produce. We were fortunate enough to get a table as we didn't have a reservation and sort of just stumbled by to try our luck. The exterior is unassuming on a quiet street; interior features simple decor, communal seating, beautiful wood tables with copper lamps.
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| Beef Tartare from wagyu, hazelnuts, black trumpet mushroom |
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| Squid from Kattegat, black garlic, kohlrabi |
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| Wild Salmon from Junkon, miso and fennel |
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| Beef, beans and grilled butter |
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| Monkfish, peas, artichoke, buckwheat |
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| Mushrooms, egg yolk and pear |
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| Bread on a stick & wood board, fresh butter, traditional wood knife |
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| Round 2 before desserts |
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| 'Kalvdans', cloudberries and fennel |
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| Roasted carrots, sea buckthorn and hazelnuts |
Since they are small plates, we ordered 6 out of 7 items with a few repeats, as well as both desserts. Visually appealing and detailed dishes - if I had to make a comparsion, I'd say it's similar to Bar Buca style in Toronto (replacing the Italian influence with fresh, light New Nordic flavours). Some of the special Nordic ingredients include cloudberry and sea buckthorn, which are both berries. My favorite dishes of the night were the beef tartare and the salmon.
At the end of the meal, my parents ordered coffee and the server told us that they will always give free refills (in restaurants at least) because the Swedes need their coffee!
Specrereit
Artillerigatan 14, 114 51 Stockholm, Sweden
Price: 135-195kr/dish; total meal ~2000kr; $50CAD+/person
Recommended: fit for foodies