Category Archive for Hong Kong + Macau
Hong Kong’s hot, trendy new restaurants: Boqueria Spanish tapas, Lily & Bloom cuisine & artisan cocktails.
If I asked you to describe Hong Kong cuisine, you’d probably say “dim sum and Peking duck.” But as you saw in the previous post, the city’s international food scene is among the best in the world. Restaurants fight to bring in top chefs, mixologists and designers, particularly in the Lan Kwai Fong (Central) district.
Two top contenders reside in Hotel Rhombus LKF (33 Wyndham Street): Lily & Bloom (turn of the 20th century US street life) and the recently opened Boqueria (Spanish). Shall we do a tasting? Stomachs, get ready to rumble.
(My key dress is Banana Fish from Closet Child. John’s scandalous shirt is by The Saints Sinphony.)
Round one. My fellow diner, John Skeleton, sets the scene: “With an atmosphere and interior design sense that recalls at once both fin-de-siecle inspiration and the Prohibition Era of the American 1920s, dining at Lily & Bloom is an experience you won’t soon forget. Incorporating the finest hand-picked ingredients in a dazzling array of culinary delights, nothing on the menu will disappoint.”
Our tasting menu had exotic yet approachable creations (we never veered into Bizarre Foods territory). Even finicky eaters would enjoy the bread-enveloped escargot cube, and pasta with ostrich. John and my cousin played “rock, paper, scissors” for the roast pigeon leg and last slice of sweetbread.
Lily & Bloom kept it simple with other dishes, letting the classic ingredients ring out. I loved the perfectly seared fish with mashed potatoes, and the artfully arranged tomato with goat cheese.
Ah, the mixology! Each course was paired with “an artisinal cocktail to die for,” says John, “as may be implied in the name “Death In Paris,” an Ernest Hemingway-inspired poison with an absinth base. The Old Cuban, made with 23-year old rum, is also not to be missed.”
The seasonal mahi mahi with squash and wild mushrooms was right up my Halloween alley.
As for the desserts, the images say it all. Dusted and drizzled cannoli, and warm chocolate soufflé with pistachio ice cream. Lily & Bloom, you’re a knockout. (All above photos by Ken Yuen.)
Round two. My mouth waters as I recall my feast at Boqueria. The Spanish tapas joint is a favorite in NYC, and just opened a location in Hong Kong under Chef David Izquierdo.
The interior is sleek, yet captures the hustle-and-bustle spirit of Barcelona’s markets. Community tables, dangling pork legs and classic blackboards warm up the atmosphere.
My cousins say ¡Salud! with sangria, an addictive concoction of white wine, fresh fruit, rum and tequila. (The red version was equally intoxicating.) We shared light tapas like “pan con tomato” and patates bravas: crispy potatoes, salsa brava, roasted garlic aioli. The Bombas de la Barceloneta, a traditional croquette, packed a punch.
The highlight of the meal: Paella de Mariscos (Spanish rice in a shallow pan). A generous mix of seafood, brought together by saffron and salsa verde.
Once again, dessert needs no elucidation. Churros con chocolate, fresh pineapple with lime and molasses.
My Chinese relatives, who are unfamiliar with Spanish cuisine, left the restaurant tipsy and happy. Without doubt, Boqueria is a champ.
Are you enjoying my HK food coverage? What do you think of the atmosphere and dishes at these restaurants?
PS: Thanks to Argus Car Hire for interviewing me about travel blogging.
Hong Kong fashion reports and videos are on the way — I have hundreds of cute and Gothic Lolita store images for you, so hold on tight!
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Alice in Wonderland theme bar: Taboo Hong Kong. Socialito Mexican restaurant, Caffe Habitu Central.
Hong Kong is foodie heaven — and there’s much more to the local scene than dim sum. Spooky friend John Skeleton and I swung into Central’s hottest restaurants and bars to get the scoop. Read on for tacos and tattoos!
Hong Kong doesn’t have much of an alternative bar/club scene, but the recently opened Taboo (G/F, 16 Arbuthnot Road, Lan Kwai Fong, Central) is changing the story — Alice in Wonderland style. (2017 UPDATE – sadly, this bar is now closed!)
John: “Stepping from an old-fashioned apothecary lined with “poison”-labeled glass bottles through a keyhole-shaped portal, you find yourself in a world where everything is, quite literally, topsy-turvy. From the paintings on the wall to a fireplace and grand piano(!) mounted on the ceiling, Taboo will have you wondering just what that bartender put into your cocktail.”
John: “And wonder you might, as the artisanal cocktail craftsmen employ a smoke-generator (for infusing their own twist on the “Old Fashioned”) and bubble-maker to create a frothy foam, making the bar look a bit like a stylish version of Dr. Frankenstein’s lab.”
We enjoyed the molecular cocktails, but our favorite drink was the “Lucky Star.” Flaming absinthe and spiced rum, garnished with a round slice of lime. They should re-name it the “La Carmina,” no?
John: “For those feeling adventurous, one can descend from the white wainscotted upper floor to the black-and-red burlesque inspired lower chamber, where scandalous artwork and a shower for exotic dancers let you know that you have plunged into another world of decadent delights.”
Hopefully, Taboo can fill the much-needed space for alternative and LGBT club nights. Come by, say hi to the bartenders for us, and order a “Lucky Star”!
Thoroughly buzzed, we walked to the nearby Socialito (G/F, Shop 2, The Centrium, 60 Wyndham St., Central).
John: “According to the establishment’s Facebook, “Socialito” is “a Mexican slang expression used to describe a place where people get together to eat, drink, play and socialize.” Take that, make it classy, add a dash of nightlife cool and top it off with a fantastic Mexican menu and amazing artisanal cocktails that will have you reeling by the end of the night, and you have Socialito, a hip restaurant with both an outdoor taqueria and candle-lit interior in Hong Kong’s stylish downtown area.”
Yes, we’re eating Mexican food in Hong Kong, and it’s as flavorful as anything I’ve had in Mazatlan. Outside, we sat on stools and inhaled soft tacos with deep, balanced spices. Inside, we were treated to tuna tostadas, and grilled salmon with green pumpkin seed mole.
John: “The “Don Old Fashioned” was a masterful twist on the traditional cocktail, replacing the whiskey/bourbon with Don Julio tequila and served with dissolved sugar, bitters, and a twist of citrus rind. Transforming into a nightclub after 11 PM, Socialito lives up to its title in providing a place for those so inclined to enjoy a hot night on the town. Muy caliente!”
Enough food for one day? No way. I introduced John to my favorite Hong Kong cafe, Caffe Habitu. There are multiple locations, but the Lan Kwai Fong branch is the only one with coffee cocktails. (Room 101, Tak Woo House, 1 Wo On Lane, Central)
In a frantic city like Hong Kong, Habitu is an oasis. The warm boutique space is ideal for meeting friends or working (hooray for high-speed, unlimited WiFi). While unfussy, the Italian-style food is of highest quality. Caviar eggs benedict… warm chocolate lava cake enveloping a pear… and the best creamy pasta carbonara John has ever had.
The java and alcohol creations were a treat, and the imported coffee get a cute twist!
I’m posing with a Nepalese boy’s skull, and wearing a T-shirt dress by Toro x mandycat, from K11 mall in Hong Kong. Note the cat face peeking out at the top. Mr Skeleton’s naughty tee is by The Saints Sinphony.
Were you surprised by Hong Kong’s food scene, and tattoo art? Which of the dishes made your mouth water the most?
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LA CARMINA
