[Review 3244] Upcoming dishes at Mackie Kitchen @ 阿麥廚房 Mackie Kitchen

26/03/2014
阿麥廚房 Mackie Kitchen
銅鑼灣加路連山道9號地舖
G/F, 9 Caroline Hill Road, Causeway Bay
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/upcoming-dishes-at-mackie-kitchen-e2353832

Upcoming dishes at Mackie Kitchen
2014-03-26  30 瀏覽
Thanks to Martin for tagging me along to this preview of new dishes at Mackie Kitchen.
 0 讚好

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
香煎帶子配柚子沙律伴柑橘汁醋汁
Pan-Fried Scallops with Grapefruit Salad with Citrus vinaigrette sauce
 0 讚好

A light and refreshing starter which was complemented by juicy ruby red grapefruit.
It was nice and appetizing.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
酥皮焗蟹盒
Crab Meat au Gratin
 0 讚好

This was crab meat on top of baked filo pastry topped with crab roes.
The crab was quite creamy because it was mixed with cream and finely chopped onions.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
黒松露野菌忌廉湯
Cream of Black Truffle soup
 0 讚好

The soup lives up to it name because it was really creamy and there was generous black truffle paste which gave it a strong taste.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
焗波士頓龍蝦配扁意粉伴海鮮汁
Linguini with Seafood sauce and Baked Boston Lobster
 0 讚好

The linguini was al-dente and rich, but the saltiness could have been reduced.
As for the lobster, it could have been cooked longer because there was green/blue cast on the edges of the shell which suggests that it not cooked because it should be orange and hard if it was cooked.
The texture of the lobster was too soft and watery which suggests that it should be cooked for a longer time because the texture should be springy.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
黑松露麵包蟹意大利飯
Crab Risotto with Black Truffle
 0 讚好

The risotto was great for sharing, it was lovely and creamy enhanced by the black truffle.
However it was similar to the crab meat au gratin while the truffle made it similar to the soup because it was quite creamy.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
是日甜品
Mandarin sorbet:
 0 讚好

This was sweet and cooling.
+++++++++
Caramel parfait:

This was delicious frozen whipped cream drizzled in caramel sauce and covered with crunchy caramel pieces.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
To finish off, there were a choice of organic teas: blackcurrant, oolong, roselle and plum or genmai tea.

I tried the blackcurrant which was really fragrant and acidic that helped digestion.

Overall the dishes were good but if it was a set dinner, I would prefer more contrasting dishes to contrast the meal.

[Review 3243] Sadly my first and last visit to S & I Bagels @ S & I Bagels

24/03/2014
S & I Bagels
半山般咸道64號地下
G/F, 64 Bonham Road, Mid-Levels
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/sadly-my-first-and-last-visit-to-s-i-bagels-e2353628

When there was a bagel craze a few years ago, S & I Bagels was on my to go list but because it is located in the Mid Levels, making a trip up there was too challenging.
 0 讚好

Anyway, I was planning to go to Cosmos House Pancake Cafe next door but the style was too Japanese for my liking.
In the end I came here and tried Books & Co.nearby.
 0 讚好

When I went in, I was greeted by this beautiful Philipino woman called Irene Concepcion, the owner who loves Bagels from Montreal which is why she opened this store.

At the front there was a big cabinet with lots of huge bagels.
 0 讚好


Apart from Bagel, there were lots of other items on sale.


Sadly, this shop will close in three days time (26/3/14) which is why it is my first and last visit.

Hopefully, they will open in Sheung Wan and I wish them all the best.

As I am not Canadian, Bagels are not really my thing so I got the blueberry cake instead.

I really regretted not trying their shakes because the flavours were quite creative.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Blueberry cake:



The blueberry cake was crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle mixed with lots of blueberries.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
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[Review 3242] Beijing style dumplings @ 王府 Wang Fu

24/03/2014
王府 Wang Fu
西環西營盤第二街141-143號海昇大廈地下A舖
Shop A G/F Hoi Sing Building 141-143 2nd Street, Sai Ying Pun, Western District
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/beijing-style-dumplings-e2353623


Wang Fu is a famous Beijing dumpling house in Central, but that restaurant is always busy and the waitresses at the door seem to shoo people away.
Anyway, spotted this shop and it was empty so went in.
The seating was spacious and the staffs were really friendly.
When I sat down, they gave me free soymilk.


★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Vegetarian dumplings:

My first choice was the tomato and egg dumplings but they were sold out.
The vegetarian ones were quite good and did not disappoint because the vegetables inside were tasty and had some crunch too it.
There were also glass vermicelli noodles in it too.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Smoked chicken with rice:

Although the portion was small, the chicken was finely shredded mixed with their fragrant soy sauce with spring onions.
Compared to other restaurants, the smoked chicken was not that salty but it didn't taste bland.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
As it was newly opened, there was a 10% discount.

[Review 3241] Having tea in a bookstore @ 華洋書莊 Books & Co. (Coffee Book)

24/03/2014
華洋書莊  Books & Co. (Coffee Book)
半山柏道10號地下
G/F, 10 Park Road, Mid-Levels
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/having-tea-in-a-bookstore-e2353613

According to the previous reviews, the food and drinks were not really worth trying but the place is worth visiting so I went there for tea.
Books & Co. is a second hand bookshop where you can read the books there or buy them.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Video of the place:
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Two interesting books I found.


The drinks were not that impressive but fairly cheap.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Lychee red tea:


Tried this because it was red tea with lychee flavour.
When it came, I could barely smell or taste the lychee.
It just tasted like ordinary Chinese tea.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
◎ⓢⓤⓟⓔⓡⓢⓤⓟⓔⓡⓖⓘⓡⓛ◎
Price: $28
Service

[Review 3240] Aloe vera and apple tea @ 美心MX Maxim's MX

23/03/2014
美心MX Maxim's MX
站HOK61號舖(非付費區)
Shop HOK61, Hong Kong MTR Station, Central
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/aloe-vera-and-apple-tea-e2353235

This branch of Maxim's caters for people in a rush because it is located at Hong Kong MTR station.
I had plenty of time that day so took a look at what they served.
The apple and aloe vera tea looked nice so I ordered it with fish shaomai.

It was fun to watch people in a hurry.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Fish Shaomai:

The shaomais were not hot enough hence they had a really fishy taste and they are the same ones in Circle K.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Aloe vera and apple tea:
Basically it was apple honey syrup diluted with red tea.
There was a thin slice of apple in the tea.

At the bottom, you could find pieces of aloe vera.

I liked the combination of apple tea and aloe vera, but it was too sweet.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 3239] Wholesome and delicious meal @ Les Fils à Maman

23/03/2014
Les Fils à Maman
中環蘇豪荷李活道75號
LG/F, 75 Hollywood Road, Soho, Central
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/wholesome-and-delicious-meal-e2353226

Came here again because I love the food.
Previously tried the beef which was amazing.
On this visit tried the chicken.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Chicken in nadere sauce:
To be honest, I didn't know what it was when I ordered.
When it came, I was mega impressed, it was a big chicken leg covered in mushrooms and herbs in delicious gravy.
On the side there were rocket leaves.

The rice beneath it was piping hot and each grain was lubricated in chicken oil.
Everything just tasted lovely together and the rocket leaves went soft when it was mixed with hot food getting partly cooked and tasting less grassy.
The mushroom slices tasted earthy which complement the chicken nicely.
I hope this dish will be on the menu again because it tastes so nice.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 3238] Expensive and boring @ 大利清湯腩 Tai Lee

23/03/2014
大利清湯腩  Tai Lee
天后電氣道13號地下
G/F, 13 Electric Road, Tin Hau, Tin Hau
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/expensive-and-boring-e2353214

I came here randomly because I didn't realise it was the same branch as Wan Chai.
There was nothing spectacular about the noodles or the curry.
The noodles were weird because some of the noodles were red and I did not put vinegar in it, perhaps someones unfinished noodles?
The curry was not spicy nor was it salty, it tasted very bland.