[Review 4036] Pirate ship in the high skies @ Pirata

22/01/2015
Pirata
灣仔軒尼詩道239號29-30樓
29-30/F, 239 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/pirate-ship-in-the-high-skies-e2420043

Before I went there I was excited about the view because it is on the top floor of 239 Hennessey Road.
When I arrived I was greeted with some great views of Wan Chai and Causeway Bay which reminded me of Azure in Central.

The decor was rustic and grand.
On the top floor it is a classy bar where you can have drinks and some bites before going downstairs to the restaurant.

After drinking a glass of bubbly we went downstairs to have dinner.

Here was what we had:

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Vitello tonnato:
veal, tuna, capers, mayonnaise, sicilian caper berries
Started off with a well-known Italian cold dish of sliced veal covered with a creamy, mayonnaise-like sauce that has been flavored with tuna.
It was creamy and had a strong tuna taste with tender thin veal slices beneath it.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
arancini bucket:
Arancini are fried rice balls stuffed with mozzarella and served with tomato sauce.
They are called Arancini because the orange appearance makes them look like small oranges hence arancini because oranges are called Arancia in Italian.
They were quite fun to eat with stringy cheese in the middle but I would have liked a stronger tasting cheese.
☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
cheese selection:
Gorgonzola, Parmesan, Fontina , Pecorino
This was a nice selection of cheese ranging from soft to hard.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
tagliatelle with Sicilian red prawns and zucchini:
The pasta was classic, each strand was covered in delicious sauce with pieces of fresh prawns and chunks of juicy zucchini.
The pasta is freshly made using their pasta machine and the texture is soft but still al-dente.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
purple potato gnocchi :
The gnocchi was creative because they used purple potatoes to give it a blueish purple colouring.
They were fluffy with a nice chew to it flavoured by the strong cheese sauce.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
the butchers cut :
flank steak tagliata, rocket, cherry tomatoes
Flawless sweet and juicy tender beef.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
After having a satisfying dinner, we started on dessert.
Crushed chocolate and dry nuts semifreddo:
Semifreddo is a semi-frozen desserts that has an interesting frozen mousse texture.
It was loaded with nuts and crushed chocolate which tasted divine!

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
panna cotta:
homemade raspberry coulis with fresh raspberry
Lastly we finished off with Panna cotta which I found a bit too sweet and the panna cotta was a bit too firm for my liking.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Overall the food and environment was good so I plan to try lunches next.

[Review 4035] A taste of Swiss cheese @ 彩虹廚藝學院 IE Kitchen Academie Culinaire

22/01/2015
彩虹廚藝學院 IE Kitchen Academie Culinaire
鰂魚涌華蘭路20號華蘭中心5樓502室
Room 502, Westlands Centre, 20 Westlands Road, Quarry Bay
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/a-taste-of-swiss-cheese-e2420042

Cheese is a must in the Western diet but in Hong Kong there are not a lot of varieties at the local supermarket and it is expensive.

I was attracted to this place because of the cheese fondue but I ended up having the Bayonne ham and Emmental cheese brioche. It satisfied my craving for a cheese toastie.

The ham was soft and tasty while the melted cheese held it together in the soft toasted brioche which was similar to toast.

I will be back for the cheese fondue which is quite a good deal and includes the ceramic pot and candle burner.

I.E. Kitchen Academie CulinaireBakery · Food & Beverage Service & Distribution · Caterer

https://www.facebook.com/pages/IE-Kitchen-Academie-Culinaire/672755172812437?ref=ts&fref=ts

[Review 4034] Back for the fried milk @ 滇品．米線 Food Yunnan

21/01/2015
滇品．米線 Food Yunnan
九龍城賈炳達道128號九龍城廣場B1層B106號舖
Shop B106, Kowloon City Plaza, 128 Carpenter Road, Kowloon City
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/back-for-the-fried-milk-e2419495

This place used to good for authentic Yunnan cuisine but there is a lack of demand for some special items such as milk cake (雲南乳餅) so it is not available anymore.

There is another restaurant that serves it but the restaurant is located in San Po Kong which is in the middle of no where.

Since the milk cake was not available I had to order other items.

They give you Jasmine tea which tastes and smells like Jasmine flavoured toilet freshener.
The cucumber with bean sauce was lovely because the bean sauce was strong with a hint of chili.
I ended up ordering fried milk which tastes like cheese crisps but it was ruined with the stupid sugar on top.
The fried rice was good, each grain was distinct and al-dente and the rice was evenly flavoured.

[Review 4033] Third time at the Opera House Italian for lobster @ Opera House Italian Restaurant & Bistrot

21/01/2015
Opera House Italian Restaurant & Bistrot
灣仔皇后大道東109-111號地下及1樓
G/F ＆ 1/F, 109-111, Queen's Road East, Wan Chai
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/third-time-at-the-opera-house-italian-for-lobster-e2419494

This was my third time here for the lobster and there is a fourth too but I have decided to write the third visit before the fourth.
It was during the holidays so there were quite a lot of people.
The lobsters were fresh and succulent, the cheese and the plain were the best.
The ravioli was very firm and al-dente.
The lobster carpaccio was sweet and springy.
To finish off I had my favourite gelato icecream which had a very strong natrual pistachio taste.

[Review 4032] Bitter Chinese radishes @ 王老吉涼茶 Wong Lo Kat Herbal Tea

21/01/2015
王老吉涼茶 Wong Lo Kat Herbal Tea
油塘油麗邨油麗商場地下3號舖
Shop 3, G/F, Yau Lai Shopping Centre, Yau Lai Estate, Yau Tong
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/bitter-chinese-radishes-e2419493

Last time the food was ok but this time the Chinese radishes were really bitter and after eating them I felt sick and needed the shxts.
The noodles were ok, the curry sauce was bland and watery.

[Review 4031] Death by chocolate @ 富豪餅店 Regal Patisserie

20/01/2015
富豪餅店  Regal Patisserie
沙田大涌橋路34-36號麗豪酒店地下
G/F, Regal Riverside Hotel, 34-36 Tai Chung Kiu Road, Sha Tin
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/death-by-chocolate-e2419487

There are many chocolate related desserts called Death by chocolate but I have never tried one.
We were lucky to try this luxurious death by chocolate cake from Regal patisserie at a gathering.

It had a metallic appearance which I thought was whipped chocolate cream but it was hardened thick truffle paste.
In the middle there were two thick layers of chocolate ganache.
After having a few spoonfuls it got a bit sickly.
All I can say is that it was thick and heavy that the chocolate ganache in the middle is enough to bake quite a few chocolate cakes!!!

[Review 4030] Lab Made Cafe @ Lab Made 分子雪糕專門店

20/01/2015
Lab Made 分子雪糕專門店 (已結業)
Lab Made Cafe
銅鑼灣登龍街1-29號金朝陽中心2期 Midtown 地下B號舖
Shop B, G/F, Soundview Plaza 2 - Midtown, 1-29 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/lab-made-cafe-e2419486

Tang lung street used to be a street dominated by cars and red minibuses, it was dark and dirty.
Butao was the first brave restaurant to settle a branch there followed by a few others.
Now with the newly built Soundwill Plaza, Tang lung street is so much more glitzy with Jamie Olivers, The Point pizza and pasta and Lab Made.
The road is partially cordoned off which makes it safer for people.
Anyway, this new branch of Lab Made fits the scene and you can dine there comfortably for a coffee or cake as well as their famous nitrogen icecream.
That day I had the salted caramel icecream which tastes similar to the grill a corn.
It was slightly salty balanced by the caramel sauce with pieces of crunchies in it.
Next time I am going to try the volcanic lava cake!