[Review 4178] Wine and dine with Chef Giuseppe Maria Brancati @ Alto 88

12/03/2015
Alto 88  休息中
此店前身為Zeffirino風情畫意大利餐廳 Zeffirino Ristorante
銅鑼灣怡和街88號富豪香港酒店31樓
31/F, Regal Hongkong Hotel, 88 Yee Wo Street, Causeway Bay
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/wine-and-dine-with-chef-giuseppe-maria-brancati-e2432252

Previously this restaurant used to be Zeffirino Ristorante but now it is Alto 88 with great views of the harbour on fine days.
Tried Chef Giuseppe Maria Brancati's tasting dinner with wine pairing.
Started off with a variety of breads and foccacia was my favourite.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
amuse bouche:
Started off with salmon rolled with crunchy samphire  in the middle which gave it a nice crispy texture and bursts of saltiness from the salmon roe.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Tartara di tonno rosso e mela verde, salsa allo yogurt con zenzero ed erba cipollina:
This was red tuna and green apple tartar served with yoghurt flavoured with ginger and chives paired with Terlaner DOC Cantina Terlano-Kellerei 2012 Tentino-Alto Adige

The tuna was flawless paired with the refreshing finely diced green apple.
It tasted even better when it was all mixed up with the yoghurt and chives.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Capresante scottate su burrata liquida a proscuitto di Parma disidratato:
 0 讚好

This was pan-seared scallop served with liquid burrata cheese and dehydrated Parma ham paired with pinot grigio murno Primosic.
Although it was delicious, I really wish there was more crispy Parma ham because it gave a lovely smokey salty taste to the scallop.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Risotto "Acquerello 7 anni" affumicato alla parmigiana, polvere di porcini e fiori di montagna:

This was Risotto "Acquerello brand 7 year aged" smoked porcini mushroom dust and mountain flower which won the best risotto "Acquerello" world contest in 2012.
The risotto was paired with La Scolca GAVI Bianco secco.
It was a rich risotto with fragrant shaved mushrooms on the bottom that was not too creamy and the risotto had a nice chew to it.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Trancio de baccala confit in salsa d'aglio dolce, patate fondente e liquirizia:

This was salted cod loin confit in sweet garlic sauce with potato fondant and licquorice paired with Scalabrone Bolgheri Rosato.
The cod was chunky with big flakes which was drenched in delicious strong garlic sauce.
You can also taste strong licquorice which you will either hate or love.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Steak:

This was steak paired with La Braccesca Vino Nobile De Montepulcian.
The beef was sweet and juicy accompanied by refreshing pickled carrrot slaw.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Mousse ai pistachio di bronte, croccante al cocao e crema di zabaione:

This was a crisp cocao roll filled with pistachio mousse from Bronte and eggnog cream paired with Kaloro Moscato d Trani Doc Tormaresca.
I loved the pistachio mousse which was creamy and nutty with a savoury aftertaste.
The dessert wine was my favourite of the wines that night because I have a sweet tooth for sweet wines.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Tea and petit fours:

To finish off, I had fragrant Earl Grey as a perfect ending.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
The set I had costs $1288 and $888 without wine.
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[Review 4177] NOT going to try their savoury stuff EVER again!~ @ 雪糕之森 Ice Cream Gallery

11/03/2015
雪糕之森 Ice Cream Gallery
銅鑼灣告士打道311號皇室堡G16舖
G16, Windsor House, 311 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/not-going-to-try-their-savoury-stuff-ever-again-e2431834

Previously tried their lobster and escargot icecreams at their Kwun Tong branch which were horrible not because it was lobster or escargot but because it was sweet.
I have also tried their sweet icecreams which fared better.

This time they came up with this interesting congee flavour with fried dough sticks.
Before ordering I asked the staff if it was SWEET OR SAVOURY and she said it was definitely not sweet hence I ordered it.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Congee icecream:
The texture was a failure because it was hard and powdery.
When you put the spoon in it, it was crumbled into frozen chalk.
The worst part was the taste because it was so chalky and sweet when I was expecting a savoury taste.
Even if I had a real cold congee it wouldn't be sweet!
Anyway, apart from congee, there were also gingko nuts in the icecream.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
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The bill: $37
Service: OK



[Review 4176] Sticky sweet Shogan burger @ 麥當勞 McDonald's

10/03/2015
麥當勞 McDonald's
鰂魚涌海灣街4-6號嘉榮大廈地下7號舖
Shop 7, G/F, Ka Wing Building, 4-6 Hoi Wan Street, Quarry Bay
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/sticky-sweet-shogan-burger-e2431832




I was not impressed with this burger because it looked like it had been in an accident.
Sauce was everywhere, all over the burger and wrapper.
The taste wasn't good because it tasted like eating a dessert burger because the sauce was just sweet.

[Review 4175] 3.9 Australian Milk Roll @ 美心西餅 Maxim's Cake Shop

10/03/2015
美心西餅 Maxim's Cake Shop
尖沙咀港鐵尖沙咀站TST 1號舖
Shop TST 1, Tsim Sha Tsiu MTR Station, Tsim Sha Tsui
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/3-9-australian-milk-roll-e2431831


I really like this Swiss roll because it is pretty and it tastes good.
The reason I like it is because it tastes NORMAL or WESTERN style in Chinese terms because the cream is normal smooth whipped cream that does not have this weird savoury taste.
They have used Australian milk instead of Hokkaido milk which is getting quite boring these days because they have it everywhere.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
3.9 Australian Milk Roll:
The roll is filled with delicious light creamy cream with pieces of milk pudding in it and the overall taste is very creamy with a sweet taste and scent that reminds me of white rabbit sweets.
 0 讚好



★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
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The bill: $68
Service: OK
Yummy factor: good

[Review 4174] Freeze dried prawns @ 小王牛肉麵 Xiao Wang Beef Noodle

 小王牛肉麵   Xiao Wang Beef Noodle
鑽石山龍蟠街3號荷里活廣場3樓373號舖
Shop 373, 3/F, Plaza Hollywood, 3 Lung Poon Street, Diamond Hill
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/freeze-dried-prawns-e2431537

Walked past and saw these interesting snacks so bought a packet to try.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Dried shrimps:
Basically they were freeze dried prawns or shrimps as they call them.
I had to eat them carefully because the shell is really sharp.

They were really crispy but there was not much prawn taste as I hoped.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
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The bill: $30








[Review 4173] Cheap noodles @ 川味皇

08/03/2015
川味皇
旺角弼街64號地下C舖
Shop C, G/F., 64 Bute Street, Mong Kok
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/cheap-noodles-e2431535





I came here because I saw some reviews showing Chongqing style noodles with other noodle choices as well as the potato noodles.
I happened to be seated infront of one of their staff who was having their dinner and she somehow saw me struggling with the order form so she grabbed it and asked what noodles I wanted and whether I wanted to add any extra stuff which sorted my problem!
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Chongqing style:
As well as the noodles, they also put crunchy yellow beans in it which were quite nice.
There was not much noodles in it but it was really spicy and tasty but the green beans were way too salty.
I regretted not ordering the beef belly and tendons because they looked really good.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
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The bill: $26

[Review 4172] ginger purple sweet potato latte @ Gaba Concept

07/03/2015
Gaba Concept
銅鑼灣駱克道462號鑽石大樓1樓
1/F, Diamond Mansion, 462-468 Lockhart Road, Causeway Bay
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/ginger-purple-sweet-potato-latte-e2431165



Came here especially for the ginger purple sweet potato latte.
They serve it hot or cold but there was no price on the board so I don't know if it costs different hot or cold.

The name latte was a bit weird though because Latte is a coffee drink made with espresso and steamed milk.
I wonder why it isn't called ginger purple sweet potato milk.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
ginger purple sweet potato latte:
Luckily there was no coffee in it and the bottom of the drink was heavy sweet potato puree with ginger.
It was not too sweet and the ginger was not too fiery and complemented the sweet potato nicely.
I would advise stirring the drink to mix the milk, ginger and sweet potato to get a balanced taste.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
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The bill: $48

[Review 7821] Kaya toast @ 一粥麵 Super Super Congee & Noodle

19/12/2020 一粥麵  Super Super Congee & Noodle 樂富聯合道198號樂富廣場1樓1113-1114號舖 Shop 1113-1114, 1/F, Lok Fu Shopping Centre, 198 Junction Road, L...