Sunday, March 14, 2010

Café Gray Deluxe (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

My last visit to Café Gray Deluxe was cut short by an upset stomach so I decided to give it another shot, this time with my full bill of health.

Café Gray Deluxe, located on level 49 of the elegant Upperhouse Hotel in Admiralty, marked the return of celebrated chef Gray Kunz who was formerly the man behind the highly regarded restaurant "Plume" in the Regent Hotel Kowloon back in the 1980's.  




This is a tastefully designed hotel that looks more like somebody's mansion rather than a hotel. The warm coziness leads you to feel you are right at home and that feeling extends even to its restaurant, Café Gray Deluxe.



I also had the roasted quail with red beetroot salad last time and yes it was that good. The quail which was roasted to perfection, was nicely complemented by a red beet salad.

The portion was rather generous but I think this time, the red beetroot salad was slightly too sour for my appetite.



Another starter was a seared tiger prawn salad that was beautifully presented. The deliciously fresh jumbo tiger prawn was served on a bed of cous cous salad with a creamy dressing while atop by a spoonful of flavorful caviar. Need I say more!?

 

Our main courses however were slightly off the mark in comparison to the starters. Firstly, it was the grilled sea trout with mashed potatoes.

I was expecting a little more fat content from my sea trout but the overall dry texture and the lack of natural flavor disappointed me.



My dad always tells me nothing beats a nice dish of freshly cooked free-range chicken chinese style. Well, this was not a free-range chicken but it was good.

In fact, this was a roasted half chicken with pak choy in a light curry sauce. Much better than the sea trout. 



Dessert was a pretty decent creme brulee.



Despite leaving early during my visit, I rated this restaurant very highly and this second visit certainly did not disappoint. I had to come back some other time for dinner.


Food Rating: 6/10
Address: Level 49, The Upper House, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong
Closest Metro Station: Admiralty

Friday, March 5, 2010

Tetsuya's (Sydney, Australia) ★★★★☆



Booking for a table at Tetsuya’s is extremely difficult. I tried to find something available in March 2009 few months before I headed to Sydney but failed. This time I acted smart and crazy to make a reservation for 5th March 2010 on 6th March 2009, a 365-day advance reservation!



I heard about the Tetsuya’s back to the time I was studying in Sydney. I learned that it was a very fine Japanese restaurant and expensive which I could not afford as a student (and I wasn’t much enjoyed fine food back then). Tetsuya’s awarded as one of the world’s 50 best restaurants since 2002 and stayed on the list till now. The restaurant was once awarded to be the best restaurant in Australiasia.

Overlook at a Japanese garden from our table
 
The restaurant is located in the city and easy to find. Valet parking is available. Chef Tetsuya converts his restaurant into a Japanese cottage, which most tables overlook at a private Japanese garden. There is only one set of degustation offered and it is in ten courses. Do expect to finish the meal over 4 hours.


Chilled Pumpkin soup with sheep yoghurt icecream

Fresh Tasmanian oysters with olive

Sashimi of kingfish

Confit of Tasmanian Ocean Salmon

New Zealand scampi with asparagus

Abalone with winter melon

Ravioli

Slow-roasted breats of duck with sansho

Australian wagyu

Raspberry icecream with lychee wine


Sorbet of pione grapes with summer pudding

Petite Four


S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants: 17th (2010), Best restaurant in Australasia (2010)
Food rating: 7.8/10
Price: $$$$
Date of visit: 05/03/2010
Address: 529 Kent Street, Sydney, Australia
Website: http://www.tetsuyas.com/index.html