Hue Dining at Hong Kong Museum of Art (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

Hong Kong has seen its fair share of new restaurant openings with stunning harbour view in recent years and starting this month, we can add Hue Dining, Bar and Lounge into the mix.



Located on the first floor of the newly revamped Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hue is a modern Australian casual fine-dining restaurant brought to us by Woolly Pig group who’s also behind modern European bistro Madame S’ate and Californian BBQ house Big Sur.



The harbour view is obviously the big selling point here but I was far more interested in their food menu instead. A meat and seafood centric menu with interesting combinations of ingredients, what’s there not to like?

And we have Madame Taekwondo with us all the way from Portland.

Some of us were calling for the local authorities to cut down those damn trees which had been hampering our view of Victoria Harbour all night long! I think we all had too much to drink already and we haven’t even had our starter yet!



We were not particularly hungry so instead of going for starter, main and dessert, we simply ordered a number of dishes to share among us.



Hamachi ($185) - Pretty much an unanimous choice from all of us. This was served with fresh pomelo, ginger and sea banana while a subtle kombu dressing did some pretty nice work behind the scene. Although some of us thought the kombu dressing tasted a bit like the sweet soy from Chinese-style steamed fish, I thought it was a reasonably good addition to the dish. A nice start for me but not all of us.



Grilled Octopus ($185) - The slices of octopus were first poached and then finished on the grill coming out with nice charred marks. I love the soft, bouncy texture. The bed of saffron and fennel risoni (or orzo, a type of short-cut pasta shaped like a large grain of rice) drew mixed reviews from the grand jury for its buttery flavors (I thought it tasted OK but way too much butter) but it was again another solid dish with a lovely combination of strong flavors.



Pigeon ($190) - The beautifully cooked pepper-glazed breast complemented by a deliciously intense pigeon jus, was perfectly juicy, moist and tender. It was superbly matched with creamy white rice purée and chopped shiitakes to balance out the richness of the pigeon.

Very splendid cooking. Easily the best dish from our trio of starters and likely the best of the night.



Aged duck breast ($360) - The aged duck breast was pretty tender but not nearly moist enough (I know it's been aged but...). Matching the savory duck with the sweetness of quince purée and black garlic sauce was a nice touch.



Spanish Mackerel ($350) - We were joking that this looked like a homemade Chinese dish with the steamed Spanish mackerel served on a bed of sliced abalone and poached winter melon. Surprisingly (not a pleasant one), the crustacean dashi did very little to enhance the flavors of the fish.



'7-Bone' Wagyu steak ($450) - While the pigeon was done to absolute perfection (medium), the same cannot be said about the Australian wagyu. It was way under-cooked and in spite of a decent smoked bone marrow sauce and some nice roasted onions, it couldn't save the dish from being the worst dish of the night.



After an excellent trio of starters, things started to regress with our mains. Not that it completely fell off a cliff but the difference was noticeable enough to the untrained palates of ours. But was it a complete disaster? Far from it. In fact, I am already planning to come back, this time likely on an afternoon where we can actually enjoy the view.






Food Rating: 6/10
Price: $$$$
Address: 1/F, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Closest Metro Station: East Tsim Sha Tsui / Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 3500-5888
Website: https://huedining.com.hk/
Opening Hours: 12:00pm - 11:00pm Daily

Ramen Cubism 立体派 (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

Ramen Cubism (立体派), the first overseas venture by Japan’s ramen champion Hayashi Takao and Matsumura Takahiro launches to much fanfare in Hong Kong early this year. A collaboration between the ramen champion duo and Bird Kingdom Group, Ramen Cubism’s first outlet in Hong Kong is a cozy 29-seater on Wellington Street in buzzy Central district. 

With the success the famed ramen shop has seen over their first few months, we all knew it was just a matter of time before they start their expansion outside Central. Not surprisingly earlier this month, the group announced the launch of a second outlet, a new location across the harbour at Minden Avenue in Tsim Sha Tsui.



I can‘t help to notice the strong aroma of their signature white broth from my seat at the counter table. Can’t wait to get my first sip of the soup myself.



Ramen Cubism ($118) - The size of this Large Ramen Cubism is simply incredible. The bowl is almost the size of my basin!



Chef Hayashi Takao’s signature Premium Cubism white broth (特級白湯) is arguably one of the creamiest ramen soup I've seen in recent memory. It’s fragrant, well-balanced and flavorful yet not too rich and thick. Very delicious and very addictive.



I was really curious of how they have managed to make the broth so sweet and tasty. It has to be more than just chicken, right? After chatting with my server, I finally knew why. Turns out the broth has been cooked repeatedly with chicken bones and meat, along with duck and seaweed. I think there were flavors from clams in there too, which explained the extra creaminess and sweetness.



The thin sliced braised pork was very sumptuous. It was a bit smoky like smoked ham which made it extra special. Yes, it was a little on the fat side but I didn't mind that at all.



This came with young bamboo shoots, leeks but no bean sprouts.



My only complaint was perhaps with the soft-boiled eggs. The egg yolks weren't runny enough for my liking; otherwise it would be perfect.



Ramen Cubism offers six different flavors of ramen but I just don't see why anybody would go for anything other than their signature ramen with premium white broth.




Food Rating: 6.5/10
Price: $$$
Address: Shop G12-G13, G/F, The Pinnacle, 8 Minden Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Closest Metro Station: East Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 2104-6855
Opening Hours: 11:00am - 11:00pm (Sun - Thu), 12:00pm - 12:00am (Fri - Sat)

Gradini Ristorante E Bar Italiano (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

In the last few weeks, I have been having my tour of the finest Italian restaurants Hong Kong has to offer. Following my meals at Angelini, Nicholini’s, Grissini and Tosca di Angelo, I thought it’s only fair that I find time for Gradini Ristorante E Bar Italiano, another favorite of mine.

Located on the ground floor of ultra hip Pottinger Hotel, Gradini has quietly become a fan favorite for those working in Central district. This explains why I was unable to get my table on a number of occasions.



The 2-course executive lunch menu comes with a choice of 3 appetizers and 5 main courses at only $288. A real bargain at this day and age.



First up, a basket of bread highlighted by some Grissini and charcoal brioche.



I didn’t have very good appetite this week due to some major problems with one of my BIG tooth. So, I went with a simple carrot soup to start off the meal.



That was followed by their homemade spaghettoni, served with pan-seared Hokkaido scallop and prawns. The spaghettoni was very nicely cooked but what really impressed me the most was the shellfish emulsion which was doing a superb job tying everything together. I like the strong flavors from the garlic too. Very impressive.



Unfortunately, I needed to rush back to my office to get some work done so there would be no tiramisu for me this afternoon.

I thought my pasta dish was a lot better than what I got from Grissini the other day. But take it with a grain of salt coz the sample size was a little small (very few dishes tried) for me to make an accurate comparison.

P.S. These pictures were again taken by my old iphone and they were just brutal (partially because of the lights here). If the guys from Apple still don't figure things out, I can see myself switching to a different brand pretty soon.


Food Rating: 6/10
Price: $$$
Address: Lobby Level, The Pottinger Hong Kong, 74 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong
Closest Metro Station: Central
Tel: +852 2308-3088
Website: www.sino-hotels.com/en/hk/the-pottinger-hong-kong/dining
Opening Hours: 12:00pm - 3:00pm, 6:00pm - 11:00pm daily

Lifetastic Patisserie at The ONE (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

I think we all remember there was a time we could all walk into a clinic or dental office without waiting at least an hour for our turn to see our doctor or dentist. Life was good back then when there was no such thing as over-booking. Unfortunately, that was a thing of the past so while I was waiting for my turn to see my dentist this afternoon, I decided to go out and get some fresh air.



Fresh air I did get, and more. How about some strawberry watermelon cakes from Lifetastic Patisserie?



I have heard about Lifetastic opening their first shop outside Sai Wan but picking The ONE in Tsim Sha Tsui as their landing spot was a peculiar choice if you ask me.



And to add insult to injury, there's the recent stuff going on in the city, particularly in Tsim Sha Tsui and Hunghom the last two weeks. No wonder the dessert cafe didn't attract any customers around tea time.



Fig and charcoal layer cheesecake ($78) - This wasn't my first choice but I was craving for a slice of cheesecake.



I thought the charcoal sponge wasn't bad but its combination with the fresh figs and cream cheese wasn't working all that well. In fact, all three ingredients were working individually rather than complementing each other.



Not the best afternoon tea experience I had in recent memory. Perhaps I should have checked out this new gelateria and dessert cafe between Jordan and Tsim Sha Tsui instead.




Food Rating: 5/10
Price: $$$$
Address: Shop L406, 4/F, The ONE, 100 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Closest Metro Station: Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 2564-8533
Website: www.lifetastichk.com
Opening Hours: 12:00pm - 11:00pm daily

Restaurant Petrus (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

Ever since news broke about Chef Uwe Opocensky appointed as the executive chef of Island Shangri-La Hong Kong, I have been secretly waiting for the right time to come back to Petrus. The timing has to be right since Chef Uwe and his right-hand man, Bjoern Alexander deserve ample time to put their stamp on the duo’s first-ever menu at one of the city’s longest serving fine-dining restaurant. After checking week after week with the hotel’s official website, I finally got the green light, a new lunch and dinner menu signed and sealed by Chef Uwe and Chef Bjoern (posted on the restaurant’s website).



Obviously, not only have the duo brought over the entire team from Restaurant Uwe's kitchen with them, there is at least one familiar face from the front-line staff as well (Luke, another Mandarin Oriental alumni. I think I still have his card from Restaurant Uwe from opening week somewhere). That’s really good to see.



Lunch started off with some really impressive bread, served with two types of butter, a salted one and one mixed with buckwheat.



It was followed by a bite-sized puff stuffed with duck leg confit.



Lunch got off to an amazing start (at least for Jelloman anyways) with a visually stunning octopus dish. Slices of slow-cooked octopus were matched with heirloom tomatoes and dabs of basil purée, finished off beautifully with a flavorful bell pepper coulis. The bell pepper coulis delivered some subtle bitterness and spiciness, which worked well with the sweetness of the octopus.



My cold starter was foie gras creme brûlée which was accompanied by a small garden green and toasted brioche.



This was a nice replacement for their signature foie gras terrine with navel orange jelly and three-spice powder, a dish which has been a permanent fixture in the menu since Chef Ricardo Chaneton took the reins (in fact, it goes a bit before his time). I have to admit, I haven't had a lot of foie gras creme brûlée in my life (mostly as amuse bouche only) but this was a nice change to go with my brioche. Not as impressive as Jelloman's octopus but nevertheless very solid offering.



Next up was homemade tortellini with juicy venison stuffing. The navel-shaped pasta was served with cranberry and pecorino cheese shaving in a small pool of sauce made with pumpkin and orange (some vension jus too I presume). The build up of flavors was really attractive and I love the bitter notes from the orange peel there giving the dish a great balance of flavors.



My last savory dish was roasted sirloin steak served on a bed of baby spinach and pine nuts, with the rich and creamy champagne sauce providing a touch of comfort. This was perhaps the least successful dish of the afternoon (still not a bad one). Judging from the flavors and texture, I am guessing it’s US sirloin so not surprisingly, the flesh was reasonably tender with mild flavors but unfortunately, it's more on the lean side and nothing truly stood out (flavor, texture, marbling...).



This came with a small batch of pommes soufflés as it usually does.



I was all geared up for dessert but Jelloman wasn't feeling well at this point. So, instead of dessert, we just had the complimentary madeleines before we settled the bill.



I was excited to see Chef Uwe back to his hotel trade once again. This is really where he truly belongs. It's going to take time for things to fall into places so I'm going to wait a couple of months before coming back for my next visit.


Food Rating: 6.5/10
Price: $$$$
Address: 56/F, Island Shangri-La Hong Kong, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong
Closest Metro Station: Admiralty
Tel: +852 2820-8590
Website: Link
Opening Hours: 12:00pm - 3:00pm, 6:30pm - 11:00pm daily

Duck and Waffle IFC (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

I'm back at Duck and Waffle again for an early brunch after a date with my therapist in Central this morning. This time I brought my family with me as they were found drooling all over the photo I took of my duck and waffle dish from my September visit a couple of times at home.



Their online reservation system said they were all booked up until 3pm but we decided to try our luck by showing up a little before noon. Luckily, there were still tables available.



Duck & Waffle ($230) - Is it too early to have the duck and waffle dish before the rest of our food arrives? Absolutely not; at least not according to my little nugget.



He wants his duck leg confit with the buttermilk waffle and fried duck egg, and he wants it now! This was again very very good. The duck leg, buttermilk waffle and mustard maple syrup really worked wonders together. Whoever came up with this must be a genius!



Little one decided to finish the entire dish all by himself. 



Ox cheek benedict ($130) - With the duck and waffle dish quickly swallowed up, I turned my attention to the ox cheek benedict, which I didn't get to try on my last visit. This came with the same buttermilk waffles but topped with poached eggs, braised ox cheek and Hollandaise sauce instead of the duck leg and egg. It wasn't bad but there was obviously something missing here that would tie everything together. Maybe some mashed avocado or that killer mustard maple syrup (for some extra kick)? I don't know...



Homemade Tagliatelle ($195) - A dish we used to have a lot at Gordon Ramsay's restaurants. This was actually pretty tasty. The softness of the tagliatelle worked really well with the fresh mint, peas, ricotta and brown sugar crumbs. Little guy didn't like the minty (mint) and clean (pea) flavors from the dish but we all find them very pleasant and soothing to the palate.



Torrejas ($140) - I had the miso custard tart (more like a cheesecake) last time so I made sure that we got something new this time around. The Spanish version of French toast was the obvious choice since it would be easy to share among the four of us.



This was even better than I thought. The lovely acidity from the maple glazed apples and sweetness of the cinnamon ice-cream were really nice match with the fried dough. A sweet and comforting end to our relaxing Saturday brunch.



I thought service was a lot better than what I remembered from last time around. Everyone seems to know what they are doing and with a smile on their face too. It's not a cheap brunch by any means but I have no problem coming back any time soon. In fact, I've already planned a visit to their Covent Garden branch when we visit London in January (2020).


Food Rating: 6.5/10

Price: $$$
Address: Shop 1081, 1/F IFC, 1 Harbour View Street, Central, Hong Kong
Closest Metro Station: Central / Hong Kong Station
Website: www.duckandwaffle.com.hk
Tel: +852 2267-6338
Opening Hours: 8:00am - 12:00am (Sun - Thu), 8:00am - 1:00am (Fri - Sat)