A social place to gather for Italian food at 121BC

I have always wanted to dine here ever since I saw a photo of the green pea lasagna because I love lasagna and green peas.
The menu changes really often so you have to keep checking which is really difficult for me because I don’t know where the menu gets updated.
There is always a menu on the restaurant wall, but I find it intimidating to go there to see what is on the menu and leaving if it doesn't interest me.

Finally went here and tried the food.

They are currently doing a banquet denoted by the starred items on the menu that cost $450 per person.

We had a light dinner that night so here was what we had:
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Vitello Tonnato:

The veal slices were a bit like pastrami but the taste was not as strong mixed with tuna puree.

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Octopus, Squid Ink, Green Chilli, Crackling:

I loved this dish because the octopus was not chewy infused with a delicious squid ink taste.

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Caramelised Lamb Ribs, Orange, Caraway:

The lamb was soft and came off the bone easily with a delicious sweet crispy coating.

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Lasagna, Eggplant, Tomato, Smoked Scamorza:

A wholesome lasagna packed with delicious veggies.
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Wagyu Skirt Steak, Radish, Bone Marrow Butter:

I loved this juicy steak paired with evilicious bone marrow butter and crunchy radish.

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Zucchini, Pine Nuts, Ricotta Salata:

The julienne zucchini was refreshing and light flavoured by the pine nuts and cheese shavings.
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Pumpkin:

The pieces of chunky pumpkin were sweet and mushy.
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Stracciatella, Beetroot, Balsamic, Basil:
The beetroot dish was a bit too sharp for my liking and tasted like beetroot soaked in strong vinegar.
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Pannacotta, Coffee Caramel, Almonds:

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Chocolate and Hazelnut Cremoso, White Chocolate Crumble, Sea Salt:

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Olive Oil Cake, Vanilla Cream, Strawberry, Candied Olives:

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For desserts I liked the chocolate mousse which had a tad of sea salt in it and the olive oil cake had a strong orange peel taste but no olive oil could be tasted.

Summer flare at L'altro

Tried the new summer Italian flavours by Two Michelin-star Chef Philippe Leveille which has a lovely French twist to it.
I love the way each dish has a French presentation which jazzes up the food.

Started off with bread served with butter in three flavours: Saffron, unflavoured butter and tomato butter.


★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
amuse bouche:

For the amuse bouche, I had this crispy slice of polenta topped with an anchovy resting on a glass of tomato marmalade and cheese sauce which was so scrumptious with the breads and the crispy polenta.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
Mediterranean red tuna, Parmesan cookie, raw cherry tomato sauce and basil sorbet:

Next was this refreshing tuna engulfed in this appetizing tomato sauce topped with a cooling basil sorbet which was very fragrant.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
One side roasted scallop with watermelon sauce and salad, almonds and cucumber sorbet:

For a more summery starter, the one side roasted scallop gives an interesting mouthfeel with a contrast of soft carpaccio and roasted texture in one bite surrounded in sweet watermelon sauce and soothing cucumber sorbet.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
Mixed Fish, Lobster and Crustaceans Soup with Brioche:

Next was the rich lobster soup which had mussels, red snapper and fish topped with extra lobster powder.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
grilled octopus, grapefruit and buffalo stracciatella cheese salad:

The octopus was a big chunk of the tentacle paired with juicy ruby red grapefruit.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
spaghetti olives oil, garlic and chili with scallop carpaccio:

This was al-dente spaghetti with delicate silky slices of scallop carpaccio hidden beneath, however the sauce was quite spicy.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
Fresh pasta with clams in sea foam:

The fresh pasta was divine because the texture was springy and light tossed with clams in a delicious sea foam which tastes like pasta in a reduced Japanese salt broth.
Each strand of pasta was square and uniformly extruded.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
earl grey martini:

Before the mains, we were given a refresher which contained earl grey martini.
The delicate white chocolate ball gushed out with icy earl grey martini which was sweetened by the wafer thin shell of the chocolate ball as it melted in my mouth!
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
Sea bass cooked on the skin, mussels, calms, potatoes and basil sauce:

The seabass was colourfully presented with Romanesco broccoli, grilled tomatoes, clams on a thin strip of mash.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
Roasted Baby Lamb Striploin with Black Olives and Potato Napoleon:

The lamb was paired with a rich black olive paste that went well with the lamb and wafer thin potato slices of the potato Napoleon.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
almond mousse , amaretto crispy and custard , gratinated fresh apricots an sorbet:

This dessert was bright and delightful with apricot sorbet paired with almond mousse.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
black tea creme brulee served with gratinated peaches and sorbet:

Peach and black tea creme brulee served on this black edged plate with gold dots is well suited for a gentleman with strong tasting tea flavours!
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
Peiti fours:
I was quite full by this stage but I liked the pistachio candies which looked like popcorn.


★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆

L'Altro:

10/F The L Place

Central

http://laltro.hk/menu/

A taste of Jamie's Italian at the Causeway Bay branch

There were queues and queues at Jamie’s Italian when it first opened but I wasn’t motivated to go because what is the point to eat rushed and the food is going to be rushed.
The menu is much better now compared to the opening with more choices and it was the right time to check it out because Jamie has been to HK and reassured the quality.

Here was what we had:
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
AMALFI LEMON & BASIL ICED TEA $35:
A blend of succulent lemon & basil

The iced tea had a nice lemon taste with a hint of basil.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
SPINACH & TALEGGIO CROQUETTES $70:
Served with basil mayo

I definitely liked this because it was filled with silky cheese, spinach with velvety mashed potato.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
WORLD'S BEST OLIVES ON ICE $50:
With black olive tapenade & music bread

The olives were iced hence the icy olive flesh refreshed your mouth as you ate it.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
CRAB & AVOCADO BRUSCHETTA $70:
Sourdough, fresh crab & avocado with apple,


This was a light crispy piece of sourdough topped with crisp tangy apple and fresh crab meat.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
BAKED CHESTNUT MUSHROOMS $80:
With smoked mozzarella, thyme & crispy music bread

Cheese lovers will love this, it was like eating a wafer thin pizza topped with gooey mozzarella and earthy mushrooms.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
FISH IN A BAG $170:
Fish of the day with clams, mussels, fennel, chilli, anchovies & cracked wheat, topped with fiery arrabbiata sauce

The rice was so flavourful because it has absorbed all the flavours from the seafood and fish with a tangy tomato and herbs taste and the seafood was great especially the delicate fish.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
10OZ RIB-EYE STEAK $300:
10oz chargrilled rib-eye steak with wild mushrooms, peppery endive & funky chips

As I was too full, I didn't try this.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
LAMB LOLLIPOPS $220:
Chops grilled under a brick with a herby red onion salad, toasted nuts, yoghurt for dunking & polenta chips

The lamb was soft and tender without any gaminess.
Best yet were the pieces of polenta which tasted like potatoes with a grainy texture.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
TIRAMISÙ $65:
Coffee-flavoured trifle with orange mascarpone & chocolate

The orange mascarpone made a real difference because the citrus flavours and chocolate cake went really well together.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
TUTTI FRUTTI LEMON MERINGUE PIE $85:
With limoncello & crunchy pistachio brittle


The lemon base was lovely and tart and the meringue on top was really thick and gooey like marshmallow making it sinfully delicious.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

Jamie's Italian:

2/F, Soundwill Plaza II, 1 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay
3958 2222

Eating radiators AT Linguini Fini

Went here again for pasta.
After my previous experience I rejected the bottle of water because you get charged for it.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Radiatore alla Vodka:


Named Radiatore because the pasta resembles a radiator!
It was Radiatore pasta in a spicy nduja laced cream which I found a bit too salty and spicy but it was worth trying because not many places in HK have nduja.
The other place that has it is Jacomax where they have pizzas topped with nduja sauce.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

Wine and dine with Chef Giuseppe Maria Brancati at Alto 88

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 sea kelp 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:

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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Alto 88:

31/F, Regal Hongkong Hotel, 88 Yee Wo Street, Causeway Bay