[Waterfront Bar & Terrace] Good views and good food

Recently went to a media gathering at [Waterfront Bar & Terrace] and I must admit I was really impressed.

The restaurant is right by the promenade so you have views of East Hong Kong where you can dine al-fresco or sit inside.

The chef stayed in Mexico for a few years so there are a some Mexican dishes to offer as well as fine European dishes.

I appreciate the choice of side dishes as they had gnocchi, lobster mac n cheese to crushed potatoes with lemon.

Here was what we had:

Started with the Oysters (fin de Claire), all fresh and glistening that just a squeeze of lemon was delicious.

For salad, the smoked halibut on iceberg lettuce with blue cheese dressing was a nice change from Caesar salad.

Next was the ahi Tuna, layers of avocado, tuna tartare in yuzu cilantro vinegar topped with refreshing mango.

It was paired with crispy tortilla chips that I would describe as crumbly and disintegrates in your mouth when you eat it.

Campechana (Mexican shrimp cocktail) is not often found in Hong Kong so we were lucky it was offered on the menu.

[So far I have only had this at Verde Mar]

It is basically Mexican shrimp cocktail in a zesty red cocktail sauce with crab lump meat as well.

The jumbo crab cakes were divine as it was 99% crabmeat so a must if you love crab.

The calamari was nice and simple, coated in a delicate pink and black pepper tempura batter.

It came with chipotle and lime mayo but again it tasted good with just a squeeze of lemon.

My favourite was the Balik salmon which was smoked salmon topped with salmon roe served with sour cream.

As well as raw oysters we had the hot Kilpatrick oysters which were topped with delicious bacon and Worcester sauce.

The smokiness of the bacon and creaminess of the oyster together were wonderful.

Moving on to the seafood, there are so many fish dishes to choose from like seabream, swordfish, red snapper to cod.

We had the cod and salmon.

The salmon was stunning on a bed of burgandy blackberry sauce with refreshing blackberries.

I had a bias for cod because I just love chunky flakes of cod and it was moist served wrapped in paper with delicate vegetables beside it.

The jumbo sea scallops were more flavourful as they were wrapped in Pancetta which gave it that lovely salty kick just like bacon.

For the mains, there was Tuna Wellington, Lobster pizza and the USDA beef rib eye with the best side dishes.

The magic of the Tuna Wellington was the morel mushroom gravy which complimented it nicely and there were chunks of morel mushrooms in the gravy.

The pizza was not your usual topped with whole boston lobster, button mushrooms, Gruyere cheese and BRANDY!!!!

Imagine that!! Pizza and Brandy.

This is what makes Waterfront so special, there is something unique for every dish.

The USDA beef rib eye with sel de Guerande was stunning but the side dishes also stole the show because I love gnocchi, potato gratin and squid ink linguine.

While most steak houses offer creamed spinach, I liked the Sauteed baby spinach with garlic that was served here as it was lighter and healthier.

To finish, desserts are a must and I like the way the desserts are named by colours.

The desserts we had were: red, cream, copper, yellow and golden.

Again being English, I was biased on the bread pudding which was a substantial size good enough for one and also good for sharing depending on your appetite.

The apple tartin was my next favourite as the apple in the middle was poached.

Red wine ganache/raspberry/cream cheese icing:

Lemon and basil pie with meringue:

Apple tartin with calvados ice cream:

Pineapple carpaccio with coconut ice cream:

Bread and butter pudding with rum raisins and creme Anglaise.

After dining here, I definitely recommend [Waterfront Bar & Terrace] as every dish has something special about it.

The restaurant has lovely views and it is conveniently located near Whampoa MTR station exit D2.

[Waterfront Bar & Terrace]

G/F, Harbourfront One Harbourfront, 18 Tak Fung Street, Hung Hom

https://kowloon.harbourgrand.com/dining/waterfront

[Prohibition] A great place for steak and drinks

I never would have guessed Prohibition was a great place for steaks and drinks.
It is located in the new hotel next to Ocean Park which is right outside the MTR station.
There is a lovely pool beside it.

You are greeted by a bar where you can have drinks before or after dinner or even with your meal.

The drinks are instaworthy and there are more on the menu to be discovered.

As well as steak, there are lots of fab food so it is best to go in big groups and they have long tables to accommodate.

Started with the Scallop Ceviche which was on a bed of refreshing mango lime sauce.

Next was the Lump Crab Cake with (yuzu and cod roe tartar sauce). A must when having steak, there was so much chunks of crab in it.

The Beer battered prawns with Lime chili sauce were really comforting because of the batter and the fact they look like the sweet and sour prawns you get in English style Chinese takeaways and Chinatown!

I absolutely love pastrami so the Pastrami meat platter was a real treat with pickled pearl onions and refreshing gherkins.

For soup, there was Seafood chowder which was loaded with seafood with  a strong lobster bisque taste.

The moment we were all waiting for had arrived!!!  STEAKS!! We had the USDA Prime bone-in Ribeye, one was rubbed with 28 days bourbon & oolong tea dry aged, while the other one wasn't. USDA Prime bone-in Ribeye  There was 28 days bourbon & oolong tea dry aged The aged version was more intense in flavor yet it was juicy and tender.

The Canadian certified angus beef Porterhouse was my personal favourite because you get the tenderloin and strip either side of the bone. The tenderloin is my favourite part.

The sides we had were mac and cheese, creamy spinach and loaded mashed potatoes which really completes that steakhouse experience.

To finish, we had the Flamed Alaska. By far this is the best Flamed Alaska because the icecream inside was good especially the pistachio icecream and the meringue on the outside was like thick marshmallow goo.

Will definitely be back for drinks and more beef!!

[Prohibition]
G/F (Portion C) at Club Wing,
Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel,
180 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuk Hang

My picks at Wine and Dine 2018

Wine and Dine is bigger and better this year that it now has different sections.
Hotel Delicious, Feedme Lane, Coffee Fiesta etc.

I was impressed with the creativity and variety this year.

First stop was salted egg chicken drumsticks with a Singaporean twist coated with oats from City Garden Hotel Hong Kong 城市花園酒店.

Second stop Appendix Coffee & Bar, the N2 Earl Grey really hit the spot as I was hot and bothered.
Lightly sweetened Earl Grey with a silky foam cap and last but not least was the Taiwanese messy bun inspired coffee.

In the bakery section, my fave bakery Say Hey Bakery 四喜麵包西餅was there with a unique beetroot quiche, La Mer Restaurant & Loungehad this interesting salted egg duck tart and Fast Gourmet had exclusive alcoholic lava croissants like pina colada.

For filling dishes Westwood Carvery had prime rib sandwiches and uni pasta.

The Drunken Pot 酒鍋 was also here, no hotpots there but they had cute skewers.
I had the spicy trio which had all my favourites: ducks blood, fish maw and stinky tofu.

Last but not least, I love Indian food so had the Kathi veggie roll from Gaylord.

Make sure you don't miss the drones display.

#香港美酒佳餚巡禮

Gioconda Scott stars at Kitchen Savvy with irresistable Spanish Fare

It's Spanish month!!! Chef #giocondascott will be at Kitchen Savvy from Seville, Spain and joining the team to serve some irresistible Spanish fare!

Went to the preview at Kitchen Savvy and tried Gioconda Scott's dishes which were authentic yet served with a modern twist.

Here was what we had:

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[Gioconda Gazpacho Andaluz]

This was a refreshing chilled soup great on a hot day.
With the tones of appetizing tomato it definitely was a great start before dinner.
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[Bunuelo de Camarones]

The golden little morsels were just like non spicy Indian Pakoras with crispy crushed shrimps in it that gives it a lovely flavour from the coast.
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[Tortilla Espanola]

Looking like the usual Spanish Tortilla,  it had a minty twist to it with mint leaves.
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[Chipirones a la Plancha]

Fresh baby squids can never fail to impress and do not require much seasoning.
The texture of these were beautiful with a crisp skin and a delicate texture that gives in.
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[Pan Con Tomate y Jamon]

The pairing of ham and finely smashed tomatoes were flawless.
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[Empanada Chorizo y Cebolleta]

I loved the way,  Gioconda has given them a South American Empanada appearance.
Inside they were filled with chorizo which gives it a wild smoky flavour.
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[Presa Iberica with Smoked Paprika, Crispy Broken Potatoes, spinach with Chilies, Raisins and Pine Nuts]

The main dish was surprisingly comforting as it looked like roast dinner complete with roast potatoes and leafy glistening spinach.
My favourites had to be the potato and spinach which had a fiery kick complimented by the sweet raisins.
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[Almond Cake]

Finished with the almond cake which was loaded with finely grounded almond topped with cream fraiche.
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[Churros with Chocolate Sauce]

There was churros as well which was a nice way to end the meal.
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At Kitchen Savvy, they will be serving the Spanish Tapas Semi-Buffet and Spanish Set Menu during October.

Spanish Tapas Semi-Buffet Dinner every Fri & Sat this month from 6pm
HKD538 + 10%

Spanish Set Menu
1 - 31 October
Lunch & Dinner (Sun - Thur)
Lunch Only (Fri & Sat)
HKD468 + 10%

Reserve your table at Kitchen Savvy @ 3953 2213
View the menu @ www.hotelstage.com/kitchen-savvy/