New dishes at Spade by Lassana

Spade by Lassana (Mong Kok)

Previous came here for tea and discovered new items on the menu which I wanted to try but couldnt because I had a tasting afterwards.
Luckily I got a chance to try these new dishes thanks to Spade by Lassana.


The new menu offers:
Macaroni and shrimp in lobster sauce
Black truffle macaroni
Mini black and white burgers
Braised ox tail in red wine sauce
Lasagne
Buccatini in Carbonara sauce

As a Westerner, my picks would definitely be the Lasagne but as it was a tasting I decided to try the other options which you can't try elsewhere such as the macaroni and burgers.
I would have tried the buccatini but I don't like Carbonara sauce, if it was a different sauce I would have tried it.

Heres what we tried:
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Cream of tomato soup:

The tomato soup was really tangy and not so creamy with a reasonable consistency.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Macaroni and shrimp in lobster sauce:

I was really looking forward to this and the macaroni was done just right, not too soft or hard, but the lobster sauce was not strong enough.
When I reached the bottom, the lobster taste was stronger so perhaps it should be mixed thoroughly before you eat it because the sauce goes to the bottom.
The prawns are freshly cooked there.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Black truffle macaroni:

This was macaroni in creamy truffle sauce with diced gammon ham.
It was too creamy for my liking but the truffle was nice and strong.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Black and white burgers:

The black burger was a charcoal bun paired with crabmeat patty.
The patty was really soft and it had strong bell pepper taste.

The white burger was paired with a beef patty which was outshone by the crab because there was nothing striking about the beef.
Perhaps, they could have used truffle or beef patty made with Wagyu, or a put a small slice of steak in it.

Although I liked the crab one, it is bound to be popular because people are going to order it because of the cute presentation.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Braised ox tail in red wine sauce:

The ox tail was quite nice but not very satisfying as a meal because the toasted baguette slices were not substantial enough.
[Perhaps it would be sufficient for "normal" girls]
It would be great if it was served with buccatini or a side of rice.
The ox tail was soft and braised in rich gravy but there were still some fat attached which turns you off.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Cakes galore:

There were more cakes to choose from such as green tea roll, earl grey chiffon cake, lemon tart etc.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Cookies and cream waffle:

The waffle was done just right, soft on the inside with a crispy exterior.
There were cubes of black sesame cakes topped on it which were grey, but the black sesame taste was not strong enough to taste it.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Chocolate fondant cake:

The fondant cake was paired with chocolate icecream.
A must for chocolate lovers, but I would prefer a choice of icecream.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Anyway, I shall be back for the lasagne!

Elegant rose

Eden Rose Restaurant (Causeway Bay)

Tried the new menu thanks to 饞餵人.

Here was what we tried:

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Cuisine sous vide salmon and urchin with hollandaise:

As well as Maureen's, the sous vide salmon here is divine, the texture is so soft and silky topped with heavenly urchin makes it a perfect match.
The salmon and urchin literally melts in your mouth.
They should make this into a main course!
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Beef carpaccio:

The beef carpaccio came with a tube of sauce which delicious, it was strong with lots of mustard seeds, garlic, pesto and basil.
It was lovely for dipping bread too.

The beef carpaccio slices were thin and melts in your mouth paired with delicious grassy rocket leaves.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
36 months iberico bellota ham with melon:

The ham had a soft waxy texture and it was not too salty.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Sauteed angel hair in squid ink with scallop:

My favourite combination because I love squid ink and angel hair.
The use of angel hair is the best because each strand is thin so more sauce can adhere to it.
The scallops were nice and tender too.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Roasted iberico pork loin with green Apple salsa n mustard gravy:

I do not normally like pork, but the pork was delicious because it was tender and juicy.
The pork was slightly salted which complimented nicely with the apple salsa.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Roasted US prime t-bone lamb chop with mustard gravy:

The lamb was soft and supple and did not have a gamey taste.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Pan fried white cod with black truffle mashed potato and parsley cream sauce:

I chose this because I wanted to see if it tasted like the fish in parsley sauce at school.
The fish and parsley sauce were great because the fish was chunky and flakey complimented nicely by the creamy parsley sauce.
The mash was too buttery and I would prefer it not so sweet.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Mandarin sorbet:

The taste of this was really strong and sweet.
A must for Kumquat lovers.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
In conclusion, my favourite dishes in the tasting were the squid ink pasta, pork loin with apple salsa and the sous vide salmon.

Hairy crab feast @ Tsui Hang Village

Tsui Hang Village (Causeway Bay)

This is my first Hairy Crab meal this year thanks to Tsui hang Village.

To be honest, I have never been or heard of Tsui Hang Village because I don't often eat Chinese food.
At the Lee Theatre branch, there is an exclusive dessert counter which has an array of attractive Chinese desserts.
If Hairy Crabs are not your thing, there is a cute complimentary steamed piggy bun for people who have dim sum for lunch.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Roast pork:

To start our meal, we had the roast pork which is their signature dish, it is different from other restaurants because it comes with beans in sweet honey sauce.
Some people will order this dish just for those beans.
The roast pork was meaty with an even fat distribution and the taste was just right, not too salty or sweet.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Steamed egg white topped with hairy crab roe:

Before this tasting, I perceived Tsui Hang Village as a really traditional Chinese restaurant.
The presentation of this surprised me because it was presented in a nice modern glass.
Initially I thought it was a cold, but it was hot, it was steamed egg white at the bottom with delicious starchy hairy crab roe on top which tasted a bit like egg yolk with hints of strong crab taste too.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Deep fried wheat buns served with hairy crab roe:

This was delicious, the crab roe did not contain crab shell fragments.
I would have preferred toast or baguette to go with it because the wheat buns were slightly sweet but it was made with wheat so that it is slightly healthier.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Braised rice pudding with hairy crab roe and mushroom:

This is basically stir fried Shanghai style rice cakes in thick crab roe.
The Shanghai style rice cakes I have tried before were tasteless so I was surprised the rice cakes here were quite tasty covered in tasty crab roe with fragrant mushrooms.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Sauteed pea sprouts with hairy crab roe:

It was nice simple sauteed pea sprouts topped with hairy crab roe, a nice option for some vegetables and crab roe.
The pea sprouts were cooked nicely, it had a slight crunch without being too grassy and the crab roe for this dish does not contain as much oil as the other crab roe options.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Steamed Dutch hairy crab:


At Tsui Hang Village, they have professionals to help you the crabs which is great for non crustean experts like me!
The crab roe was thick and starchy but my favourite part was the sticky white bit near the shell.
For the first hairy crab of the year, the crab roe tasted great as there is nothing else to compare it too, but I do remember some other ones a few years ago being more vibrant in colour.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Fried glutinous rice with assorted air dried meat:

To finish off the meal, there was glutinous rice. I liked the preserved sausages with blood but I have never been the person for air dried meats because it has a strange aroma which is fragrant to the locals.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Piglet shaped Steamed buns filled with purple potato:

This is really cute and cruel to eat!
Strangely enough, the yellow colour didn't feel odd but if it was pink, the perception would have been more weird.
Anyway, I loved the steamed bun because it was soft, firm with some chew, and inside it was filled with natrual sweet potato which was not too sweet.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Chilled strawberry puddings:

I liked the clear jelly on the top which made the strawberry pieces striking with a modern twist.
However it was a bit too sweet.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Sago dumplings filled with chestnut:

The exterior of these dumplings were made of sago pearls infused together which were quite chewy after it was steamed, inside there was smooth chestnut paste.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

To compliment the crabs, there was Chinese liquor which was mega strong, I could already feel its alcohol content when the glass was about 5cm from my mouth!
It was fun adding preserved plum to it which added salty and sour tones to the liquor.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

Vegetarian delights at Jack's Terrazza

Jack's Terrazza Ristorante
Thanks to this tasting or I would have not known about the Vegetarian menu.
I was surprised that they now offer a Vegetairan menu.
Anyway great for me because on some days I like to veg out!

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Pussy Foot:

Non-alcoholic with grenadine, orange, lemon and lime.
The sweetness was just right.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Platter:

To start off with, there was a non vegetarian platter to satisfy our hunger!
The calamari rings were the best because the coating was tasty with a hint of spicyness.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Pizza:

The pizza was really nice, it was topped with colourfully diced peppers which gave it a nice taste as well as presentation.
The peppers and tangy tomato puree were a great pairing on the thin and crispy pizza base.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Asparagus and mushroom risotto:

The risotto was a bit too creamy for my liking.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Linguine:

This was my favourite, it was full of strong flavours such as sundried tomatoes, olives, basil oil with the crunch of pinenuts.
A really healthy pasta but a bit too oily.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Baked aubergines:

The aubergines were one of my favourites dishes in the vegetarian menu because you can actually taste the real texture and taste of aubergines.
The way aubergines are done in Chinese cuisine are a waste, they end up mushy or just soaked up in oil!
The tomato sauce was nice and strong which complemented the aubergine well but after a few slices I started scraping away the sauce because it felt a bit too heavy.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
For vegetarians, I would definitely recommend the linguine and the baked aubergines.

Turkish delights! at Turkish Analya

Turkey Antalya (Mong Kok)

Thanks to 饞餵人 and Turkey Antalya restaurant for organizing this tasting.

Turkey Antalya is a private restaurant located in a commerical building right in the heart of Mong Kok.

Although the restaurant and kitchen is small, they were able to cater for a birthday party that day as well as our tasting.

Here was what we tried:
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Roasted Tender Chicken Stuffed with Red Rice in Mersin Style $236:



This was a whole roasted chicken stuffed with rice and herbs.
It is called red rice because of the herbs.
The chicken was tender with crispy skin and the rice was rich in herbs and spices but just a tad too salty in my opinion.
There was yoghurt and salad to complement the chicken as well.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Mektup Böreği:
Fried cheese and yoghurt (pre-order needed)
$185


I loved the cheese and yoghurt which was wrapped in crispy pastry.
The cheese is not that strong and similar to cottage cheese.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Mussels and Rice with Tomatoes Sauce - Midye Dolma (pre order needed)
$236

The rice was similar to the rice in the chicken dish above but it did not taste that strong which was a good balance with the mussels because the taste of that was light and there were pieces of aubergines in it too.
It would be great if the mussels could have been detached from the shell or placed above the rice.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Turkish Grilled Meatball 6oz and Lamb Sis kebab 6oz
$396

This meat was a bit heavy for me and it was slightly dry and hard.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Manti (Lamb/Beef)
$185

These were cute deep fried wontons, which were really similar to the Xiamen style mini wontons.
http://static3.orstatic.com/UserPhoto/photo/4/38L/00N12OD825952CECB25164l.jpg
The turkish style ones were tastier as they had tomato sauce and yoghurt dressing.
Once you start on them, you can't stop.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Buttered rice

Simple but delicious buttered rice!
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Rose Pudding

It had strong rose flavour, perfect for rose lovers but since I do not like rose I can't comment but I just felt that the sweetness could be toned down.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

Mexican buffet lunch at I-Caramba!

I Caramba! (Central)

I have always wanted to try the Mexican buffet at I Caramba! but it is only available during weekday lunches.

It costs $88 per person with refillable drinks such as lemon tea.

I went on a Monday and surprisingly the restaurant was almost full before 1pm.


The selection was quite good, they had my favourite refried beans, black beans, guacamole and sour cream.

The refried beans were a bit sweet and it tasted like baked beans, the black beans were a bit hard, and the guacamole was the best because it was light and tangy

Pumpkin and Spice Pie from TTPP

Tai Tai Pie Pies (Admiralty)

Previously tried the Pumpkin and Spice Pie at Blue Smoke for Thanksgiving but unfortunately it has packed up.

Then I got to try it again because Secret Ingredients stocked it.

At GREAT food hall, there is now a TTPP stall where I can get all my favourite pies directly from them.

The Pumpkin and Spice Pie is just the thing for Thanksgiving or halloween.

The two that I got were obviously for halloween because one had a cute bat and the other had a witch on a broomstick.

There were other designs as well.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Pumpkin and Spice Pie:


The pie looked more like a tart because there was no pie top to cover it, and the filling was delicious and buttery with a strong taste of cinnamon.
The sweetness was just right and after reheating it, the pie was even more delicious because the pumpkin aroma came out more.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★