My two pennies
Head Chef Agustin Balbi was born in Argentina, but spent time exploring culinary techniques in Japan. One could easily tell the latter's influence by his focus on attentively adorned small plates, substantial use of raw fish and seafood delicacies as well as the combination of common South American and Japanese ingredients. The Argentinian character, however,… Continue reading Andō: Solid, but lacks wow factor (8.3)
Readers who know me probably know that I am not big on sushi. I often felt that the combination of fish and rice was not greater than its parts alone. I miss out on the minute details of either if I have to take them together in one bite. That, and the fact that I… Continue reading Sushi Mamoru: Still phenomenal (9.5)
I have had Xinrongji in Shanghai before the pandemic as a business treat, and then again in Hong Kong, but I was very pleased to visit it again with friends, where I could be forgiven for photographing during the meal's most eagerly anticipated moments. The food was wonderful and we all mindfully savored the meal… Continue reading Xinrongji: Well-deserved Michelin star (9.3)
Upon arrival at its ground floor entrance on Lockhart Road, there is an odd sense of awkwardness in this newly opened establishment in Wan Chai. The décor and bulky furniture all feel a tad clumsy for the limited space of the restaurant's main dining room that seems only to accommodate five 2- or 4-seater tables.… Continue reading Yongfu: Tasty Ningbo fare, Awkward experience (8.0)
Mamoru means to protect, and in this case, it is to uphold the art and tradition of sushi making. To me, it also seems to serve as a reminder to preserve the passion for the highest quality. It sounds like an easy thing to say, but serious diners will be able to discern whether that… Continue reading Sushi Mamoru: Phenomenal (9.5)
Our dinner at Bo Innovation was an aesthetic feast. And one with a theme that pays tribute to old Hong Kong. Each course was beautifully presented, carefully constructed, and endowed with its own meaning and story. More importantly, the food was portioned so that you would be able to try twenty different combinations of flavors… Continue reading Bo Innovation: An artsy experience paying tribute to Old Hong Kong (8.5)
We arrived promptly on Friday night and were the first to be seated in the center. It’s always a pleasure to be seated right in front of the action if one isn’t having a business meal or a catch-up session with a friend who will distract you from the food itself. The meal was a… Continue reading Tokami: Outstanding (9.5)
Whenever having omakase for dinner is a last-minute whim for us, I would need to try very hard to secure two spots because the Covid restriction on halving restaurant guests just makes seats at well-known sushiya so undersupplied. This evening was a Monday, and we thought we could pull it off, but we couldn't, and… Continue reading Sushi Sumi: Solid Off-the-beaten-track Option (7.9)
While I am known by friends and family to be the kind of person who sticks with the same dish at the same restaurant or at home about nine meals out of ten throughout childhood and university, I made a deliberate effort to be the exact opposite in 2015 and have stuck with that commitment… Continue reading Arcane: Lively flavors (9.0)
今日提前預訂的是十二月的菜單（師走の献立）。「師走」，日文 「しわす」（shiwasu），是十二月的別名（以前更是指農曆十二月）。十二月是一年最後的月份，快到過年之時，需要為節日的儀式忙碌地奔走，才有“師走”的別名... →
stickystories 