New Eats In Hong Kong

Two new faces on the dining scene to check up on if you are hungry in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon.

MICHAEL WHITE’S AL MOLO (Shop G63, GF Ocean Terminal, Harbour City, Kowloon, Tel: 27307900)

New York based Chef Michael White, nominated for ‘Best Chef in New York City 2011’ by the James Beard Awards for Excellence has opened AL MOLO, a New York style Italian restaurant with 160 seats, great views of the harbour and Executive Chef Jimmy Everett at the helm. The restaurant falls under Dining Concepts Group and is the latest in their ever expanding portfolio of eateries.

Headlining the menu at Al Molo are seasonal fish dishes like Sea Bass with artichokes, roasted peppers, riso nero and dates, Seaweed marinated King Prawns with puntarelle and potatoes. For meat lovers, there is also roasted Guinea Hen with celery root, asparagus and cippolini agrodoice, herb roasted Lamb Saddle, faro, cavolo nero and spring onion and Braised Veal Shank with bone marrow, saffrom risotto and sautéed spinach.

Pastas include homemade risotto including ricotta ravioli slowcooked with tomatoe and basil, aquarello risotto with razor clams, lardo and peperoncino and spaghetti with crab, sea urchin, tomato and basil. Pizzas are beautifully thin and include Salsiccia – pork sausage, brocolli rabe, acmorza, peperonicino, as well as Parmigiana which has egg plant, parmigiano reggiano, tomato. There are also French oysters and Black River caviar from Uruguay along with raw bluefin tuna, yellowtail and sweet prawn sashimi prepared New York-Italian style.

Must try deserts all at only HK$88 each are the Gianduja chocolate hazelnut tart, Tiramisu with passin fruit, Fruit Rossi with raspberry spumone ice cream, fresh plums and pistachio and Affogato vanilla bean gelato with espresso and amaro.

There are also over 40 Italian wines to choose from along with classic grappas and Italian liqueurs and Umbria dessert wines. The restaurant offers all day dining, a value for money Lunch Buffet on weekdays (Salads, Starters and Dessert at only HK$138. Add on Pasta or Pizza and the price is HK$178 or select a main course and the price is HK$228 per person) , bites or Intermezzo at Tea times from 3pm to 6pm, Dinner and a Weekend Brunch from 12 noon to 4pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.

AFTERNOON TEA WITH CYRIL DUPUIS AT THE INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL(18 Salisbury Road, Kowloon at tel: 2313 2323)

Afternoon tea just got tastier at the Intercontinental Hong Kong’s Lobby Lounge where a new French hottie, Executive Pastry Chef Cyril Dupuis has just made things sweeter with his new Contemporary Afternoon Tea Set.

Cyril brings a true French culinary pedigree and has worked for world famous French chef Alain Ducasse for fourteen years, overseeing all of the pastry operations of Ducasse’s Paris restaurants. He also spent three years working with acclaimed Chocolatier Pierre Hermé at “Pâtisserie Fauchon” in Paris. He uses seasonal fruit and quality ingredients like Vanilla Bourbon from Madagascar and Valrhona Chocolate to create an interesting mix of flavours.

Things to try in the Tea Set are the Vanilla Tart, Passion Fruit and Ginger Tartelette, Caramel Éclair, Strawberry Cheesecake and Chocolate and Orange Elysée alongside savoury items like the sandwiches made with French Ham with Tomato Pesto, Egg and Truffle Mayonnaise, Smoked Salmon and Salmon Tartare with Yuzu Cream and Curried Turkey with Mango. Afternoon Tea is served with a gourmet selection of 12 exotic international blends from Mariage Frères from France from 2.30pm to 6pm at HK$488 for 2 persons / HK$328 for 1 person on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays and HK$428 for 2 persons / HK$268 fro 1 person on Monday to Friday, except Public Holiday. If you are there just for a quick sweet or coffee rather than a full tea set, try his signature creation, the Lemon Sweet and Sour Tart, Vanilla Millefeuille, Caramel Milk Chocolate Cake, Marco Polo Tea Blanc Manger with Red Berries, Lychee and Pomelo.