Celebrity Life

Never one to shy away from new openings, the dining scene in Hong Kong continued to thrive in 2019. We witnessed the launch of some very exciting new concepts as well as restaurants that travelled from overseas to join our dynamic city. From contemporary French cuisine and a luxury smokehouse and grill, to a modern approach to Japanese sushi and even a wine-focused eatery -- we had it all, and then some. But if you're wondering which ones came up top, then read on for our top eight restaurant openings of 2019.

1. Cornerstone

[gallery size="full" ids="182398,182382"]

Shane Osborn, the Australian chef behind one Michelin-starred Arcane and Netflix’s Final Table contestant, did it again with his second establishment Cornerstone. Occupying a smaller 24-seat space on Hollywood Road, the modern bistro feels more relaxed but is every bit as fantastic. Offering all-day dining, the menu is short, concise and filled with items that showcase the season's best produce, in true Australian style. Simple, but refined, and extremely satisfying, the food hits all the right notes and dishes are updated regularly. Signatures include a Salmon with herb cream cheese, homemade malt bread and cornichons, as well as a hearty mushroom Tagliatelle with optional white truffle (when the season is right).
Cornerstone, 49 Hollywood Road, Central

2. Henry

[gallery size="full" ids="182383,182384"]

When former Rhoda chef Nathan Green left the Ritz-Carlton, we all waited in anticipation to find out where he might turn up next. Thankfully, fans of his work will be pleased to know he did not go far. For he is now the Chef de Cuisine of the American grill, smokehouse and butcher concept Henry. Located in yet another opening of the year, Rosewood Hong Kong, Henry offers a menu inspired by the flavours and ingredients of America’s southern states. From premium cuts and signature meats such as the 44 Farms Texas whisky and ash-aged beef, T-bone and porterhouse, to dishes including a Butcher’s shop terrine, Henry's burger and an indulgent Mac & cheese with devilled lobster.

Henry, Level Five, Rosewood Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; +852 3891 8732

3. L'Envol

[gallery size="full" ids="182385,182386"]

Hong Kong has many French fine dining options to choose from, but when the restaurant is led by seasoned chef Olivier Elzer, it's worth paying extra attention to. Recently awarded its first Michelin star, L'Envol offers innovative French gastronomy with curated tasting menus. During our first visit, we enjoyed beautifully presented dishes that were executed with precision and always remained balanced in flavour. The menu changes seasonally, but is always excellent, and is offered in an equally impressive restaurant which comes complete with its own French cheese cave.

L'Envol, 3/F, The St. Regis Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Drive,  Wan Chai; +852 2138 6818

[inline_related_article article_id="148928"]

4. Louise

[gallery size="full" ids="182387,182388"]

It was only a matter of time that celebrated chef Julien Royer of Odette, Asia's Best Restaurant 2019, would spread his culinary wings to our shores and he did so with Louise earlier this year. The concept is inspired by the traditional French cuisine that Royer was brought up on, and is now led by Executive chef Franckelie Laloum. The menu showcases honest cooking with a modern twist using the best (and local where possible) ingredients. Highlight dishes include the sautéed Hong Kong frog legs with parsley and garlic chips, Angel hair pasta with Kristal caviar, and the roasted Hong Kong yellow chicken with Nigata rice en cocotte.

Louise, PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central; +852 2866 0300

[inline_related_article article_id="145462"]

5. Mono

[gallery size="full" ids="182389,182390"]

If you were to guess the meaning of this restaurant's name, you probably wouldn't have thought it was connected to Mono-ha, the 1960s Japanese art movement. But this contemporary French restaurant is indeed inspired by the same essentialist approach. Hence, offering a single ingredients-driven tasting menu, which changes with the seasons. Furthermore, Petrus alum chef Ricardo Chaneton who also came from Mirazur; the World's Best Restaurant 2019, uses his background and memories to add South American nuances to his cuisine. The result of which is stunning. Think Ocean crudo with perfectly cooked seafood brightened with leche de tigre and a Miéral pigeon dish served with a deep and flavoursome 26-ingredient mole.

Mono, 5/F, 18 On Lan Street, Central; +852 2200 7000

6. Roganic

[gallery size="full" ids="182391,182392"]

Another new Hong Kong restaurant to be awarded its first Michelin star is overseas import Roganic. Hailing from London, acclaimed chef Simon Rogan has brought with him a restaurant that offers contemporary British cooking with the same farm-to-table concept as its sister. Having visited both restaurants, we got to know Rogan's cuisine quite well and found that his focus was always on letting the flavours of the ingredients speak for themselves. It's apparent in his exceptionally executed menu with seasonal dishes such as the leek, turnip and yellow chicken or Seaweed custard with beef tendon and pike perch.

Roganic, Sino Plaza, UG/F 08, 255 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay; +852 2817 8383

[inline_related_article article_id="175911"]

7. Somm

[gallery size="full" ids="182393,182394"]

As the new Amber and Sushi Shikon marked its place in The Landmark Mandarin Oriental this year, so did French neo-bistro Somm. Offering an incredibly diverse selection of over 1,600 champagnes, wines and sakes, the restaurant also serves up some really fantastic dishes too. A concise and seasonal menu currently includes items such as freshly shucked Ebisu winter oysters or signature dishes such as Japanese Pork Belly with BBQ Sauce & Hakata Cabbage. All dishes can be thoughtfully paired with the sommelier's choice or guests can experiment themselves, making it the ideal restaurant for both wine newcomers and connoisseurs alike.

Somm, 7/F, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, 15 Queen's Road Central, Central; +852 2132 0055

8. The Araki

[gallery size="full" ids="182395,182396"]

One more restaurant coming in from the British isles is Mitsuhiro Araki's namesake The Araki, which opened recently in Tsim Sha Tsui's 1881 Heritage. Having previously been awarded three Michelin stars in both Tokyo and London, one wonders if the stars will follow. The concept remains the same in the Hong Kong outpost and offers Araki's renowned style of sushi which honours the origins of Edomae. It therefore makes use of local seafood such as fresh Hong Kong tiger prawns, mantis shrimp and clams. Paving the way for non-Japanese sushi masters. Expect more than the sushi you know, as that is certainly what we experienced here.

The Araki, Block, House 1881, G/F, Stable, 2A Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; +852 3988 0000

[inline_related_article article_id="179698"]

The post 8 of Our Favourite Hong Kong Restaurant Openings of 2019 appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is one of the world’s most exciting culinary capitals, where good food is more than abundant. In that light, we’ve put together a few of our tastiest tidbits and most memorable morsels that are worth tracking down to try.

Okinawa Corn at Amber

The new and revamped Amber caused quite the stir in the culinary world -- and for good reason. Gone are the heavy gluten and dairy products that are often associated with fine dining and in their place, a cleaner and more concentrated approach to flavours. One such example is the Okinawa corn, which is cold-pressed into a naturally sweet and creamy custard enriched with Taiyouran egg yolk. It’s then topped with layers of seawater foam, Schrencki caviar, and a thin corn tuile with the zest of the Japanese citrus sudachi. It’s rich and deep in flavour, but remains fresh with all the different elements and textures combining for one of the most sumptuous spoonfuls you’re likely to have ever had.

Amber, The Landmark, 15 Queen's Road Central, Central; +852 2132 0188

Roasted Hong Kong Yellow Chicken at Louise

Chef Julien Royer, of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants winner Odette, has officially opened his newest venture: French restaurant Louise. The traditional dishes are based on nostalgia and the type of home cooking that Royer himself was brought up on. Surprisingly, Hong Kong diners may also find a little nostalgia in one particular dish: the roasted Hong Kong yellow chicken with Niigata rice ‘en cocotte’. Not dissimilar to Cantonese-style poached chicken, this dish is elevated with tender pieces of local chicken that are roasted in the oven. It’s served with Japanese rice mixed with chicken fat, making for a perfectly glossy and fragrant accompaniment topped with crispy chicken skin, chives, spring onion and another indulgent option of black truffle shavings.

Louise, PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central; +852 2866 0300

Chicken Liver Mousse at Kinship

Another new restaurant hitting the streets of Hong Kong this month is one borne out of friendship -- or Kinship. The concept is created by chefs and good friends, Chris Grare (formerly of Lily & Bloom) and Arron Rhodes (who you may remember from Gough’s on Gough). Its laid-back casual setting makes for a good neighbourhood hangout and offers what has been described to us as “New World cuisine”. Here, the chicken liver mousse is a must-order from the menu. Inspired by Chef Chris’ childhood, the incredibly lush savoury pâté is served with sweet rehydrated raisin relish, grated horseradish and two large oat crackers made in house.

Kinship, 3/F LL Tower, 2 Shelley Street, Central; +852 2520 0899

Marinated Geoduck & Jade Flower at The Chinese Library

Showcasing incredible knife skills like no other, The Chinese Library’s new Dao Yi dishes are a sight for sore eyes. However, one dish that also excited our tastebuds was the marinated geoduck & jade flower. Based on the cold Sichuan dishes and flavours that we so love, this dish layers thin slices of marinated geoduck clam atop delicately carved celtuce dressed in sesame oil. It’s a refreshing appetiser dish with crisp textures throughout, making Hong Kong summer slightly more bearable again.

The Chinese Library,  Police Headquarters Block 01, Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road, Central; +852 2848 3088

Tacos at Taqueria Super Macho

The new Mexican restaurant by Black Sheep offers a range of undressed tacos in soft tortillas so that you can build-your-own with as many condiments, salsas and vegetables as you please. Unable to pick just one taco to make the list, we decided to choose three. First up is the fish al pastor, which uses Vietnamese sole instead of the traditional pork in achiote chilli, and is best paired with pineapple and crispy bacon. Next is the smoky chilli-spiced adobo marinated steak tenderloin, which is full of flavour with onions and cilantro too. We rounded things off with the crispy battered shrimp taco, which is packed with cabbage slaw with a squeeze of fresh lime -- it crunches with every bite.

Taqueria Super Macho, 33-35 Bridges Street, Central; +852 2333 0111

The post The Top 5 Dishes We Ate in June 2019 appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

In a city with endless new restaurant openings, this summer sees a surge in eateries of all kinds popping up around town: from casual concepts by well-established chefs like Shane Osborn of Arcane, to Michelin-starred chef Julien Royer’s first Hong Kong venture, to The Landmark Mandarin Oriental’s new sommelier-led casual neo-bistro. There’s no better time than the fun summer months to check out all the newcomers. Here are 13 new Hong Kong restaurants to add to your upcoming reservations list.

L'Envol

[caption id="attachment_148939" align="alignnone" width="1890"] Roasted Brittany John Dory cooked in stone pot, L'Envol.[/caption]

The St. Regis Hong Kong has been making quite the buzz since its opening. Adding to the hurrah is its new restaurant, L’Envol, by Chef Olivier Elzer. Everything about this place embodies French fine dining, from its contemporary salon interiors to the painstakingly detailed dishes, to the incredibly impressive cheese and wine room: a cave with over 25 different varieties of French cheese!

L'Envol, 3/F, The St. Regis Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Drive; Wan Chai; +852 2138 6818 [inline_related_article article_id="148928"]

Louise

[caption id="attachment_149296" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Angel hair with Kristal caviar, black truffle and kombucha, Louise.[/caption]

At the top of the list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants is Singapore's two-Michelin-starred Odette, so you can imagine our excitement when its chef, Julien Royer, decided to expand to this part of the world with Louise. Taking over Aberdeen Street Social at PMQ, the new restaurant serves a fresh take on traditional French cuisine in a casual setting.

Louise, PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central; +852 2866 0300  [inline_related_article article_id="145462"]

SOMM

[caption id="attachment_149212" align="alignnone" width="3543"] Bar seating area, SOMM.[/caption]

Backed by a passionate team of sommeliers led by the hotel’s wine director, John Chan, SOMM is proud to house Hong Kong's widest range of wine and sake by the glass (over 1,000 to be exact), making it a popular spot to pop in for a quality pour. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, SOMM’s European-style cuisine features predominately Japanese ingredients designed to pair with its bottles, reversing the order for a change to really focus on its drinks list.
SOMM, Landmark Mandarin Oriental, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central; +852 2132 0188

Castellana

[caption id="attachment_149201" align="alignnone" width="4993"] Lake fish soup, Castellana.[/caption]

If you don't spend much time in Causeway Bay, it's time to make trip for a change of scenery at Castellana. The Piedmontese fine-dining restaurant focuses on classic dishes and ingredients from Northern Italy, particularly outstanding wine and truffles. Truffles are served table side and guests are encouraged to shave as much as they wish on their dishes.

Castellana, 10/F, Cubus, 1 Hoi Ping Road, Causeway Bay; +852 3188 5028[inline_related_article article_id="148930"]

Cornerstone

[caption id="attachment_149200" align="alignnone" width="1333"] Tagliatelle with semolina, smoked sausage, mushrooms and peas, Cornerstone.[/caption]

Little brother to French fine diner Arcane, The Final Table chef Shane Osborn’s new restaurant takes a more relaxed and casual approach. Conveniently located on Hollywood Road, Cornerstone is an all-day dining spot serving elevated comfort food like smoked salmon on malt bread, Wagyu bavette and fresh homemade pastas.

Cornerstone, 49 Hollywood Road, Central

Kinship

[caption id="attachment_149207" align="alignnone" width="7078"] Smoked Faroe Islands salmon, Kinship.[/caption]

Celebrating the lasting bonds of family and friendship (hence the name of the restaurant), former executive chefs of Lily and Bloom, Chris Grare, and Gough’s on Gough, Arron Rhodes, join forces to create their first co-venture restaurant, Kinship. The farm-to-table concept focuses on sustainability, sourceing from local suppliers in Hong Kong as much as possible. 

Kinship, 3/F, 2 – 4 Shelley Street, Central; +852 2520 0899

The Leah

[caption id="attachment_149328" align="alignnone" width="6243"] Chicken and leek pie, The Leah.[/caption]

After his global tour with One Star House Party, British chef James Sharman returns to Hong Kong with new British restaurant The Leah. The style of food served here is based on the chef’s personal experiences more than his training or a single type of cuisine. He describes it as super hearty, unfussy, good British food, done right. Look out for simple classics like chicken and leek pie, or Scotch egg and solders as well as reimagined dishes of scallops, leeks and black pudding.

The Leah, 3/F, Lee Gardens Two, 28 Yun Ping Road, Causeway Bay; +852 2337 7651  [inline_related_article article_id="149326"]

Le Pain Quotidien

[caption id="attachment_149488" align="alignnone" width="5700"] Interiors of Le Pain Quotidien, Tsim Sha Tsui.[/caption]

The simple task of searching for a quality Western bakery in Hong Kong is more daunting than one would think. Good bread is hard to come by, but few and far between, there are a few notable spots to get a rustic loaf or a cheeky pastry. Happily, Le Pain Quotidien has just opened its fourth branch in Tsim Sha Tsui, adding to the existing branches in Wan Chai, Admiralty and Elements.

Le Pain Quotidien, Shop G3, Tsim Sha Tsui Centre, 66 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; +852 2352 4588

Nhau

[caption id="attachment_149350" align="alignnone" width="6720"] 40n fish sauce dry aged striploin, Nhau.[/caption]

Just a stone’s throw away from Man Mo Temple, Nhau is Chef Que Vinh Dang’s first Vietnamese concept -- a cumulation of heritage, culinary experience and passion for innovation. Don’t expect your everyday bowl of pho though, because at Nhau, they serve a modern take on Vietnamese flavours using French cooking techniques like the popular banh mi rice tacos and 40n fish sauce dry aged striploin.

Nhau, 12 Circular Pathway, Central; +852 3612 4568 [inline_related_article article_id="142750"]

Rajasthan Rifles

[caption id="attachment_149221" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Dinner spread, Rajasthan Rifles.[/caption]

Good news for residents of The Peak: Black Sheep Restaurants has opened its first establishment in the area. Under the culinary direction of Executive Chef Palahs Mitra of Michelin-starred New Punjab Club, Rajasthan Rifles is the place to find hearty Anglo-Indian fare such as soola salmon served on a sizzle plate, smoky plates of goat seekh kebab and classic comforts like butter chicken.

Rajasthan Rifles, G/F, The Peak Galleria, 118 Peak Road, The Peak; +852 2388 9974

Sip Song

[caption id="attachment_149211" align="alignnone" width="900"] Jungle curry clams, New Zealand Cloudy Bay clams, Thai wild ginger, green pepper corns, Sip Song.[/caption]

The Pulse strip is a nice place to cool off from the summer heat down by Repulse Bay Beach. And now with the opening of Sip Song -- Thai Eatery & Bar, weekenders can enjoy Southern Thai comforts from their coast at ours. Menu highlights include jungle curry clams, whole steamed mullet fish, hanger steak and banana roti pancake.

Sip Song, Shop 114 & 115, The Pulse, 28 Beach Road, Repulse Bay; +852 2328 8285

Tapa Room

[caption id="attachment_149489" align="alignnone" width="5400"] Barcelona-style grilled red prawns, Tapa Room.[/caption]

For some wholesome Spanish fare and a couple of cocktails, Tapa Room is a friendly neighbourhood joint that offers just that. Home cook turned chef, Kora Wong heads up the kitchen where she whips up classics like tortilla de patata, Iberico ham croquets, foie gras bikinis, and a killer piri piri whole roasted chicken.

Tapa Room, Gloucester Hotel, 217 – 218 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai; +852 2881 8877

The post 12 New Hong Kong Restaurants to Try This Summer appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

It’s official: The highly-anticipated French restaurant Louise is set to open its doors on 18 June. And if you didn’t already know, it involves a talent trifecta of Hong Kong’s JIA Group, the people behind popular dining spots such as Old Bailey and Duddell’s; French chef Julian Royer of two-Michelin-starred Odette, which took the top spot in this year’s Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants; and acclaimed architect and designer André Fu,who left his mark at The Upper House and, more recently, The St. Regis Hong Kong.

The new restaurant commandeers the former Aberdeen Street Social space at PMQ and will invite guests to dine in a colonial-style interior which houses a Tropical Greenhouse lounge and Ivory Boudoir dining room. Louise promises to offer a fresh take on traditional French cuisine, in which casual lunch and dinner menus include nostalgic Gallic recipes that Royer was brought up on.

So, as one of Asia’s top chefs gears up for his Hong Kong opening, we took the chance to chat with the man himself about being an award-winning chef and what he has in store for his new venture, which will begin taking email reservations on Saturday, 1 June.

Has winning the title of Asia’s Best Restaurant changed your daily life?

Not really. It has been humbling to be recognised alongside many chefs that I admire and respect. All the awards we receive, as a result of our efforts to deliver the simple, genuine pleasures of enjoying a meal, are deeply appreciated and an affirmation of our hard work. 

You also took your cuisine to the sky (with Air France) -- how was that?

It was a real honour collaborating with my home country’s national carrier. It was very enlightening and inspiring to challenge myself to create quality dishes despite the operational limitations of an airplane. But at the end of the day, we reverted to our core values of serving beautiful produce prepared with honest cooking techniques and I am so glad that the menu has been well-received so far.

And yes, it’s true that everything tastes different up in the air! We had to play with salt, sugar and acidity levels.

[caption id="attachment_145487" align="alignnone" width="2210"] Dishes such as grilled scallops, carrot mousseline and saffron nage is served on flights from Singapore to Paris | Image courtesy of Air France[/caption]

What’s the meaning behind the name Louise?  

It’s a seemingly simple French name that exudes regality and elegance, which perfectly encompasses our direction for the French bistronomy program in the space.

At Odette, your cuisine is described as “French in its DNA but influenced by the Singapore surroundings for produce and ingredients”. Will Louise be similar in that sense for Hong Kong?

We are always open to discovering and incorporating local produce. I’m very excited to see what Hong Kong has to offer. 

Any examples of dishes that we can look forward to at Louise? 

We will be serving traditional French cuisine, reimagined. For example, la truffade is a beautiful dish from my hometown, simply done with roasted potatoes, garlic and young Cantal cheese. And joue de bœuf braisée au vin rouge, or red wine braised beef cheek, with confit carrots and baby onions is another hearty dish.

Is there a particular dish you feel nostalgic about?

My mum’s yoghurt cake -- it will be on the menu [smiles].

Are there any foods you dislike?

I was not a huge fan of the stinky tofu in Taiwan when I tried it.

[caption id="attachment_145468" align="alignnone" width="3189"] The rosemary smoked organic egg with smoked potato syphon, chorizo iberico and buckwheat is served at Odette.[/caption]

Do you have any guilty pleasures?

Bread and cheese are my go-to comfort foods. 

What are your thoughts on fine dining?

I feel like fine dining’s come a long way: It’s no longer an extremely exclusive and stuffy experience. More and more people are into fine dining today. It’s less about that traditional opulence, and more about the connections that you make -- with your server whom you can enjoy conversation with, with your chef through the food that he or she has prepared. It even extends to the producers behind the ingredients, or the artisans behind the plateware. People are looking for sincerity and authenticity in their fine dining experiences now.

When did your love for food and cooking start?

Watching my grandmother cook and seeing the amount of joy derived from family coming together over a home-cooked meal.

Can you recall the last good restaurant you went to?

I had a truly awesome meal at VEA [Restaurant & Lounge] in Hong Kong recently. What [Chef] Vicky is doing is truly unique and exceptional.

[caption id="attachment_145466" align="alignnone" width="960"] Chef Royer working with his team at Odette in Singapore.[/caption]

You’ve accomplished a lot in a short amount of time. Do you put any pressure on yourself to keep pushing?

We’re incredibly grateful for all the success that the restaurant has enjoyed, and I couldn’t have done it without my team. While the awards and accolades are definitely encouraging, I still believe that at the end of the day, the success of the restaurant is judged by the indelible memories that we’ve created for our guests -- through sincere hospitality and honest cooking. That is what we continue to strive to achieve, each and every day.

How about family time? Are you able to balance it well with work?

I believe everyone who works in hospitality struggles with work-life balance because of the long hours, but I believe in spending quality time with my loved ones whenever I have the opportunity.

Do you cook at home?

Rarely as I’m not often home. But a good roast chicken with my wife and friends is always a good idea.

So Hong Kong is next, but is there anywhere else you have your eyes on yet?

We’re taking things one day at a time and being incredibly intentional with our expansion plans, so it’s too early to tell. 

Louise, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2866 0300

The post Celebrated Chef Julien Royer on New Restaurant Louise, Airplane Food and Stinky Tofu appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.