Hong Kong Eats: Gough 40

If you think my past two food posts about Hong Kong Eats were good, then prepare to get your mind blown with this one.  Yes, I saved the best for last!

Gough 70, tucked in the quiet part of Central, is not actually part of my food itinerary.  It just so happens that Mom's good friend Auntie EL and her husband Uncle PL knew of it, loved it, and wanted to share this gem of a restaurant with  us.  I can only be too happy when you tell me we're eating steak.  Yup, this girl loves her meat!

The outside of Gough 70

I loved how the place, with their outside seating and all, reminds me the nice, quaint restaurants in Paris.  

Garlic Bread

First up, was the garlic bread.  Auntie EL was telling us how delicious it was, and from the moment it gave me that cruuuuch sound, I knew she was right.

Oysters

Sadly, raw oysters aren't my thing.  But judging from the slurps of everyone else in the table and the words "fresh" and "delicious" coming from them, I'd say they loved it.

Seared Scallops with Lemon Coriander Vinaigrette Salad

Being the vegetable-hater that I am, I ate the salad then saved the scallops for last.  The salad did nothing for me, but the scallops?  Oh.  Dear.  Possibly one of the best scallops I've had!

Blue Dungeness Crab Pasta

The Boston lobster linguine in Cafe Landmark might be the pasta love of my life, but this one comes at a close second.  So rich and so flavorful!

Panfried Fish 

The fish was cooked perfectly; it was very very moist and tender, with just the right amount of saltiness to it.

And of course, the highlight of the night:

Steak (raw)

Steak (cooked)

...and more steak!

Drooling yet?  I know I am.  How I wish I could transport myself back to the night we had these and savor that moment over and over again.  This piece of steak was huge.  Might not look much from the photos, but I think it's close to 2 kilos.  And did you notice how the insides are just the right pink without all the blood?  Perfection.  Gough 70 really know their steaks.  I don't really know how, but the steak was really, really tender, yet it wasn't oily at all!  

Sides

Apple Pie

Uncle PL loved the apple pie in Gough 70.  I got to take a forkful of it, and it's not bad.  I guess the steak somehow overshadowed everything else.

Molten Chocolate Cake

I was stuffed to the brim by the time the meal was over, but the server mentioned molten cake and I just could not pass it up!  So here it is.  'Twas good, but I've had even better ones.

So the verdict?  Do I even need to say it?  Auntie EL and Uncle PL are foodies themselves, and when they say something is good, then you bet it's good.  Everyone had a great time that night, even Dad who is not a huge fan of anything else but Chinese cuisine.  LOL.  5 out of 5 stars!  Thank you Auntie EL and Uncle PL!

Gough 40 is at G/F, 40 Gough Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

Hong Kong Eats: Cafe Landmark

During a late night group chat while I was in Hong Kong, I mentioned to two of my friends that I was running out of new places to try in Hong Kong.  Sure, there are about a billion restaurants out there, but I don't want to risk trying something that doesn't come highly recommended.  After all, a few days is all I've got and some meals were already blocked off by my dad's Chinese food cravings!  My friend SL then suggested that I try Cafe Landmark.  They have pretty good lobster pasta, she said.  And that was all it took for me to march to Cafe Landmark and try it for myself.

View from Cafe Landmark

Check out the view!  If you love people watching, then it's a must that you get the tables on the sides.  It gives an amazing view of the entire Landmark Mall.

Complimentary Bread

I don't think I've enjoyed complimentary bread this good in a long, long time.  Cafe Landmark serves three kinds of complimentary bread.  One's fruity, one's herb-y and the other one... Shoot I actually forgot.  (sorry!) 

Boston Lobster Linguine

Grilled half lobster and lobster cream sauce

I actually arrived during tea time.  They had a number of yummy sounding dishes on their tea time menu, but since I went there for the lobster pasta and the lobster pasta only, I went ahead and ordered it.  Good thing their lunch and dinner menu is available all day long.

A closer view of the lobster pasta

I don't think the photo does enough justice as to how good the lobster pasta actually is...

The verdict?  My friend SL is absolutely right!  The lobster pasta is really delicious!  The lobster was succulent, and the sauce was creamy without going over-the-top creamy.  Crazy good.  Shame I wasn't able to order more dishes since I was all alone, but I'm definitely going back for more on my next trip to Hong Kong!  5 out of 5 stars!

Cafe Landmark is at 107-108, 1/F, Landmark Atrium, 16 Des Voeux Road, Central, Hong Kong

Hong Kong Eats: la vache!

la vache!  The mere mention of the name already sounds so posh.  And what made it more intriguing was seeing two of my friends' drool-worthy posts on two separate occasions.  So I made it a point to schedule a la vache! visit on my trip to Hong Kong this time.  Alone.  Yup, time for some me-time.  

Trekking (yes, trekking!) to la vache! is no easy task.  If not for my ever-so-reliable mobile data connection, I don't think I'll ever find this place.  It's not located in any of my usual familiar territory, so halfway through, a sweaty and grumpy 'ol me was already cursing my gluttonous self for venturing into the unknown.  But hey, life is nothing but an adventure, right?  Might as well make the most of it!   

la vache! Finally!

...and finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, this sign greeted me.

  

Menu

See the "menu" above?  This is actually the ONLY thing they serve.  I was hoping for more options but was mildly surprised when the server told me that they don't really have anything else.  Vegetarians, beware!

Got a bit bored while waiting for my food, so I did a bit of utensil photography.  LOL.

Bread

Nothing special.  Zzzzz....

Salad

If you must know, vegetables are my absolute enemy.  So it takes a really good salad for me to actually eat it.  And this, is definitely not one of them.

Steak!

Finally, the main entree.  Looks pretty good huh?

Steak and fries

More steak!!!

Would you take a look at that!  Oooh... take me back!!!

Warmer

Loved the fact that they served the steak on this plate complete with the warmer at the bottom to keep the steak hot.  Because the last thing you'd want is a cold steak.

Dessert

Nope, didn't even bother to finish the dessert.  It's not as good as it looks.

So what was my impression of la vache?  It was the bomb!  Forget everything else, the steak is everything you need.  Next to wagyu, this is the juiciest piece of steak I've ever tasted.  Sooooo good!  And for HK$258, I'd stay this is such a steal!  On my next trip, I'll make sure to bring the whole clan here.  LOL.  5 out of 5 stars! (at least, for the steak)

la vache! is at 48 Peel Street, Central, Hong Kong

JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong

Yup, another trip to Hong Kong!  Two weeks ago, on a spontaneous trip to Hong Kong with the parents, I had the opportunity to stay at the JW Marriott Hotel.  I'm actually no stranger to this hotel, since we've stayed here quite often when I was younger.  It's been quite a while since I've been back there, so when I heard that my parents were planning on staying here, I pleaded to join them on their trip.  LOL.  Why all the fuss?  First things first, JW Marriott Hotel in Hong Kong happens to be just above the Pacific Place and Queensway Plaza shopping mall.  And just below these malls is the MTR Station.  That means everything is accessible by just going downstairs!  Second reason?  The rooms are huge!  We're talking two queen size beds AND you still get room to move around.  And third:  Who on earth would pass up a chance to stay at a 5-star hotel?  Right?  'Nuff said! 

First glance from the door

Two Queen Sized Beds.  One is all mine!

Working area with a view

Closet

Another angle of the closet

Bedside table

Bathroom

Another view of the bathroom

Sooooo...  NOW you know why I love this hotel.  From the rooms to the service, everything is definitely 5-star!  They even provide fresh fruits every single day!  JW Marriott will always be a favorite place to stay in when in Hong Kong.  Now if I could only solve the solution on where to get unlimited funds...  LOL!  5 out of 5 stars!

JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong is at the Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong

Hong Kong Eats: Mott 32

...and I saved the best for last.  Our very first meal in Hong Kong for this trip ended up to be the very best.  And instead of blabbing endlessly, I will just let the pictures do the talking.  Look on and get ready for some food porn!

Australian Wagyu Beef Puff

Innards of the Australian Wagyu Beef Puff

Kurobota Pork, Soft Quail Egg, Black Truffle Siu Mai

Look at the whole quail egg inside the siu mai!

Signature Crispy Sugar Coated BBQ Spanish Teruel Pork Bun

Innards of the BBQ Pork Bun

Kurobota Pork, Crab and Caviar Shanghainese Soup Dumplings

Honey Glazed BBQ Spanish Teruel Pork Cheung Fun

Sliced Garoupa, Black Truffle Cheung Fun

Wok Fried Kale, Dried Shrimp, Minced Pork, Shrimp Paste

Seafood Crispy Noodle

Suckling Pig

Casserole of Baby Napa Cabbage, Pork Belly, Garlic

Barbecue Prime Iberico Pork with Yellow Mountain Honey

It usually takes a lot for a restaurant to satisfy the discerning tastes of everyone in our family, but Mott 32 managed to do just that.  And not just satisfy, we were blown away!  Every single dish served that meal was oh so delicious!  And among all the dishes, two were standouts:  First, the quail egg with truffle siu mai.  Who would've thought that you CAN put an entire soft-boiled quail egg inside a siu mai, and that the truffle would compliment it so well?  Heaven.

Second is the BBQ Prime Iberico Pork with Honey.  OH. MY. GOSH.  Have you seen the marbling on the last photo?!  That must have been the BEST piece of pork that any one of us has ever tasted.  The meat was so tender and tasty, it was literally like eating marshmallows.  No exaggerations there.  Even my mom, who claims she never really did like char siu pork, says that she still dreams of this dish a few weeks after.  If you could only get one dish from Mott 32, then this is it.  Must.  Not.  Miss.  I will definitely be back the next time, and the next, and the next.  5 out of 5 stars!

Mott 32 is at Standard Chartered Building, 4-4a Des Voeux Road, Central, Hong Kong.