八月居 House of Jasmine - (Hong Kong)
The theme for tonight's dinner is 五邑菜 - 想家, which are five sub-regional cities in South Western Canton province and which their dishes differ slightly from our typical Cantonese cuisine eaten in Hong Kong. The common language spoken in this region is 四邑話 (Sze Yap language), and the chefs overlooking this promotion have trained previously in that region and in addition what's very interesting about this dinner is their local vegetables shipped from the cities all the way to here - to replicate a real genuine taste of their produce and local flavours. Note: This meal was by invitation, but the menu prices are very affordable for a Michelin recommended restaurant.
The numerous vegetables,
Transported from the 5 regional cities.
恩平白肉 – Sliced Pork with Black Fungus
This had an even marbling, and comes with a vinegary dip. Somehow I expected this to come with some sort of Chili sauce, before I remember that is more Sichuan style! ~ 6/10
鹹鮮 廣海回味無窮 – Fried Salted Fish
These are cured in salt for 1 whole day first. It is quite salty and will work well with beers.
~ 7/10
一爐火天麻燉魽魚 – Herbal Catfish Soup $ 198 for 4-6 people
This is a must order. The soup is boiled with medicinal vegetables like 天麻、川芎、百芷及新會陳皮 and also with catfish, pork and chicken feet. The taste is definitely Chinese herbal and had a thick depth, seemed rather healthy. 10/10
陳皮火蒜蒸西江魽 – Roasted Garlic and Dried Fruit Peel on Steamed Catfish -
Friend said this could have been more fatter, but the texture was quite smooth albeit not very flavourful. I liked the soup above better. 6.9/10
台山焗蟹砵 – Taishan Baked Crab with Minced Pork and Eggs $ 168
This was very good, and had the right amount of herbs, black beans, egginess, and lots of crab meat and crab organ pieces. I was a bit surprised as not many restaurants get this dish or simlar style dishes made with fish innards right. This was textbook perfect, or more. ~ 10/10
Inside -
Still moist and had a right balance of everything. Addictive stuff.
馬岡豉油鵝 – Goose cooked in Magang Soy Sauce $ 138
The soy sauce was not overly salty but more like a thicker master stock and was really flavourful. The goose was a little bony but the pieces with meat were really tender and the poaching liquid has p! enetrate d the meat well. ~ 8/10
甜水蘿蔔黑豚骨 – Kurobuta Pork Ribs with Turnip $ 68
The pork ribs are eaten with salt, as below, and had a good kurobuta pork sweetness. The turnips were really sweet, albeit slightly too crunchy in this batch. ~ 7/10
Kurobuta Pork Ribs eaten with Salt
清炒鶴山共和葛 – Fried Arrowroots with Beancurd Sheet $ 78
The arrowroots are less starchier than the usual type and if you like root vegetables, this is the dish for you. The beancurd sheet under must be eaten together with the arrowroot as that contrast of textures and the flavours make this dish work. ~ 7/10
台山菜果飯 - Taishan Vegetables and Cured Meat Rice $ 128
This seemed to be everyone's favourite, as it had pieces of turnip and kohlrabi and also minced cured meat inside. It was a good combination and I'm starting to find that quite a few places in China like putting chunks of veggies into their rice.
開平鹹雞籠 - Fried Kaiping Dumplings $ 28 for 3 pieces
These are very similar to a Canton dim sum, and these had a sticky rice coating with chicken and vegetable pieces inside. Done very nicely. Yummy. ~ 8/10
麻薯香蔥包 - Mochi Bread with Spring Onion $ 28 for 3 pieces
This is one of those courses which is half way between sweet and savoury, and this was really aromatic and addictive. We joked that these are more of a bakery item and these are even better than the ones sold in Japan! Very good bread and with that unique aroma. ~ 10/10
紫玉淮山甜湯圓 - Wild Purple Yam with Dumplings Soup
This looked pretty with the colours. Probably a little too sweet and the dumplings were undercooked a bit. But overall appreciate how they shipped these purple yams all the way to here to make the desserts.
The Chefs Explaining the Food -
This promotion will last from now until 30th of June 2012.
If you want to try it, it is available at their Jasmine brand of restaurants and also some Maxim's restaurants. More details can be found here : Image . House of Jasmine outlet is probably one of the best restaurants however and it has a Michelin Guide Recommendation.
Price: Dishes from around $ 68 to $ 168 + 10%
Ease of Access: 3/5 (Inside Harbour City, largest shopping mall in HK)
Opening Hours -
Mon to Sat: 11:00-16:30 , 18:00-23:00
Sun: 10:00-16:30, 18:00-23:00
Address: 尖沙咀廣東道17號海港城海洋中心4樓401號舖
Shop 401, 4/F, Harbour City, 17 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Ts! ui, Ho ng Kong.
Ph: 2992 0232
Read More @ Source Conan Delivers Chinese Food in NYC
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