Category Archives: Italian

The One With Vinny Lauria – Chef Of Linguini Fini Hong Kong

16 March, 2015 10:00 am | Leave a Comment |

After my last meal at restaurant, I was convinced that Linguini Fini serves up the best pasta in Soho. Apart from that, there are many reasons why I love Linguini Fini. Their nose-to-tail cooking philosophy. The no-waste method of running the restaurant. The wine honor system.

I also heard that their chicken wings are pretty kick ass as well, have you tried? I must do that some day.

So it is only a matter of time before I got personal with Chef Vinny Lauria, the mastermind behind Linguini Fini’s inventive and tasty menu.

Chef Vinny Lauria of Linguni Fini Hong Kong

Nose-to-tail eating concept is very ingrained in your restaurant, but to the novice, it can be quite a concept to take to. What would you tell them, and how best can they can experience the philosophy?

Our pappardelle nose to tail bolo is reflective of this philosophy (see a photo of this here). It is a classic bolo with veal pork and beef, but instead of just using the typical mince, we do it nose-to-tail using pigs head, veal loin and ox tail. The whole idea of nose to tail is to be more sustainable, using the whole animal instead of just the prime cuts.

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Posted in: Food & Dining, Italian | Tagged: , , , ,

The One With Cova Hong Kong – Disappointing Valentine’s Lunch

9 March, 2015 10:00 am | Leave a Comment |

On retrospect, I should have known better than to have walk into an available restaurant at peak hour on Valentine’s Day. We were out shopping for the day, and I had always wanted to dine at the posh looking Cova Restaurant at Pacific Place. The running theme was lobster, and I thought it would be an apt thing to splurge on for Valentine’s Day.

Oh, how wrong I was.

Cova Hong Kong

The lunch started off with some traditional and classic Italian antipasti from buffet table. Pretty standard stuff, and I particularly liked the cold squid and mozzarella cheese. However the buffet line was quite sad looking, with many of the platters of food nearing empty. Since it was lunch time, one would expect the buffet counter to be filled promptly, no?

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Posted in: Admiralty, Italian | Tagged: , , , ,

The One With Linguini Fini – Possibly The Best Place For Pasta in SOHO

20 February, 2015 8:00 am | Leave a Comment |

I wrote a while back about the new location for Linguini Fini, with its herb garden, eco-friendly business practices and wine honor system. The whole concept was pretty inviting, and so I found myself being at the new restaurant to try out some of the old favorites and new offerings on the menu.

Young Masters Ale

The dinner started off to an unexpected surprise. Just when you thought you have tried everything, come along a new beer to surprise you. The Young Master Ale is a local brew originally from Ap Lei Chau. The classic ale is light and hoppy, perfect for those who like their beer less heavy.

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Posted in: Central, Italian | Tagged: , , , , ,

The One With Michele Senigaglia – Chef of Spasso Hong Kong

13 February, 2015 10:09 am | Leave a Comment |

You might have noticed that I have been to Spasso Hong Kong quite a bit lately. First it was for their Sunday brunch, and then to try their Valentine’s Day menu. Both meals were rather stellar, so I thought why not get to know the man behind the food?

So I caught up with Chef Michele Senigaglia to find out the idea behind food at Spasso, his fiery passion for cooking, and his thoughts on Hong Kong (and its local food!).

Chef Michele of Spasso

What are the main essence of Italian cuisine at Spasso? How would you differentiate Spasso from others?

Spasso is an eatery. The food we serve is not fancy; what we want achieve is to deliver a dish that, with its aroma, the look and taste will give you the perception that you are eating in Italy. Many guests from Italy and overseas commented that sometime they eat better in Hong Kong that in Italy! This is a great compliment to us. We work very hard to select and import the best ingredients for our menu.

Guests noticed our passion and commitments to deliver a small piece of Italy to Hong Kong. We focus to use imported fresh ingredients served simply but with well executed preparations. The ambiance at Spasso is cozy and the service friendly and accommodating, making the dining experience even better.

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Posted in: Food & Dining, Italian | Tagged: , , , ,

The One With Spasso Hong Kong – Valentine’s Day Menu

27 January, 2015 10:00 am | Leave a Comment |

Tonight we went to Spasso Hong Kong for a tasting session of their upcoming Valentine’s Day menu, specially created by Chef Michelle with heavy emphasis on aphrodisiac ingredients for, you know, obvious reasons. Priced at HK$628 per person, the menu comprises of four dishes and we set out to try out the entire menu.

Fresh shucked oysters topped with Hendrick's gin and cucumber. The gin gives this a slightly bitter twist, and the chopped cucumber a crunchy texture to the tangy oyster. The oyster itself still have that light seawater aftertaste #valentines #spasso #lif

Fresh shucked oysters topped with Hendrick’s gin and cucumber. The gin gives this a slightly bitter twist, and the chopped cucumber, a crunchy texture to the tangy oysters. The oyster itself still have that light seawater aftertaste.

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Posted in: Italian, Tsim Sha Tsui | Tagged: , , , ,

The One With Linguini Fini – New Trends At New Location

19 January, 2015 10:13 am | Leave a Comment |

So Linguini Fini is back in town, relocated to Elgin Street in Soho, where Nico’s Spuntino used to be, and before that, Fat Angelo’s. Wow, now come to think of it, that spot is sure popular for Italian restaurants. I wonder why?

Linguini Fini_ copy

Anyway, I disgressed. Chef Vinny Lauria – one of the earliest advocates of western-style nose-to-tail dining in Hong Kong – is back with a splash with Linguini Fini, creating some new trends with the opening of their new location.

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Posted in: Central, Italian | Tagged: , , ,

The One With The Pasta Place – Hearty Family Dishes

29 July, 2014 12:44 pm | Leave a Comment |

It has been slightly more than two years since I moved out from Sheung Wan, and it is increasingly evident that the moment I move out of a place, restaurants and cafes will start to pop up all over my ex-neighbourhood, like mushrooms after a rainy season. While it certainly heartens me that so many hip places are opening in Sheung Wan, it maddens me somewhat that the trend did not happen while I was living there.

That was a long preamble.

I was trying to tell you about a new cafe in the neighbourhood which I visited earlier this year. A touch of New York City has arrived in the form of the Big Apple’s comfort food and authentic Italian dishes, all at very reasonable prices.

The Pasta Place

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Posted in: American, Italian, Sheung Wan

The One With Champagne Brunch At LUPA – A Rustic Elegance Experience

3 December, 2013 9:03 am | Leave a Comment |

(Note: This review was originally published in the autumn edition of Good Eating, the quarterly food magazine by South China Morning Post)

Champagne Brunch at LUPA Hong Kong

FARE
Italian

AMBIENCE
It’s hard to imagine this place would be packed with suits on a normal weekday night, but on the Sunday when we sampled their famous champagne brunch, LUPA was positively laid-back in a casual, rustic way. Still packing some understated elegance with their dark wooden furniture and an impressive terrace for alfresco dining, they have recently added a 3-piece live jazz band – a classy yet cosy touch brunch time.

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Posted in: Buffet, Central, Italian

The One With The Pride Of Krug

30 July, 2012 7:14 pm | Leave a Comment |

To say that the House of Krug are modest people will be an understatement.

But then again, they have every right to be proud of their bold heritage. I love champagne very much like any other person, but it wasn’t until a night of Krug tasting at Otto e Mezzo got my lips smacking in deep, new found appreciation for this liquid gold.

Krug Champagne Dinner at 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo

The champagnes of Krug is decidedly elitist; but in an elegant, tasteful way. The lineage is curated from some 250 plots of vine in France’s Champagne region (hence the name); a mere 0.1% of what is available.

Selection of the finest? Nose-up to the mediocre? If you had as much Krug as I did in one dinner, your guess will be as informed as mine.

Krug Champagne Dinner at 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo

My very first glass was a Krug Clos du Mesnil of the 1998 vintage. Conversations were rife with speculations of what makes this glass different. The others may taste wonderfully complex with full aroma, but a glass of Krug Clos du Mesnil possesses a singular intensity crafted to attack the senses. As I took a deep sip, I was pleasantly stunned on how sharp it played on my palate, rising above a sea of other tastes with a distinct freshness.

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Posted in: Central, Italian, Western

The One With Nico’s Spuntino Bar + Restaurant – New Kid On The Italian Block

12 July, 2012 6:36 pm | Leave a Comment |

It was a yet another sizzling summer night in Hong Kong. As I made my way up the never ending escalator in Central, it was hard to be excited about an Italian meal which was on the card for dinner. I mean, isn’t Italian all about dishes of which its name you can’t pronounce, of food too complicated to even describe, and of chefs too snobbish for their own good?

Nico's Spuntino Bar + Restaurant

So imagine my surprise when I stepped into Nico’s Spuntino Bar + Restaurant. It was located right where the old Fat Angelo’s was. Although it was only 7 p.m., the restaurant was filling up fast.

To my eyes, Nico’s was anything but pretentious. The first spuntino (which means “snack”) bar in town, even the name itself was a breathe of fresh air. Why give yourself complicated Italian name no one would remember nor understand? True, the menu itself was still a puzzle to read, but the best of food is not in its name but, of course, the food itself.

And on that philosophical note, here’s my top six pick from Nico’s.

Caciocavallo Silano in Carroza (HK$98)

Nico's Spuntino Bar + Restaurant

Crispy-fried, fresh cow’s milk cheese, on a bed of fried leeks. It was possibly my first time having fried cheese, and it was oh-so-good. I was led to believe that it’s possible the best way to eat cheese is by having it deep fried. There’s something almost hypnotic as the contrasting rich flavor of cheese and crispy texture of the batter seem to battle it out in your mouth.

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Posted in: Central, Italian