The China House @ Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

Cuisine: Chinese

Map: The China House @ Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

Price: THB900 per person without alcohol (what we paid for)

Visited: 21 September 2013

Food: 7/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Value for money: 7/10

Services: 7/10

Mentioning the prestigious Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, the very first things we always think of are quality and service. Indeed, The China House is one fine Chinese food destination for Bangkokian. The restaurant itself does not locate in the main building like Le Normandie or Ciao but it is located at the same wing as shopping plaza and parking tower: a two storey colonial building with dark and low light atmosphere representing lavishing feel. The dark wooden furnitures are elegant. The place is rather spacious and there are private rooms which are available upon request. As for service wise, it was good but we feel that some other restaurants of Mandarin Oriental Bangkok offer better and more friendly services.

China House @ Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

China House from outside

relax and contemporary interior

During lunch time, The China House serves dim sum everyday and it does also come in buffet choice which costs around THB900 per head. Again, it was dim sum and dim sum dishes are sort of similar everywhere. Please allow us not to go into detail of each one of them. Below is the list of what we had tasted.

Szechwan hot and sour shredded chicken soup - ซุปเสฉวนไก่ (6/10)
sweet corn crab meat and asparagus soup with shredded fish maw - ซุปข้าวโพดเนื้อปู (4/10)
deep-fried shrimps and mango waffle fritters - มะม่วงทอดไส้กุ้ง (5/10)
steamed scallop dumplings with green pea shoots - ฮะเก๋าหอยเชลล์ (6/10)
steamed salmon dumpling with red tobiko fish roe - ขนมจีบปลาแซลมอน (6/10)
spiced lotus root, water chestnut and kale crystal dumplings - ฮะเก๋ารากบัว (6/10)
shrimp and pork "Siew Mai" dumplings flavoured with X.O. sauce - ขนมจีบเอ็กซ์โอซอส (8/10)
"Shanghai" style juicy pork dumpling served with red vinegar - ซาลาเปาเซียงไฮ้ (9/10)
freshly made "Cha Siew" rice rolls with coriander - ก๋วยเตี๋ยวหลอดหมูแดง (6/10)

steamed buns filled with fragant coconut and egg cream custard - ซาลาเปาไส้ครีมมะพร้าว (6/10)
"Yang Zhou" style fried rice with barbeque pork and shrimps - ข้าวผัดหมูแดงและกุ้ง (9/10)
stir-fried egg noodles with seafood and soy sauce - บะหมี่ผัดซีฟู้ด (6/10)
mango and dragon fruit pudding - พุดดิ้งมะม่วง (8/10)

Out of these dishes, ones that really impressed us were "Shanghai" Style Dumpling and "Yang Zhou" Style Fried Rice. The dumpling was filled with delicious pork and juicy: typical dish that can be found in many places but well made here. As for fried rice, the good ones come in whole grain rice, not soaky, and delicious just on its own. This fried rice has it all. It was really enjoyable. I did not expect much with fried rice but it turned to be the one I really like. Else, Siew Mai was the most delightful among steamed choices here and mango pudding was pleasant. I am not normally a big fan of mango pudding but they made it savoury here that I could not resist.

Well, at the price around THB900 - 1,000 for buffet dim sum which is similar to other Chinese restaurants in fine hotels in Bangkok, The China House is sure one of the good choice for our return trip.

Szechwan hot and sour shredded chicken soup

sweet corn crab meat and asparagus soup with shredded fish maw

close up on sweet corn soup

deep-fried shrimps and mango waffle fritters (THB160)

steamed scallop dumplings with green pea shoots (THB150)

steamed salmon dumpling with red tobiko fish roe (THB220)

spiced lotus root, water chestnut and kale crystal dumplings (THB150)

shrimp and pork "Siew Mai" dumplings flavoured with X.O. sauce (THB180)

dipping Siew Mai into soy sauce

"Shanghai" style juicy pork dumpling served with red vinegar (THB100)

vinegared Shanghai Xiao Long Bao

freshly made "Cha Siew" rice rolls with coriander (THB200)

steamed buns filled with fragant coconut and egg cream custard (THB220)

fully filled bun with custard

"Yang Zhou" style fried rice with barbeque pork and shrimps

stir-fried egg noodles with seafood and soy sauce

mango and dragon fruit pudding

petit fours

The China House @ Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

48 Oriental Avenue
Bang Rak
Bangkok 10500
Thailand

Open Hours: Tue - Sun 11:30am - 02:30pm for lunch and 06:00pm - 10:30pm for dinner

Tel: +66 (0) 2659 9000 ext 7650
Web: http://www.mandarinoriental.com/bangkok/fine-dining/the-china-house/

Allegrini La Poja 2004

Date of Tasting: 6 September 2013

Wine Type: Red

Grape Varieties: 100% Corvina

Alcohol: 14.5%

Origin: Veneto, Italy

Appellation: IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica)

Expect to Pay: ~ THB2,500 - 4,000 (retail price in Thailand)

Web: http://website.allegrini.it/
Chubby Score: 90/100
Value for money: 4/10
Professional Rating: WA - 92/100, WS - 88/100, WE - 93/100, FS - 94/100, CT - 91/100

Appearance: dark and dense red

Aroma: herbal and fruity nose

Palate: thick layers coated with sweet and dark red fruits and plum, big body but refined tannins, somewhat oaky, expansive acidity, sexy but need time for this sleeper to wake up, mild sweetness only

During the week before, I had had the first bottle of La Poja and was not impressed at all. It was kind of acidity dominant. The week following I decided to try the second bottle and this time it was better. Seriously, corvina is definitely not my style of red wine. If you like fruit dominant old world style red wine with thick layers, here is an interesting bottle to try and it would last for another decade easily. I still keep one last bottle to see how this local Veronese red wine evolves. Perhaps I would see you again in the next few years.

Ton Chin Kan Ramen @ Sukhumvit 22, Bangkok

Cuisine: Japanese (ramen / noodle)

Map: Ton Chin Kan Ramen @ Sukhumvit 22, Bangkok

Price: THB200 per person without alcohol (what we paid for)

Visited: 9 August 2013

Food: 7/10

Atmosphere: 5/10

Value for money: 9/10

Services: 5/10

It has been several years that I am a regular customer at this local brand ramen store called "Ton Chin Kan". Ton Chin Kan is, of course, a place that offers really delicious ramen at the level comparable to those famous Japanese chain such as Ramen Tei. This ramen store is famous for its delicate pork broth base ramen which offers rather dense texture and packed flavour. Though during the past years, the place was encountered with moving of location (4 times as of my knowledge but all in Sukhumvit 22 and 24 areas) from really tiny store to large format and now a more practical size, it still survives the crisis. It has even expanded the second store in Soi Aree which I will review some other time.

The place itself is not large but it does give somewhat comfortable feeling for me. Simple as in typical ramen stores. The open kitchen is right in the middle of the floor. You can watch chefs perform while waiting for your orders.

Ton Chin Kan @ Sukhumvit 22

small but comfortable

can I have all these so tender pork (~.~)

Many dishes of Ton Chin Kan are splendid. But there is one exceptional that I personally like so much that I have to order every single time: Kara Negi Chashu - หมูชาชูต้มกับซอสโชยุและต้นหอมปรุงรส (8/10). It is basically tender pieces of pork belly slice, the same as in ramen, that are seasoned with chopped spring onion and herbs. Fantastic, I have to say. It looks really simple but it tastes just so yummy. However, the taste can be strong for some people though. Highly recommend!!!!!

For ramen, this time we had Shio Ramen - ราเมนซุปใสปรุงรสด้วยเกลือ (6/10) and Tonkotsu Ramen - ราเมนซุปกระดูกหมูข้นปรุงรสด้วยเกลือ (7/10).  Both types use salt as the key ingredient for flavouring. Nevertheless, Tonkotsu Ramen uses pork broth as the base soup to bring up denser texture and natural sweeter flavour of pork. I feel that Shio Ramen is more popular amongst oldies like my parents as it is more refreshing. Whilst, youngsters do tend to go for pork broth base ramen which is rather exciting and fuller on the palate.

Anyway, there are still many other dishes that are nice but we could not review this time. We sure would do next review of Ton Chin Kan at Soi Aree branch to compare. Definitely, we would show different dishes. Well, try it yourself, if you have a chance, to see whether you would agree with me.

Kara Negi Chashu (THB80)

Shio Ramen (THB160)

Tonkotsu Ramen (THB170)

one more closer look

Ton Chin Kan Ramen @ Sukhumvit 22, Bangkok

553 Soi Sukhumvit 22
Sukhumvit Road
Khlong Toey, Wattana
Bangkok 10110
Thailand

Open Hours: Tue - Sun 11:30am - 02:00pm for lunch and 05:00pm - 11:00pm for dinner

Tel: +66 (0) 81 160 7738, +66 (0) 81 687 7932
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Tonchinkan.Ramen

Chateau Troplong Mondot 2007

Date of Tasting: 10 October 2013

Wine Type: Red

Grape Varieties: 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc

Alcohol: 13.5%

Origin: Bordeaux, France

Appellation: St. Emilion, Premier Grand Cru Classe B

Expect to Pay: USD75 - 100

Web: http://www.chateau-troplong-mondot.com/
Chubby Score: 91/100
Value for money: 5/10
Professional Rating: WA - 93/100, WS - 90/100, CT - 91/100, DC - 17.7/20, JR - 17/20, ST - 91/100, WE - 89/100

Appearance: deep dark blue red

Aroma: spicy box, tobacco, smoke, earthy and floral

Palate: rather dry, raspberry, medium-full bodied style but smooth tannins, layers of dimension, low in acidity, elegance and long in fact, kind of oaky

I consumed this bottle over 3 nights. Surprisingly, I tend to love the third night the most. The red wine was kindly of shut during the first two nights but showed pretty well with Merlot fruity character in term of both aroma and palate during the last night. It can be enjoyed fabulously at this stage and the next decade. However, I feel that a few hours of air breathing would do the job nicely. Cheers!!!!

Otto e Mezzo Bombana (8 1/2) @ Landmark Alexandra, Central, Hong Kong

Cuisine: Italian

Map: Otto e Mezzo Bombana (8 1/2) @ Landmark Alexandra, Central, Hong Kong

Price: HKD900 per person (what we paid for)

Visited: 27 September 2013

Food: 6/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Value for money: 2/10

Services: 8/10

Here is another 3-Michelin Stars Awarded restaurant in Hong Kong, "Otto e Mezzo Bombana" which is located at Landmark Alexandra building. At first glance, it did not look attractive nor elegant from my perspective. The interior is in modern look but cosy and elegant. Spaces between tables are kept rather wide but still can be overheard easily. The good thing is the ambient was not so tough but relax in fact. Probably it is located right in the heart of business centre of Hong Kong, the place was packed during lunch time which was the time of my visit. That is what probably why restaurant staff had told me a few times about keeping the table for me for 15 minutes only. Well, the place was crowded and it was rather noisy for a fine dining venue (I love quiet place though).

Otto e Mezzo Bombana at Landmark Alexandra, Hong Kong

entrance (I'd not know it's 3-Michelin Stars by looking)

modern theme decor

On the service wise, the lady staff who took care of my table was really friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. I was impressed with such care and recommendation. Nevertheless, given information was not really complete. For example I ordered set lunch which comprised of 2 courses at the price of HKD390 + 10% service charge (additional HKD80 for dessert) and was recommended that I could try 2 main courses in half portions instead in order to experience. It turned out to be a full portion of iberico pork and half portion of pasta which costed an extra HKD200. Anyway, it was partly my fault not to properly ask.

Coming back to recommend service, I was advised to have a glass of Tua Rita Tierre Rosso 2011 (90/100 pts), 80% Merlot and 20% Alicante, to go along with the course as it should match well with my order and I did not disappoint. It was dry and aromatic with bouquet of gummy vanilla. Red and purple in colour. Berries and spicy on the palate. Medium body and finish well with sweet and refine tannins. But complexity is questionable. This wine can be drunk young but could be kept a few more years for tannins to integrate. However, the price of HKD150 per glass (if I remember correctly T.T) was a rip off mark up, I suppose. The price on high street for this bottle should be around HKD200.

bread basket (delicious but not remarkable)

Tua Rita Tierre 2011

I chose to start the meal with Mushroom Soup (6/10) which was made of Chanterelle and Porcini. It was nice, it was warm, and it was aromatic. Kind of creamy just on its own. Mushroom pieces were the third dimension. However, on the palate it was too plain. Perhaps, it lacked a touch of sweetness. At least, it was good to go along with some bread.

Mushroom Soup: Chanterelle and Porcini

The pasta dish was the second to arrive: Homemade Tagliolini: Baby Cuttlefish "Scarpetta" and Lobster, Parsley and Natural Jus (6/10). At the price of HKD200 for a half portion of signature pasta, well, you gotta be kidding me. The overall structure was light and fragrance with seafood scent and pepper flake on the background. The jus was flavourful and gave sea breeze feeling. The tagliolini was a little too soft actually. Anyway, it was rather ridiculous for this signature dish. I could find some other better pasta dish elsewhere and surely at ways lower price.

Homemade Tagliolini: Baby Cuttlefish "Scarpetta" and Lobster, Parsley and Natural Jus

top angle of tagliolini

The last dish was Iberico Pork Rib: Braised with Fennel and Red Wine, Garden Salad and Whipped Potato (7/10). Of course, the famous Iberico pork was definitely delicious on its own, both flavour and texture. It was so tender that meat came apart from bone with hardly any pressure from knife. The sauce was taste and thick. Mashed potato was supremely smooth. This was such classically good dish. But it was not amazing. At this high end fine dining, I wish I could see better creation or perhaps I demand too much.

Iberico Pork Rib: Braised with Fennel and Red Wine, Garden Salad and Whipped Potato

All in all, speaking frankly I would not return to Otto e Mezzo Bombana. I do not find this restaurant interesting nor it could not excite my heart at all. Given the additional price tag, I was sure mad to visit it. If I have to go for a place with fine dining around Central area of Hong Kong again, I would pick the near by place;  L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon which offers much better experience as well as price tag.

Otto e Mezzo Bombana (8 1/2) @ Landmark Alexandra, Central, Hong Kong
Shop 202 Landmark Alexandra
18 Charter Road
Central
Hong Kong

Open Hours: Mon - Sat 12:00pm - 02:30pm for lunch and 06:30pm - 10:30pm for dinner

Tel: +852 (0) 2537 8859
Web: http://www.ottoemezzobombana.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/OttoeMezzoBOMBANA

Domaine Pavelot Savigny les Beaune 1er Cru La Dominode 2007

Date of Tasting: 4 October 2013

Wine Type: Red

Grape Varieties: 100% Pinot Noir

Alcohol: 13%

Origin: Burgundy, France

Appellation: Savigny les Beaune Premier Cru

Expect to Pay: ~ THB2,000 - 3,000 (retail price in Thailand)

Web: http://www.domainepavelot.com/
Chubby Score: 91/100
Value for money: 7/10
Professional Rating: BH - 92/100, CT - 89/100, JR - 17/20, ST - 91/100

Appearance: mid red and bright tone

Aroma: perfume of spices, plum. complex, earthy, and forest floor

Palate: medium bodied on the palate, integrated and silky tannins, so fine texture, complexity that goes on and on, deep and sexy raspberry sweet flavour that combines sour touch from acidity

Aromatic and juicy but masculine rather than elegant pinot noir from Burgundy. It is singing harmoniously but I assume that it needs some air before showing its full potential at this stage. As I was sipping, it kept getting better over time. At start I did not like it so much with acidity dominant but it revealed more complexity and got softer as time pass by. Suppose that it should show well from now. A decent bottle definitely.

One Harbour Road @ Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

Cuisine: Chinese (Cantonese / Dim Sum)

Map: One Harbour Road @ Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

Price: HKD300 per person (what we paid for)

Visited: 28 September 2013

Food: 8/10

Atmosphere: 9/10

Value for money: 9/10

Services: 7/10

As for our quick visit to Hong Kong for business/short-break between 26 - 28 September 2013, we indeed did not waste our chance in the search of decent restaurant to be added into the profile. We had come across this restaurant "One Harbour Road" at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong and thought that it might be a good idea to have dimsum with a good view of Victoria Harbour.

Yes indeed, it did not disappoint us at all. The restaurant itself is beautiful and elegant. The venue is in duplex format with decor that resemble high-end Western/Chinese mansion: the cosy ambient, the fountain, grand window with good view of the harbour, and the gorgeous fine china.

One Harbour Road @ Grand Hyatt Hong Kong

comprise of 2 spacious floors

large window with good view of harbour

large table available: perfect for family meal

For those who seek for private dining, a few large room format are also available upon request. Though, we were only there for lunch and of course dimsum to be more specific, the service quality of this restaurant is more towards higher end than many other fine Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong: staffs were attentive and provided good recommendation on the choice of dishes.

Menu range for dimsum here is not wide but comprises of quality selection. As for wine list, One Harbour Road provides a satisfactory range of selection (also 5 choices of red and white each for wine by glass), however, at really high marked-up. For example, I had a glass of Michele Chiarlo Superiore le Orme Barbera d'Asti 2011 (89pts) that costed HKD130, in which you can get the whole bottle at this price on high street.

private dining room

selection of wine by glass (red)

3 common dipping sauces

For the traditional dimsum range, we had Steamed Shrimp Dumplings with Bamboo Shoots or Ha Gow (8/10), Steamed Pork and Shrimp Dumplings with Crab Coral or Shu Mai (7/10), and Steamed Pork Dumplings "Shanghai" Style or Shanghai Xiao Long Bao (8/10).

These traditional dimsum may not be spectacular on the look but taste yummilicious. Ha Gow was filled with really large and sweet prawn and Shanghai Xiao Long Bao was juicy and tender. For Shu Mai, it was not fabulous but deliciously enjoyable.

Steamed Shrimp Dumplings with Bamboo Shoots (HKD68)

Steamed Pork and Shrimp Dumplings with Crab Coral (HKD58)

Steamed Pork Dumplings "Shanghai" Style (HKD56)

What I really love about dimsum is cheong fun with bbq pork and I did not miss my chance to taste. Rice Flour Rolls with Barbecued Pork or Cheong Fun BBQ Pork (7/10) was typical. The sauce came separately which was a good idea as some people may or may not like the dish to be soaked with sauce. If the rice flour was thinner, this could be a standard fabulous dish of One Harbour Road.

Lastly but the loveliest dish, Baked Honey Barbecued Pork Buns (9/10). The buns were so yummy that we had to double our order. It was kind of crisp and soft and honey bbq pork filled inside was drooling: mild sweetness, tender, and savoury. What a magic that combines dough and bbq pork together. This was probably one of the most delicious bbq pork bun we have had in Hong Kong.

The only point that let our meal down was there were only 2 of us and we could not try more dishes. Next time we will make sure there are more friends and family accompany us. (^[]^)

Rice Flour Rolls with Barbecued Pork (HKD75)

sauce came separately

Baked Honey Barbecued Pork Buns (HKD56)

good filling of yummy bbq pork

One Harbour Road @ Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Floor 7 and 8 Grand Hyatt Hong Kong
1 Harbour Road
Wan Chai
Hong Kong

Open Hours: 12:00pm - 02:30pm for lunch (from 11:30am on Sunday) and 06:30pm - 10:30pm for dinner daily

Tel: +852 (0) 2584 7722
Web: http://hongkong.grand.hyatt.com/en/hotel/dining/OneHarbourRoad.html
FB: https://www.facebook.com/grandhyatthongkong