Showing posts with label bbq. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bbq. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Sushi Cyu (鮨忠) and Carnival Japanese BBQ Restaurant @ All Seasons Place, Bangkok - ซูชิชู แอนด์ คาร์นิวัล @ ออลล์ซีซั่นส์เพลส กรุงเทพฯ

Cuisine: Japanese (sushi / yakiniku)
Price: THB2,000 per person without alcohol (what we paid for)
Visited: 23 September2014
Food: 7/10
Atmosphere: 6/10
Value for money: 7/10
Services: 6/10
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]

Sushi is something that has been in the high popularity in Thailand for quite a period of time. Recently, the trend of sushi omakase, meaning "leave it to the chef for the choice of sushi", has increase its footmarks rapidly for examples Sushi Kanda at Thonglor, Yashin by Tenyuu at Thonglor, Fillets at Portico, and Sushi Ichi at Erawan. Most of them, indeed, come at very high price tag that would cost around THB5,000 per person. I am, personally, not a fan of such "low value for money" fancy thing, apart from when visiting Japan.

Nevertheless, a good friend of mine had visited Sushi Cyu at All Seasons Place and it reminded me to give it a visit and review. I kind of recall that I previously had tried it before but that was many years back and it was not that impressive. However, the story of this visit was different and it was delightful to be more precise. Of course, I made a reservation a few days in advance. When I arrived at the sushi counter, there were around 5 customers during the meal (10 seats counter). Staffs were nice and polite throughout the course and sushi chefs were taking care well of their customers. By the way, there are 2 parts for this restaurant: one is sushi and the other side is Japanese BBQ.

Sushi Cyu (鮨忠)


Sushi Cyu and Carnival @ All Seasons Place, Bangkok

Japanese atmosphere

season for shells

Sanma or Pacific Saury (秋刀魚)

At the time of visit, it was September and September is the season of Sanma. In addition, 2014 is the year Sushi Cyu celebrates its 10th anniversary and they had sanma promotion. It was, hence, just why not. We went straight for both nigiri and sashimi: Sanma (Pacific Saury) - 秋刀魚 (7/10). In short, they were fatty and sweet, and pair pretty lovely with ponzu sauce.

While I usually opt for sushi, with rice to fulfil my appetite, Deadly Bunny would normally chooses to have sashimi. Once again she did miss to go for Omakase Sashimi (7/10). It comprised of 10 different kinds and they were pretty good. A particular attention should be paid to uni or sea urchin for the course. It was creamy, sweet, and fresh: pleasant quality indeed. If uni is not something you dislike, I would see no reason for ones not to like it. I wish the quality would be like this when I next visit.

Sanma Sashimi (THB120)

sanma dipped into ponzu

sanma nigiri (THB120)

Omakase Sashimi (THB1,300)

uni sashimi

For Omakase Nigiri (THB1,580), I would say that this was a rather good one. Knife skill and selection of sushi choice were good. Rice was at enjoyable temperature and texture. Sour taste from mixture of vinegar was balance, I would describe. It was milder than many top sushi places in Japan but at noticeable on palate. Below are what were served for the course in sequence.

Hirame (Flounder) - 平目 (7/10) : Mild and light with additional dimension of chewiness

Hirame (Flounder) - 平目

Aji (Horse Mackerel) - アジ (8/10) : Fatty, tender, and sweet. I just love it.

Aji (Horse Mackerel) - アジ

Koban Aji (Pompano) - 小判鯵 (6/10) : I am sure it was pompano but not sure whether the Japanese name was right. Anyway, I had tried this once a while back and absolutely love it but not so sure where. This time, it was still lovely, medium fatty, and savoury. However, I could still get a bit of fishy scent though.

Koban Aji (Pompano) - 小判鯵

Ikura (salmon roe) - いくら (7/10) : Darker in colour than usual. Sweet with mild natural saltiness. Like it.

Ikura (salmon roe) - いくら

Toro (fatty tuna) - とろ (7/10) : Ok, this was some good toro but not excellent. Flavour from fatty layers did not explode quite well as expected.

Toro (fatty tuna) - とろ

Uni (Sea Urchin) - 海胆 (8/10) : Once again, so good and in line with sashimi one.

Uni (Sea Urchin) - 海胆

Akami (red fillet of tuna) - 赤身 (6/10) : Marinated in mirin + shoyu, I suppose. Good flavour with sweetness balancing saltiness. But texture was too soft.

Akami (red fillet of tuna) - 赤身

Negi-toro Temaki (fatty tuna hand-roll) - ねぎとろ手巻き (7/10) : Delicious minced toro with chopped spring onion. Classic hand-roll definitely.

Negi-toro Temaki (fatty tuna hand-roll) - ねぎとろ手巻き

Anago (Sea Eel) - 穴子 (6/10) - Served with salt and a touch of lemon juice. Good flavour of salt but a little over grilled to my liking: i.e. lack of tenderness.

Anago (Sea Eel) - 穴子



Tamagoyaki (Japanese Omelette) - 卵焼き (7/10) : Good creamy tamagoyaki. Nice sweet palate but not overly sweet. A very good one in Thailand. But don't expect to see the level of those famous joints in Japan.

In short, I do like it and will sure return.

Tamagoyaki (Japanese Omelette) - 卵焼き

miso soup with clam

Sushi Cyu and Carnival Japanese BBQ Restaurant @ All Seasons Place, Bangkok - ซูชิชู แอนด์ คาร์นิวัล @ ออลล์ซีซั่นส์เพลส กรุงเทพฯ
Fl. 3, CRC Tower, All Seasons Place
87 Wireless Road
Lumphini, Pathum Wan
Bangkok 10330
Thailand

Open Hours: daily for lunch 11:30am - 02:00pm and for dinner 06:00pm - 10:30pm (05:30pm - 10:00pm for weekends)
Tel: +66 (0) 2251 1995
Web: http://www.sushicyu.com/

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

OX Seafood @ Pran Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan - โอเอ็ก ซีฟู๊ด @ ปราณบุรี จังหวัดประจวบคีรีขันธ์

Cuisine: Thai (seafood)
Price: THB400 per person without alcohol (what we paid for)
Visited: 1 March 2014
Food: 6/10
Atmosphere: 6/10
Value for money: 7/10
Services: 5/10
Scale: [ 1=poor ----- 5=average/standard ----- 10=outstanding/exceptional ]

During the last few years, Pran Buri has been our destination for a short vacation to get away from the busy Bangkok. We love Pran Buri in the way that it is quiet, private and there is not so much tourist like Hua Hin. Though there are not so many restaurants like Hua Hin, OX Seafood is a one that should be looked over.

OX Seafood is right by the sea so the view from OX Seafood can be spectacular on a fine day with blue sky. The place is also very large. Perhaps more than 100 guests can be easily placed in the restaurant. OX Seafood also provide parking lots of its customers which is right opposite the restaurant.

large sign, easily spotted

OX Seafoods @ Pran Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan

large opening space


The kind of food that is served here is of course those typical seafood. Ingredients are fresh. Though pricing might not be one of the cheapest but satisfaction wise is wonderful. We had grilled prawn - กุ้งเผา (6/10), stir-fried squid with salted egg - หมึกผัดไข่เค็ม (6/10), and Tom Yum Seabass - ต้มยำปลากะพง (7/10). At the price of THB900 per kg for grilled prawn, we say it is quite dear but acceptable. Fresh, firm, and sweet, those prawns were. The dipping seafood sauce also brought out the flavour of the prawn well. Tom yum seabass, on the other hand, was as well splendid. Tell the staff how spicy you want it to be and just enjoy the fresh seabass in it. We say this is a chillax place when hiding away from a busy city. But be warned that the place might get crowded during long public holiday in which you may like to avoid.

grilled prawn - กุ้งเผา (THB450)

grilled prawn with seafood sauce

stir-fried squid with salted egg - หมึกผัดไข่เค็ม (THB180)

Tom Yum Seabass - ต้มยำปลากะพง (THB150)

fresh seabass

OX Seafood @ Pran Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan - โอเอ็ก ซีฟู๊ด @ ปราณบุรี จังหวัดประจวบคีรีขันธ์
277/2 Pak Nam Pran
Pran Buri
Prachuap Khiri Khan 77220
Thailand

Open Hours: daily from 08:00am - 09:00pm
Tel: +66 (0) 32 631 230, +66 (0) 32 631 246
FB: https://www.facebook.com/oxseafood

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Summer Palace @ Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong

Cuisine: Chinese (Hong Kong / Cantonese)
Price: HKD675 per person without alcohol (what we paid for)
Visited: 27 September 2013
Food: 5/10
Atmosphere: 6/10
Value for money: 3/10
Services: 6/10

Here comes another Chinese fine dining with award of 2 Michelin Stars "Summer Palace @ Island Shangri-la, Hong Kong". First thing I have to say is disappointment. Not even sure if I had ordered wrong menu or something. Anyway, I just think such prestigious restaurant should perform so much better for all dishes.

Summer Palace is located on the 5th floor of Pacific Place./ Island Shangri-la. To come here, it is pretty easy, not to mention taxi of course. Pacific Place is connected directly to MTR Admiralty Station and travelling by tram can also be pretty convenient. The dining is kind of grand and elegant in the sense of Chinese tradition with red and gold theme. Again, we were not so impressed with the kind of service in fine Chinese restaurant. We suppose that with this price tag, the service should be clearly none or less fabulous with helpful and knowledgeable staffs.

Summer Palace @ Island Shangri-la

traditional and elegant entrance

big dining room

Anyway, let's get into food. For our starters, we had Baked King Prawn in Truffle Pesto (5/10) and Steamed Fresh Crab Claw with Winter Melon in Egg White and Mashed Yunnan Ham (7/10). Cooking skill and quality of ingredients are no doubt. Prawn was cooked to near perfection with soft but meaty texture whilst the aroma and the overall touch of crab claw was cool with fresh and firm crab meat. I like the cool touch of winter melon with egg white which can be really good for Summer dish. However, the taste of king prawn was a bit plain. The East meets West magic of king prawn dish did not quite work for us.

Baked King Prawn in Truffle Pesto (HKD180)

Steamed Fresh Crab Claw with Winter Melon in Egg White and Mashed Yunnan Ham (HKD200)

For the more serious and heavier dishes, first of the three was Deep-fried Crispy Chicken (7/10). The chicken was pretty tender, juicy, and delicious. Skin was really crisp which brought the wonderful touch apart from tender meat. Nevertheless, this dish can be a little oily in which I would recommend anyone to have this with plain rice rather than just pure chicken.

Next was Stewed Spare Ribs in a Clay Pot (5/10). Ok, this was nice but did not meet the expectation of Michelin Star awarded restaurant. It tasted like delicious home-cooking food really. Well, the pork was tender I have to admit. But still not spectacular. The flavour of this one was thick and rich. Again, plain rice is highly recommended to go with the dish.

Lastly, we ended our meal with Fried Rice with Minced Beef and Egg White in Preserved Shrimp Paste (3/10). Guess what, my fried-rice is perhaps similar to this one at Summer Palace. Come on, anyone would not expect soaky fried rice, wouldn't they. The overall taste was ok but the texture and mouth feel just ruined the whole dish.

Well, we would prabably not return to Summer Palace @ Island Shangri-la for the second time, unless we are really bored with other restaurants on Hong Kong island. (^^)

Deep-fried Crispy Chicken (HKD230 for half)

Stewed Spare Ribs in a Clay Pot (HKD175)

Fried Rice with Minced Beef and Egg White in Preserved Shrimp Paste (HKD180)

Summer Palace @ Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong
Level 5 Island Shangri-la Hong Kong
Pacific Place
Supreme Court Road
Central
Hong Kong

Open Hours: Daily from 11:30pm - 03:00pm for lunch and 06:30pm - 11:00pm for dinner

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Cuisine Cuisine @ IFC Mall, Hong Kong

Cuisine: Chinese (Hong Kong / Cantonese)
Price: HKD660 per person (what we paid for)
Visited: 26 September 2013
Food: 6/10
Atmosphere: 5/10
Value for money: 4/10
Services: 5/10

Awarded 1 Michelin Star Cantonese style Chinese restaurant, "Cuisine Cuisine", is located on the 3rd floor of the famous IFC Mall (another branch is at The Mira @ Tsim Sha Tsui). The location is pretty much convenient with Hong Kong MTR station right below the mall.

From outside, the restaurant looks pretty much elegant and in a rather modern style. However, the interior is not so impressed. It is rather crowded from my sense. Perhaps it is because tables are just put around the big hall without any divided section or partition. If privacy is needed, do ask for more private tables which are located near the entrance.

For the night, we had a bottle of Billecart Salmon Brut Rose to accompany us which was somewhat disappointed. It kind of showed the over-aging or unwell storage of the champagne. Anyway, the taste of champagne is not the big point, it just reflects how much care they put for their customers. Otherwise, the overall service here is at average standard.

Cuisine Cuisine @ IFC, Hong Kong

kind of elegant entrance

rather crowded open floor setting

Upon arrival, we were welcomed with a cup of herbal juice which tasted like Roselle drink in fact. To start our meal, Abalone Marinated in Chinese "Hua Diao" Wine (4/10) and Steamed Whole Tomato Stuffed with Assorted Fungi (7/10) were selected. The tomato and fungi was splendid. Tasty, sweet, and soft peeled whole tomato. Stuffed fungi was light but enhanced with flavour well. If you like fungi and tomato, do not hesitate and just go for it. However, the abalone was rather disappointed. If would not say it is a dish served in an awarded restaurant. Ok, it was not unacceptable, it was perhaps at par. The abalone itself had firm but soft texture with good natural taste. Nevertheless, the wine sauce was just overly alcoholic that was unbalance. I would not personally recommend this dish.

herbal juice

Abalone Marinated in Chinese "Hua Diao" Wine (HKD88)

Steamed Whole Tomato Stuffed with Assorted Fungi (HKD88)

As for more serious dishes, we decided to have roasted meat which is of course the well-known traditional Cantonese choice. Roasted Crispy Pork Belly and Sliced Suckling Pig (8/10) were delicious. Suckling pig was crisp to the max and full flavour. So tasty and not overly salty. Crispy pork belly was tender and crisp on the skin. Minimum fat layers. As a crispy pork belly lover, I really like it. The other dish was Roasted Crispy Goose (7/10). This goose dish also gave me a lot of pleasure. Skin was crisp. On the palate, the flavour was fabulously yummy. I just wish that the dish would come as boneless which would make it much easier to eat and a better "finale".

Well, Cuisine Cuisine at IFC Mall may not be the ultimate Cantonese restaurant but it offers pleasure and joy. I would not mind returning to this restaurant to try other dishes.

Roasted Crispy Pork Belly and Sliced Suckling Pig (HKD280)

pork belly along side suckling pig

Roasted Crispy Goose (HKD188)

roasted goose comes with traditional sweet dipping sauce

Cuisine Cuisine @ IFC Mall, Hong Kong
3101-3107, podium level 3, IFC Mall
Central
Hong Kong

Open Hours: Daily from 12:00pm - 02:30pm for lunch (10:30am - 03:00pm on Sunday) and 06:00pm - 10:30pm for dinner
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