Sunday 10 November 2013

Hong Kong Trip - Birthday Celebration @ AVA Restaurant Slash Bar

Being my first proper meal in Hong Kong, I decided that it would be quite an experience to dine against the backdrop of the panoramic view of the city's skyline. As for choice of food, well since we are in Hong Kong, Cantonese cuisine has to be most authentic here! So it would be silly not to go for Cantonese. The other cuisine, my all-time favorite, has to be Western food. Going by that guideline, we short-listed a couple of restaurants -

1. Tin Lung Heen (Ritz-Carlton)
2. Grissini (Grand Hyatt)
3. AVA Restaurant Slash Bar (Hotel Panorama)

Though we called for reservations 3 weeks in advance, the window seats at Tin Lung Heen were already fully booked :( After looking at reviews & menus, we decided on AVA as prices seem reasonable & it was within walking distance from where we stayed. AVA is located on the 38th floor of Hotel Panorama by Rhombus in Tsim Sha Tsui. The fiancé requested for a seat with a good view when he placed the reservation. Hence we were pleased when the waitress showed us to a cosy corner seat, right behind the floor-to-ceiling window was the magnificent view of Victoria harbour!

As with all fine dining, portions are small but presentation is fantastic. 2 outstanding dishes worth mentioning are the Boston Lobster & their Signature Raspberry & Rose Ice-cream.

The Boston Lobster was served in a tear-drop shaped ice dome. The whole presentation of this dish was nothing short of WOW. The mango together with the juicy lobster meat was a delightful combination.

Their Signature Raspberry & Rose Ice-cream was a visual treat. First the chef rolls out his trolley, then right before your eyes, he will then put up his star performance. The chef expertly mixes the ingredients in a wooden bowl, before pouring liquid nitrogen. Immediately the liquid nitrogen boils off into gas, forming an impressive cloud of vapour around the chef's trolley, adding onto the mystery of what he is concocting. The ice cream slowly takes its solid form in the wooden tray.

Skillfully, the chef scoops the ice cream out & lays it in a shortbread tart crust. On the tray you can see a stalk of rose, where the chef will dip into liquid nitrogen, instantly the rose petals freezes off. The chef gently taps the petals & it shatters into tiny bits & pieces, serving as lovely garnish on the ice cream. This was my first time eating flowers & the raspberry together with rose petals turns out to be nothing short of amazing.

All in all, it was money well-spent & definitely an unforgettable birthday celebration :)

AVA Restaurant Slash Bar
8A Hart Avenue
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon, Hong Kong
For Reservations please contact us: + (852) 3550 0262

Links to other blog posts on my Hong Kong trip -
Hong Kong Trip - airfare & hotel 
Hong Kong Trip - Hong Kong Disneyland Park
Hong Kong Trip - Tim Ho Wan, IFC Mall









 

 
 

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