Chefs cook up bites of spring as weather warms
French chefs around the world are celebrating the joie de vivre and the joy of spring on Tuesday, but they have no monopoly on the season. We’ve checked around China for some good eats, from nibbles to big plates to what may be the reddest cocktail we’ve ever seen.
1 Parmesan Waffle, The Temple Cafe, Chengdu
Applying the in-vogue “Farm to Table” concept into his new spring menu, chef Jerome Merlo aims to provide authentic French food in a relaxed atmosphere. This season, he presents French bistro using the organic vegetables and herbs from The Temple House hotel’s very own herb garden. Particularly entrancing: a waffle made of parmesan cheese and beer for a distinctive taste and texture. High-quality marinated mushrooms enrich this dish and give it a forest influence. Pecans add crunch, and the cream cheese ties everything together, he says. The assemblage is a modern bite that will especially please vegetarians and cheese lovers.
81 Bitieshi Street, Jinjiang district, Chengdu. 028-66369999.
2 Braised Morchella Mushroom and Winter Melon, Ming Court, Beijing
“Loving Earth Month”, part of the Langham hotel group’s charity efforts, will include a “Meatless Monday” menu at the hotel chain’s Beijing Capital airport location in support of WWF’s Earth Hour on March 25 through Earth Day on April 22. Head chef Chan Yuan Lung has prepared a healthy set menu, using fresh seasonal ingredients and healthy cooking styles, including this braised mushroom with winter melon.
Mondays, 2/F, Langham Place Beijing Capital Airport. 010-6450-4312.
3 Yellow Hours, Hong Kong
Chefs at 14 partnering restaurants are unleashing their creativity this year with seasonal nibbles to pair with bubbles. The “Yellow Hours” promotion with Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label is a fanciful happy hour, and the current pairing (through April 30) is popcorn. At tapas haven La Paloma there is Tomato Salad with White Anchovies and Popcorn Ice Cream served with a glass of champagne (HK$148, or $19), while Tazmania Ballroom offers a refined Crab Roe Salad Papadum with cheddar and caramel-flavored popcorn (HK$148) pairing. Other restaurants include Catalunya, Comptoir, Dining at Murasaki, Eiffel Bistro, F.A.B., Flying Pig Bistro, FoFo by El Willy, Metropolitain, Pastis, Saint Germain, Sky Lounge in the Sheraton hotel and Shore.
4 Sweet crepe “Red Skirt”, Cafe 100, Hong Kong
This may be the most eyecatching offering at Cafe 100, the brand-new high-altitude outlet launched by The RitzCarlton, Hong Kong and sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck. There is also a savory crepe dubbed “Heidiland” and waffles named “BananaSky” and “FullMoon”, but who can pass up a plate so, well, red. It pairs nicely with soft-serve ice cream made with fresh milk produced in Hokkaido, which has a rich fat content of 8 percent, which will be available in sakura (cherry) flavor in spring, and roasted sweet-potato flavor in winter.
100/F, International Commerce Centre, Kowloon district, Hong Kong. 852-26133888.
5 Exilir of Life, Ce La Vi, Hong Kong
This eye-popping cocktail is inspired by QUBE.O’s bright and distinct colorful style. It’s part of an art-themed menu that includes vibrant and fresh seasonal modern Asian dishes such as the new seafood poke, spinach salad and short-rib lettuce wraps.
25/F, California Tower, 32 D’Aguilar Street, Central district, Hong Kong. 852-37002300.
6 Soft-Shell Crab Bao, Main St. Deli, HK
An emoji burger menu sets the stage for a fun experience inthisNewYork-styledeli,and new items include the yummy-looking Soft-Shell Crab Bao, made of crispy soft-shell crab, fried quail egg, red cabbage, pickles and coriander stuffed in a soft bun. If that’s too tame for you, consider the suicide hot wings challenge: finish six of the Langham hotel deli’s hottest wings in five minutes and withstand five more minutes of afterburn and your wings are on the house — and your picture goes on the “Hall of Fame”.
8 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. 852-2375-1133.