Stepping into the restaurant where Harlan used to be, I felt like I have transported back in time, back to the 1950s to be exact. Not that I have experienced the 1950s myself but the environment, decor and the maid uniform reminded me of an American sitcom ... I Love Lucy. (yes I like to watch old American sitcoms!) One thing I like to mention is the background music mix which consisted of all sorta of music genre. One minute you hear 1920s Shanghai lounge music and the next would be smooth jazz followed by ... the theme sort of Austin Powers. It was quite confusing so I asked J which handles the PR for Bettys. Apparently, the selection of music was done by Alan Yau himself and the volume of the background was decided by Alan as well, no one is allowed to stop or even change the volume of the music. Only a few know the location of the controls and have access to it. That I call STYLE! (Like to take this opportunity to extend my thanks to J for this wonderful lunch invitation)
We started off with this Compressed Watermelon Salad prepared using the sous vide method. The texture of the watermelon has been firmed from the process and it was kind of fun eating watermelon using knife and fork. Refreshing yet flavorful from the balsamic vinegar (slightly too strong though) and diced tomatoes.
Mackerel gravalax with duo potato salad with fried egg, another perfect summer dish. Thinly sliced mackerel with potatoes gave it a very nice combination of texture. If the option of fried egg can be a sunny side up then it would be even better because of the mixture of runny yolk.
The Blackened Scottish Salmon was cooked perfectly, pink in the center but nothing overly exciting in my opinion.
Taillevent meat pie is not a common item which one can find around town. Taillevent is the name of a restaurant in Paris founded by André Vrinat and it was opened in 1946 in tribute to Guillaume Tirel who have written the first cuisine book in French named Le Viandier. How this pie is in any relation to the restaurant I am not too sure, yet to confirm, but since the term Taillevent has been commonly used to capitalize on importance of Guillaume Tirel on French cuisine, it can simply mean French style pie? (please enlighten me for those who know ... )
It was basically a shortcrust pie with a mixture of meats (rabbit meat was one) and foie gras. Eat it while hot together the gravy. Do expect strong meat flavors but meat lovers would not consider that as a problem right? :) A bit more salad would be great with that amount meat.
Duck Fat Fries. How can I put it nicely? It was addictive, period! Enough said.
Out of the many desserts on the menu, I picked this Black Forest Gateau because the name reminded me of my childhood favorite cake which can be found in ... almost every bakery! (hello Maxim Bakery!) It just felt weird having such a familiar black forest cake at this sort of establishment. Spongy as it should be in terms of texture and mildly sweets. The big chocolate flakes were so thin that they melt with light touch of my fingers. Very chocolaty and fruity as well with the cherries in between layers.
So what do I think about the restaurant in general? The food was quite decent, many creative yet rare French recipes. Aside from the food aspect, I think Bettys is the beginning of another round of themed restaurant openings in town. When I say themed, I mean not just the decor and atmosphere but down to the menu as well as the whole dining experience. Many recent openings which claimed to be themed focused mainly on the decor or perhaps the offering of a few signature dishes but lacked in atmosphere, service and creativity. Bettys can perhaps become yet another benchmark for upcoming new establishments because the execution was proper and thoughts have been put into the menu, food and services in order to provide diners with not just a wonderful dining experience but a memorable one.
Likes:
- Duck Fat Fries - hard not to like them right?
- Taillevent meat pies - something hard to find in Hong Kong. Although strong, the combination of the meat flavors did not overpower the foie gras.
- Compressed Watermelon - not only for the fun factor but the refreshing aftertaste
Dislikes:
- Some tables can be tightly arranged and during peak hours can be quite noisy
- Compressed Watermelon - while refreshing, the balsamic vinegar can be quite overpowering
Avg Spending: (by invitation but should be around HKD300- 500 per person)
Bettys Kitschen
Shop 2075, Podium Level Two, International Finance Centre Mall,
8 Finance Street, Central
Tel: +852 2979 2100
http://www.bettys.com.hk/
檢視較大的地圖
Tweet
http://www.jasonbonvivant.com/2011/08/bettys-kitschen-hong-kong.html
29 comments:
Hi there, we left a gourmet invitation message before and now we'd like to invite you again:
http://www.eatmugho.com(《食乜好?》搵食網站)
Sorry for any inconvenience。
That photo of the burrata is gorgeous, I love seeing food in natural lighting
@Minh: I specifically requested a table with natural sunlight HAHA .. LOVE x 1000!
Great post. From what a learnt from Internet is that Taillevent pie, is the name of " parmesan pies" or in French "tourtes parmesiennes" made in Medieval times by Taillevent. (recipes in the Viandier). I am sure if I bring something new.....
If I was to go tomorrow to Besty kitchen I would definitely try thie pie!
@christine: Thanks for the info!! I tried to search online but with no luck in pin pointing the one most possible haha
I like your dessert choice. I also like something crsipy after dinner.
Swaraj 744
I highly appreciate your work here! Thank you so much!
Swaraj 744 Price
Such a wonderful article. I like it very much Thanks for it.
Tata 1109
All the dishes are very taste. I like your choice.
Bharatbenz 2823R Price
Hello all team i found this blog while searching for good content in serach for quality content. This blog is really very. Thanks for sharing with us such an informational content. Mahindra yuvo 575
Hello blogging team i found this blog more informative and inspiration. i strongly recommended this blog for share with your nearby plateforms. Thanks for sharing with us such an informational content. Mahindra tractor 575
Very nice post, I am really grateful to you for this post. It is beneficial for beginners to develop their knowledge. It is very gainful information. Thanks you so much.
Swaraj 735
Thank you sir, I keep learning new things from you and your post is very good. i will definitely share it.
Intra v50
Hi,
Thanks for sharing information Find Something That Keeps You Going:
Tata Ace Mileage Per Liter Diesel
I really liked visiting your web site and very good blog and information given to us, thank you
Kinetic 3 Wheeler.
I really enjoyed reading your blog. Keep sharing it for other interesting topics.
Tata Prima 2825
Thank you so much for sharing such good knowledge. I liked your post very much
Altigreen 3 wheeler
Hi, such a great blog. I really enjoyed reading your post. Your writing style is engaging and your ideas are well-articulated.
Mahindra Auto Rickshaw Price
Your bog post is well written and informative. I appriciate you sharing your knowledge.
Ashok Leyland Truck
Hi,This is Rakesh kumar, I'm from India. Your blog post is well written and informative .
tempo traveller price
Thanks for writing and making such an excellent blog. The information you have provided is really factual and significant for us. Keep up the great work.
Mahindra Maxx Pickup Price
Your blog contains lots of valuable data. I am happy that you have shared great info with us. I am grateful to you for sharing an article like this.
You can check the below link.
tata 1816
Truckbuses offer the perfect blend of capacity and durability, making them essential for long-haul transportation and efficient group travel
Mahindra truck price
We got to learn something new from your knowledge. All your posts are informative
Ashok Leyland truck
What a lovely article. Your blog's content is really beneficial to me; I appreciate you providing it.
Tata Bus
Thanks for sharing such an informative and thoughtfully written article! The clarity and depth you provided made it a truly enjoyable read. It’s refreshing to come across content that's both captivating and insightful. I’m excited to see more from you—keep up the great work!
Eicher Pro
Great article! I really enjoyed the perspectives you shared. It’s clear you put a lot of thought into this. Can’t wait to see what you write next! Mahindra Veero
Great post! Thanks for sharing such valuable information. Looking forward to more insights from you.
Home nursing services in Mangalore
Post a Comment