Wineshark Home Cooking - Pan-fried Chicken Steak with Japanese Yam and Radish 雞肉利休燒配山藥白蘿蔔泥

Ingredients (for 2):

• Chicken steak - 2 pieces
• Oil - 1 tbsp
• White sesame - dashes
• Cooking wine - 1 tbsp
• Mirin - 1 tbsp
• Soy sauce - 1 tbsp
• White sesame - 1 tbsp
• Japanese yam - 50g
• Radish - 3 tbsp
• Salt - 1 pinch

Procedures:

1.Marinate the chicken steak with cooking wine, mirin, soy sauce, and white sesame for 20 minutes.

2. Peel the Japanese yam and chop into small pieces.

3. Peel the radish and grate into meshes. Squeeze to remove the liquid.

4. Mix the Japanese yam and radish together. Season with a pinch of salt.

5. Heat the pan with oil, then turn to low heat and put the chicken steak in to pan-fry, skin side down.

6. Flip the chicken steak over and continue to pan-fry with the lid on.

7. Pour the remaining marinade in and continue to pan-fry until the chicken is well-cooked.

8. Cut the chicken steak into strips and sprinkle with white sesame. 

Wineshark HK Restaurant Review - Yue Kee 裕記大飯店

I have lived in Sham Tseng for over 20 years and has witnessed how the dining business in the neighbourhood has evolved. One thing that does not change is this place still being famous for roasted goose. Many people ask me which one I go most often, and without any doubt it is Yue Kee by far.

As a regular, apparently, we know the owner 華姐 well. But seeing how she spends time and interacting with new customers demonstrate her hospitality and care on services, as well as how much she pays attention to its food and quality. Today we come again, as I want to eat their signature roasted goose after returning from my trip.

Unlike the typical a la carte, this time we order 精選花膠二人餐 ($590 for two). There are two soup choices, and we go for 西洋菜燉陳腎湯. A serving big enough for five to six bowls, the soup is tasty, with the savoury notes of the preserved gizzard combining well the umami of the watercress and pork. Delicate yet flavourful.

Then comes 馳名裕記燒鵝. The Roasted Goose is on standard portion, essentially one quarter of the whole goose, which has been meticulously marinated in unique recipe before putting to grill over charcoal. The crispy skin, moist and flavourful flesh are amazing, with the goose freshly roasted and still hot from the stove.

Next is 花膠花菇扒時令時蔬. The fish maw has been braised well, soft yet retaining the texture of a good bite, while the shiitake is thick and meaty, both paired with a rich oyster sauce contributing to the umami sweetness, together with some Chinese cabbage on the side.

The last one on the set is 百花炸蝦丸, with four pieces in total. The deep-fried prawn balls have a bouncy texture, with a crisp surface but not hard. The seasoning is spot-on so that we can taste the prawn and just the flour or other fillers. Paired with a bit of Thai sweet chili sauce it is another wonderful dish.

Service is very good, with the staff chatting with us and providing complimentary dessert to us, as well as other customers. The bill on the night is $700. Considering the overall experience and food quality, I would rate this restaurant a Good 70 points. Worth trying whether you like roasted goose or not.

Wineshark HK Restaurant Review - China Tang 唐人館

This restaurant is under the Lai Sun Dining group and started at The Dorchester in London in 2007, offering refined Chinese cuisine to the local community. This HK flagship was opened in 2013, at The Landmark, and has been awarded One-Michelin-Star in 2026, under Executive Chef Menex Cheung.

Seated at a corner of the main dining area, the décor is infused with many traditional Chinese arts of refined details, including hand-painted and embroidered wallpaper, classic thread-bound books, and many contemporary artworks. The plush carpet and chandeliers also offer a comfortable and luxury dining experience.

I have a bottle of Jiangyu Ferment Grechetto 2023 ($980) to go with the food tonight. The independent and up-and-coming winemaker Jiang Yu uses grapes from Yantai to make this white wine, with medium texture and plenty of lemon and spiced kumquats notes, an interesting wine and versatile to pair with food.

The meal begins with two starters. Sous-Vide Fresh Abalone, Pickled Mustard Cabbage, Peppercorn 鹹酸菜椒麻慢煮鮮鮑魚 ($238) has the abalone slow cooked to wonderful tenderness, with its umami taste supplemented with the sour and salty flavours of pickled mustard cabbage, further enhanced by a touch of spiciness from the Sichuan peppercorns. Overall complex yet harmonious and delicious in taste.

The second starter is Marinated Cauliflower, Lees and Fermented Bean Curd Paste 酒糟腐乳拌菜花 ($88). Although it might look simple, the cauliflower is crunchy, cooked together with a special mix of lees from rice wine fermentation and fermented bean curd paste, giving rich savoury notes on top of the sweetness of the cauliflower.

Then comes one of the signatures, Tang’s Honey Roasted Barbecued Pork 唐人館叉燒 ($388). Made from Iberico pork, the char siu is juicy and tender, with a delicious honey glaze on the surface while the meat has been marinated well and flavourful. With a bit of slight burnt on the edges, it is one of the best I have eaten.

For the soup, my wife has picked Boiled Pig’s Lung Soup with Almond Cream 杏汁鮮白肺湯 ($238). The delicate almond cream fragrance and the white cabbage combine to offer a delicious soup that is sweet in taste, with the pig’s lung thoroughly cleaned and without any weird note. Very nicely done.

I have Tang’s Hot and Sour Fish Maw Soup 唐人館酸辣花膠羹 ($288). With plenty of ingredients, including tofu, fish maw, wood-ear, bamboo shoot, conpoy and other delicacies, all finely shredded, the soup has a great balance of spicy and sourness. Checking off all my requirements for a wonderful hot and sour soup.

Both of us have Deep-Fried Crab Meat, Onion, Mushroom, Cream served in Crab Shell 生拆蟹粉炸釀蟹蓋 ($298 each). While the crab shell is not too big, it is stuffed to the full with crab meat, which has been stir-fried with onion, mushroom and cream, before deep-frying to a golden-brown crust. Very delicious and does not feel oily.

The other main dish we have Pan-Fried Chicken Fillet, Ginger, Chives, Moutai Wine 酒香茅台生煎雞 ($588). Prepared on table side, the staff pour a shot of the premium Moutai wine on the chicken before torching to burn off the alcohol, leaving its unique savoury fragrance, together with ginger and chives, on the tender chicken fillets.

For dessert, my wife has Sweetened Red Bean Cream, Aged Tangerine Peel, Black Sesame Glutinous Rice Dumpling 三十五年東甲老陳皮紅豆沙湯丸 ($88). The red bean cream has appropriate viscosity, not too sweet, and the intense fragrance of aged tangerine peels harmonized well with the soup. A high-quality dessert.

For me, I take Chilled Ice Jelly, Walnuts, Peanuts, Assorted Fruit, Rose Mint Syrup 唐人館冰粉 ($98). The Sichuan dessert mixes transparent chilled icy jelly, the chef added some nuts like walnut and peanuts to give a bite, with some fresh food for its acidity, and drizzled with the rose mint syrup to sweeten. Nicely done.

Service is very good, with the staff attentive, eager to help, and while not having time to introduce and explain the dishes, one can feel the sincerity. The bill on the night is $4,055 and considering the overall dining experience and food quality, I would rate this restaurant an Excellent 80 points, worth returning.

Wineshark Cooking Class - Crystal Chicken Plum Ginger Tomato Spaghetti 水晶雞梅薑番茄義大利麵

Ingredients (for 2):

• Spaghetti - 160g
• Chicken breast - 100g
• Marinated plum - 4
• Spring onion - 2 tbsp
• White dashi - 2 tbsp
• Olive oil - 2 tbsp
• Tomato paste - 2 tbsp
• Grated ginger - 2 tsp
• Water from cooking paste - 150ml

Procedures:

1. Cut the chicken breast into bite sizes.

2. Season the chicken breast with pinches of salt. Then coat with tapioca starch.

3. Pan-fry the chicken breast until almost cooked.

4. Remove the pip from the marinated plum

5. Chop the spring onion into small pieces.

6. Cook the spaghetti in boiling water for 2 minutes less than the time recommended on the package.

7. Transfer the spaghetti to the pan with chicken breast.

8. Add in water from cooking the pasta, white dashi, olive oil, tomato paste, grated ginger, and marinated plum.

9. Cook under medium-low heat until the sauce boils, then continue to cook for 2-3 minutes until the sauce is dried.

10. Serve with the spring onion sprinkled on top.

Wineshark Cooking Class - Stir Fried Pig Tongue 小炒豬脷

Ingredients (for 4):

• Pig's tongue - 1
• Yellow chives - 150g
• Red bell pepper - 1
• Ginger - 50g
• Garlic - 3 cloves
• Bean paste - 1 tbsp
• Sugar - 1/2 tsp
• Shaoxing wine - 1 tsp

Procedures:

1. Put the pig's tongue in boiling water to cook for 15 minutes.

2. Remove the pig's tongue and flush in cold water for 3 minutes.

3. Use the chopper to remove the tough surface of the tongue.

4. Cut the root of the tongue out, then cut in half. Cut the three pieces of tongue into thin slices.

5. Remove the seeds from the red bell pepper and cut into strips.

6. Cut the yellow chives into sections.

7. Cut the ginger and garlic into slices.

8. Heat the wok with 1 tbsp of oil, then add in ginger and garlic to stir-fry until fragrant.

9. Add in pig's tongue slices, bean paste and sugar to stir-fry. Sprinkle with Shaoxing wine.

10. Add in red bell pepper and yellow chives. Stir-fry briefly.

11. Serve.

Wineshark HK Restaurant Review - Chouchou

This restaurant is located at J Residence in Wanchai, at the same place where Café Bau used to be. Today we came here to experience what this French brasserie has prepared and whether there are some signature dishes to recommend.

The layout has not changed, and we are seated at a table on the side, but not on the window front. The kitchen is at the far end, with a glass wall allowing customers to see through to the activities inside. There is also a bar on another side.

We start with Palourdes en Persillade ($188). The local clams are cooked with parsley and garlic butter, plus white wine. A wedge of lemon is put on the side to add acidity if desire. The clams are tender, with the herbs and paprika enriching the flavours.

Next are Crab Rolls ($98 each). Served in toasted bun, the crab mayonnaise has plenty of crab meat mixed with dressing, along with chives, finely chopped green apple pieces, and lemon zest. A nice combination of salad with bread.

For the main dish we picked Poulet Chasseur ($298). The grilled chicken legs and served together with some smoked pork belly, along with Parisian mushroom and pearl onions, in Chasseur sauce, which are a good match for the chicken.

The other main course is Tournedos Rossini ($458). The beef tenderloin is tender and juicy, with a piece of pan-seared foie gras sitting on top, dressed with a flavourful black truffle jus together with some crouton bread for additional texture.

For dessert, my wife goes for Fraises ($108), which has strawberry and raspberry sorbet to give a refreshing acidity, not too sweet, with some strawberry mint gel and fresh berries to go with crumbs.

I go for Tarte Tatin ($128), with the traditional caramelized apple tart served warm, and having a vanilla ice cream sitting on top. As it melts, the ice cream combines with the tartness of the apple tart nicely, well-balanced and not feeling luscious.

Service is good, with the staff friendly and nice. Together with two glasses of wine and a mocktail, the bill on the night is $2,031. Considering the food quality and overall quality, I would rate this restaurant a Good 65 points, worth trying.