The Drawing Room reviewed by Time Out HK

Time Out Hong Kong are extremely efficient when it comes to reviewing new restaurants. I still remember looking at their Island Tang cover in dismay - the day the magazine came out the restaurant had only been officially opened for one day (or something like that). Though not quite as quick as I thought, but still pretty speedy, is their review of what is probably the hottest restaurant opening in town since Cepage - The Drawing Room, replacing Opia at JIA boutique hotel in Causeway Bay.

No real comments from me re their review, as I haven't been yet (will be going later this month - woot woot!), but as an exec summary, they gave it 4 out of 6 stars (same as what they gave Cepage), loved the decor and the reasonable wine mark-ups, but weren't wowed by any one dish, though all were above par and not disimilar to Aspasia's repetoire. Curiously Kay (the writer) calls Aspasia "one of Schuller's old stomping grounds" - I was under the impression that he was exec cheffing in both locations - perhaps they know otherwise?

Since the opening was announced, bookings filled at lightening speed, cluey bloggers got to it, and there was talk on Chowhound in no time. Someone (handle MWJTJ) has already reported having tried their trial menu and thought it was "really really good", and Siu Yeh has given it a 10/10!

The review is here and a previous blog post about it is here.

Stop press! The Drawing Room at JIA Hong Kong

My folks had the pleasure of dining at Aspasia over the weekend, when Chef Roland (Schuller) came out to tell them that he's opening the new resto at JIA Hong Kong, named The Drawing Room, which takes over the old Opia (once managed by Aussie superstar (chef) Teage Ezard, of Ezard in Melbourne).

He said he'll be working there from today onwards, (Siu Yeh tips us off with detailed info on the team, and an April 13 opening date - their website says so too) and will be shuttling back and forth between Aspasia and TDR, initially spending more time at the latter. Aspasia will lbe taken care of by the/an ex-Toscana chef, so I guess it'll be in good hands! *oops - see edit below

*edit 4.15pm April 6: sorry I should have read Siu Yeh's post more carefully than just blurt what my parents thought they heard - the ex-Toscana chef, Umberto Bombana, in fact co-owns The Drawing Room, so the question is - who will be Aspasia when Roland is running around?

Anxious to try The Drawing Room soon. Now the sad people refusing to cross over to the "dark side" will have a chance to experience some Schuller love (which, as I've mentioned before, is probably the most underrated in the SAR).

The Drawing Room
JIA Hong Kong
1-5 Irving St
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
+852 2915 6628
Taking reservations Apr 6 onwards, opening Apr 13

Gasp! Tuscany by H missed by Michelin!?

Let me begin by apologising for this slew of Michelin posts - all I can say is that it's a huge thing for us on this little peck of land, so you'll just have to forgive me.

I think I've looked 50 times. Between Tsui Hang Village and Tycoon Hotpot there is no Tuscany by H.

Why/how could they have missed this? Harlan's and H One, which are no longer under Harlan's ownership btw, are in, and they do food that is far less enjoyable than Tuscany, plus Tuscany is in Central, Lan Kwai Fong, to be exact, which is on many a visitor's trail.

Oh well, guess that just means less tourists!

Aspasia, in my opinion one of the most underrated restaurants in Hong Kong, did actually make it into the guide, though in a secretly selfish way I didn't want it to be. Good thing though that it's on Kowloon side, where average visitors wouldn't go unless they're here for longer - I suspect only dedicated and confident foodie visitors will go the distance, which is fine by me - after all, you can't deny a restaurant of its business.