Les Saveurs Private Kitchen
Pan fried scallop, poached green asparagus with warm quinoa salad
With black and purple lace table cloth and shiny cutlery, it gives a pleasant and cosy vibe but not the strict and reserved style in high-class restaurants at hotels, mainly because of the playful-looking plates that greet you at your seat. Tiger and panda are printed on plates, which make me recall the chair backs at Felix in the Peninsula, being part of the decorative design by Philippe Starck.
Beef Carpaccio w/ parmesan shaving, arugula salad, homemade mushroom tapenade
Quite a common and safe option to go for, beef carpaccio was a decadent opposite to the clean and assertive flavour of scallop. Appreciation goes to the smooth and tender beef and most importantly, the finely chopped mushroom that spread out as tapenade to give mild highlight of aroma.
Chilled Poached Geoduck Clams, Watercress Espuma, Potato Salad
Portion wasn't that appealing, but geoduck clam is not common to be found in the western cuisine I tried. An ideal refresher for summer given the clear taste of watercress espuma that melts in your mouth, but I'd recommend going for the other appetisers given its portion mainly.
We gave it a try because of its special smoky effect - not only was it pleasing to the eye, it makes a memorable dish with impressive flavors.
It wasn't unveiled immediately when served, so as to let salmon be infused with savory notes of smoke. It justified the 3-minute wait, with savory notes being subtle but giving a seemingly charred aroma despite smooth texture of salmon which wasn't made to full doneness. The two dressings placed on the plate weren't making an impact, as caviar did its job already.
Sous Vide Baby Pork Roulade w/ smoked bacon and truffle, pork jus, mesclun salad
Making stuffed and rolled pork roulade is one, and having it cooked in sous vide method is another. Meat was juicy and tender, with highlight to be drawn from the crispy pork fat that sticked with every loaf. As a person not really fond of pig skin for Chinese-style roasted pig, I couldn't resist the decadent aroma of the crisp and finished it off with the roulade.
Exclusivity and service undoubtedly outweighs its food for a return visit, and these tell you why private kitchens are perfect hangout places if you wish to have an instant getaway.
