Hong Kong
When it comes to fine Chinese dining in Hong Kong,
it doesn’t get much better than Yan Toh Heen, located in the legendary
Intercontinental Hotel on Kowloon Bay. With breath-taking panoramic vistas of
Hong Kong Island, this two Michelin starred institution is globally revered for
its cuisine and impeccable service. I dined at Yan Toh Heen on my very first
night in Hong Kong as a way to kick-start what would be a very busy five-day
break of non stop eating and partying. I am glad to say that even though Yan
Toh Heen did not top my list of being the best in Hong Kong, it very much
delivered and left a good impression. What disappointed me about Yan Toh Heen
was not the food but the ambience. My friends and I were expecting a lively
buzzing dining room with spectacular views, and what we found was a very quiet
space with many business suits and an older crowd; the mood I have to
admit was a bit of a buzz kill. Despite this, the food resurrected my
impression of the place; it was just that good! Highlights from the dinner include
the barbecued fresh water eel, which was prepared with an Osmanthus honey sauce,
which is very fragrant and sweet, and worked perfectly with the eel; it was
the best dish of the night. The crispy fresh water prawns with black truffle
are definitely worth ordering, although the serving was a bit small and thus we
had to order two more portions. A favourite of the night was also the wagyu
beef with black peppercorn, which is not the most inventive dish, but the
quality of the beef was terrific and just melted in my mouth. To balance out
our meal with a vegetarian option, we ordered the very delicious and mouth
watering wok fried white asparagus with bamboo pits and mushrooms. As an emblem
of Hong Kong fine dining, I would definitely recommend Yan Toh Heen, but don’t
go expecting a lively scene; at least not at dinner time.
