Video
Read full review
2025-02-22
120 views
Contrary to my usual routine, this year I go for Western cuisine for Valentine’s Day dinner, assuming that the restaurant would have their usual menu still available. When we come to Venedia Grand Caffe in Central, unfortunately, there is only the Valentine’s Menu ($980 each) and we have to choose that.The first course is Lobster Tartare, with the chopped-up lobster meat on top of a foam made from bell peppers and tomatoes, with some homemade pickled vegetables on top. The acidity of the vegetab
Contrary to my usual routine, this year I go for Western cuisine for Valentine’s Day dinner, assuming that the restaurant would have their usual menu still available. When we come to Venedia Grand Caffe in Central, unfortunately, there is only the Valentine’s Menu ($980 each) and we have to choose that.
The first course is Lobster Tartare, with the chopped-up lobster meat on top of a foam made from bell peppers and tomatoes, with some homemade pickled vegetables on top. The acidity of the vegetables gives freshness and vibrancy to the delicate taste of the lobster meat, while the foam soft and delicious. Quite nice.
The second course is Pan Seared Hokkaido Scallop. On top of the seared scallops are the Jerusalem artichoke chips which gives a contrast of crisp texture, finishing with a tarragon and caviar sauce, which has nice buttery taste and good match with the umami taste of the scallops. A bit too simple though on the presentation.
The third course is Risone Pasta. My favourite dish on the night, this pasta is like long-grained rice, with al dente texture, and the mixed seafood and the stock adding wonderful flavours to the pasta. With some smoked salmon roes to enhance savoury and umami, and a touch of lemon zest for fragrance. It is very good.
I have chosen Lamb Saddle Milanese Style for the fourth course, where the thinly-hammered lamb meat is coated with bread crumbs before deep-frying, having a crunchy crust while keeping the lamb not dried up. With baby broccoli on the side, the chef has prepared some Dijon mustard mayo to match with the course. Decent.
For my wife, she has chosen Slow Cooked Toothfish. The fish fillet is soft and tender, with the clams and potato sauce flavourful, together with some purple cauliflower which adds to the bite and also a nice presentation of colour. I would pick this over the lamb saddle.
The fifth and final course is Two Chocolate Mousse Cake and Strawberry Sauce. The cake is made into a heart shape to celebrate the day, not too sweet and quite good in taste. The strawberry sauce dotted on the plate however is not exactly very artistically done. The freeze-dried strawberry pieces on top of the cake are too chewy also. Only so-so.
Service is reasonable, nothing fancy or memorable. The bill on the night is $2,445 and honestly over-priced. In a way this again proves to me that my practice of going to non-Western restaurants in such festivals are still a smart move, and I should remember this as another lesson learnt.
Post
