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2010-10-16
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October = beer time. Noted that one of my fav mussel place Frites is doing a special beer pairing for Oktoberfest so i've booked a table super early to have a try. Their "Beer De-Guzzle-Station Menu" is only $350/head (min for 2). Each beer and dish is shared between 2. Every beer is carefully chosen to match with each specific dish and each bottle comes with matching glasses with the beer brand logo printed on them. Dining there is like having a tasting menu in a brewery museum, except that in
Their "Beer De-Guzzle-Station Menu" is only $350/head (min for 2). Each beer and dish is shared between 2. Every beer is carefully chosen to match with each specific dish and each bottle comes with matching glasses with the beer brand logo printed on them. Dining there is like having a tasting menu in a brewery museum, except that in Frites there is more than just one brand for you to choose from. Moreover, all of their staff are trained to answer your simple questions regarding their beers' origin, ingredients and tastes!
Their first dish is Smoked Salmon Salad paired with Blanche de Bruxelles. The salad is made with smoked salmon; fresh Fennel and frissee seasoned with some dill and a lemon and shallot vinaigrette dressing. It's very refreshing! The salmon is a bit salty, so it's good to be paired with this white beer whose light sweet lemon citrus taste helps to wash away the saltiness of the salmon. It's a perfect beer to start the night.
Then we are served Crumbed Camembert with Raisin Chutney paired with Duvel. Camembert, which is a creamy cow-milk cheese is very similar to Brie in texture but Camembert is stronger and saltier in taste. After deep-fried the outside is so crispy yet it's melted so soft inside. It's quite fulfilling too, which will prepare you for the "devil" golden beer, Duvel, which has 8.5% alcohol content. Despite the relatively high alcohol content, Duvel is very easy to drink. It has the aroma of sweet dried fruits - a perfect match with the raisin chutney.
Now comes one of the signature dishes of Frites, Mussels Mariniere with Frites. Literally, everyone around us has ordered a pot of Mussels tonight. The Mussels are steamed with white wine, celery, garlic and mixed herbs. They are just perfectly done so they are very tender. It tastes quite sweet with a slight oceanic flavor. The frites are so freshly prepared they come hot and crispy. They are deep-fried once, cooled, and then fried again before serving. Traditionally, frites are served with mayonnaise but if you fancy ketchup there is usually a tray of sauces and seasonings on the table. Mussels with frites sounds like a healthier alternative to fish and chips. The dish is paired with Palm, an amber beer. It has a rich, full taste of malt with a fine bittersweet balance. A very satisfying beer to comes with this filling street Belgium dish.
After their signature mussels, we should be served another popular dish, the Steak Tartar. However, since we don't eat beef, we are skipping that. Thank god we've decided to leave room for the finishing dishes as the both Gorganzola with Fresh Pear and Creme Brulee arrive in generous portion. The Gorganzola, a blue cheese, is very buttery and quite strong. Not everyone’s favorite but personally I really like it. It's very fulfilling so it's a perfect dish to have if you plan to have a long drinking night. Its strong taste sets an interesting contrast with the refreshing sweetness of the pear. It is paired with Chimay Bleue, a strong dark trappist beer which has a light flavor of malt with a roasted almond aftertaste to enhance with the richness of Gorganzola.
The Creme Brulee is very smooth and we like that it's not over sweetened. It's matched with Lindemans Kriek, a lambic beer with a strong cherry taste. The same brewery also produces Lindemans Apple (an apple beer) and Lindemans Pecheresse (a peach beer), which I have already tried in some other bars in Hong Kong. It is quite popular among girls. Like Lindemans Apple and Lindemans Pecheresse, Kriek is distinctively cidery with a very interesting sour aftertaste that makes it tastes more like carbonated juice than beer. The black cherry flavor is very unique and its’ sour tastes is kind of tamed down after a spoonful of creamy Creme Brulee.
At the end of the meal we are so full that we believe the menu is definitely good for at least three girls. We've decided to go back again pretty soon. Probably book a table for 4, ordering this menu and get some other mains such as more mussels and fish + chips. it's gonna be an Oktoberfe(a)st!
pics and full review: http://www.hiphongkong.com/content/seasonal_special_frites_octoberfest_beer_pairing_menu
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