Archive for August, 2010

SPQR Restaurant, Natural Wine Week – San Francisco

Saturday, August 28th, 2010

SPQR 3Orange is Natural! Promoting Natural Wine is a cause that this website, Restaurant Dining Critiques is very supportive of. We believe in using as few additives in wines and organic if possible.

SPQR is excited to be part of San Francisco’s natural wine week http://sfnaturalwineweek.wordpress.com starting on Monday August 23rd. Supporting “Natural” wines is something that comes naturally to SPQR as most of the wines they pour tend to favor little manipulation and/or organic wine making practices. However to further celebrate natural wine making week they are emphasizing a class of wines often referred to as “orange wines”. “Orange wines” are made by ultra purist wine makers with a philosophy of practically zero intervention or manipulation. During Natural Wine Week they will also be honoring natural women wine makers by pouring the ‘Aretha’ flight named for the song “Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman”. Orange is a color said to promote happiness so please join SPQR and get happy with orange wines!

The restaurant will be highlighting the following producers as follows:

Monday August 23- Radikon http://www.radikon.it/vinery/vinery/view?set_language=en
Tuesday August 24- Rusticum http://www.vinography.com/archives/2010/05/2007_monastero_suore_cistercen.html
Wednesday August 25- Gravner http://www.gravner.it/
Thursday August 26- Vodopivec http://www.vodopivec.it/verita_eng.html
Friday August 27- Damijan & COS Pithos Bianco http://www.cosvittoria.it/
Saturday August 28- Movia Lunar http://www.movia.si/#
Sunday August 29- La Castellada Ribolla

View Menus

They welcome you to make your reservation through their website:

Make a Reservation

Mario Batali Launches New Magazine Viaggio – New York

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

small logo RDC(Culinary Tidbits . . . This month celebrity Italian chef Mario Batali has launched his new bi-monthly Viaggio Magazine along with editor Bob Guccione Jr., although unlike some of his peers he has chosen to excluded it from the newsstands and keep it strictly in-house.

You may read this magazine at selected Mario Batali restaurants.

Le Méridien Shimei Bay on the South China Sea – China

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

Shimei BayLe Méridien Shimei Bay Beach Resort & Spa Shimei Bay, Liji County, Wanning City, Hainan • China
Phone: +86 898 6252 8888 • Fax: +86 898 6252 8999 • Email: lemeridien.shimeibay@lemeridien.com

Le Méridien Shimei Bay Beach Resort & Spa is situated in the Shimei Bay Resort District, southeast of Wanning City on 12 hectares, surrounded by lush hillside and the pristine South China Sea. Stunning golf courses surround the resort, as do six kilometres of white sandy beaches.

Lagoon Pool BarLagoon Pool Bar . . . for a refreshing drink or delicious snack at this Lagoon bar with floating pool loungers, located within the Lagoon Pool. This bar serves soft drinks and beer. Liquor is available upon request. 
Cuisine:Light Fare
; Opening Hours:12:00 pm – 6:00 pm; 
Atmosphere: Relax at Poolside

The Astor Hotel – Tianjin, China

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

Astor Hotel Tianjin, ChinaThe Astor Hotel, Tianjin
 • 33 Taier Zhuang Road, Tianjin • China • Phone: +86 22 2303 2026 • Fax: +86 22 2303 2026 • Email: www.luxurycollection.tianjin@luxurycollection.com

Timeless elegance awaits you at The Astor Hotel, Tianjin. Originally opened in 1863, the exquisite and treasured landmark is a step back into a bygone era. Host to myriad Prime Ministers and Presidents, the British style structure is ideally situated in Tianjin’s progressive financial district. Each of the 152 guest rooms and suites pays homage to The Astor’s fabled heritage.
Unrivaled grace can be found in the luxurious décor of the elegant restaurants. The sumptuous cuisine and tailored service are some of the finest gastronomic experiences in the city. The British style pub also provides the perfect backdrop in which to enjoy a cooling drink or glass of wine.

La Terrasse French Restaurant – Hong Kong

Sunday, August 22nd, 2010

Contributed by Carole Chung

la terrasselogoveauxheadThe beginnings of Tête de veau (image credit La Terrasse)

La Terrasse
G/F, No.19 Old Bailey Street, Mid-levels, Central, Hong Kong
(852) 2147 2225
Email: info@laterrasse-soho.com
Credit Cards: Yes
Lunch:
12:00pm to 2:30pm
Monday to Friday
Dinner:
6:30pm to 10:30pm
Monday to Thursday
6:30 to 11:00pm
Friday & Saturday
Closed on Sunday

La Terrasse is strictly French and I love it! The menu created by Chef Rene-Etienne Bedu is à la française to the core and unwavering. Even though service can be good at times it also can be a bit brash, but with the likes of Tête de veau with sauce gribiche appearing as one of the specials, so difficult to find in Asia, how can I resist? I also adore sitting in the charming terrace in the rear of this casual bistro in Soho for lunch. The menu:

Entree


Red Tuna Tartare  $118

Cauliflower Cream Soup $85

Smoked Herring with Asparagus $118

Tomato & Buffalo Mozzarella $118

Pan-fried Scallops with Morel Mushrooms $138

Baked Escargots with Garlic & Parsley in shell  $138

Pan-fried Foie Gras with green Apple & Calvados sauce $185

Chef Rene’s Duck liver Terrine  with fig Preserve $175

Main

Dover Sole Meuniere $228

Grilled Pepper crusted Red Tuna $228

Sauteed King Prawn. Tomato & Piment Despelette  $278

Seabass Fillet ‘Provencale’ with Black Truffle Risotto  $238

Ningaloo Wagyu Sirloin (Australia) with Shallot Confit  $268

Lamb Fillet with Ratatouille & Creamy garlic Sauce  $238

Challans Free Range Chicken with butter lemon sauce $228

Premium Australian Sirloin Steak with Pepper sauce $248

Traditional French Duck Leg Confit  $228


+ daily specials

Cheese

Assiette de Fromage $98
French cheese platter

Dessert

Floating Island $78

Warm chocolate Moelleux with tonka bean $89


Vanilla Bourbon Crème brûlée $75

Fine Apple & Almond tart $89

Trio de chef  $98

Dark Chocolate Mousse  $65

+ 10% Service Charge

Astor Bar, St. Regis – Singapore

Saturday, August 21st, 2010

Astor Bar, SingaporeAstor Bar, SingaporeSt. Regis Hotel • 29 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247911 • Singapore
 • Phone: +65 6506 6888 • Fax: +65 6506 6708 • Email: stregis.singapore@stregis.com

Superbly located in the heart of downtown, the luxuriously appointed rooms and suites at the first St Regis in Southeast Asia exceed expectation. Sophisticated, discreet, bespoke service is uncompromising at this seductive, landmark destination. Signature St Regis Butler services will cater to all of your desires and needs, be it a custom tailored suit, chauffeured Rolls Royce, business services or a rejuvenating massage at the wondrous Remède Spa.  

Nestled within its beauteous settings, with rich texture, you’ll find one of the finest private art collections in Asia and stunning floral arrangements. Here, one can indulge in a delicious pot of artisanal tea with a friend in The Drawing Room, or share a bottle of world class wine in an intimate setting at Decanter. The stylish Astor Bar toasts to the world famous King Cole Bar in New York City and is perfect for either business or pleasure. And should one yearn for a memorable Chinese meal, the elegant Yan Ting is a lavish, memorable experience.

A16 Restaurant, S.F. Natural Wine Week, August 23-29 – San Francisco

Friday, August 20th, 2010

40d5c8e01c-1

2355 Chestnut St. | 415.771.2216 | Dinner: Mon-Thur 5:30pm-10:00pm, Fri 5:30pm-11pm, Sat 5:00pm-11:00pm, Sun 5:00pm-10:00pm | Lunch: Wed-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm

A16 – The cuisine of Campania and the wood fired pizzas of Naples brought to San Francisco’s Marina neighborhood.

SF Natural Wine Week, August 23-29
Ciao amici!

In celebration of Natural Wine Week, A16 Restaurant & Wine Bar will be hosting seven natural wine making leaders each night this coming week, the masters behind these great wines will be
joining us here at A16 as we will be pouring a lineup of their wines by the glass, carafe and bottle. We are honored to be participating in the city wide celebration of sustainable wine making practices and hope that you can join these wonderful wine makers to learn more about their craft and vision. Here is the line up for this coming week.

Monday, August 23 – Palmina Wines with Chrystal & Steve Clifton www.palminawines.com

Tuesday, August 24- Robert Sinskey Vineyards with Robert & Maria Helm Sinskey www.robertsinskey.com

Wednesday, August 25- Bonny Doon Vineyards with Randall Graham www.bonnydoonvineyard.com

Thursday, August 26- Unti Vineyards Mick and George Unti www.untivineyards.com

Friday, August 27- Whetstone Wine Cellars with Jamey Whetstone www.whetstonewinecellars.com

Saturday, August 28- Peay Vineyards with Andy Peay www.peayvineyards.com

Sunday, August 29- Brown Estate Vineyards with Deneen Brown & Stefanie Kelly
 www.brownestate.com

For more information about SF Natural wine week please see ( http://sfnaturalwineweek.wordpress.com/what-is-natural-wine/ )

Saluti!
click here

Monsoon Season, Poaching Frogs Destined For The Table – India

Friday, August 20th, 2010

Bull Frog 3Frog Poaching Goa
People living in the area of Goa in India are known for their love of meat, and now that it is the annual monsoon rainy season with frogs awakening from their long hibernation, poaching is in full swing, because catching them legally was banned in the eighties. As in France, they are highly prized for the table; in Goa they are eaten sauteed, or as minced escalopes, and in curries.
In spite of increased poaching their numbers have remained stable with the main threat to the amphibians being the destruction of their natural habitat.

Beccofino Thonglor, August Newsletter – Bangkok

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

Beccofino News

Four Points by Sheraton – Hangzhou, Binjiang, China

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

Sheraton Hangzhou, Binjiang868 Dongxin Avenue, Binjiang District Zhejiang 310053 • China
Phone: +86 571 2887 8888 • Fax: +86 571 2887 8887 • Email: fourpoints.hangzhou@fourpoints.com

Overlooking the Qian Tang River in Hangzhou, Four Points by Sheraton Hangzhou, Binjiang is located in the exciting new hi-tech development zone with easy access to downtown, city attractions and the airport. The stylish, relaxing guest rooms and suites have everything you need for a great stay: a flat screen LCD TV, rainforest shower, Four Points by Sheraton Four Comfort Bed, and free High Speed Internet Access. Four Points by Sheraton Hangzhou, Binjiang is great for either a business trip or a weekend getaway.