11/15/2008

Stanley seaside was located away from city, east of Repulse Bay. It was a famous tourist place because of its scenic excellence, western restaurants, and its Chinese traditional goods market.

Murray House was a Victorian styled house originally located in Central. It was built in 1844, at its 4th year of Hong Kong under British rule. In 1982, the historical landmark was dismantled to yield to the new Bank of China Tower. Over 3,000 building blocks were labelled and catalogued for future restoration. In 1990, the Housing Department proposed the resurrection of the building in Stanley. The building was restored in 1998 and reopened in 1999.

Today, there was a Hong Kong Maritime Museum, and a lot of restaurants. We dined at a Spanish Restaurant - Mijas. The food was pleasant. We were seated in the covered patio area on the second floor. There was a good view of the sea.


Smoked Ham with Melons


Fried cheese rolls


Steamed Foie Gras


Cold tomato soup

Lobster Bisque

Lamb Shoulder

Seafood Paella

Pasta in squid ink

After a long ride back to hotel and some nap, we headed towards Intercontinental Hotel for Nobu restaurant. We originally wanted to dine at Spoon by Alain Ducasse, which was generally regarded as the best French restaurant in Hong Kong. However, as with other upscaled French place, Spoon was not child-friendly. Nobu, said to be the world's most acclaimed Japanese restaurant, was famous for its new-style Japanese cuisine. Both Spoon and Nobu were located in the Hong Kong InterContinental Hotel. The hotel was at the waterfront.

While we were waiting for the results from the very first year of Michelin rated Hong Kong restaurants (due in December 2008), both Spoon and Nobu were expected to receive stars. In fact, Nobu London was the first Asian cuisine restaurant to receive a Michelin star. It was also ranked as number 17 of the World's top 50 best restaurants in 2007.

The interior was dim. All the sushi chefs at sushi bar and servers greeted us in unity when we walked in. Because our friends made a reservation for us, we were lucky to have a table by the huge panel of window. All I could say about the view outside the window was stunning. We've been to Sens & Bund last year in Shanghai, the French restaurant located at the Bund. The view of the Hong Kong island from Nobu was far better than the Bund.

We decided to try Nobu's set tasting menu. Joshua, because he couldn't eat raw fish, had ordered a Salmon Teriyaki dish.

Right next to our table, also by the window, we noticed a small round table where 3 men occupied. 2 of them were dressed in chef's uniform. Surprisingly, one of them looked like Nobu himself. Our server confirmed it. How exciting! Nobu had 21 restaurants around the world, he happened to be at his Hong Kong resaurant today and happened to be seated right next to us! The 2 chefs were appearently entertaining their guest with their food and the view.

Robert De Niro's favorite dish - Black Cod in Miso sause

Japanaese Saga beef

Excerpts from the menu:

Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, known to the world simply as “Nobu”, was destined for acareer in the kitchen; from the time his older brother first took him to a sushirestaurant when he was a young boy. His first job was at a sushi restaurant in Shinjuku, Tokyo called Matsuei-zushi. Then at age twenty-four he moved to Peruto open a restaurant in Lima and then spent a brief time in Argentina. Nobu’stime in Peru had a major impact on his cuisine, as he began weaving Peruvianinfluences into his dishes – thus forming the beginning of his signature style.

He then opened a restaurant in Alaska, which burnt to the ground shortly afterits opening. Broken but not beaten, and with debts to pay on his ruined Alaskanenterprise, Nobu went to Los Angeles. Nine years later, after earning his wayback to solvency, he opened his own restaurant Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills in1987.

Matsuhisa was an instant success and became a magnet for both food lovers andcelebrities. In 1993, at the urging of renowned actor and regular Matsuhisapatron, Robert De Niro, Nobu Matsuhisa partnered with De Niro to open the firstNOBU restaurant, located in New York in the Tribeca district. This was followedby NOBU London in 1997 and NOBU Milan in 2000. Then in 2006, in associationwith InterContinental Hong Kong Hotel, NOBU InterContinental Hong Kongopened. The global expansion and popularity of NOBU restaurants has resultedmost recently in the opening of NOBU Dubai, making 21 locations currently inoperation around the world, with more NOBU restaurants to come.

Our friends spotted the opportunity and got us a cook book signed by Nobu.