A New Quick Sushi Lunch Option, Texas Barbecue and Australian Weekend Brunch
Watch Out For…
Craving something different for lunch/after your workout? Sugo Sushi (G/F, 30 Gilman’s Bazaar, Central, 2559-5151) specifically caters to the busy worker bee crowd, and those looking for a light and lightning-quick option throughout the day. What makes SS stand out from the myriad other sushi takeouts is that they don’t serve the standard salmon and fish-of-the-day sashimi, or the same ol’ Hong-Kong-style sushi rolls. Instead, you’ll find more trendy versions such as the Phill-o (smoked salmon with cream cheese) and the No Way Jose (spicy beef taco roll). OK, so technically, these aren’t sushi at all, but they’re still satisfying, whatever you call’em. More traditional rolls filled with salmon, tuna and crab sticks are also available, and there are even vegetarian options to choose from. Each roll is about the length of your palm and costs between $20 to $26. You can attempt to eat the rolls as is (be brave and hold’em whole), or ask the shop to chop them into more delicate pieces for chopstick handling. The store is so far open from lunch till 9pm each day, but the schedule might change, so it’s best to call and ask beforehand.
Get ready for some serious barbecue with Texas Chicken & Ribs (Shop 3, 1/F, Brim 28, Causeway Centre, 28 Harbour Rd., Wan Chai, 3100-0478), the El Grande group’s latest offering. Located at the newish Brim 28, the space is a snazzy fast food counter with an alfresco dine-in area. Slow-cooked barbecue pork ribs and marinated rotisserie chicken are the signatures, although the boneless barbecue pork rib sandwich is another highlight. Pair with sides including corn-on-the-cob, rice pilaf and ranch-style beans.
Talk of the Town
Leave it to the Krug Room (1/F, Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, 5 Connaught Rd. Central, 2825-4014) to come up with a Hong Kong Philharmonic-accompanied 13-course menu that starts with MO-branded “snacks” from vending machines, moves on to seaweed macarons with pea and beetroot marshmallows and a gazillion other savory dishes, and then ends with a life-size chocolate brick wall that gets demolished with a giant hammer. That’s what I experienced during an epic four-hour lunch last week, in an 8,000-square foot industrial space in Quarry Bay. While that event was a one-off for the media and special guests, rest assured that the crazy-cool (and fabulicious) menu by chef Uwe Opocensky will be available this September, paired with various vintages of Krug champagne. Diners will also get to hear the “sounds” that Krug champagnes make via a Krug Shell, which essentially looks like a gramophone speaker and functions like a conch. The device is capped on top of a wide-brimmed, filled glass; lean in with your ear and you’ll hear the fizz and pop of your drink. It’s a strange and gimmicky experience, but nothing that doesn’t start to seem normal, after a few glasses of bubbly.
Munch on Brunch
For a hearty Sunday brunch, check out the Aussie barbecue spread at Q Deck (G/F, 1 Lung King St., The Fleet Arcade, Wan Chai, 2827-8882), which starts at noon and keeps going until 4pm, for $488 plus service. Free-flow prosecco, beers and red and white wines are included, accompanied by a buffet spread of all the meat you can handle (lamb cutlets, smoked ribs, tandoori chicken, spiced salmon, king prawns…) and plenty of starters and desserts. The space is especially lovely in the summer, being so close to the harbor and all, with a semi-insulated outdoor terrace. It’s a bit of an effort to get to unless you drive or take a taxi, but it’s worth the trip if you just want something unpretentious, not some fancy spread at an extortionate price. Dogs are welcome!
