Capital Bites: Kerry's Kitchen Soft-Opens, Obama Fried Aliens and Nola Does Cookies
As a small child, my mother despaired whenever the word "buffet" came up. You see, Reader, I was the sort of tot that would only eat potato fries and nothing else. These days, I just go crazy at the dessert table, like I did today, above, at the soft opening of Kerry's Kitchen. More about that, Obama Fried Chicken and other food news after the jump ...
Kerry's Kitchen is in the newly-renovated Kerry Centre Hotel, and features both breakfast and lunch buffets, plus a la carte dinner. Their focus is on authentic South-East Asian food, but they've also found a rather remarkable pastry chef who's a dab hand at cakes. His hazelnut cake tastes something like the offspring of ten Ferrero Rochers and a bubble, but tastier. If I had editorial control of this magazine, it'd probably be called Cake Monthly.
In slightly less tasty news, Obama Fried Chicken has now closed. This flash-in-the-pan was the reality TV star of Beijing restaurants. In less than a month, it gained fame (thanks mainly to Sina Weibo), attracted the threat of a lawsuit from KFC, changed its name briefly to 'UFO' (good work there, guys) and now it seems that they've buckled under the immense international media attention. Reports tell us that the restaurant was forced to close down, with the sign being torn down and set aflame outside the restaurant. Sadly, we missed our chance to try it out - if any readers took their fried chicken (or fried flying objects) for a spin, let us know in the comments!
Piggybacking off the success of Hatsune's sake dinner series, Hatsune group owner Alan Wong is hosting a Wine Tasting Dinner Party at Japanese BBQ and hotpot spot Kagen next Thursday, October 20. RMB 300 will net you Kagen's signature set menu paired with four wines, as well as a general introduction to wine tasting. RSVP to Kristen Lum at 132 4011 4868.
I'm still rather charmed by the turban-bound Chef Chakall from my interview with him last month: if you'd like to try some of his food, he's cooking dinner at Astor Grill tonight and tomorrow. Alternatively, brunch with him on Sunday. Call the St. Regis hotel on 6460 6688 to reserve a spot.
Lastly (and not leastly!), chef Brandon Trowbridge of Nola and Great Wall Granola fame is now operating a home-delivery cookie operation. More details on that later, but for now, have a picture of a cookie.
Photos: Susan Sheng and Sesamestreet.com
