That's Amore

Because my love is spending Chinese New Year with the family out of town, I'll be single this Valentine's Day. It doesn't make a big difference because we're generally chilled-out about these types of occasions, and we tend to celebrate late anyway because I hate the commercialization and markups associated with the 14th. If I were to buy into the hype, though, I'd take the opportunity to try Domani in Admiralty. When Domani first opened, I heard good things about the food but bad things about service, and there's nothing I hate more than slow meals, so I never bothered going. But a few months back they did an overhaul of the operation, and I hear now it's quite the great experience.

For Valentine's Day, Domani is offering a Menu di San Valentino which includes three courses. For starters: Raw Scampi with Gascogne Foie Gras Mousse, Balsamic Reduction, Strawberry and Sprouts, and Roasted Hokkaido Scallops with Potato Pureé, Black Truffle sauce, Squid Ink Polenta Stick. For mains: Rigatoni Pasta with Oyster sauce and Calvisius Caviar, Boston Lobster infused with Tomato sauce, Cannellini Beans, Italian Sausage, or Australian Lamb Fillet with Ginger Flavored Fennel Confit. And for that sweet ending: Olive Oil Biscuit with Creamy Mascarpone Cheese, Red Port Reduction, Turnip Jelly, Rhubarb and Pecorino Cheese. (Download the menu here.) Piccies say it all, how pretty (in order of appearance: dessert, Raw Scampi and Hokkaido Scallops). It's $1888 per couple.




Level 4, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong. Tel: 852 2111-1197.

Some people like going French for romantic occasions, but I like the warmer feel of Italian; French restaurants tend to be a bit more stuffy in ambience. If I were to go French though, I'd skip Petrus and try the innovative and showy food at French Window.