2014-02-06

Locofama

New Year for both the Western and Chinese calendar has ended and it’s time to payback some writing “debts” of the gastronomic experiences which I have acquired during the festive season. Well, actually, during Christmas to be more precise.



Amongst the busy schedules of shopping, sleeping and just getting some time off from work, I was able to get to meet up with some of my friends and colleagues, even if it meant sleeping a few hours less, for brunch.


The first one was Locofama which was hidden in an alley, Fuk Sau Lane, in Sai Wan. It was just past 1pm on Christmas Day and we originally planned to go to Soho and crash into any place that is opened for brunch (tea or whatever). But when we got there, a lot of restaurants told us that their last order was 2pm or they close around that time. So we gave up Soho and my friend suggested going to Sai Wan and seeing if we have any luck with Locofama.

Locofama, an organic diner which was opened in August 2013, was actually infamous for its poor quality of service, despite its wonderful reputation of serving wholesome and delicious organic food. It was around 2pm when we got there with just around 10 customers seated in the 30-seat diner. With rustic furnishings, an open kitchen and a sister organic mart next door, it was perfect for the sunny Christmas Day with its windows wide opened.

 Miracle Berry
My friend heard that Locofama was famous of its organic ingredients and coconut water, so we started our orders with  Miracle Berry (goji berries, red dates and coconut water) for me and an organic soymilk for her. As a coconut fan myself, I quite enjoy my drink. It was a refreshing combination and the coconut meat inside the drink was wonderful to nibble. Additionally, as a firm believer of the benefits of food from the Oriental perspective, the goji berries are perfect for the wiry eyes from hours of looking at electronic devices while the red dates can improve blood circulation, especially ladies with cold hands and feet like me. Meanwhile, for my friend's organic soymilk, it was just ordinary, glad we didn't have much expectations. Since we were pretty stuffed up from the Christmas feasts, we ordered something light to share.
Crab and truffle puff pastry
Oolong tea soba

First it was the Oolong tea soba with black sesame cream, wild mushrooms and basil ($88). The texture of the soba was quite alright, in which many places makes its too soggy nowadays. Sesame flavor filled the palate like any other sesame dressing, but I cannot taste any Oolong in it. Luckily, the mushrooms were very fresh and gave out its own unique aroma, or else it would become another salad-like-soba you get from a Western/fusion/Japanese deli.

Next in line was the puff pastry with crab vol-au-vent (black truffle cream and Atlantic crab; $108). The fillings were wonderful with the delightful truffle and crab flavours but unfortunately, the pastry was quite hard to chew. You can’t really the bite pastry into half  without forgoing your table manners. Additionally, the fillings were too watery. Some of the sauce would drip now the pastry when you bite it, probably they didn’t drain the fillings enough.   

Salmon poached egg
By the time now, my friend was stuffed; while I was very tempted to try its truffle salmon poached egg (Norwegian chilled smoked salmon, crouton, basil olive oil ; $28). And I am so glad I did! It was the best dish! The truffle scent was wondrous while the saltiness of the salmon gave a perfect balance to the perfectly poached egg. Dipping the egg with a toast was definitely a wonderful experience. In terms of its appearance, scent and flavours, its is surely my pick from Locofama.

The rumors about the service of Locofama, I think it can be true. My experience was on a public holiday in which it was half empty, and we still have trouble getting the attention from the staff. The intervals between our dishes was quite normal. Wonder what it would be like it when it has a full-house situation. Or perhaps it would be the best decision to avoid it completely. 
To wrap it all up, Locofama's food is just what I have in mind for an organic restaurant - flavours come from the quality of ingredient that it uses; and that did add a lot of points to their dishes. But from the good reviews it has gotten from the articles I've read on the internet, I thought it would be better. Maybe perhaps it is because most of them were written when the diner first opened up or during normal working days or something. And I must say, the quality of service wasn't that bad, at least the servers were quite friendly and helpful when I do get their attention. Last, but not least, I do appreciate the positive message they try to give to diners and publicizing the benefits of eating healthily and going organic.

Food: 3/5
Value: 3.5/5
Environment: 4/5
Service: 3/5

Locofama
Address: 11 Fuk Sau Lane, 852 Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong 
Tel: 2547 7668

Next up, Sunday roast at St Betty……

2014-02-04

狂歡

是日立春,一年的第一個氣節,即一年之始。
人越大,時間真的過得越快。農曆新年也過了,2014年也過了兩個月,生活也好像從沒有停下來的感覺。也許是因為每天也有很多的事情發生、有很多的事情要做,生活被塞得沒滿滿的。 

2014年的一月被喜事包圍了,繼上年九月之後,又有一位好姊妹出嫁了,而且還是橫跨兩地、三個地方的世紀婚禮(應該是我一生人之中,最大型的婚禮,過去及未來的都包括在內),賓客合共約超過二千人吧。因為這場婚禮,我有機會去澳門及廈門兩地,也當作了一個小型的假期,讓我可以離開一下香港。在廈門過了三天,雖然大部份時間都只是留在酒店裡,沒有去什麼地方遊覽,但是有機會好好的睡覺、好好的獨處也是一種享受。

就如阿桑的歌曲《葉子》的歌詞中所道:『孤單,是一個人的狂歡;狂歡,是一群人的孤單。』因為宴會之中有很多很多的人,而休息的時候,只有一個人在房間裡,當中的冷清形成了很強烈的對比,才忽然記起,原來自己很久也沒有人一個人過了,也突然之間得到了一種自由的釋懷。家裡差不多二十四小時都有人,有時候還有種被監視的感覺;辦公室裡,出出入入都是人;一個人在街上走,繁華的街道上有無數的自由行令人心煩;冷清的地方,日間沒有時間去、晚上不敢去。 

在香港,根本沒有獨處的空間,同時令人感到孤獨非常。感覺就如一個啞巴一樣,有很多的指控卻沒有辦法說出一句,令人無奈、無助。我能夠有自己的房間其實已經比很多人很不錯,但是那無形的壓力真的令人吃不消。很懷念一個人的星期天,無憂無慮地聽著陳綺貞的歌在沙發上看書看到睡著的下午。我前世可能是一隻小鳥、吉普塞人、遊牧民族或什麼的,不喜歡被困、不想被人包圍至窒息。在廈門,只有短短的兩日半,卻可以做自己。對著鏡子唱歌、不修邊幅的躺著,動也不動的睡死、泡泡泡浴,找回了失去了很久的自由。另一方面,我有時間去反思,發現自己距離自己的夢想好像越來越遠了,要給自己多一點決心、少一點藉口,好好的努力。更加要享受當下,不論好、壞的經歷都是為了讓生活更加豐盛。 

寫著寫著,也快一千字了,原本這一篇文章是想寫一點對新一年的寄望,誰不知慰藉了連自己都不自覺的悲傷。 願馬年會帶來一番新的氣像,下次(希望是不久的將來)再寫我原本想寫的東西吧。

 祝君安好、身體健康、萬事勝意。


P.S.: 在youTube找阿桑的《葉子》來細味的時候才發現原來阿桑已經在2009年離世,享年34歲。真的很可惜,她的聲音帶一點點的滄桑,真的很特別。現送上我最愛的MV之中。希望大家會喜歡吧。