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