Food Cravings – Italian Food

by Aude
 
Aren’t we all the same? Experiencing uncontrollable food cravings from time to time (or pretty much every day if you got that thing with food just like I do)? I am pretty sure we are! And I have decided to make it a regular column! At least every month, I will share with you one of my Food Craving and the places I go whenever I need to satisfy that specific craving. Kicking off this new column with Italian Food.
 
I love Italian food, I find it just perfectly simple (some of the dishes are truly only about one ingredient: take a fresh Burrata, add a dash of olive oil, a hint of fresh basil, salt and pepper … bam best starter ever!) and yummy. Who doesn’t love the Italian classics – Pasta, Pizza, Cold Cut?
 
On the menu today?

• 6 restaurants, each one with a super yummy Italian specialty

Pasta, Pizza, Cold Cut, Cicchetti (small dishes to share), Hearty dishes … which team are you going to be?

• Where to stock on Italian goodies to live la Dolce Vita at home?
• An easy peasy recipe Pasta recipe to recreate at home but not the pesto or Bolognese kind, something a little bit more sophisticated

  CRAVING FOR PASTA

Not a hidden gem it’s true, but Pici is definitely a winner when it comes to pasta. On the menu?

• Killer Lasagna HKD 120
• My fav ever Orecchiette with Italian sausage, spicy n’duja, cherry tomato HKD 120
• 8-hours slow cooked beef cheek ragu Parpadelle HKD 140

They are definitely true to their moto “Pasta Bar”.
 
They recently opened a new branch in Central, literally 5 min from where I live. I call it serendipity!
 
Pici Wanchai
G/F, 16 St. Francis Yard
 
Pici Central
G/F, 24-26 Aberdeen Street
 
Psssst: check the end of this article, we have been able to recreate a quite close version of their super yummy Orecchiette.
 


CRAVING FOR PIZZA

Again, we are not talking hidden gem but Motorino is my go-to place whenever I need a proper pizza (which is anytime I need a pizza, because why would have something so-so when you can have it yummy?).
 
Calling all sweet lovers in town … they got a Nutella Calzone. Saying it again, they got a Nutella Calzone. Maybe not the most authentic dish on earth but definitely one of the most comforting ever!
 
Hong Kong Madame tip: their lunch menu is super good value
HKD 128 for:

• 1 Starter: Roasted Squash OR Chopped Salad OR Roasted Sweet Corn
• 1 Pizza

 
Motorino Central
12 Shelley Street
 
Motorino Wanchai
15 Ship Street
 


CRAVING FOR COLD CUT

Head off to La Brata and treat yourself to either Half a Meter of Bliss (HKD 298) or a Full Meter of it (HKD 588). What is bliss? A perfect mix of Parma Ham 18 months, Mortadella, Salsiccia and other very piggy bites. Plus a touch of Italian cheeses.
 
You know what I love about this place? Their definition of bliss is super close to mine!
 
Unlike the two previous ones, La Brata is still quite a confidential address. Yet a very small one so make sure to book your table. You’ll be treated to a night of Italian dishes, Italian wines, an Italian Chef making the show and cutting the cold cut himself in the middle of the restaurant and a super friendly Italian speaking staff.
 
La Brata
G/F, 11 Old Bailey Street, Central
 


CRAVING FOR HEARTY DISHES

This time, I am taking you out of Hong Kong Island. Did you know that the Italian countryside was only a 20 min MTR ride far from Central – In Lai Chi Kok? I did not, until I was invited to try SI Simply Italian Restaurant. Everything is in the name: simple Italian food made with fresh ingredients.
 
Hong Kong Madame insight: consulting Chef is Chef Stefano Masanti from Il Cantinone in Madesimo, Italy, a restaurant awarded one Michelin star for 10 consecutive years.
 
On the menu? Pasta and Risotto of course. But also my fav Fish and Meat and my fav, Italian eggplant Parmiginana.
 
Hong Kong Madame tip: head off to SI Simply before February 28^th to enjoy Chef Stefano Masanti exclusive 6-courses celebration menu (HKD 498) including a super hearty yet unforgettable Chesnuts Cream with poached egg, wine vinegar caramel and parmesan foam.
 
15 Cheung Shun Street, Cheung Sha Wan
 


CRAVING FOR CICCHETTI 

Cicchetti is the Italian for small dishes to share (or not). You know those kinds of super yummy antipasti? I am thinking:

• Fresh Tomato Brushetta HKD 48
• Calamari with Garlic and Chilli Olive Oil HKD 118
• Sauteed Snails with Mixed herbs HKD 88

 
Are we thinking alike? Then Papi is a restaurant you want to check!
 
Hong Kong Madame tip: do not stop at the cicchetti, also save rooms for their pizzas. A huge crush on the Tuscan Lardo Fat, Asparagus, Honey and Black Pepper one (HKD 178) but wouldn’t mind having more than one slice of Black Truffle and Gorgonzola Cheese one (HKD 238) either!
 
G/F, 8 Cleveland Street, Fashion Walk, Causeway Bay
 


CRAVING FOR PARMIGIANA
 
I got that thing with Parmigiana … I love it way too much. How come a vegetable based dish can be that pornfood? I know blame it (or not, I am actually quite thankful for it) on the cheese. My go to place for Parmigiania? Pirata. They go the yummiest one (HKD 240)! Plus, it is so huge that if you do Antipasti before (which I obviously do, each and every time) you might not be able to finish it. Ask for a doggy bag and treat yourself to an extra round of Eggplant Parmigiana the day after … pure bliss!
 
29/30F
239 Hennessy Road
 
  I always go to the same place: Il Bel Paese
 
They are a few things that I do not like about them, the ridiculously high price of some products in one of it, but:

• They got fresh Burrata and fresh Stracciatella
• They also got Guanciale (Italian Lardo Fat) and will cut in very thin slices, just the way I like it, if asked nicely
• Their parmigiana is pretty dope

 
Good a nice little address to share with me? Please do! Feel free to drop me a mail at contact@hongkongmadame.com
 
 

So happy to share with you our own interpretation of Pici’s Orecchiette with Italian sausage, spicy n’duja, cherry tomato.
 

FOOD SHOPPING

• 1 x onion
• 10(ish) x cherry tomatoes – the riper, the better
• 2 x Italian sausages or Herbs sausages

We like to get ours from in Bones & Blades Sai Ying Pun – they got some yummy ones and the price is quite reasonable

• 2 x spoonful of Nduja or Sriracha (add more if you like it spicy)
• 100g of Mascarpone
• Fresh basil
• 1 x small glass of stock cube
• Orecchiette

Hong Kong Madame tip: we would usually go for the De Cecco brand, available pretty much everywhere
 


TIME TO COOK

• Open the sausages and take the meat out of it
• Put in a pan with just a hint of olive oil
• Chop the onion and put in the pan with sausage meat for 3 to 4 min adding salt and pepper
• Chop cherry tomatoes in two and add to the pan together with the small glass of stock cube and the Nduja (Sriracha), reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 10 min
• In the meantime cook the pasta

 
Hong Kong Madame tips:
Follow the 1-10-100 rule: 1L of water, 10g of salt, 100g of pasta
Cook the pasta 1 min less than what’s written on the packaging
And please no olive oil! It will make it impossible for the sauce to mix with the pasta (and this is definitely what we are looking for!)
 

• Close to the end of the 10 min for sauce simmering add the mascarpone and make sure to perfectly blend it with the sauce
• Remove the pan from the heat, chopped the fresh basil and add to the sauce. Cover and let the basil infused the sauce
• Ready to serve!

 
You’ve got some cravings that you would like us to satisfy? Always here to rescue fellow foodies! Drop us a mail at contact@hongkongmadame.com