十月下旬‧晴
2011年,上午11時正,在尖沙咀的維港薈,2012年的港澳米芝蓮推介正式公佈。至今一切塵埃落定,3間三星,10間兩星,48間一星,相信賽果大家也知道得七七八八。作為一個已吃勻絕大部份香港餐廳的食評家來說,每年我也會在專欄中評論一下最新的推介,今年就移師回我的部落格。
先按這裡看看每年米芝蓮星級推介的名單。
米芝蓮三星:有驚有喜
無論你在明處怎樣臭駡這本推介都好,我相信暗地裡大家還是滿留意有那幾間餐廳是拿了米芝蓮星,當中尤其是拿了三粒米芝蓮星的。是年有驚沒喜,由舊年三間餐廳到今年多加一間,但就有兩位新成員。8 ½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana是我最覺得意外的選擇,因為意大利菜在亞洲一向米芝蓮二星止步,強如新宿及猿樂町的Ristorante ASO及大阪的都是如此,但Bombana就成功的衝破這個介限。那裡的tasting menu我吃過(食評在此),可能這一年他進步不少,又或者米芝蓮試吃員吃的跟我們的不一樣,看來我也要找個機會再去一次。
L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon亦是打破介限的另一間店子,因為在米芝蓮推介中「工作檯」最強只是二星。而盧布松先生也在這裡獲得了大滿貫(新葡京的朋友們亦然!),也是慶賀他的新「天巢」開張的最佳賀禮吧。至於四季酒店的兩間三星店,龍景軒我不想多說,連續八天吃那裡的師傅菜,我想任何人都不會及我更認識那裡(食評在此!),我只可以說米芝蓮試吃員真的零舍不同。而Caprice今年也吃過(食評在此!),那裡無疑是本地其中一間最好的法國餐廳,始終在香港也後無來者。不過值不值得三顆星,就要看閣下有沒有作出比較了,我看是任何一間在日本的三星法國餐廳也比不上,對不起。
至於新同樂的跌星,真的非常遺憾。論菜式那裡絕對比龍景軒好(食評在此!),但欠缺的相信就是公關的努力。而明眼人看今年的推介,也會清楚看到The Mira旗下食肆普遍跌星 ~ 除了IFC國金軒撈回一個安慰獎。
米芝蓮二星:面目模糊
在米芝蓮推介中二星食肆的流動性向來最大,因為很多rising starts或falling stars都會在這裡逗留一下,而有時新插班的也會來了這一班,往年的國金軒及8 ½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana就是一例。今年的十間店子中,沒有插班生,當中一半是rising stars。
當中最值得留意的就是夜上海,這裡是「KC星空巡禮飯局」的起點(食評在此!),也是亞洲區第一間摘下米芝蓮二星的滬菜店。姑勿論你同意與否都好,可以想像那裡必定客似雲來。Spoon by Alain Ducasse是另一間修成正果的店子,還記得在現任主廚上任前那裡做的只是一般(或比一般難吃)的西餐,談不上是法國菜。香宮是最多人帶隊去「挑那星」的地方,每次給人問起那裡的水準,我只可說如果只吃午市點心,你絕不會體會到那裡中菜的出色之處,而且那邊的大廚也不是喜歡站出來跟大家影「集郵照」的人。
Bo Innovation是第一年港澳米芝蓮的二星餐廳,捱了兩年今年也終於coming back了。其實廚魔Alvin的功夫一向了得(食評在此!),有此結果絕對不令人意外。至於利苑,沒話好說了,同一個飲食集團的十間同名店連奪十一粒米芝蓮星的,不是你我凡人可以理解及明白的。不過有一點KC可同意,就是旺角利苑水準真的不錯,尤其海鮮的烹調而言。
至於跌星的店子,唐閣及The Mira國金軒是絕不意外,有跟KC去吃過的朋友也都知曉(食評在此,唐閣及國金軒!),比起其他的中菜星店那裡真是遜色一點。桃花源小廚舊年放手一幹上了二星,今年跟澳門分店同回一星,又重新起步。
至於原有的二星店子,Pierre及Amber都是非常穩陣的地方,Chef Pierre始終在亞洲是突破不了米芝蓮二星(食評在此!),而有Richard的四平八穩Amber其實也是二星「穩膽之選」(食評在此!)。至於同樣夠「穩」的是名人坊的富哥,其實論菜式水準,那裡絕對有三星的質素(食評在此!)。明閣還可以力挽狂瀾的為朗廷集團佔了二星的一個席位,曾師傅功不可沒。
米芝蓮一星:兵荒馬亂
也不要再談一點心又或是添好運s定恆河咖哩屋s了,無論大家幾多「WTF」都至少會留在米芝蓮一星的名單上好一陣子。新加入的店子六間,阿一海景飯店一來就與富臨飯店齊名,景觀是有價的。其實今時今日IFC國金軒食物比The Mira的國金軒好一點,天龍軒的一星就全靠大廚劉師傅的功力,始終嘉麟樓也是少林寺。Mirror Restaurant也是一來就是一星,是對大廚Jeremy的大鼓勵,也在此恭喜主理人David(食評在此!)。粵是我不太明白的一間店子,那裡的食評好壞落差頗大。
昇級的店子五間,舊年已在各大小雜誌貼St George的奪星,誰不知今年來修成正果。文華廳終於也擠身星級食肆之列,以那裡的食物水準及服務來說也可以說是毫不失禮亦實至名歸。從來也不喜歡新斗記,如果那裡有米芝蓮一星的水準,那麼容記小菜王又或是增輝廚藝如果裝修好一點也同樣是米芝蓮一星。至於大班樓,今晚就去跟葉先生吃飯,時候剛好,哈!
澳門:屍橫遍野
說實話,作為看了各地米芝蓮推介十多年的忠實讀者來說,香港的米芝蓮推介是甚鬆手的,敢說有不少在這邊拿米芝蓮一星的店子在別處真的連推介也談不上。但同一標準又不能套用在澳門的食肆身上,那邊奪星的只有七間店子及12粒星,單是新葡京及永利軒內的五間食肆已佔去其中9粒星,而除了四季的紫逸軒外,餘下的一粒星(又!)是威士斯人的利苑。
換句話說,其他澳門的店子是不值一星,你信不信米芝蓮的試吃員真的有花時間在那邊吃?我不信!
不過這樣,每個評審也會有爭議,也會有滄海遺珠,就算到了第四年的這本米芝蓮推介也如是。姑勿論你覺得那裡的推介的可信性如何,但囊括幾百間食肆的一本美食推介,怎說也有一點參考價值,至少已有相當的覆蓋率。至少大家去吃過今年推介的坤記竹昇麵又或是強記嗎?第一腸粉及泰潮呢?還有鰂魚涌的羅勒。如果沒有,暫且不要大大聲的瞎說這本推介沒公信力,還是多吃一點才談。
我已吃過九成推介內的食肆,我相信我有資格這樣說。
It is very interesting how much power this controversial rubber tire company has at judging cuisine and awarding stars, where more stars cause a restaurant to explode in popularity (and profits) from international exposure. But time and time again they have proved that they have mysterious, hidden, and illogical criterium when it comes to judging native Asian cuisines, whether it be in Japan or high end Cantonese in Hong Kong, and I certainly do not see this trend stopping at any point. Even though I have never eaten at places like Ho Hung Kee, you and numerous other like minded well experienced eaters clearly explain the big picture to those of us living abroad, as to what one should look for in terms of a well executed simple dish or noodle bowl, yet this place consistently gets shilled by the media, Michelin, and guide books worldwide. Which leads me to think Michelin thinks globally way more than locally...they take the tourist's point of view into account. To numerous tourists coming to HK for the first time, to them Cantonese food is either cha siu, dim sum, won ton noodles...and in a way, these Michelin guide and recommendations only continue to fuel this narrow spectrum of what is really available.
回覆刪除Gaddi's 連一粒星都冇,係咪有乜「特別」原因?
回覆刪除Michelin thinks globally way more than locally...they take the tourist's point of view into account. totally agreed. do you think caucasian would appreciate the taste of 花膠, dry abalone etc. ? they just don't like this type of testure no matter how expensive or CHEAP they are.
回覆刪除匿名, your point is well taken, but by that token one can still order 鮑參肚翅 at Fook Lum Moon, The Forum, Lei Gardens, and I suppose Yung Kee to name a few Michelin star places (or those that have been awarded at one point but no longer). Michelin is very likely not using dried seafood themed dishes to measure a Cantonese restaurant in Hong Kong for awarding stars, but a set of incredibly obscure and unknown criteria, that obviously includes things KC would look out for (but through a different set of lens) including service, ambiance, and the total package. Tourist appeal is definitely a key measurement because every foreign blogger and guidebook (including those in Taiwan or Singapore or expats living in USA) want to visit Tim Ho Wan for dim sum and Lung King Heen every chance they get, when there are alternatives (but they just don't know enough to research on their own). Now in terms of restaurants that are Michelin recommended (but have no stars), the team evaluating this list may have a local Hong Kong Chinese person or more (versus the team giving stars out, probably someone higher up in the corporate ladder).
回覆刪除