One Michelin Star, April 2018
I should start with the reason I was in China. In 2018, my Dad won a prestigious sales award at work, and he was invited to a Winner's Circle event in Shanghai. He graciously invited me to join him to experience the activities and galas that were held in celebration of the winners, and we extended our trip to include a weekend getaway to Hong Kong.
As I had recently discovered a new passion for experiencing fine dining (thanks to a fiery curiosity that grew in me since watching the Netflix series "Chef's Table), Dad did some research and decided to thank me for coming along with him to China and enduring a 21 hour flight by booking a table at Tosca; a Michelin starred Italian restaurant in the Ritz Carlton hotel. I cannot explain how blessed this trip made me feel, and I truly felt enlightened on my return.
The anticipation and excitement I had to eat at Tosca with my Dad was overwhelming. It was funny to think that, in Hong Kong, on the 102nd floor of the Ritz Carlton hotel, there would reside a Michelin Star Italian Restaurant. It seemed like a sneaky little Easter Egg hiding within the city, in the tallest building for miles.
As first impressions go, the elevator from the base of the hotel to the 102nd floor is a glamorous, almost gravity-defying experience. One might propose that a staff member should be readily available to offer Dramamine tablets to guests who may (or may not) be prone to nausea. From the Ritz Carlton lobby, the buzz in my ears and any remaining queasiness faded as we walked into the beautiful dark marble receiving area. The dark walls were shiny and almost mirror-like, creating an uber modern atmosphere. From here, at a far corner, the sign for Tosca is mounted adjacent to a row of long escalators.
We boarded the escalators, ready to experience whatever masterpieces in cuisine awaited us, while taking in amazing views of the city.
The appearance of the restaurant was not a disappointment. It was dripping with modern glam from artwork on the shining black walls to dazzling gems underneath the glass runner that flowed down the hallways like a river through the restaurant. The darkened, glowing halls opened up unto a magnificent, open space with a panoramic view of Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor. The city of Hong Kong itself, is a photogenic delight in the day and at night. I have likened it to a busier (foot traffic-wise) version of New York city with shorter, more tropical looking towers (tropical in both color and in stature, aside from the several towering and modern structures like the Ritz Carlton), and all set in a "King Kong's Island"-like landscape. The island's tall and lush mountains, the general hot and humid climate, and the surrounding waters are critical elements that result in an unbelievable fog that rolls over the jungle-y forests until it hits the concrete jungle. The water is the lightest blue you can picture, despite the heavy commercial traffic of natural resources being shipped and brought in on long cargo boats. It is a stunning sight to behold from the towering windows at Tosca.
The restaurant was virtually empty when we arrived, so my Dad asked if we could be seated near the window so we could take in the views as the sun set. Despite all of the window tables being available, we were told that the tables were already reserved. Oddly enough, there was actually only one party that came to sit at a window table about an hour after we arrived, and they left within a hour.
As far as the menu went, the Chef's Tasting Menu was $2,280 Hong Kong Dollars per person, and another $1,580 HK per person for the Wine Pairings. This equates to about $290(US)/person for the meal, and another $201(US)/person for the pairings. These prices aren't out of the question for a Chef's Tasting Menu at a Michelin star restaurant, however I can count on all of my fingers and toes the number of restaurants on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list that have a more reasonable price for their Chef's Tasting menu and accompaniments.
We ended up deciding to order A La Carte so we could be a little more picky-choosy about our entrees and desserts.
In regards to the food, I can definitely say that it felt like the menu was more Italian-Asian fusion than Italian. Tosca's ingredients were clearly next-level in taste and quality, but I was unsure about some of the flavor combinations that were presented. When I think of Italian food, I think of rustic flavors, simple ingredients; cheese, balsamic vinegar and olive oil, and other flavors that nod to the Tuscan country-side.
Despite my confused palate, I admired at how the plates were so decadently decorated and so clearly put together with molecular gastronomy in mind. But, let's just say that Tosca would be doing a kindness to choco-maniacs like myself to stop putting Sriracha into the chocolate cake.
At the end of our meal, the server brought out a tray of small dessert bites, all of which were savory. As one who craves a touch of chocolate and sweetness in my final bites, I audibly laughed when I tasted one of the small bites; it tasted exactly like a Ritz cracker that had been sprayed with Cheez Whiz. (LOL)
After the sun had set and restaurant had cleared out, we were allowed to move to a table at the window, and we were served a complementary aperitif and we were presented with a second round of the Ritz Cracker bites (at this point we were stuffed to the gills, but I admit that I considered wrapping them up and bringing them back to the room).
For a summary of our time at Tosca: Unbeatable views, glamorous atmosphere, and attentive service, and great quality of ingredients that were just missing the simplicity and rustic essence of Italian cuisine. It is still an experience I truly treasure and am certainly blessed to have been able to create such an amazing trip with my Dad.
Going to China has given me even more perspective in life regarding the experiences that I will hold near and dear to my heart. The day after our dinner at Tosca, we had an unforgettable cultural and culinary experience at the Po Lin Monastery when we went to visit the "Big Buddha." To this day, I still crave the fried Lemon Tofu that we ate on our tour. And, on our flight from Shanghai to Hong Kong, we met a Chinese man from the mainland who just had a baby. After sharing in a wonderful conversation during the flight, we ended up suggesting (since he and his wife hadn't picked an English name yet), that they name her Luna, since her Chinese name meant "Walking in Moonlight." When we landed, he called his wife and she absolutely loved the name, and they decided to keep it.
The journey that we took in China was nothing short of incredible. Nothing can replace the feeling of having a small impact on a stranger, or experiencing the culture and history of a country that you know nothing about. It's humbling and freeing.
So, do I suggest a trip to Tosca for dinner? If you're in Hong Kong- why not? Breakfast at Tosca? Definitely; the views are stunning and the brunch is spectacular. But moreso, I hope that you will travel to Hong Kong one day and walk the streets like you're a local. Get lost and try to find your way. Immerse yourself in the culture and history of the area and appreciate the beauty around you. Do you have to stay at the Ritz Carlton? It's not necessary to become immersed in the city around you, but you WILL take the best shower/bubble bath of your life there. (They have a rain-shower from above with water guns on every side of the shower- if you're not careful you can take one to the eye!) Staying at the RC or not, I still definitely suggest to stop by for a visit to the highest bar in the world "O-Zone" at the top of the Ritz and enjoy a Tsingtao Beer or exotic cocktail. Experience the stunning panoramic views of Hong Kong from the pool on the 118th floor, but don't forget to go back to the ground and experience what is below. THAT is not worth missing out on.
