[Taipei] [Buffets] Latest Recipe - 台北艾美酒店探索廚房 晚餐篇

位於台北寒舍艾美酒店 (Le Meridien Taipei Hotel)中的探索廚房自助餐是目前台北飯店自助餐之中最高貴同時也是最難訂到位子的一間. 每逢周末假日, 沒有提早訂位是幾乎不可能吃的到, 今年回台灣剛好跟家人聚餐也就早早請飯店住房人員安排包廂讓我來體驗這間台北市最熱門的自助餐

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餐廳採用銀, 黃, 黑色系為基調, 與亞洲其他艾美酒店相呼應.

這裡有現點現做的拉麵, 還有招牌的帝王蟹麵/米粉湯. 湯頭尚稱清爽, 蟹肉雖然是冷凍過的, 可是也不會過於乾澀 (比Wynn的縮水帝王蟹腳吃起來更加甜美).
現煮各類麵食, 還有港式糕點.
現點現切的生魚片, 鮮度不在話下.
各式各樣不同的料理
現炸的天婦羅
現煎的鐵板燒, 他們的牛排出乎意料的好吃, 非常的鮮嫩.
不同種類的Pizza, 麵包還有不同的沾醬.
他們的甜點做的也是相當有水準, 不因為是自助餐而在品質上偷懶.

帝王蟹米粉湯
各式甜點
除了照片上的食物外, 這裡還有多種蔬菜沙拉, 現榨果汁等迎合每張挑剔的嘴, 以CP值來說, 我認為這裡的食物比W Hotels的自助餐種類更加豐富, 味道更為美味. 不過他們的生意實在是太好了, 如果有計畫來吃一定要提前訂位.

Latest Recipe

Le Meridien Taipei Hotel
38 SongRen Rd, Xinyi District,
Taipei, 110

(886) 2 6622 8000

http://www.lemeridien-taipei.com/#/cuisine/2

[Palos Verdes] [Brunch] Catalina Kitchen - 無敵海景五星級早餐

Catalina Kitchen 是LA地區少數幾間五星級飯店中有提供早上All You Can Eat Brunch. 他們餐廳最大的優勢就在於他們的地理優勢, 可以俯瞰Palos Verdes Peninsula 的美景. 坐在Outdoor Patio Seating, 就可以一邊看著藍天白雲, 一邊優閒的吃早餐, 好不優哉.

Cocktail Station - 這間Brunch的調酒是需要另外收費 (Mimosa, Bloody Mary)
Soup Station - Tortilla Soup & Miso Soup. 他們的味增湯非常清爽, 可以隨意添加海帶&豆腐.
Breakfast Pastries : Toast - Sourdough, white, wheat, rye, bagels, cream cheese, preserves & butter.
Croissant, Danish, Muffins, Coffee Cakes
Omelets & Waffle Station
Freshly Sliced Ham, Fruit Smoothies, Assorted Yogurts
Dim sum with Fried Spring Rolls
Assorted Gourmet Cheese, Smoked Salmon with Condiments
Fresh sliced fruits
Fresh Berries, Cherries, Fruits and Dried Fruits
他們的水果跟一般Buffet不同的的地方在於他們有精心挑選過, 真的比較甜! 尤其是鳳梨真的很好吃. 他們的Danish 作的也很有層次, 非常酥脆.
他們的熟食也相當美味. 特別是他們的烘蛋, 自由挑選的配料可以隨心所欲的搭配出獨一無二的口味. 我選的是加入了大量新鮮蘆筍蘑菇的蔬菜起司烘蛋.
Cheese 融化在烘蛋中. 有Cheddar Cheese, Swiss Cheese等多種選擇.
他們的Waffle 也是有許多配料選擇, 他們的Coffee Cake作的非常好, 有奶油的香甜, 吃了有驚艷感!
幾個小叮嚀:

1. 來這裡吃Sunday Brunch最好要先訂位, 要求Patio (Outdoor Seating)可以看到海景

2. 這裡的Pastry 都很好吃, 尤其是Coffee Cake

3. 他們的服務很好, 有些東西就算不是在Menu上面他們都會特別客製, 像是Egg Benedict.

4. 生日當天來用餐有免費的海陸大餐 (憑ID)

Catalina Kitchen

100 Terranea Resort
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

(310) 265-2800

www.catalinakitchen.com

[Las Vegas] [Buffet] Lago Buffet at Caesars Palace - 賭城自助餐總介紹 Part 6

位於Caesars Palace Casino & Resort裡的Lago Buffet是他們集團中佔地最小的自助餐, 也因為佔地小, 所以他們菜色的選擇性則相對的少了許多. 不過這間Buffet的精緻度相對比起來反而是最好的. 在口味上的品管反而比那些人多的自助餐來的嚴格. 這間Buffet 很適合當作Buffet of Buffets Pass 中的早餐/午餐選擇. (晚餐則推薦Planet Hollywood Spice Market Buffet 或者是 Rio Carnival Buffet來開始).

Carved Station - Ham & Prime Rib
Seafood Station
Hot Food Station
Salad Station
Fresh Fruits & Yogurts
Dessert Station - Lago Buffet 最強調的就是他們的甜點, 他們也用了相當大的空間來放置他們的甜點, 從標準的蛋糕, 餅乾, 道無糖糕點等, 應有盡有.
他們強調他們的甜點是由Award Winning Chef製作. 吃起來的確口感細緻, 而且不會有美式甜點那種過甜的顧慮. 我推薦他們家的幕斯小蛋糕 (Raspberry Mousse Cake).

Gelato Station - 來這裡一定要吃他們的Gelato! 跟Rio比起來種類並沒那麼多, 不過他們的甜點用的是好吃的Waffle Sugar Cone! 酥脆的甜筒配上水果味濃郁的Gelato, 吃飽後還可以帶一個打包走出去!
Strawberry & Rum Gelato

Lago Buffet

Caesars Palace Hotel & Casino
3570 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89109

(866) 227-5938

[Torrance] [Japanese] Benihana - 紅花鐵板燒之壽司吃到飽

位於Torrance Del Amo Shopping Center附近的Benihana 紅花鐵板燒有一個區塊是專門提供握壽司. 在平日(Monday to Thursday)的晚上有提供壽司吃到飽, 一個人$29.99, 不限用餐時間, 愛吃壽司的人來到這裡會得到很大的飽足感.

他們的壽司晚餐除了熱湯跟沙拉還有枝豆是可以無限量供應外, 其他的appetizers 都不能夠吃到飽.
壽司的選擇雖然不多, 但是勝在日籍師傅現場捏製, 現切現捏的壽司吃起來口感還是比較優良
除了一部分高級食材不列入吃到飽的範圍內, 常見的魚材像是Tuna, Salmon, Yellowtail, Squid, Octupus, Eel, Smelt Egg, Egg, Shrimp, Red Snapper, Albacore都有包含在吃到飽的名單內.
魚的厚度大小適中, 飯也沒給的特別多.
手卷也是現點現做 (Salmon Skin Handroll)
Rainbow Roll 等捲物也是可以隨意點用
Tamago (Egg) Sushi
Spider Roll

Benihana

21327 Hawthorne Blvd
Torrance, CA 90503

(310) 316-7777

[Pasadena] [Brunch] Maison Akira - 日法混血Sunday Brunch體驗 (地雷餐廳)(English/Chinese)

Maison Akira餐廳在Pasadena一帶的華人圈頗具盛名, 不過我總結我兩次的用餐體驗並不覺得這是一間值得我推薦的餐廳. 我第一次是來品嘗他們有名的Chef's Special Lunch Set, 第二次則是他們有名的Sunday Brunch. 我認為以他們的定位, 他們在餐點的品質上還有許多需要加強的地方. 這一次的Review是他們的Sunday Brunch體驗.

Maison Akira由主廚 Akira Hirose 開設(並非其他部落格寫的Chef Maison Akira, Maison在法文意旨"家"), 主要以日本料理的素材來料理法國菜. 這間餐廳也榮獲2009米其林指南的推薦餐廳之一. 這位主廚也曾為日本天皇造訪美國洛杉磯時料理午餐, 算是十分有名氣.

餐廳不大, 所以料理的多元度也有限, 說實話, 這些菜色的賣相不佳, 除了他們的Miso Fish 與茶碗蒸外, 其他的燉牛肉, 馬鈴薯, 蒸青菜不是味道不足, 就是讓人感覺到沒有誠意只是擺來湊數的.

他們的茶碗蒸是他們的招牌菜色之一. 蛋非常的滑嫩, 高湯與蟹肉的搭配非常好. 不過我比較不習慣的是, 這也是他們唯一的Hot Egg Dish, 我認為他們因該提供單點的烘蛋/炒蛋等傳統早餐選項.
Roasted Beef, Turkey, Lamb Leg, Prime Rib with Red Wine Dressing
Salads and various cold dishes
Sushi - 他們的壽司以自助餐的標準來說算是相當不錯, 算是值得吃的菜色之一.
Cold dishes presentation

Dessert - 這裡的甜點絕對不能錯過, 每一個都小巧可愛, 口感也不差. 唯獨他們的層次感少了一點.

水果也十分新鮮
他們的布丁是今天最美味的甜點, 不過需要加上旁邊的覆盆子醬(Raspberry Sauce)去強調那種甜酸合一的美味.
牛肉的肉質並沒我想的那麼優良, 太多筋了, 也沒有甜美的肉汁. 他們的紅酒醬味道太淡, 並不能補足牛肉的缺點.

餐廳的服務維持了日系餐廳一貫的親切服務, 不過以這種價位並無法吸引我再次造訪這間餐廳

I gave this restaurant two chances. Once for the lunch, once for their Sunday brunch. My expectations were pretty high for this place due to the excellent peer review but I was disappointed with the taste/quality of the food that they delivered.

The following review is for my recent Sunday Brunch experience.
On Sunday, this restaurant offers All you can eat Brunch for $35/pp. For 3 dollars more, you can get ONE glass (non-refillable) champagne. There aren't two seatings as others mentioned. You can come in anytime between 11am to 2pm. They just stop serving food around 1:45pm - 2pm. So come early for best selection of food.

The selections were very limited due to the size of the restaurant. I was very shocked that they did not even have made to order Omelet! How can a Sunday Brunch served without an egg dish! They have crab chawanmushi (Steamed Crab Egg Custard) to offset that, which is also their signature dish. It is one of my favorite hot item among the brunch but I still prefer a true omelet/egg benedict/egg dishes for Brunch. They also offered miso glazed fish, stewed beef, roasted beef, prime rib, lamb leg as part of their hot items. To be honest, I was NOT impressed with the taste of the food. It was rather bland and tasteless. The meat have tendons which I did not like and the red wine/rosemary dressing that they provided was not enough to cover up the taste of the meat.

The cold dishes were rather, plain too. It has been sitting there for a while (the salads started to dry up when I arrive) and I did not find many items that I liked. The sushi was the good part of the cold dishes, but it was rather limited. I think the best cold dishes were Hamachi sushi and their Tuna sushi. They also have a warm/hot soup (Cream of Asparagus) which lack of taste as well.

Their dessert was the best part of the meal. Fruits were fresh enough and the chocolate dipped strawberry is always good to have. Their Caramel flan is very good. Smooth texture and full of taste. Right amount of sweetness. My friends and I also liked the roasted pineapple tart. Everything else is again, Average but does not have major fault (but it does not stand out as well).

Their service were VERY good. We had a very friendly yet courteous waitress which I think raised the overall performance of this otherwise un-inspirational restaurant.

For the price that they charge, this is sure a major disappointment for me. I don't know what is the hype over this place. I already give this place two tries. I don't know what will be a good reason to convince me to come again.

Maison Akira

713 E Green St
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 796-9501