People often ask me about how I juggle full time work and events, but it's not that hard once you establish a quota for events per week. That also means my personal after-work plans get pushed to the lowest priority in my schedule, and this is where I realised there are only very few restaurants I would go back to on my own on a recurring basis. One of these restaurants is SOMM at Landmark Mandarin Oriental. I visited for the first time when it opened early this year, and fell in love with Chef de Cuisine Mario Paecke's simple, rustic and perfectly executed western-Japanese dishes. Think elevated comfort food enjoyed in a relaxed ambience, coupled with the famous hospitality of Mandarin Oriental hotels. That is a night at SOMM, summed up.
SOMM offers a variety of menus, including breakfast (730am-1030am), weekend sommelier's lunch (12pm-230pm), dinner (530pm-1030pm) and supper (9pm-1030pm).
Below are the a la carte dishes I usually order for dinner, with some new additions from this season (winter 2019), and I highly recommend you to try if you're going for the first time. Remember to ask the knowledgeable sommeliers for wine list recommendations. Notice that the restaurant interior is styled after a wine barrel!
Kadaifi Fried Taiyouran Egg (HK$118) with sour cream and smoked pike perch roe. The velvety egg yolk explodes when you cut through the crunchy nest with a fork.
Tasmanian Salmon Confit (HK$198) with ikura, konbu crisps and vinegared rice cream. Impossibly tender salmon topped with fresh salmon roe, and given just the right amount of acidity from the cream underneath.
Grass-fed Beef Tartare (HK$598) comes with crisped Jerusalem artichokes and 4 grams of seasonal white truffle shavings. The beef melted - almost like toro - and I loved the various textures present throughout the dish.
Line-caught Suzuki Seabass (HK$368) grilled Spanish-style, on a hot metal plate. The accompanying fennel, yuzu and champagne butter sauce lend a refreshing and zesty contrast to the dish.
Japanese Pork Belly (HK$328), a long-time SOMM signature. The dish is served with a BBQ sauce and crunchy Hakata cabbage, which cuts through the richness of the fatty belly.
Potato & Black Winter Truffle Gratin Dauphinois (V) (HK$198), another SOMM signature and a must-order side dish. Utterly irresistible creamy potatoes that are perfect for winter time.
Abinao Chocolate Souffle (HK$128), served with cacao sorbet. Light as a cloud, and delicious in spades. I can't recommend this dessert enough.
Paris Hong Kong (HK$118), a new seasonal dessert addition. The religieuse features peanut creme, brittle, caramel and cacao nibs. Light and tasty, as with all desserts I've tried at SOMM.
This isn't part of the a la carte, and only available for breakfast. But my god this croissant was good. I prefer the soft, buttery inside of SOMM's croissant rather than the crunchy, layered variety similar to Gontran Cherrier's, and this one just hit the spot for me.
SOMM at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental
Tel: +852 2132 0055 Email: LMHKG-RESTAURANTS@MOHG.COM Address: 7/F, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental The Landmark, 15 Queen's Road Central, Central