fino restaurant review (3.5/5)

I don't have Spanish food very often at all. The last time was well over a year ago, so our little trapeze to Fino was a real treat, especially after a long (and unfortunately unsuccessful) assessment centre day.

Fino is the big sister of Barrafina (which I have added to the bucket list), and has a very grown-up vibe, tucked away in the basement on the glitzy end of Charlotte Street. It has a bar right in front of the kitchen where you can have a quick bite over a drink and another one on the upper floor, but proper sit-down tables dominate the space. The menu is definitely more sophisticated than most tapas bars, and we went for a range of dishes, most of which were reasonably good.

Our favourite was the potato and chorizo chips. Small chunks of chorizo are fried with a crispy, thin batter, and they burst with fiery flavour. We had to order a second helping. The octopus risotto with ink sauce (arroz negro) was nice - the octopus was very fresh and had a lovely smokey aftertaste, but the paella itself was a bit lacking in flavour.

Fino: potato and chorizo chips

Fino: arroz negro

Next up were the meat dishes. The chorizo and alioli tortilla was a pleasant surprise. The insides of the omelette is much moister than the traditional version, and it actually went down really nicely with the alioli, which is a Catalan sauce made of garlic, eggs and olive oil. I would've preferred a bit more chorizo in it, but otherwise it was one of the highlights of the night. Meanwhile, my boyfriend, being ever so adventurous, ordered the lamb brains. I refused to try the brains itself, which was deep fried in batter to contrast with its mushy texture. It got the stamp of approval, and the tomato sauce (which I tried) was outstanding, with just the right kick of spice.

Fino: chorizo & alioli tortilla

Fino: inside the chorizo & alioli tortilla

Fino: lamb brains

My absence from the blogging scene has evidently dulled my memory, as I have forgotten the name of our last main dish. I believe it was pork shoulder with cheese and a fried egg on bread. It was the least impressive dish of the night. The combination of the cheese, egg and vinegar was overpowering. The vinegar in particular sat very oddly within the palette. It didn't look very appetising either - from the side, it just reminded me of an eye. Don't ask.

I've never been a huge fan of Spanish dessert, but Fino does offer a decent range. I went for the pear dessert, which tasted a bit too strongly of alcohol, and my boyfriend had a traditional milhojas, which is a bit like the mille-feuille, and was delicious.

Fino: milhojas 

Fino: pear with mascarpone cream

The bill came to a reasonable £80, including water for the table and one cocktail, and we were stuffed to the brim. Service was sleek, albeit a little bit stingy with the smiles. Overall, it was a bit of a mixed bag at times, but the menu is interesting and it can definitely lure me back for another try. But before that, next stop - Barrafina.

italy - a curation

It's been a while, we know, but lots had to be done in the aftermath of a 9-day trip to paradise, including the beginning of university and whatnot. We're totally aware of the fact that the content of this blog is no longer confined to the wonders of London anymore, so what the hell, we're blogging about Italy too! A selection of photos before we delve into the wonderful restaurants that completely spoiled us rotten.

The long and winding road from Sorrento to Positano by SITA bus.

The lovely view of Praiano on the left from Nocelle.

Great vantage point of Nocelle's spectacular cliffs.

When in doubt, follow the Trattoria sign.

View of Positano lighting up in the haze from Trattoria Santa Croce.

Positano by daylight.

The Green Grotto of Capri.

The queue for the bus from Anacapri to Capri.

Amazing view of Positano from Le Terraze.

From the balcony of our suite in Hotel Savoie.

The Fountain of Neptune in Bologna at dusk.

The Anatomical Theatre of the Archiginassio

The breathtaking Cathedral of Parma.

Portico di Santa Luca.

Pizza in Corniglia.

The Marina of Corniglia.

Sunset.

Meow!

a spa with a view: bliss at the w hotel, hong kong (4/5)

I like being high up, it seems.

After eating on the 103rd floor in its neighbouring tower, my sister and I went to the Bliss Spa on the 72nd floor of W Hotel on a quiet Monday morning. Prices are rather steep, but we decided that being pampered in the presence of such amazing views was a good deal.

And a good deal it was. Arriving almost embarrassingly early (more than an hour and a half prior to our appointment time - it's recommended that you get there an hour before), we had the place completely to ourselves. The changing room is a lovely space with everything you need - towels, hairdryers, bottled water and Bliss products. It is connected to the wet area, which is really where the action is. There are plenty of rain showers with exceedingly complicated controls (it took me 5 minutes to figure out how to turn the various water outlets off), a sauna, a steam room and a vitality pool boasting incredible views of Victoria Harbour.

You're not meant to stay in the vitality pool for more than 10 minutes at a go, so the ledge was greatly appreciated. You could also turn on the water jets, but be careful when moving around - yours truly tripped over one of the benches and landed face down in the water whilst scraping a knee.

We went for the Blissage 75 treatment, priced at HK$1180 excluding a 10% service charge. It includes a hot foot wax (for moisturising, not hair removal), an eye mask and a relaxing full-body massage. Though they didn't quite have to peel me off the table as the spa menu promised, it was a thoroughly good pampering experience. Spa guests are invited to the lounge after, where light snacks are provided. We were hugely disappointed at the 'Brownie Buffet', which is misleadingly just a plate of mediocre brownies. The fresh lemonade is delicious though.

a restaurant with a view, chocolate library in hong kong (3/5)

Chocolate Library has caused a frenzy among Hong Kong eaters for a while now, especially its dessert high tea which is served in mini bookshelfs (hence the name of the restaurant).

I'm not a huge fan of dessert, so I went for the lunch buffet with my sister one fine afternoon. For HK$280, it was a bargain. We were seated on the edge of a balcony overlooking what looked like a fancy Italian restaurant underneath, popular with suited corporate types. The huge windows gave an amazing view of Hong Kong - I could only imagine how stunning it will be in the evening.

Service was impeccable. Fast, friendly and discreet. Chefs milled about refilling empty dishes on the buffet bars, and were keen to strike up friendly conversations.

The food itself was the weakest point of the experience. Presentation was excellent, but quality was just not quite there. I didn't even touch any of the hot food, with the Chinese palette sitting uncomfortable in the middle of a selection of fusion starters and decidedly European desserts. The ham on the roast was a huge disappointment. The pumpkin soup, however, was delicious. There was a good selection of cheeses, where I spent the most time at.

And finally the dessert. There was a wide selection, albeit a bit idiotically arranged - I found it hard to pick up pieces from the lower shelves, but alas, it is the Chocolate Library after all. The brownie and hazelnut mousse with a crunchy base were excellent, and my sister loved the pecan pie.

I went for the novelty of eating on the 103rd floor, and for that alone the price was justified. Time is tight though, with the buffet opening at half 12, and ending promptly at 2 pm to prepare for tea time. Before you go, pay the washroom a visit. The view is even more amazing.

Mediocre cold cuts and excellent cheeses.

The hazelnut mousses with a crunchy base.

View from the washroom.