Cucina is a fine-dining restaurant at the five-star Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel in the heart of Kowloon’s prime shopping enclave, Tsim Sha Tsui. Serving authentic Italian cuisine at lunch and dinner, the stylish Italian eatery has breathtaking views of Victoria Harbour.
Hong Kong Restaurants
Journalists, food critics, and travel bloggers were invited by the Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel to experience a tasting menu on a sultry Friday evening in August.
The tasting menu had four courses, starting with a scrumptious starter and ending with a decadent dessert.
Each one of the courses was paired with a different wine.
The mouth-watering repast was prepared by Guest Chef Igor Macchia at the hostelry’s fine-dining Italian eatery, Cucina, a well-respected Kowloon restaurant serving authentic Italian cuisine.
Chef Igor has been working in the kitchens of some of Europe’s most respected Michelin-starred restaurants since he was 20. His dishes were showcased at the popular restaurant for three days only.
Cucina is considered to be one of the best restaurants in Hong Kong.
Here I am (right) with Michelin-starred Italian Chef Igor Macchia (left) and Delzanno Andrea Oreste (middle), Chef de Cuisine at Cucina, the fine-dining Italian restaurant at the Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel.
Situated on the sixth floor of the hotel, the restaurant overlooks Hong Kong’s iconic Victoria Harbour.
The dramatically lit skyline of Hong Kong Island is pictured across the harbour in the background.
Here I am (back right) posing with other journalists, food critics, and travel bloggers as well as representatives of the Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel after finishing a mouth-watering dinner.
The Tasting Menu …
We were served a four-course tasting menu. All of us were served the same first and second course, but we had a choice of three main courses – beef, seafood, or vegetarian – and two desserts.
The Starter …
Warm Salmon Fillet with Smoked Mayonnaise, Miso, and Sesame – the starter was velvety Norwegian salmon that had been very slightly steamed and served very slightly warm.
Served with dabs of smoked mayonnaise and miso, the salmon was topped with a scattering of caviar jewels.
What a way to start the evening!
The Risotto …
Saffron Risotto with Burrata Cheese, Pan-fried Langoustine, and Coffee Powder – the risotto was seasoned with saffron and topped with creamy burrata cheese and yummy langoustine from New Zealand.
The risotto was dusted with powdered coffee, adding a distinctively contemporary twist to this traditional Milanese dish.
The Main Course …
Grilled Beef Sirloin with Cherry, Duck Liver, and Potatoes – I opted for the beef dish, which was topped with mouthwatering duck’s liver and creamy potatoes.
The dish was artistically presented, reminiscent of an Italian masterpiece.
Other choices included King Fish with Salad Soup, Vegetables, Capers, and Olives; and Steamed Green Asparagus, Cheese Fondue, and Black Truffle.
The Dessert …
Chef Igor’s Tiramisu – I opted for the tiramisu. The other choice was Grapefruit Gelatin with White Chocolate Mousse, Spiced Sponge Cake, and Freeze-dried Raspberries.
What a difficult choice it was! I’m a big fan of grapefruit, but I’m also always curious to see how different Italian chefs interpret Italy’s most famous dessert.
In the end, I had no regrets choosing the tiramisu. Chef Igor deconstructed the tiramisu, presenting each ingredient separately, substituting milk mouse for mascarpone cheese, which resulted in a distinctively lighter taste – perfect for a summer’s eve!
Adding texture, the sponge cake was paired with coffee ice cream, hazelnut crumble, and chocolate flakes.
Chef Igor’s interpretation of tiramisu offered a delightful balance of flavours and textures. I LOVED the crunchiness of the hazelnut crumble!
The Ambience …
Cucina has a spacious cocktail lounge at the entrance, encouraging diners to mingle before being seated for dinner.
The dining room is darkly mysterious with dark wood, dark chocolatey tones, and deep red accents.
There is an open kitchen, an outdoor terrace, and spaces for private dining and special occasions.
The Verdict …
This was a well paced meal, with a light menu that was perfect for a sultry summer’s eve.
The standout dish was the Warm Salmon Fillet with Smoked Mayonnaise, Miso, and Sesame. The salmon practically melted in my mouth.
As for the dessert, Chef Igor’s interpretation of tiramisu was arguably the best version of this Italian classic that I have ever had.
The Regular Menu …
Priced at ZHK$888 per person (plus HK$550 for wine pairing), the Tasting Menu was served for three nights only.
Cucina’s regular menu runs from antipasti and soups to pastas, seafood, meats, grilled dishes, side dishes, and desserts.
The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner.
The Hotel …
Cucina is located in the Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel, which has 665 rooms and suites, three food and beverage outlets, an outdoor swimming pool, a gym, and a kids’ club.
Other F&B outlets include an all day-dining cafe and a lobby lounge.
Located on Level 1, Cafe Marco serves international dishes at breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner, with both buffets and a la carte menus.
The Location …
The Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel is situated within Harbour City, Hong Kong’s largest shopping complex, with more than 450 upscale shops and numerous food and beverage outlets
The hotel is located in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong’s premier tourist district, on the Kowloon side of Victoria Harbour.
1881 Heritage, the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Space Museum, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, and the Star Ferry Terminal are all a short walk from the hotel.
Where
Cucina – Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel, 3 Canton Road, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Tel: (852) 2113-0808.
The hotel is a short walk from entrances to the Tsim Sha Tsui and East Tsim Sha Tsui MTR stations.
Click on the following link for more information on the hotel …
Note: this post contains affiliate links.