Enomod - (Hong Kong)

 A new Mediterranean ‘Enoteca Moderna’  promotes the social dining concept,  with a theme that is set to recreate a scenery from the 1930’s in the immigrants infiltrated New York City.   To me the food remains crucially Italian at heart at it’s core but the kitchen then reaches out to explore surrounding regions from this base,  and you will see bits of Spain and Sardinia or Greece and Morocco in some of the recipes on the menu.   Partial owner,  executive chef and also interior designer  Ermanno Lelli converted this SOHO space into seven differently themed sitting areas.   Nostalgic brass copper pipes run throughout the dining space and into the bathrooms all the way to downstairs to become staircase handrails.  It is a very cool space and thoughtful in the schematic design.  

 

 

Italian Wines -
Italy belongs as a sub-group of the Mediterranean countries.

 

 

 

Marinated vegetables and olives,  with Salume and Cheese -
*Also available as take-away items,  at fairly reasonable prices.

 

 

Amazing how the Brass-Copper Pipes run throughout the whole Dining space -
But can be joined as one in unity.

 

 

Italian Wine Barrels -
Your wine carafes will be filled from these..  how rustic.

 

 

 

Brass Pipes and Tungsten lighting -
You got to admire all the attention to details to the spatial design. 

 

 

 

Wet Aged Beef Steak -  about to be marinated for Just Short of 1 month
Infused with garlic and EVOO,  and a few herbs such as Thyme,  Oregano,  Sage,  Parsley..
Chefs here don’t believe in Dry Aging beef.  They think moisture is what keeps the enzyme and bacteria working to make the beef muscle break-down.   Each to their own belief!

 

 

 

Chorizo being fried in Garlic infused Oil and Vinegar -
For the coming pasta dish,  which is served after the Cooking Demo.

 

 

 

A Turkish Glass bottle recovered from a ship wreck,  from the 1900’s -
Some ancient Antiques found here all become part of the overall design scheme.

 
 

 

Riccia Salad -
With tomatoes,  olives and anchovies and frisee leaves.  Refreshing but somehow wished the tomatoes were less hydroponic in taste,  as the Mediterranean is blessed with lovely vine ripened and heirloom tomatoes which are way sweeter!   But liked the anchovies and wish there was more!  ~  6.5/10

 

 

 

Olives,  Olives,  Olives and more Olives -
If this isn’t Mediterranean I must be contradicting myself!   There’s a bit of escabeche eggplant and marinated zucchini thrown in but both tasted pretty similar too.  Also some roasted peppers and pumpkins with herbs.   All marinated in house,  I guess we liked these but somehow expected some sort of other antipasti or mezze to go with it,  such as some dips with pita bread or a little bit more charcuterie/salume cured meats.       6/10

 

6 Hours Lamb Rump with Pistachio Crust -
I liked this and it was flavourful,  although it arrived a little too lukewarm despite me stealing a piece right away whilst others shot pics of the other dish.   (I do that whenever I hear slow-cook as it will be barely below 60C for red meat even with re-searing or grilling).  Mine pieces were just tender enough and the cheesy bread was addictive.  ~  8/10

 

 

 

Crispy Prawns with Citrus Scent -
The citrus input into many of the dishes is appreciated but perhaps the oranges used aren’t the same as those available in Spain,  they weren’t giving it enough of that appetizing zesty ‘spike’.   The prawn batters were a little too hard as well.  But overall the flavour was appealing.   ~  7/10

 

 

 

Chicken Saltimbocca with Buffalo Mozzarella and Lemon Sauce -
Call me old-school but when this arrived I was a bit shocked at the presentation,  which is not in the traditional ham rolled or flattened format – it was cooked as a whole then sliced up!   The lemon sauce was quite buttery and incorporated with the meat gravy.   Topped with fried sage leaves as per traditionally is served with fresh sage instead.    I think the sauce could be more concentrated and the chicken less cooked through,  this was getting there but I still can’t taste any ham in the end though.   ~   6/10 

 

 

 

A Cider Vinegar fried Chorizo,  Truss Tomatoes and Orange Zest Penne – $98
There were also garlic, chili, paprika and tomato paste and chopped parsley.   A simple but lovely pasta dish.  Some people said certain bites had too much zest in it,   so it’s always about personal preference or even individual bites!   I would come back just to eat this hearty dish and cooked all al dente.     ~  8/10

 

 

Blue Mussels in White Wine Sauce -
This was Elmanno’s own dish but turned out to be my favourite – in fact,  this was the best mussels dish I have had in Hong Kong!    The mussels from Europe were sweet and plump,  the white wine sauce beneath it had a depth to it and slightly herbed.  Even better than the mussels I just ate in Belgium this week!    ~   9/10

 

 

 

Ricotta Cheesecake with Candied Citrus Zest and Pistachios in a jar -
Lined at the bottom by a graham cracker like crumbs.  The zest and pistachio with whipped ricotta tasted like the filling inside a Cannolo -  but this time without the fried pastry but with a biscuity base, which is quite enjoyable.    ~  8/10

 

 

 

 

Price:   HKD $80 – $180  + Drinks
Food:   ♕♕♕ 1/2 to ♕♕♕♕   (Meal was by Invitation as Preview of Enomod Opening)
Ease of Access:  2/5  (Walk up SOHO Escalator,  then it’s somewhere off to a slope on the right)

Opening Hours:
Mon to Sun -   12:00pm to 00:00am

Address: 中環伊利近街1-5號1樓
1/F, 1-5 Elgin Street, Central
Ph:  2555 6065