If one enjoys exceptional Chinese food, especially Cantonese cuisine, then, it would be difficult to find anywhere better to eat such food than in the Hongkong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). 

Chinese cooks are among the best in the world, in TARGET’s opinion, and the HKSAR has veritable battalions of them. 

But Chinese cooks are not at their best when trying their hand at European cuisine. 

There are exceptions, of course, there always are, but the Chinese cooks at Renaissance Kowloon Hotel (香港九龍萬麗酒店) at Tsimshatsui are far from being among those exceptions. 

TARGET (泰達財經) visited Panorama, last Monday, at 6:30 p.m., in order to sample the European food at this hotel’s only premier food outlet. 

In summary, this medium’s experience at Panorama (河畔餐廳) could not be described as being very bad – just bad.  

Last Monday, this is the menu that was ordered: 

Risotto of Spiny Lobster with Saffron, Black Truffle, Green Pea and Parmesan Crisp
$HK195 

Panorama’s Signature Lobster Bisque
$HK95 

Spinach and Portobello Lasagna with Mozzarella, Rosemary and Truffle Cream
$HK190 

Roasted Scottish Salmon, Asparagus, Shitake Mushrooms and Fennel Emulsion
$HK260 

Apple and Blackberry Crumble with Vanilla Ice Cream and Lemon Custard
$HK85 

With the above meal, TARGET ordered some table wine from Germany: 

Scharzhof Riesling, Egon Muller, Vintage 2004
$HK450 

The Food 

The first taste of the Risotto made it very obvious that no Italian had had a hand in the preparation of this course. 

This rice dish had been cooked, al dente, to be sure, and the rice was, indeed, of the Italian variety, but one of the main problems with Panorama’s version of this Italian dish was that it included frozen peas, mixed into a microwaved concoction of rice and something else, the peas, still being partially frozen. 

It was as though the mixing in of the frozen peas had been an afterthought of somebody in Panorama’s kitchen. 

Further, it appeared that the elusive lobster bits were hiding behind the frozen peas. 

There, also, was no question about this risotto: There was a distinct absence of any trace of a stock or Parmesan cheese, both of which usually create a risotto. 

(Come to think of it, Chinese are not very keen on cheese, in any event.) 

The cook in Panorama’s kitchen is likely to come from the north of China because he is pretty heavy on the black pepper – something which Italian chefs are unlikely to be, especially in the preparation of a risotto. 

The Lobster Bisque, however, was far superior to the risotto mainly because it was hot. 

There were visible bits of lobster in the bottom of the soup bowl and it was only too apparent that the lobster had been frozen because the bits had the consistency of overcooked steak. 

The lasagna was, without question, not lasagna, at all, but some piled up, half-cooked vegetables, made to resemble its namesake minus any pasta. 

It comprised some pieces of sliced eggplant, one thin slice of raw tomato and 2 pieces of cooked portabella mushrooms, all folded into some Mozzarella cheese and sitting atop some cooked spinach, all of which were floating in a thin oil. 

It resembled a vegetarian sandwich minus any bread, if you will, but little else.   

As for the Scottish Roasted Salmon, it was fine, having been either grilled or panfried (it was difficult to determine which way it had been cooked, actually). 

The fish had been about three quarters cooked and tasted very much the way that a Chinese cook would prepare such a dish. 

Of all of the dishes, tasted last Monday, this was the best. 

The dessert was a disaster! 

The Apple and Blackberry Crumble was straight out of the freezer, it seemed to TARGET – because it was ice cold. 

This reviewer had, prior to ordering this dessert, asked the waiter whether or not it had been prepared in the restaurant. 

Having been told that it was freshly made, when it was placed on the table, it was a bit of a shock to discover, on the first bite, that it was at least 3 days’ old. 

One can always tell when pastry is more than one day old by its consistency and the amount of moisture that it has absorbed from its surroundings. 

This crumble was inedible. 

The ice cream, however, was very good: It had not been prepared by anybody in the restaurant. 

The German Wine 

As a table wine, the Scharzhof Riesling was refreshing. 

This is not a full-bodied wine, but a cheeky slightly sweet wine which goes well with fish and rice dishes. 

It smells like hay, actually, and tastes a little like cherries. 

However, at the price of $HK450 per bottle, it is expensive. 

Finally, on being seated at the table, facing Victoria Harbour – a beautiful sight it is, too! – a basket of bread was presented. 

If any brave souls go to Panorama, it is advisable not to touch this basket of bread because, in spite of there being 5 different kinds, they all tasted exactly the same: Chewy and half damp. 

What had taken place, TARGET suspects, is that the bread had been taken out of the refrigerator and had been warmed from the top, down. 

Hence the sogginess. 

How To Get There 

The Renaissance Kowloon Hotel abuts New World Centre, opposite InterContinental Hongkong (Hotel). 

If one is not driving a motor car, the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) is the most-convenient and comfortable way to cross from Hongkong Island to Kowloon. 

However, once out of the MTR, one is forced to make one’s way through a very threatening mob of mostly ethnic Indians and Africans. 

Most of these people are trying to sell such things as ‘copy watch’, instant, tailor-made clothes, girls (and boys), and what-have-you. 

Because of the throng, one is forced to rub shoulders with these people who, clearly, are not part of the upper drawer of society and may well be illegally staying in the territory. 

Because what they are selling is either illicit or immoral, as far as this reviewer is concerned, one cannot help but feel threatened. 

Once clear of this unruly mob and seated in Panorama, an 80-seater outlet, one can appreciate the beauty of the night that is Hongkong. 

The service is good and the waiters try their best.