Fine Dining Hong Kong Style at award-wining Soder+Ko! (The joy of HK dimsums!)

2nd UPDATE: Hi all, thanks so much for the interest shown to this meetup! That's great that a few of you are interested! I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to reply sooner as work had been crazy in the last while, but I'm really glad to see that it looks like Wednesdays work best for everyone.

So I've updated this meetup for next Wednesday 28th October, around 6pm? I haven't booked this yet with the restaurant but will do so in the next few days once I have proper confirmations from you all (i.e. requiring sign-up).

If next Wednesday 28th October doesn't suit, I could potentially do Tuesday 2nd November also.

Please let me know in the comments below / by PM if you prefer Wed 28th or Tuesday 2nd November, and looking forward to meeting you over some great dimsums soon :)

Mandy (belibala)

UPDATE: Hi guys, we're doing fine dining Hong Kong style :D!! Award-winning Hong Kong-Irish chef Kwanghi Chan has recently set up show at Soder+Ko, an Asian-Scandi fusion bar that's been getting rave reviews everywhere (see Irish Times writeup link below). What's great is that he's created a menu that's inspired by Hong Kong street food and the very best of Cantonese cuisine, fused with Irish and Scandinavian influences.

I have got vouchers purchased from Pigsback.com that will be valid until 26th November. It's for a 2 x Sharing starter Platters + 2 Main Courses + bottle of wine for EUR49 (I'm setting up the price for each person at 25 Euros, but with tips it'll be around 30 euros each - we'll share out the tips cost on the night), which is a great bargain (normally it's about 94 Euros for the same dinner package), and it means we'll get to taste some great HK-style fusion food as our first proper group meetup.

Please note that the voucher is valid for dinners from Sunday to Thursdays only. However, Thursdays are out for me I'm afraid. My personal preference is for all of us to go on a Wedensday night, so let me know which Wednesday night it would suit you in the comments below?

Check out the Pigsback.com voucher page for full details of the deal:

http://www.thediningroom.ie/e50-for-8-sharing-plates-plus-a-bottle-of-wine-for-2-people-at-hugely-stylish-soderko-sth-great-georges-st-dublin-2/

Check out the restaurant website for the scrumptious dimsum dishes on offer and the chef in action:

http://www.soderandko.ie/gallery/

The location is also perfect as it's smack bang in Dublin 2 city centre :)

Since this is such a small group I think it is possible to organise this but it does mean you will HAVE to commit to paying up front. If more than 2 of us are signing up for this I can purchase an additional voucher (if there are 4 of us), but otherwise we will just split the bill.

At the moment there are two of us signing up to attend this and I am flexible as regards the dinner date (I can't do Thursday evenings but other than that I should be generally okay).

If more of you are signing up to this dinner meetup please let me know ASAP as the vouchers sales are going very fast (only 1 day left!)

Thanks and looking forward to seeing you over some dimsums and char-siu pork buns :)

Check out Chef Kwanghi Chan's intagram pic of his pork buns prep!

https://instagram.com/p/7u14HUG7AU/

From the Irish Times Restaurant Review:

"True originals aren’t that common in the restaurant world, but the arrival in Dublin of a Scandin-Asian fusion restaurant is definitely a first. Söder+Ko is an all-day cafe bar and restaurant on South Great George’s Street in Dublin that mixes Asian food with a Scandinavian influenced drinks list, in a very chilled environment.

Kwanghi Chan, who comes to the venture from three years as head chef at the Cliff House in Ardmore, is culinary director and has drawn on his Hong Kong heritage for a menu that includes dim sum and steamed buns, as well as a raw bar, meat and fish plates, and vegetable sides."

http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/food-and-drink/food-file-the-weekly-food-news-round-up-1.2154294

The Pigsback Dinner Offer:

Dinner for 2 People – 2 ‘sharing plate’ Starters, 2 Main Dishes AND a Bottle of Wine for just €49 Normally €94

Sample truly unique such from the Raw, Dim Sum, Steamed Buns and Sides section of the menu such as Pot Stickers – Crispy Chicken Dumplings, Soft Shell Crab – Fried, Thai Basil & Lemongrass with Hot Sauce and Lime, the famous SÖDER+KO Steamed Buns such as Kimchi- Spicy Korean Cabbage with Beansprouts, Red Onion & Coriander, Pulled Pork- with Pickled Cucumber, spring onion and Hoi Sin Sauce

From The Raw Menu choose from Scallop-with Ceviche or Lime, Coriander, Chilli & Fennel or Beef-Carpaccio of Beef Five Spice Smoked with Cured egg, Radicchio and Avocado Oil

The Mains Menu is just as innovative with DUCK with Roasted, Peach, Candied Beet, Yuzu, Sweet Potato, Tarragon Oil, PORK & OCTO with Braised Pork Belly & Octopus, Carrot, Crackling Puffs or BEEF –Charred Teriyaki Fillet, Broccoli Textures, Shitake Mushrooms, Egg Yolk

Profile of Kwanghi Chan who talks about his Hong Kong - Irish upbrignging and culinary influence:

"Chef Kwanghi Chan, aged 36, was born in Hong Kong and moved to Buncrana in Donegal with his family. From the age of 8, he was helping out in the family restaurant kitchen and at the age of 13 he was wok cooking and feel in love with it. He went on to train at Killybegs catering college in Donegal. Later on in his career, Kwanghi earned a Bsc. bachelors Degree in International Culinary Arts from TVU London.

Kwanghi has vast knowledge and extensive experience in the hotel, restaurant, contract catering industries. Working in some of the best restaurants In Ireland, he gained experience with the best chefs in the country including learning in the kitchens of The Wineport Lodge in Glasson (with Chef Feargal O Donnell), L’Ecrivain (with Michelin Star Chef Derry Clarke), Chapter One Restaurant (with Michelin Star Chef Ross Lewis) , Peacock Alley (with Chef David Caviller) and The Commons restaurant (with Chef Aidan Byrne).

Throughout his life, Kwanghi represented Ireland in many international culinary competitions and won numerous awards including the World Championships in Holland, the World Cup in Luxembourg and he was awarded 3 silver medal in the Culinary Olympics in Germany.

Chan says: "I also love discovering smaller hidden gems that are very family focused with delicious flavours, especially fond of traditional dim sum restaurants and street food in Hong Kong."

http://www.thediningroom.ie/chef-kwanghi-chan-of-the-house-restaurant-the-cliff-house-hotel-co-waterford/

========================

My cantonese slang references are a little rusty and dated, but this is essentially a meet-and-greet over some chow and to discuss the kind of activities we would like to organise for our club... Please feel free to suggest dates and venues and throw some ideas in the comments below about possible club evenings and outings!