il Giardino Romantico

為了下周的中秋連假，這周大家就得辛苦點的多上一天班。因此天仙為了慰勞大家的辛勞，特地插播一則超鬼扯的食記與大家分享。這地方起初是在鬼扯天王泰瑞的格子上看到的。與友人分享後決定揪團來這邊一探究竟。其實這這次聚餐也是歷經了一波三折。最初預定的時間被颱風打亂了。後來第二次的時間竟發現可以參與的人並沒有太多。只好又再延一個禮拜。但最後還是有人臨時有事無法加入啊！

For the sake of a long weekend next week, all of us need to, first, survived this long working week. Therefore, in order to give you a bit of comfort, I've decided to share this post with you during this long working week. I first heard about this place through another blogger. After sharing with friends, we've decided that we must come and try it ourselves. It had been quite a hassle trying to get as many to join this dinner. We had to cancel our first appointment due to a typhoon. Then, there weren't enough people to join... finally we agreed with a third date. But pity, there was still one that couldn't join us in the end.



雖說喬時間的過程也算是有點辛苦，不過這一切都很值得啊！瞧瞧菜單就會知道為什麼這裡一定要人越多越划算了！這裡根本不適合三兩好友的小聚會（除非你多金）。

Despite tha hassle of trying to arrange a time good for everyone, it was well worth all the trouble! After you've scrutinized the menu, you'll realise why we did all we can to ensure that we got as many people to join us as possible. It was not a place suitable for a small group of two to three (unless you're affluent, of course).



原本我們訂的位子不是包廂，但剛好當晚有人臨時取消，工作人員就自動幫我們升級（免低消）。入座後先到的朋友們都紛紛跑去洗手間，使剩我一人顧座位。此時服務人員來貼心地告知設備：餐巾紙、濕紙巾、與牙線都在兩側的抽屜裡（不占餐桌空間）。另外，桌子的一角還貼心的設計了手機充電專用的插座。（這些都沒入鏡）

We were arranged to sit at the open area initially, but a group made an eleventh hour cancellation, and we got to upgrade to this box with no minimum charge required. The rest of the gang that arrived first all left to use the loo. I was left at the table alone, when the waitress came and explained that the tissues and stuff were in the drawer (smart design to make more room on the table!) and that if anyone needed to charge their phones, there were plugs on the other side of the table leg. 



最有特色的就是這個圍兜兜。套上去之後就不用怕湯汁到處亂噴弄髒了衣服。（感謝有人犧牲色相入鏡示範～）

Quite a unique feature is this bib. Drape it over your chest, and you wouldn't have to worry about the splishy splashy soup.



既然標榜著「皇室祕藏鍋物」，當然就表示這裡的主題就是讓大家來當皇帝、太后啦。從鍋子本身的設計，一直到每一種鍋底，都有著不一樣的內涵。

Of course, since the theme of this place is 'Imperial Hot Pot', everything had to do with making you feel like an emperor/empress. From the design of the pot itself, to the different kinds of soup...

這個是「鳳凰回巢鍋」。這是有個特別典故的（誰知道是真是假）。想知道的話，大家可以去官網看，或是直接自己親自來嚐嚐。服務人員會找機會告訴你這故事的！（鑒於天仙認為這裡的員工應該沒有被訓練將故事翻譯稱英文敘述，因此英文部分就有包含了這典故囉！）

The English on the website for this pot is simply 'chicken pot', but the Chinese name is a lot fancier: 'Phoenix Returns to the Nest Pot'. Yeah... that doesn't sound very appetizing. Chicken pot will do. Anyhow, there's a special story to this pot. I don't imagine the waitresses here are trained to tell the story in English, so whether or not you plan to dine here, here's the story: 

Legend has it that the mother of Empress Consort Wu was given such soup by an imperial chef during pregnancy, claiming that the herbs in the soup would not only guarantee that she would give birth to a boy, but also help the baby in the womb become a well noted person in history. When the baby was born, obvsiouly the Empress Consort turned out to be a girl, the mother disregarded what the chef said. Later on, the Empress Consort Wu did, in fact, become a well-noted 'somebody' in history!

I don't know if that's just bullocks, or whether it's true, but I guess it still makes it fun to hear a story that goes with the food.



黃金府竹 Dried bean curd



鹿野雞（附豬肚）Chicken meat  (comes with pig tummies).

以上都是鳳凰回巢鍋附贈的。 These are all within the 'phoenix pot' set.



這是另外加點的（就沒有豬肚）Chicken meat ordered on the side (doesn't come with pig tummy)



這包廂可以煮兩鍋。為了一次嚐到更多滋味，另一鍋當然就選擇了鴛鴦鍋。通紅的不用解釋一定是麻辣，另外一個則是「一品酸菜鍋」。不過大家要注意一下，麻辣鍋的湯底是用牛骨熬成的，會介意的朋友就得跳過囉！

There are two stoves in this box. In order to taste as much as we possibly can, we asked for a pot that could fill two different kinds of soups in one. The red one, is of course, spicy. The other has pickled cabbage and pork. 



白飯是吃到飽的，也有醬料隨自己的喜好調配。不過我覺得這裡的鍋底味道都夠重，煮出來的東西實在不太需要再去做調味了。

There's all-you-can-eat rice in the sauce area. Personally, I think the soup is savoury enough. 



這裡的服務真的是很到位。連下料服務人員也都會來幫你弄好（真的是來當皇帝、太后來著！）

The service was excellent. Initially, the waitress will come and drop the stuff into the soup for you. (Really makes you feel like royalty!)



肉雖然重要，但也別忘了吃點有助消化的。

However tasty the meat is, do remember to take some veggies to help you digest.



老油條 Chinese cruller



手工川丸子 meat balls



手工鮮蝦丸 Shrimp balls 



干貝珍珠滑 Scallop mince



Literally, a meal fit for a king!




神仙牛肉 Heavenly beef

最鬼扯的就是這個神仙牛肉了！還冒煙哩！把它批在架子上端來，親眼見到真是覺得超鬼扯的！

Ok, this had been a real sight! Just look at it! How ridiculous is this plate of beef!?

 

服務非常到位！害我到後來想吃什麼根本都不想自己煮了！ The gal waiting on our table.



鬼扯神仙牛肉不冒煙後似乎也沒那麼鬼扯了。 Once the fog started to wear off, it didn't seem that ridiculous anymore, the beef, I meant.



後來追加的「五行水晶餃」Assorted dumplings



青菜還是要吃！What did I say about veggies?



雖然很想點大牡蠣，但覺得這餐已經夠鬼扯了，還是點個一般般的魚好了！

Sliced grouper. I was going to go for oysters, but this meal has been something enough... I thought fish would do... 



服務人員化身酒促！實在是有夠盡責，真的給你好多個讚！

I don't think this was a part of their job. But since we asked her to pour us the beer, she did so gladly! We all enjoyed her service!



汽水是給要開車的人。The soft drink was for those who had to drive.



附帶一提，這豆腐跟鴨血，是無限量供應！The spice soup also came with free refills of tofu and duck blood.



剛才那位服務人員突然消失後換這位。很配合地答應我拿著試管冰沙讓我拍張照。也給你好幾個讚！

The test tubes were filled with cranberry sorbet. This waitress came and waited on us after the earlier one disappeared.



最後的重點來了！這個「鳳凰回巢鍋」最後是要煮成粥的。

Now comes the final spectacle of our phoenix soup - the congee! 



新的鍋子來了，但我們煮過的精華還是會取一些加進去。New pot, new soup, but some of the essence from our old soup-base was poured into the new soup. 



把米以及其他配料到進去～ Rice and other ingredients were, then added into the soup. 



在煮粥的同時，就是說故事時間了！這時候你就會聽到「鳳凰回巢鍋」的典故了。

While waiting for the congee to cook, this was the time when the waitress would start to tell the story of the pot (as mentioned earlier)



關火後再下蛋，會比較滑嫩（長知識！）

After turning off the stove, then pour the beaten egg into it to finish the congee.



最後，這粥出來就變這樣囉！And.......voila! The congee was the finale of the entire meal!


檢視較大的地圖 

官網 Website:http://www.toponepot.com/

後記：想要玩得更high一點的話，可以跟他們要「龍袍」來cosplay一下！ (另外還有格格、宮女頭飾跟太后裝。但龍袍還是最顯眼的囉！）

天仙念：你們以為爆點就這樣嗎？還沒完！！！我們把這三種鍋底都打包了。其中我帶回去的是麻辣鍋底。（雖不吃牛，但湯底而已我是可以接受）。只聽他們說，會加一些豆腐與鴨血進去，沒想到隔天晚餐要拿來配麵條吃的時候，被裡面滿滿滿的豆腐與鴨血給嚇到了！雖然乍看之下價錢是高了點，但是真的很值得！（記得要多找點人！）