Once More, Into the Kong - SEVVA

The Patio at SEVVA

There is one more experience from our trip to Hong Kong that I feel merits telling.  Actually, there are a few (not the least of which involved a spectacular dinner at Hutong with Olympic gymnast/Broadway actress/ABC Sports commentator Cathy Rigby and her husband Tom McCoy), but the one that I would be remiss in skipping actually took place over two days, spanned two continents, and involved a lot of international e-mailing and Facebook-ing.  Naturally, I screwed it up.

Dining Room at SEVVA

A friend of mine from my prep school days, Tony Morgan, suggested that I call on his friend Veronica Tao, while Jake and I were in Hong Kong.  Her older daughter had gone to Brown with Tony, while her younger daughter had gone to Choate (where Tony and I had met).  Anyhoo – thanks to the wonder that is Facebook, Tony and I (in the midst of planning our nearly concurrent birthdays – April 28th/mine and 30th/his – in case you’re wondering) got me together with Veronica.  She suggested that we meet at SEVVA, a zhu-zhy restaurant on top of the Prince’s Building in the Central district of Hong Kong Island, and – since we were disembarking in Hong Kong, I said we should do so on Saturday (the day the boat was leaving).

Sculpture of fighting crabs at SEVVA

Here is where my poor little brain (still in shambles from the Chinese Visa debacle) got messed-up.  Hong Kong, on this voyage, was a three-day/two night port-of-call.  This is fairly unusual – even for long-term “world”  cruises.  Just my luck, actually, Shanghai and Hong Kong are two of the only ports where this is ever commonplace (as are Port Victoria, Seychelles; Cape Town, South Africa; Yangon, Myanmar – formerly Rangoon, Burma; Dubai, UAE; and Luxor/Safaga, Egypt).  Anyhoo – I got it into my head that we’d check-in to our room at W Hong Kong, grab a quick shower, and grab a cab to SEVVA.  Where I got messed-up was that I was rationally aware that my Dad and Allyn were in town until Saturday, when the ship was leaving, even though for Jacob and me, our cruise ended on Friday.

Macaroni and Cheese with Black Truffles at SEVVA

To make a long story longer, we get to W Hong Kong a bit behind schedule because there was a whole mishegos about our luggage (but it was sorted out…), I freak-out on Jacob about how we HAVE to be at SEVVA at 1pm, and begin frantically texting Veronica about how we’re on our way – mortified about being late.   I mean, it’s one thing to keep your friends waiting (not that I approve, but still…); yet it’s another thing entirely to keep a friend’s friend waiting.  A quick cab ride and a half-dozen text messages and e-mails later, we arrive at the Prince’s Building.  We get on an elevator, and naturally, it is the wrong one.  Finally we get to SEVVA and the hostess says (trying valiantly to keep from smiling) “Ms. Tao?  She has made a reservation for the three of you for tomorrow.  But we would be delighted to have you join us for lunch, today, if you’d like.” Are you kidding me?  Sonofabitch!  Well, at least Veronica seemed to be a regular.

Veronica Tao and Jacob pick desserts at SEVVA

A few things…  First, Jacob decided then and there that I was no longer allowed to make any plans on our behalf, anymore.  Period.  Second, SEVVA was so good, in fact, that when Veronica finally called after receiving my barrage of communiqués, and suggested we go somewhere else, we told her that we’d be delighted to return (and we were glad we did, because as good as our first lunch was, our second was even better).  Third, if you go to Hong Kong, get into SEVVA.  I’ve only been for lunch, but I hear great things about their evenings.  The view of Kowloon is spectacular (especially from the wrap-around terrace), the food is divine (especially the Macaroni and Cheese with Black Truffles), and our service was excellent.  They’ve also got a lovely desert stand, making the whole experience akin to encountering the gastronomic lovechild of Le Bernardin, the Rainbow Room, and the Cheesecake Factory.  Best of all – it works!