I've waxed poetic about my love for Roganic numerous times on this blog already. There's something about Simon Rogan's ethos regarding vegetables that draws me back to the restaurant over and over. We have eaten at the restaurant during the "good, open times" in Hong Kong, and have ordered delivery from his Simon Rogan AtHome collection during restrictive "lockdown" waves of the pandemic.
The photos in this post highlight yet another exquisite meal we had. This was to celebrate the birthday of another dear friend. We feel so blessed to know these friends because, truth be told, we wouldn't have become such good friends had it not been for the pandemic.
Stuck in Hong Kong
Our friends were stuck in Hong Kong for close to a year due to pandemic-related issues preventing them from going home. I have a feeling that this pandemic has upended the lives of many, many families. Different countries have different approaches to handling this virus, and the result is that many people's lives have been whipped around the last two years.
supplementary sea urchin custard with trout roe $200 
Despite the less-than-ideal circumstances, we were blessed with the unexpected opportunity to spend time with these food-loving friends for a whole year.
pineapple tomato with cod roe, rice cracker and lovage 
roasted scallop with celtuce, seaweed, pickled grape and dill
We celebrated American Thanksgiving with them, (the husband made an AMAZING sous vide turkey). We visited Disneyland HK with their two young kids. The wife made me a stunning birthday cake. And all four of us swapped tips on our favorite Hong Kong eats all the time.
We enjoyed good food together, A LOT.
Over the course of that year, they truly became very dear friends to us.
Recently, they finally sorted everything out to allow them to return home again. Finally, after being stuck away from home for so long, they could finally return.
Wah Kee Farm pork, swede, new season onion 
This meal was one of the last nice meals we had together before they left. It was the wife's birthday, so we let her choose the restaurant where she wanted to celebrate. She finally chose Roganic, partly because I spoke so highly about it.
Saying Good-By During Pandemic Times
The pandemic rages on. Due to Hong Kong's extremely rigid policies surrounding travel and quarantine requirements, it's getting harder and harder for those of us inside Hong Kong to leave, and also much harder for visitors to enter. As such, it was a bit bittersweet saying good-by to our friends as they packed up their bags to leave Hong Kong. We really don't know when we'll see them again.
Nevertheless, our deep friendly forged partly over the love of food will not perish anytime soon. We are already sending each photos of what we are eating, even if we can't physically enjoy them together anymore. Let's hope that the world can move past this virus soon, enabling friends and families to reunite once again.
Until then, thanks again Roganic for providing such a lovely meal for a special birthday celebration.
Roganic Hong Kong
UG08, Sino Plaza,
255 Gloucester Rd,
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
