• JIA Group’s Spanish fine dining restaurant Agora unveils new seasonal menus by Executive Chef Antonio Oviedo

    Introducing Agora’s new tasting menus

    AGORA is currently serving two seasonal chef’s degustation menus: Menú Ágora with 9 courses priced at HK$1,388 +10% SC + 1% WCK contribution per person (+HK$718 for 4 glasses wine pairing) and Menú Gran Ágora with 11 courses priced at HK$1,788 +10% SC + 1% WCK contribution per person (+HK$888 for 5 glasses wine pairing).

     

    As much as possible, the menus highlight premium seasonal ingredients sourced from the greater area of Spain, including exclusive Verdial extra virgin olive oil cultivated from centenary olive trees in Málaga, served with traditional homemade Spanish Candeal bread; Percebes gooseneck barnacles, a rare crustacean delicacy from Galicia in the northwest coast of Spain; Chirimoya, a winter fruit that thrives in subtropical climates on the coast of Granada; Espardenya, Spanish sea cucumber from Catalunya; and Garum, a savory fermented fish sauce condiment which together with olive oil has been recognized for the quality of the products throughout various Mediterranean civilizations.

     

    New dishes that headline Agora’s current seasonal menus include Vainas, a warming and savoury green beans soup with a touch of olive oil; RubiaGallega Tartare – the highly prized breed of cattle whose meat is characterized by beautiful yet subtle marbling with a traditionally spicy and slightly briny flavor – served with cured mujol roe, green peas purée, crispy wheat tart and tomato bread topped with Iberico ham; and Setas, a delightfully earthy bouquet of wild mushrooms including black trumpet, chanterelle and girolles, served with migas, chorizo and mushroom espuma.

     

    Old signature menu items are given a fresh interpretation, including Mar y Muntanya, which now features Mediterranean sea cucumber with teardrop peas, black pudding, and a stew of pork, beef stomach and chickpeas; and Soccarat that highlights the toasty, crispy and umami-rich bottom part of the paella alongside fresh carabinero and carabinero aioli.

     

    Some dishes that guests may look forward to on Menu Gran Agora exclusively are Vieira, a cold almond and garlic soup (ajo blanco) with marinated scallops and Delaware grapes, and Ventresca, the most coveted part of Spanish red tuna belly served with Chinese sturgeon Ossetra caviar, smoked eggplant, and fermented blue fish sauce.

     

    Other new additions include Lubina, an Atlantic sea bass served with ajada spiced mashed potato and goose barnacles; Venado venison served rare to medium-rare with potato chips, quince, glazed chestnut, sweet potato purée and venison bone jus; Chirimoya, a custard apple sorbet with pomegranate sorbet, and cherry meringue topped with apple blossom; and finally, the seasonal dessert of Castañas, a refreshing use of chestnut as chestnut ice cream with pumpkin cream, Pedro Ximenez jelly, clementine granita, and biscuit crumble.

     

    The full sample menus at Agora are as below:

     

    Menú Agora

    HK$1,388+10% per guest
    4 glasses wine pairing HK$718 per guest

     

    Vainas

    Green Beans

     

    Rubia Gallega
    Beef Tartare

     

    Erizo
    Sea Urchin / Ajoblanco (HK$348 supplement)

     

    Setas
    Wild Mushrooms / Migas / Ibérico (Add-on Black Truffle HK$158)

     

    Lubina
    Atlantic Sea Bass / Percebes / Ajada

     

    Arroz Negro
    Baby Squid / Bomba Rice / Teardrop Peas

     

    Venado
    Venison / Sweet Potato / Membrillo

     

    Chirimoya
    Custard Apple / Pomegranate

     

    Castañas
    Chestnuts / Clementines / PX

     

    Pan con Olivas

     

     

    Menú Gran Agora

    HK$1,788+10% per guest
    5 glasses wine pairing HK$888 per guest

     

    Vainas

    Green Beans

     

    Rubia Gallega
    Beef Tartare

     

    Vieira
    Scallops / Ajoblanco OR
    Erizo
    Sea Urchin / Ajoblanco (HK$348 supplement)

     

    Setas
    Wild Mushrooms / Migas / Ibérico

     

    Ventresca

    Tuna Belly / Oscietra Caviar / Garum

     

    Mar y Muntanya

    Espardenya / Morcilla / Teardrop Peas

     

    Lubina
    Atlantic Sea Bass / Percebes / Ajada

     

    Socarrat
    Carabinero / Bomba Rice / Prawn Aioli

     

    Venado
    Venison / Sweet Potato / Membrillo

     

    Chirimoya
    Custard Apple / Pomegranate

     

    Castañas
    Chestnuts / Clementines / PX

     

    Pan con Olivas

     

     

    Focusing 100% on Spanish wines curated by General Manager, Anton Marquez, the optional wine pairing boasts selections from small-scale winemakers throughout Spain, with some notable highlights being: Recaredo Terrers 2018 Brut Nature, a pure, light and elegant Corpinnat that showcases the truest expression of landscape from the Alt Penedés mosaic of calcareous soils; Valdesil Godello Sobre Lías, a fruity and mineral white wine from the Valdeorras in Galicia with characters of pear, apple, and melon; and more Placet of Valtomelloso, an organic dry white wine made with 100% Viura fermented in oak that pairs wonderfully with seafood dishes; Viñátigo Negramoll made from recuperated grapes in the Canary Islands, the delicacy and depth of this variety combined with the volcanic soils of the north of Tenerife make this wine unique; Lustau East India Solera (Sherry) is a blend of two wines (Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez), aged for 15 years. It offers vibrant notes of maple syrup, raisins chocolate, orange peel flavours…

     

    AGORA is open for dinner from 18:00 to 23:00 on Wednesday – Sunday and 12:00-15:30 on Saturday – Sunday, and reservations can be made via SevenRooms, by calling 2316 2005 or e-mailing info@agorahk.com.