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Antipodean Cafe

Antipodean, a cute new café in trendy PoHo was recently described to me as serving “the best coffee in Hong Kong”. Now, I’m not much of a coffee drinker myself, but it had also caught my attention when I heard it served ‘double-rise pancakes’. On the list it went, until a pre-typhoon Usagi breakfast trip beckoned.

There’s a warm, homely feel to Antipodean that’s notable as soon as you enter. This may be due to the homemade cakes and pastries that are the first thing you see on the counter. These are all baked fresh in the open kitchen, filling the room with a heavenly aroma.

The morning we went, there was initially no one there to make coffee; apparently only one person knows how to use the super fancy machine (the same one used at popular coffee shop Fuel), so if she’s not there, there’s no coffee. In fact, the other staff didn’t even know how to make tea, which was most surprising. Were it not for the pancake craving we needed to quell, we may have walked out.

We remained, however, and within a short while, the barista arrived and set to work. When the coffee was finally served – at the end of the meal – it turned out that apparently it is not the best coffee in Hong Kong; “it’s OK, but not worth making a special trip just to get it,” seemed to be the general opinion.

What might be worth the trip though is the ‘real iced chocolate’ – a rich, decadent chocolate milkshake, complete with a scoop of chocolate ice cream. It’s pretty much a meal in itself though, so be warned.

We started with a helping of corn fritters with homemade tomato chutney. Similar to little savoury pancakes, these had a lovely, delicate flavour and the perfect texture. I loved the homemade chutney and the fresh guacamole added some excitement to the mix.

The long-awaited double-rise pancakes with fresh mixed berries were beautifully presented and were some of the fluffiest pancakes we’ve found in Hong Kong. The only thing that let them down was the syrup (it definitely wasn’t maple) and the side of crispy bacon ($40 for two measly rashers was not worth paying).

Service at Antipodean is terrible. Although the staff are very sweet and they mean well, they got confused with our order at least twice and kept having to come back and ask what it was we wanted… and then it took forever to actually receive it. They could start by teaching at least one other person how to use the coffee machine and how to make a cup of tea. Prices are also far too high for a ‘homely’ cafe – we paid around $400 for two dishes and three drinks. It has the potential to be a lovely little place, but unfortunately I don’t think we’ll be rushing back.

Antipodean

3 Upper Station Street
Sheung Wan
Hong Kong

www.facebook.com/AntipodeanCafe

Tags: antipodean, cafe, cakes, coffee, hong kong, pancakes, poho, sheung wan

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Categories Afternoon Tea, Brunch, Cheap and cheerful, Restaurant review, Takeaway, Vegetarian

Chachawan

14 Aug

Warning: If you can’t handle your spice, stop reading now and don’t even think about eating at Chachawan!

Thai food is up there amongst the best in the world in my opinion. It’s what I crave when I need something hearty and comforting; it’s what I crave when I’m feeling under the weather; it’s generally what I crave a great deal of the time.

There are Thai restaurants and there are Thai restaurants, yet there are no Thai restaurants quite like Chachawan, a brand spanking new, uber cool Thai restaurant in Sheung Wan, specialising in Isaan cuisine, from the northeast of Thailand. In this regional version of the tasty cuisine, coconut milk is pushed aside, making room for hotter, bolder, drier flavours that fall in line with the warning on the menu that states, “Isaan cuisine is VERY SPICY.”

Chachawan, which fittingly translates to “sweet, sweet love,” is brought to us by Yenn Wong, the restaurateur behind next-door neighbour 208 Duecento Otto, 22 Ships and Duddell’s, and chef Adam Cliff, who has previously worked with the likes of Nahm’s David Thompson and Dylan Jones of Bangkok’s Bo.lan, all by the young age of 26! It makes me wonder, at the same age as Adam, what I’ve accomplished in my life!

The décor is unusual in comparison to your average Thai place – a raw, rustic feel is achieved through the use of vintage Hong Kong-style posters with Thai illustrations, or eye-catching murals, all of which matches the fun vibe expressed through the loud music that reverberates around the two floors of dining, split between table seating and bar seating.

As I may have mentioned once or twice, Chachawan isn’t for the wusses; although the menu states you can ask them to “tame it”, the dishes are designed to be hot hot hot, particularly the papaya salad with crispy pork. The heat in no way overpowers this dish, however, as the super fresh flavours seep through each bite, complemented by the awesome contrast in textures. Unlike other versions of this dish, the overriding flavour is neither fish sauce nor dried shrimp, but the beautiful blend of sweet and sour tamarind dressing that plays against the salty chunks of crisp pork belly.

The Lap Moo, a salad of minced pork, shallots, fresh herbs and crispy pork skin, also packed a serious punch. This dish, bursting with fresh, sour versus spicy flavours, has always been one of my favourites, and Chachawan’s version was just as good as I had hoped it would be, if not better.

An unusual choice, yet one that beckoned to us, was the Kai Jiaw – a crisp Thai omelette with pork and spring onions. Perhaps one of the only non-spicy dishes on the menu on its own, load it up with the Thai chilli sauce that accompanies it and it’ll fit right into the mix. The egg had the perfect balance of crisp and fluffiness, packed full of delicious Thai herbs that made it almost seem healthy and light.

One of my favourite dishes of the night was the salt-crusted sea bass stuffed with lemongrass, pandanas and lime leaves. This whole, deliciously tender fish was cooked over an open fire, giving it a gorgeous smoky flavour that worked well with the slightly sour green chilli dipping sauce. It was probably enough to feed the 500, although we gave it a pretty good go between just two of us!

This did, unfortunately, mean less room for the khao pad, a delicious variation of the classic Thai fried rice dish, but in this case made with fresh crabmeat. Carrying a delicate, yet comforting flavour, this dish was lovely on its own, yet also worked as the perfect accompaniment to mop up the rich sauces of the other dishes.

After a complimentary plate of juicy pomelo served with chilli sugar (yes, even some of the dishes you’d least expect to set your tongue on fire attempt to do exactly that), came our final dish – warm coconut rice dumplings served in salted coconut cream. Biting into these soft dumplings gave way to refreshing, crispy chunks of sweet coconut that easily made this dessert one of the best things on Chachawan’s menu. If you’re a fan of things like salted chocolate or salted caramel, this is Thailand’s variation on the same theme, and a jolly good one at that.

For far too much food than we could manage, the total bill for two of us came to just over $800, including two mocktails (at the time of writing the restaurant is still awaiting its liquor licence). Service charge is not added to the bill, and yet staff are incredibly friendly and helpful, making you want to tip generously. Given its solid attempt at fitting in with our city’s other new and trendy eateries, Chachawan, naturally, has a no-reservations policy; go early, and have a drink next door, no matter how long the expected wait is, for this is one Thai restaurant that is has earned its right to have a long waiting list.

Chachawan

206 Hollywood Road
Sheung Wan
Hong Kong

Tel: +852 2549 0020

Tags: 208, 22 Ships, adam cliff, bangkok, bo.lan, chachawan, chilli, david thompson, duddell's, dylan jones, hollywood road, nahm, sheung wan, spicy food, thai cuisine, yenn wong

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Categories Bars, Cheap and cheerful, Posh grub, Restaurant review

Il Moro

6 Mar

For so many restaurants with mediocre service, identical menus and lack of personality in Hong Kong, once in a while there comes the complete opposite; a restaurant with individuality, charm and a larger than life character. Il Moro in Sheung Wan is one such restaurant.

To say that the chef-owner Joseph is quite a character would be an understatement; he is full of life and very opinionated, and one of those people who makes you wonder if there’s an off button somewhere. Yet I don’t mean this in a negative way at all, for Joseph is what makes Il Moro what it is: a quirky one-of-a-kind Italian restaurant that serves genuinely delicious food from the heart.

It isn’t a large restaurant, and in fact until recently it had no signage whatsoever, making it even more of an intimate space. The interior is beautifully decorated with brightly coloured murals and Mediterranean-style plates, whilst another wall is adorned with Italian ingredients, which I assume can be purchased.

Once upon a time there was not a menu in sight, for Joseph assures diners he can make ‘anything you like’, provided he has the fresh ingredients in stock. Due to complaints about his style from people who just weren’t accustomed to it, he has now given in and menus are provided, although Joseph will still gladly tweak any printed dishes depending on what you’re after.

We began with a buffalo mozzarella salad and an enormous vegetarian platter laden with artichokes, grilled courgettes, peppers and aubergines, beetroot, celery salad, aubergine salad and a few types of cheese. Never has a vegetarian platter tasted so good. Taking in the colourful décor, the gorgeous Testarossa Montepulciano wine (which Joseph fittingly described as a ‘macho man’) and the wonderful fresh flavours of the starters, it was easy to imagine ourselves transported to the Mediterranean.

The black truffle pasta with leeks in a creamy button mushroom sauce is a must try; it is rich, but in a good way, each mouthful lightly perfumed with that gorgeous truffle flavour that keeps you going back for more. The penne pasta, though not made in-house, is imported from Italy and noticeably high quality stuff.

Another star dish was the seafood risotto, cooked to just the right al dente consistency with a generous amount of wonderfully fresh seafood. There is something rustic and authentically Italian about it that makes it stand out from many substandard risottos you find in HK.

The ossobuco Milanese, braised veal shank on a bed of grilled polenta, was heavenly. The meat was incredibly tender and the chunky root vegetables made it comforting and warming.

My choice of pasta amatriciana, although slow in coming, was definitely worth waiting for. The linguini was again perfectly al dente and liberally coated in a delicious tomato sauce with rich guanciale and pecorino cheese. I asked for chilli in mine, which made it even more amazing. The portion size was a little too generous however, and I was devastated that I couldn’t finish it.

Joseph serves most of the dishes himself, running backwards and forwards from the kitchen so that he can personally assist his customers; something I love in restaurants. My only real complaint about Il Moro is that rather than being shown a bill at the end of the night, Joseph just tells you how much you owe. Of course, for delicious food and five bottles of wine between six of us, $500 a head wasn’t outrageous, but considering Joseph supposedly gave us two of these bottles ‘on the house’ the other three must have been super pricey bottles!

Dining at Il Moro is an experience, both for the scrumptious authentically Italian food and for the lively atmosphere. It certainly is one of a kind and I already look forward to my next trip there.

Il Moro

G/F, Shop C, 2 Lok Ku Road
Sheung Wan
Hong Kong

Tel: +852 2581 1809

Tags: amatriciana, black truffle, Hollywood road restaurants hong kong, il moro hong kong, Italian restaurant Hong Kong, risotto, sheung wan, sheung wan restaurants

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Categories Making a difference, Posh grub, Restaurant review

Common Ground

7 Feb

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, I decided to find a quiet spot that had wifi, where I could while away the hours, have some lunch and get some serious writing done. Brand new Common Ground on Shing Wong Street, just up the steps from Oolaa, fit the part perfectly.

This quirky shop cum café is owned by Joshua and Caleb, the twins behind Twins Kitchen, and their friends, brothers Laz and Sean of Protest Design Company. It’s a small space with limited seating and a kitchen perhaps smaller than any of your kitchens, yet I absolutely love it.

common ground hong kong

The team of four have made this little space into a very cool hangout. It sells unique jewellery and fashion accessories, plays very chilled music (including music by Caleb’s lovely girlfriend, Shiren, if you ask her nicely), and generally exudes the kind of atmosphere that makes it impossible not to want to spend hours there.

The décor is unique and adorable; shelves and tables are made of scrap wood, chairs are mismatching, exposed light bulbs hang from the ceiling, whilst cute little jars masquerading as plant pots adorn every surface.

The food and drink menu is currently very limited, given they are still only in soft opening phase, however the few things it does have are well-executed and don’t leave you wanting more; I don’t actually think the menu need be much longer.

I opted for the scrambled eggs, following Caleb’s recommendation. This is not usually something I order out, as I rarely find a place that beats homemade scrambled eggs. However, these creamy, decadently delicious eggs, served simply with a spoon and pieces of toasted rosemary ciabatta, put my homemade eggs to shame. Apparently the secret to making them so incredibly creamy is to cook them in a bain-marie as opposed to using direct heat. I know where to find good hangover food the next time I need it.

The salted hot chocolate was also divine, with just the right level of savoury to balance the rich chocolate. After a hardcore Pilates class, I thought I deserved just a little bit of indulgence.

I spent four hours at Common Ground that day; I kept meaning to leave, yet something about the cosy atmosphere, friendly service and incredibly interesting people I met (including a singer, an artist, the owner of Teakha and a Chinese caligraphy artist) made leaving a bit of a challenge. I look forward to spending many a pleasant afternoon at Common Ground in future…

Common Ground
19 Shing Wong Street
Central
Hong Kong

Tags: cafe, cafe hong kong, Common Ground Cafe, Oolaa Hong Kong, Protest Design Company, scrambled eggs, sheung wan, Twins Kitchen Hong Kong

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Categories Afternoon Tea, Cheap and cheerful, Making a difference, Restaurant review

La Rotisserie

12 Dec

There is little more comforting to eat than a perfectly juicy roast chicken, especially if someone has gone to the trouble of roasting it for you. With a good quality roasted chook the possibilities are endless: you can have a cosy dinner in front of the telly, chicken sandwiches, chicken salad, or even use the bones to make chicken soup. La Rotisserie in Sheung Wan has just arrived on the scene to facilitate this for us.

This tiny hole in the wall was set up by three French friends who missed the delicious rotisserie chickens they grew up eating. Thankfully the corn-fed chicken is shipped over from France too, so you know you’re getting delicious, free-range poultry that’s worth the slightly extra cost.

For takeaway only, La Rotisserie offers ¼ ($50), ½ ($90) or a whole chicken ($150) cooked to golden perfection in the shop’s giant rotisserie oven. There’s also the option of quiche, roast chicken sandwich, chicken Caesar salad, and a variety of sides that change daily.

The lunch set includes ¼ chicken, sides and either a soup or an iced tea for a mere $68, packaged and ready to take home, back to the office or, like we did, to a pretty little bench somewhere to have a picnic.

The homemade soup of the day was celery and tomato. Although this is not something I would normally order, it was absolutely delicious and so fresh that it seemed it had been made especially for us. My only complaint about the soup was the wooden spoon; I simply can’t stand the feeling of wood in my mouth, so I decided to drink it straight from the bowl instead!

I often find that the breast is the driest part of the bird, yet La Rotisserie’s chicken breast had not the slightest hint of dryness; it was wonderfully juicy and full of flavour, drizzled in a scrumptious, if slightly oily, jus. Side options included rice, roast potatoes and mixed vegetables, of which we chose the latter two. The potatoes were perfectly fluffy and deliciously infused with rosemary, while the vegetables were perhaps just a touch too al dente.

Since I must give my readers a rounded experience of each restaurant, I simply had to try one of the desserts, so we shared a chocolate cake with sel de guerande. I loved the chicken, but I absolutely adored this cake. The so-light-it-was-almost-mousse cake sat upon a perfectly crunchy layer of biscuit and was all sprinkled with coarse salt crystals, creating an incredible balance of salt and sweet that begged me to finish every last crumb. Needless to say if you’re sharing this cake, you might want to first clarify the boundaries of what is yours and what is sadly not yours.

La Rotisserie is the perfect answer to a lazy night in or a delicious (and somewhat nutritious) lunch. The concept is right, the prices are to be expected for Hong Kong, and frankly I don’t see anything stopping me from venturing into Sheung Wan at the very least once a week to get my juicy chicken fix.

La Rotisserie

255 Queen’s Road Central
Sheung Wan
Hong Kong
(Entrance on Hillier Street)

Tel: +852 2324 1898
(Lunch is first come first served, but you can order your chicken for the evening by calling a day in advance)

Tags: chicken, chocolate cake, French food hong kong, La Rotisserie, La Rotisserie Hong Kong, quiche in hong kong, rotisserie, sheung wan, takeaway

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Categories Cheap and cheerful, Restaurant review, Takeaway

Yonge Piggies

23 Nov

The pig is centre of attention in Hong Kong at the moment, first with the opening and unyielding popularity of The Salted Pig, and now with Yonge Piggies, on the corner of Bonham Strand and Jervois Street. Yonge (pronounced ‘young’) Piggies is a Canadian hotdog joint named after hotdog vendor-lined Yonge Street in Toronto.

With its retro neon signs, metal clad décor and open front, complete with high red stools, Yonge Piggies does indeed look like it’s been transported straight from North America, much like its Canadian sausages.

Said sausages, which are grilled to juicy perfection, come in three flavours: Head Prefect (honey garlic), Prom Queen (picante pepper) and Hippie (hickory smoked). All are served in a butter bun, and can be purchased on their lonesome for a steep $65, topped with chilli (‘Chubbs’) or cheese sauce (‘Dork’) for an even steeper $75, or as part of a combo set with either ‘fries’ or a salad and a soft drink for a slightly silly $85/95.

I tried a Prom Queen combo with chips and a bottle of water. I had first asked for an iced tea, but was told this would cost an additional $12 on top of the combo price, so I changed it for water, and was still charged an additional $4. Minus points were awarded immediately; I don’t drink fizzy drinks, so why should I be penalised for this?!

When I had finished grumbling about soft drinks, I walked on to the condiments counter, where toppings included grated cheddar, jalapenos, olives, onions, bacon bits, tomatoes, sweetcorn, sauerkraut, guacamole and relish. I chose guacamole, cheese, tomatoes and jalapenos.

So how did it taste, you ask? Completely lip-smackingly delicious. The buttery, soft and almost slightly sweet homemade bun was perfect, contrasting wonderfully with the crisp skin of the sausage that was bursting full of smoky, slightly spicy and ever so juicy meat. The condiments were obviously a bonus, particularly the jalapenos.

As for the ‘fries’ (I’ll stick with chips so I don’t betray my British roots), they weren’t piping hot and could have been a little crispier, although that didn’t stop me from eating them! Next time perhaps I’ll upgrade to the ‘poutine’ or the chilli fries for an extra $6…

I’d like to put the far-from-perfect service down to the fact that Yonge Piggies has barely been open a fortnight, and I believe I have already shared my views on the prices, particularly the unnecessary add-ons. However, regardless of mediocre service and slightly disagreeable prices, Yonge Piggies has tapped into a hole in the market, serving scrumptious hotdogs in a very favourable location. Thinking about it, perhaps the higher prices are a blessing in disguise; as I won’t be going every day, there’s less danger of me turning into a piggy myself!

Yonge Piggies
G/F, 1 Jervois Street
Sheung Wan
Hong Kong

Tel: +852 2104 7218

www.yongepiggies.com

Tags: bonham strand, Canada, hotdog, sausage, sheung wan, snacks, Yonge Piggies, Yonge Street

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Categories Cheap and cheerful, Restaurant review

Noodlemi

14 Nov

Vietnamese is one of my favourite cuisines, bursting with fresh flavours and spices, and one that somehow seems healthier than other Asian cuisines. When newly opened Noodlemi on Bonham Strand enticed me with slogans such as ‘bitemi’, ‘cravemi’ and ‘eatmi’, I could hardly resist, especially given how close it is to my office!

Noodlemi, set up by Duyen and Jeremie, two very passionate individuals, is not just another regular Vietnamese restaurant; it prides itself on being completely free of MSG and gluten (apart from the sandwiches, which of course contain wheat). It’s an adorable little space packed full of bright, lively colours to create something modern and totally different to the usual Vietnamese restos we see all over town.

Our super healthy and delicious feast began with some soft shell crab summer rolls from the ‘wrapmi’ section of the menu, obviously. These were filled with an exciting collection of leaves, avocado, cucumber, carrots, crispy shallots, and of course the all-important and wonderfully tasty soft shell crab, which had the perfect balance of crispy and tender. Dipped in the homemade nuoc cham sauce, these were utter perfection.

From the ‘eatmi’ section, we tried the steamed chicken salad with crunchy cabbage and herbs. This refreshing blend of tender chicken, crunchy cabbage, white onions, shallots and peanuts, dressed in a sour and spicy sauce was incredibly moreish. Yet when the ingredients are so fresh and good for you, who cares if you polish off the whole bowl?!

Unlike other Vietnamese restaurants, Noodlemi doesn’t want its pho to be the focal point, yet it kind of is without even trying to be, for Noodlemi’s beef pho (under the heading ‘lovemi’) is possibly one of the best I’ve tasted. Although the flavour might be milder than elsewhere, it’s a real flavour, made by boiling beef bones, together with spices like cinnamon, star anise and ginger for six hours, without a trace of MSG. Seriously when it tastes this good, who needs MSG?! The beef was incredibly tender and the flat rice noodles cooked to perfection. I know what I’ll be eating very often during the cold winter months.

The turmeric white fish with scallion and dill on rice vermicelli was just begging to be tasted (it was calling out ‘choosemi’ – I had to!). The lightly battered morsels of fish were beautifully tender and absolutely delicious, sprinkled with a blend of spices that warmed me right to the bones. Together with the slightly chewy rice noodles, crispy bean sprouts, cucumber and carrot, finished with aromatic coriander, I can see why this is already one of Noodlemi’s most popular dishes.

Last but not least, we couldn’t leave without trying Noodlemi’s special banhmi (if it politely says ‘bitemi’, how can I not?), loaded with Vietnamese salami, cucumber, chilli, carrot and plenty of fresh coriander. Although it wasn’t the easiest dish to eat, it was absolutely delicious, made even more so by the perfect crusty baguette.

Unfortunately neither my one-hour lunchbreak nor my already full to bursting stomach allowed for dessert, yet I’ll make sure to try the vanilla terrine with fresh berries on my next visit, which may well be later this week!

Service was initially a little confused, but the staff are all very friendly and it is clear that a lot of passion goes into every dish that is created. What’s even better is that for such delicious and nutritious food, provided you don’t eat as much as we did (there were only two of us!), you won’t even need $100. I mean it when I say I’ll be going back very, very soon.

Noodlemi

G/F, 2 Bonham Strand
Sheung Wan
Hong Kong

Tel: +852 2253 1113

http://noodle-mi.com/

Tags: baguette, banhmi, bonham strand, gluten-free, MSG-free, noodlemi, noodles, pho, salad, sheung wan, Vietnamese

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Categories Cheap and cheerful, Making a difference, Restaurant review

‘The Humble Shroom’ at 208 Duecento Otto

28 Aug

I’ve been to 208 plenty of times, be it for a casual dinner downstairs, a glass of wine at the bar, to collect a takeaway pizza, or for a slightly fancier dinner upstairs. However, it has not yet found a place on my blog…until now.

I was lucky enough to be invited to try 208’s ‘The Humble Shroom’ dinner. Unfortunately this menu is only available until the end of the month, but I still thought it deserved a mention, and hopefully through this, those who haven’t yet put 208 to the test can imagine what its regular standard of meals is like.

The setting is beautiful, with toweringly high ceilings and dark wood contrasted with blue and white Chinese-style ceramic tiles. It has an elegant and grand feeling about it, somewhat akin to a restaurant you would find in New York’s Meatpacking District (coincidentally the very spot used to in fact be a meat storing warehouse).

Our evening began, as any should, with some delicious soft buttered pizza bread, fresh from the oven. A note on 208’s pizzas: they are in fact some of the best you can find in Hong Kong, with perfect thin bases and delicious fresh toppings. The first time I went to 208, I was sat at the long marble table downstairs, next to a trio of Italians; when we asked them where in Hong Kong has the best pizza, their answer included 208.

On to the main event, some little canapés of Chopped beef carpaccio, pickled shitake and tarragon cream, as well as Roasted field mushrooms stuffed with chopped shitake, wilted spinach and gorgonzola were set before us. While I liked the chopped shitake filling of the latter, there wasn’t nearly enough gorgonzola, so I definitely preferred the beef carpaccio bites.

My choice of starter was the White asparagus with shitake, slow cooked egg, burnt butter and parmesan. The egg was cooked to oozing perfection and paired wonderfully well with the discs of mushroom.

The Roasted suckling pig for main course, served with morel and fava bean ragout, potato and garlic anchovy aioli, was deliciously comforting although somewhat difficult to eat; I kept finding little bones that got in the way of my enjoyment. Although the crispy skin was scrumptious, I found I had to first separate it from the meat in order to be able to cut through it. The fava bean ragout was wholesome and very tasty, yet I must say I preferred the side dish of broad beans, peas and girolle salad.

Dessert thankfully didn’t include mushrooms; instead it came in the form of a mushroom, as a Vanilla panna cotta Shroom with chocolate, almond crumbs, cocoa powder, mint and espresso. The presentation was beautiful and it tasted lovely too, with the delicate flavours of the panna cotta contrasted with the rich chocolate, refreshing mint and light essence of coffee.

A plate of delicious chocolate truffles (made to look like the mushroom counterpart) was also laid before us. These were absolutely faultless…I only wished there had been enough to take a little box home with me!

And finally, with no connection whatsoever to mushrooms, but simply because they are amazing, we shared a platter of Homemade ricotta bomboloni: sweet Italian fritters with raspberry marmalade and a mascarpone zabaglione (isn’t that fun to say?!). These were remarkably light and dangerously more-ish. Thankfully, they are a constant on the a la carte menu, so I implore you to try them on your next visit to 208.

This three-course menu (along with extra treats such as the canapés and the truffles) costs $428 per person, similar to what a normal meal from the upstairs a la carte menu would cost, without drinks. Service is efficient, staff is friendly; clearly they’re doing everything right, as the place has been packed since it first opened. In short, with so many restaurants to try in HK, 208 seems to be one I always continue to go back to…need you ask why?

208 Duecento Otto

208 Hollywood Road
Sheung Wan
Hong Kong

Tel: +852 2549 0208

www.208.com.hk

Tags: 208, 208 Duecento Otto, hollywood road, italian food, Meatpacking District, mushrooms, new york, panna cotta, pasta, pizza, risotto, sheung wan, suckling pig, truffles

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Categories Posh grub, Restaurant review

La Cantoche

13 Aug

Some restaurants open with a bang, shouting out their arrival for all to hear. Others open quietly, safe in the knowledge that people will find them on their own and fall in love. La Cantoche, tucked away on a side street off Hollywood Road in Sheung Wan, did the latter and, having only been open for a couple of months, is packed full every night.

David Sung, the restaurant’s French-born owner, never had a background in hospitality or F&B, yet after years in unsatisfying jobs, he dreamed of creating a place of his own, where he could serve his childhood memories in a fun and casual space. This is exactly what La Cantoche is; get to know David and you’ll instantly see how much of his personality has gone into the design and the overall flavour of the place.

The space is lovely, spanning over two small floors, with whitewashed brick walls dotted with the odd bit of graffiti and contrasted with brightly coloured mismatched chairs. Chilled out hip-hop beats are heard while old-school films such as Back to the Future or Ghostbusters are projected onto one of the walls and a foosball table welcomes guests in the entrance. The aim is for diners to feel at home and relaxed in a completely unpretentious environment.

The food isn’t pretentious either; obviously it is French, yet as the name of the restaurant suggests (it translates to ‘canteen’), the food is kept simple and homely.

Despite protestations that it was a Monday evening and therefore should have been an alcohol-free day, David insisted we try a glass of rosé, which he claims is the best in Hong Kong. I haven’t tried enough to be able to judge if it is the best, but it certainly is delicious: delicate in colour as well as flavour, making it more than easy to quaff.

We began our meal with some ‘Rice Krispies’, one of David’s mother’s recipes. This dish involves crispy puffed rice mixed with minced pork and exciting Vietnamese herbs and spices (David’s mother was born in Vietnam). David’s advice was to scoop a serving into one of the accompanying lettuce leaves, take a bite, wait a couple of seconds and then smile. It was hard to disobey the final command, as this dish was absolutely incredible, packed full of flavours that did indeed instantly make me smile.

The Nems au chevre (goat’s cheese spring rolls) were also amazing, oozing with molten goat’s cheese yet still, somehow, delicately light…or maybe that’s just what I told myself to ease the guilt of eating deep fried cheese? You’ve got to love a bit of deep-fried cheese!

Our final starter was a selection of crudités, namely leeks in gribiche sauce, mimosa egg and shredded carrots. Each of these had a distinct flavour, ranging from the slightly sharp carrots in vinaigrette, the beautifully soft and moreish leeks, to the delicately flavoured hard-boiled egg, my favourite of the three. The leeks’ gribiche sauce also served as the perfect dip for the still-warm fresh baguette.

Moving on to main courses, to keep Food Envy at bay, we also shared a couple of these. The Poisson Papillote, a fillet of barramundi cooked in a tinfoil parcel, was divine. There was little added to it other than soft leeks, cherry tomatoes and capers, so the flavours were all natural and light, leaving a jus that again doubled up as the perfect dip for the bread.

The rustic Cordon Bleu was also a winner, stuffed with flavoursome ham and melted cheese and then lightly breaded and fried, again without that overly heavy feeling. My attempt to only have half of my share failed due to it being far too delicious to waste!

Each main comes with complimentary side dishes: we had some wholesome and comforting ratatouille as well as three different kinds of potato: homemade mash, homemade chips, and pommes noisettes. Ever had a tater tot? Pommes noisettes are exactly that, but with a fancier name: deep-fried crispy balls of pure potato goodness reminiscent of childhood days gone by.

It seems David loves his old-school child-friendly food, as the desserts are just the same. A thin, semi-cooked chocolate cake is served not with a scoop of vanilla ice cream as regulation normally requires, but in a puddle of crème Anglaise (English custard). The cake is gooey and perfect, without being too sweet.

The most incredible dessert is the homemade nougat ice cream with crushed M&Ms. I am not exaggerating when I say that this was heaven on a plate, and again it left a permanent smile on my face from the first mouthful until the last, when I realised there was no more left.

Prices at La Cantoche match the unpretentious feel of the restaurant, with starters around the $70 marker and mains around $130. It has also jumped on the no-service-charge bandwagon, where guests are encouraged to tip if they appreciate the service. It is impossible not to appreciate the service, as waiters are genuinely friendly and David himself does frequent rounds of the restaurant to make sure all his guests are happy; happiness is precisely the emotion that La Cantoche will instil in you.

La Cantoche
G/F, 5 Wa Lane
227 Hollywood Road
Sheung Wan
Hong Kong

Tel: +852 2426 0880

Tags: cordon bleu, David Sung, french food, graffiti, hollywood road, ice cream, La Cantoche, Paris, rice krispies, sheung wan, Vietnam, wine

Comments 1 Comment
Categories Cheap and cheerful, Restaurant review

Table for Two HK’s Healthy Summer Dining Experience

30 Jul

Table for Two HK has partnered up with nine amazing restaurants all over the city that will each serve their very own special TFT HK dishes throughout the month of August, as part of its Healthy Summer Dining Experience. When you purchase these dishes, part of the proceeds will help TFT HK provide school lunches for children in developing countries, in line with their motto: Order for one. Feed two. And help the world eat better.

The other part of the deal means that, as well as helping feed starving children, if your photo of your TFT HK dish receives the most likes on Facebook, you can win exciting prizes.

As one of Table for Two’s Food Heroes, I was lucky enough to be invited along for the launch of the Healthy Summer Dining Experience, which took us on a tour of six of the participating venues to taste their special TFT HK dish or drink; our own little restaurant crawl, if you like.

The Genie Concept

We started our day at The Genie Concept to try their fresh organic pineapple and kale juice.

I was initially a little put off by the thought of drinking kale, yet was taken by surprise at how delicious and refreshing this juice was. Kale is rich in vitamin C and vitamin B6, and is also particularly good for women, given that it helps protect against breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

The Genie Concept in Sheung Wan offers 1, 2, 4 or 6-day juice cleanses designed for the busy Hong Kong lifestyle. Instead of your three meals a day, Genie will deliver you six freshly-pressed juices in a reusable cooler. For those, like me, who would not be able to handle this, you can just pop by for the one-off tasty juice or even some delicious healthy dishes.

If your photo of your pineapple and kale juice gets the most likes, you could win a 1-day Genie Concept Cleanse.

The Genie Concept
Shop B, G/F, Universal Building
5-13 New Street
Sheung Wan
Hong Kong

Tel: +852 2803 0369
www.thegenieconcept.com

Grassroots Pantry

Our next destination was Grassroots Pantry, to try their Quinoa salad with orange hazelnut dressing, full of fresh flavours and interesting textures.

As you already know from my recent review of Grassroots Pantry (find it here), I adore this sweet little haven tucked away in Sai Ying Pun. The décor is charmingly beautiful, the staff greet you with a smile, and the vegetarian food is wholesome and delicious. Hong Kong definitely needs more places like this.

If your photo of the quinoa salad receives the most likes, you could win a voucher to attend a Grassroots Pantry workshop.

Grassroots Pantry
12 Fuk Sau Lane
Sai Ying Pun
Hong Kong

Tel: +852 2873 3353
www.grassrootspantry.com

Light

We moved on to Light, to try their Black Bean Burger.

Light is an adorable little café on Eastern Street that feels far away from Hong Kong. Lovely owner Stephanie admitted that her aim is for people to “leave feeling better” after having eaten there; I certainly did.

The black bean patty is perfect: crispy on the outside with a moreish spiciness to it encased in a wonderfully fluffy homemade whole-wheat bun. I was rather anti veggie burgers, until I tried Stephanie’s.

The winning photographer will receive a free dinner at Light.

Light
1 Second Street (entrance on Eastern Street)
Sai Ying Pun
Hong Kong

Tel: +852 2559 9098

MANA! Fast Slow Food

MANA!’s Organic Mezze Platter awaited us next, full to the brim with hummus, babaghanouj, black and green olives, green salad and their famous flatbread topped with zaatar – the perfect sharing platter.

MANA! is my favourite healthy lunch spot at the moment, as you can see from my review here, and judging by how busy it is every day of the week, it’s clear that most of Hong Kong is of the same opinion.

If your photo wins, MANA! is giving away a dinner for two.

MANA! Fast Slow Food
92 Wellington Street
Central
Hong Kong

Tel: +852 2851 1611
www.mana.hk

Teakha

For dessert, we ventured back into Sheung Wan to try Teakha’s Lemon and ginger tart, made with a ginger snap base and a creamy lemon topping, sprinkled with fresh lemon zest.

I’ve walked past Teakha multiple times, but have never had the time to check it out. After tasting the amazing tart and ogling the rest of the cakes on display, I will certainly be making the time to go back.

The best photo will win a Teakha tea set for two.

Teakha
18 Tai Ping Shan Street
Sheung Wan
Hong Kong

Tel: +852 2858 9185
www.teakha.com

The Flying Winemaker

Our final stop was for a glass of Eddie McDougall Cabernet Merlot 2010 from King Valley, Australia at The Flying Winemaker.

Hong Kong-born Eddie McDougall’s Cabernet Merlot is light and easy to drink; in fact it went down far too easily for a 2pm tipple.

The lucky winner will receive two vouchers to a WineSkool Tongue Explorer class, apparently “the cheekiest and most enjoyable way to learn about tasting and understanding wine”.

The Flying Winemaker
31 Wyndham Street
Lan Kwai Fong
Central
Hong Kong

Tel: +852 2522 2187
www.eddiemcdougall.com

The final three participating restaurants in TFT HK’s Healthy Summer Dining Experience are Veggie SF, FoFo by El Willy and Pure Bar + Restaurant – not a bad selection. So as from Wednesday 1st August, you can make a difference by eating healthily at the same as helping a starving child eat healthily too…and of course you might be lucky enough to win some great prizes!

Tags: central, Eddie McDougall, Fofo by El Willy, grassroots pantry, lan kwai fong, Light, Light Radiant Food, mana, mana hong kong, MANA! fast slow food, Nana Chan, peggy chan, Pure Bar, sheung wan, Table for Two, Table for Two HK, Teakha, TFT HK, The Flying Winemaker, The Genie Concept, veggie sf

Comments 10 Comments
Categories Bars, Cheap and cheerful, Making a difference, Posh grub, Restaurant review

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