[Hong Kong] Ritz-Carlton: Checking Out

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong

Address: International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon,  Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2263 2263
Website: www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/HongKong/
Visited on: 2011-12-23

Good morning Hong Kong! After we reluctantly wriggled out of our ultra comfortable bed, we made our way to the Club Lounge for breakfast. Floor-to-celing windows, soft velvety morning light, jazz in the air, and the sweet smell of fresh pastries and coffee – a fine way to wake up.

Note: for those not staying at the Club Lounge levels, breakfast is served at The Lounge & Bar on the 102nd floor. 

The buffet features a selection of cold cuts, fresh fruits, yogurt, pastries, hot dishes, fresh juices, and eggs made to order. I’m also guessing the kitchen can conjure up whatever you fancy at the moment, but I was very happy with what was already on the table.

Continue Reading "[Hong Kong] Ritz-Carlton: Checking Out"
[Hong Kong] Ritz-Carlton: Checking In

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong

Address: International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon,  Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2263 2263
Website: www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/HongKong/
Visited on: 2011-12-22

The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, currently the world’s highest hotel, is quite literally taking luxury to new heights. Perched between levels 102 and 118 at the International Commerce Center (ICC) in Kowloon, the hotel sits majestically atop floors of bankers, a train/metro station that directly links to the airport, and an upscale shopping mall called Elements. Needless to say, it all comes with unrivaled views of Victoria Harbour and the iconic Hong Kong skyline as the backdrop.

The arrival lobby is located on the 9th floor, and from there we zoomed right up to the 103rd floor reception in a mere 53 seconds. That would be 9 meters per second. Pop!


Continue Reading "[Hong Kong] Ritz-Carlton: Checking In"
[Hong Kong] La Maison du Chocolat

La Maison du Chocolat

Add*: IFC Mall – Shop 1050, Podium Level 1 8 Finance Street, Hong Kong
Tel: (+852) 2801 4880
Hours: 10:30am-9:30pm
Website: www.lamaisonduchocolat.com
Price: 23 HKD/macaron

La Maison du Chocolat, opened in 1977 by Robert Linxe (once referred to as a “ganache magician”), is world-famous for its exquisite chocolate creations: ganaches, truffles, and mendiants in classic and not so classic flavors like basil, rosemary, and jasmine. The shops also offer an alluring assortment of chocolate pastries like eclairs, macarons, chocolate tarts and cakes, as well as ice cream!

*4 locations available in Hong Kong, check website for details.

Continue Reading "[Hong Kong] La Maison du Chocolat"

[Hong Kong] Sift Dessert Bar

Sift Dessert Bar

Add: G/F, 46 Graham Street, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2530 4288
Hours: Tue-Thu 3-11:30pm, Fri-Sat 3-12:30pm
Website: www.siftdesserts.com
Price: 75~95 HKD/dessert

I’ve been craving Sift’s red velvet cupcakes ever since I first tasted them at Sidewalk on my previous Hong Kong trip. Upon returning to the city, I was determined to get a dozen of these fluffy delights, so I arrived at Sift’s Graham Street outlet right when it opened – just because I wanted none of the “sorry we are all sold out” business. So imagine how devastated I was when told that – “Umm, we don’t have cupcakes at this outlet. You have to go to our Wanchai location for them.”

Seriously?!

To mend my broken heart, we decided to go ahead and try Sift’s plated desserts, which are the specialties at its Graham Street outlet. After much contemplation and consultation, we placed our orders and waited to be impressed.

First came Sticky Toffee Pudding (80 HKD), a steamed date puree sponge cake lavishly drizzled with toffee sauce. A forkful of this amazingly warm, moist, fragrant cake with some accompanying banana ice-cream and caramel crunch made me very, very happy at heart. Red velvet cupcakes? Already out of mind.

Continue Reading "[Hong Kong] Sift Dessert Bar"
[Hong Kong] Kau Kee Restaurant 九記牛腩

Kau Kee Restaurant 九記牛腩

Add: 21 Gough Street, Hong Kong 中環歌賦街21號地下
Tel: +(852) 28150123 /2850 5967
Hours: Mon-Sat 12pm-10pm
Price: 28~42 HKD/bowl of noodles
Visited: Sep 2011

This tiny noodle shop has been around for more than ninety years, serving irresistible beef briskets that draw patrons as famous as actor Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Chief Executive of Hong Kong Donald Tsang. Naturally, expectations were high as we lined up behind other eager diners. Don’t they say great expectations lead to great disappointment? No, my friends, Kau Kee simply does not disappoint.

Come during off-peak hours (e.g. after 2pm and before 6pm) or expect a long line. As is typical in this type of Hong Kong restaurants, service is minimal and bordering on rude – but whatever, the noodles are only 28 HKD, and there’s air-conditioning potent enough to make me happy.

The menu (also available in English) is simple. You basically get to choose from three types of noodles – flat noodles, e-fu noodles, and vermicelli – in either clear broth or curry sauce. There is also a “dry noodle” option with oyster sauce, but I didn’t see many people ordering that.

I went with beef tendon with e-fu noodles in curry sauce 咖哩牛筋伊麵 (30 HKD). Just one mouthful, and I was a believer. The curry sauce was bold, rich, and slightly spicy. Bathing in it were e-fu noodles that have completely soaked up the intense flavor and chunks of beef briskets/tendons that have been stewed for hours to a tender perfection. Hands down 10 out of 10.

Continue Reading "[Hong Kong] Kau Kee Restaurant 九記牛腩"
[Hong Kong] Sevva

Sevva

Add: 25/F, Prince’s Bldg, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2537 1388
Hours: [afternoon tea] Mon-Fri 2:30-6pm, Sat 3-6pm
Website: www.sevva.hk
Price: Marie Antoinette’s Crave 260 HKD, afternoon tea set for 2 people 520 HKD +10%
Visited: Aug 2011

I had only one thing on my mind as I walked into Sevva – to try its famous Marie Antoinette’s Crave. I’ve seen pictures of this dramatic pink cotton candy / pistachio chiffon cake before my trip, and there’s no way I’d leave Hong Kong without trying a piece of it.

As they don’t take reservations, we came 15 minutes before afternoon tea service started, and there was already a line of people waiting to be seated. The hostess, with her nose in the sky, eventually led us at a dark inner corner instead of the window seats because “some media were coming in to film that area”. Guess what, the media never came.

But let’s try to shift focus to Ms B’s Sweets, a cake shop owned by Bonnie Gokson (former communication director of Chanel Asia Pacific), whose reputation in the world of branding and fashion has helped Sevva gain lots of attention. On display were sugary caprices such as Ginger Cheesecake, Chocolate Fudge Cake with Marmalade, the Original Crunch Cake, Apple Pie with Shaved Cheddar and – drumroll please – Marie Antoinette’s Crave.

Satin-smooth icing, jewel-toned berries, pastel colors…

Continue Reading "[Hong Kong] Sevva"
[Hong Kong] agnès b. La Loggia

agnès b. La Loggia

Add: Shop 3039, Podium Level 3, IFC Mall, Central, HK
Tel: +852 2805 0723
Hours: 11am-9pm
Website: www.agnesb-lepaingrille.com/index_hk
Price: ~40 HKD/cake, 40 HKD/drink

Agnes b. has built herself a little empire in the Hong Kong IFC building, and named it La Loggia after her grandmother’s holiday home in the south of France. What it includes: women’s and men’s collections, sport b., an accessories shop, a travel store, a florist, a chocolate boutique, a traditional French restaurant, and a lush, sun-filled atrium. Agnes b. fans, this is your one-stop shop.

Continue Reading "[Hong Kong] agnès b. La Loggia"
[Hong Kong] Tai Cheong Bakery 泰昌餅家

Tai Cheong Bakery 泰昌餅家 Add: 35 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hong Kong 香港中環擺花街35號 Tel: +852 544 3475 Price: 5 HKD/egg tart Visited: Aug 2011 Velvety, slightly gooey egg custard nestled inside crumbly, fragrant shortcrust…just glide one of these divine egg tarts down and you’ll know exactly why everyone loves Tai Cheong Bakery so much. Tai Cheong specializes…Continue Reading “[Hong Kong] Tai Cheong Bakery 泰昌餅家”

[Hong Kong] Sidewalk

Sidewalk

Add: 4-6 Gough Street, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2850 7299
Hours: [Mon-Wed] 8am-8pm [Thu-Sat] 8am-10pm [Sun] 8am-6pm
Website: www.sidewalk.hk
Price: ~30 HKD/coffee or tea, 30 HKD/cupcake

Sidewalk is a chic little cafe / shop that I stumbled upon while roaming around in the Noho area on a Sunday morning. I was originally looking for Lan Fong Yuen 蘭芳園’s milk tea and stir-fried instant noodles, but alas it wasn’t open. So how about a cup of coffee and some dainty little cupcakes instead? Why not.


At the waiter’s recommendation, I sampled a red velvet cupcake. Fluffy, with just the right amount of cream cheese frosting, the cupcake was a few delightful bites. Only when I paid did I find out that it costed me 30 HKD! I also later learned that these cupcakes are from Sift, and if you directly buy the cupcakes there, it would be 25 HKD a piece.

Continue Reading "[Hong Kong] Sidewalk"