Dining in Hong Kong
Lu Feng - a taste of old Hong Kong
While Hong Kong’s palate is strongly influenced by Cantonese cuisine, owing to its colonial past and its evolution into an international business hub, the flavours are many and varied. From upscale restaurants, to traditional bakeries, Hong Kong provides a limitless array of food available in every class. It’s no wonder the territory has earned the title “World Fair of Food.” Read on to find out the pit-stops along your gastronomical journey of Hong Kong’s delightful eateries.
Lunch at Plat du Jour by Swire Restaurants
Owned by Swire restaurants the Plat du Jour is a small 60-seater bistro style restaurant which offers typically French regional cuisine. Open for dinner and lunch, prior reservations are perhaps best as this quaint little eatery can get quite busy during lunch time, especially on a Friday. It’s a cosy little place and as its name suggests the menu is accompanied with the restaurant’s daily “dish of the day” specials.
What to order:
Starters - Escargot Bourguignon – Snails, parsley, garlic butter and baguette
The dish might not be the starter for the faint hearted, but one does travel for the experience even if it’s just once. Fear not, the dish is much more appetizing than it sounds and tastes amazing. It’s served up with a pair of tongs and a small fork to get at the meat inside the shells and slices of baguette to soak up all that garlic and parsley buttery goodness.
Mains: Lemon and thyme spring chicken
This dish includes a lemon and thyme coated crumb fried moist fillet of chicken with a poached egg on top. The chicken is moist and the flavours completely complement each other and should the lemon and thyme seem overpowering the poached egg is just the thing to even it out.
Address: 21, G/F Hoi Wan Street, Taikoo Place, Hong Kong
Lu Feng at the Peak Tower, Chinese restaurant by Epicurean Group
While Hong Kong has its cosmopolitan feel many restaurants including the Lu Feng draw much of their culinary inspiration from its past with nostalgic dishes servedup in a retro themed setting replete with neon signs and wood paneling to draw visitors to a taste of old Hong Kong.
For those visitors who arrive at the Peak Tower for that classic view of Hong Kong – a meal at the Lu Feng by the Epicurean Group is a must. We were hosted to a special tasting but were told the dishes are all available at the restaurant which serves up traditional Chinese dim sum, barbeque meat, premium seafood and more.
A favourite at Mercedes Me - Crispy Pork belly brioche buns
What to order:
Starter:
Chicken and chives spring roll, Marinated jelly fish in sesame and mustard sauce, Crispy Tofu with Shichimi and rock salt.
The texture of the tofu was so light and fluffy the small little crumbed squares just seemed to disappear in the mouth.
Mains: Deep- fried Garoupa in Sweet and Sour sauce.
Full of colour and so much flavour, the fish is crispy and has no protruding bones.
Dessert : Chilled Sago cream with mango and pomelo – the perfect refreshing thick liquid dessert
Address: Shop 3A-B, Level 2 &3, The Peak Tower, The Peak
Loong Toh Yuen – by Hullett House
The restored Hullet House housed in the former Marine Police Headquarters was originally built in 1881. The property itself is one of the few examples of colonial architecture, and today the renovated building comprises a hotel, and seven restaurants.
Hullett House’s Loong Toh Yuen is the property’s signature Chinese restaurant. Here visitors can taste some traditional Chinese dishes amidst a colonial setting. The restaurant is furnished with touches that resemble an old Hong Kong teahouse.
What to order:
We were hosted as guests to a special tasting but were told the dishes are all available at the restaurant.
Starters: Dark Fungus with Balsamic Vinegar, Spiced Calamari, Soya paste marinated Okra and Prawn and lotus root cake.
The dark fungus with balsamic vinegar was simple in its presentation but was the personal favourite starter for the evening.
Mains: Kung Po Chili Chicken and Pan Fried Fillet of Grouper
The two dishes were so simple in their preparation but tasted amazing and the Grouper was incredibly fresh and light.
Dessert: Traditional Chinese sweets some in a gelatinous form and others baked into little cakes
Those who visit 1881 Heritage should look to make this little restaurant or its property the final destination of one’s journey. It’s a short walk from the Star Ferry from Hong Kong Island to the Kowloon side and the architecture of the restaurant itself has much to behold.
Address: 1881 Heritage, 2A Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Urban views from a suite at the East Hong Kong Hotel
Mercedes Me
The Mercedes Me restaurant by Maximal Concepts intertwines love for food in a fast paced lifestyle of this concept restaurant that has teamed up with car brand Mercedes Benz. Inside the restaurant sits a sparkling new Mercedes which visitors walk around and peer into all the while staff behind the counter of the restaurant’s signature long bar are busy fixing drinks and working at the raw cooking station simultaneously.
We were hosted at the restaurant on a Sunday during its popular Free Flow brunch. The Buffet stations spread across the length of the bar served up varieties of salad, cold cuts and bakery items. The other end of the restaurant included all manner of cheese for the tasting.
What to order:
Mains: Marinated Norwegian Salmon, Crispy Pork Belly Brioche Buns
Dessert: Chocolate and Hazelnut Delice
Who would have guessed that olive oil and chocolate were a match made in confectionery heaven. Yes, this particular dessert is served with a small pipette of olive oil which is injected into the most chocolate heavy part of this ensemble. Dip one’s spoon in thereafter and it’s complete bliss. Should travellers to Hong Kong not have time to dine out frequently, this dessert alone is enough to bring one through its doors and it will not disappoint.
Address : 30 Queen’s Road, Central, Hong Kong
Where to stay in Hong Kong
East Hong Kong : The business hotel with a life
Just about 45 minutes from the Chek Lap Kok International Airport, East Hong KongJs beautiful exterior glass façade which extends from floor-to-ceiling is what greets visitors to its very modernistic space. This hotel run by Swire Hotels is a chic business hotel offering more than 300 rooms and 6 suites. Each of the rooms boast urban and panoramic views of Victoria harbour that could simply take oness breath away.
Reasons to stay
Snails, parsley and garlic butter - a dish for the daring
Located on Quarry Bay the hotel is next door to the Tai Koo MTR subway station. This makes getting about that much easier. Guests have direct access to the Cityplaza Shopping Center from the hotel itself. For those on a tight business schedule the hotel is a convenient location.
The in-house café Feast Café is an all-day dining restaurant serving up western and authentic Asian cuisine. To access the Café visitors walk up a bird s nest-styled staircase and for those busy mornings the café offers breakfast to go.
The Rooftop lounge bar – Sugar offers travellers the ultimate means of spending an enjoyable evening with its alfresco terrace and views that stretch across the harbour. The lounge is patronized by guests as well as locals who come to unwind after a busy working day.
If the above isn’t enough reason – East Hong Kong also offers guests the use of the Handy phone. A portable mobile phone with the Handy app that provides suggestions for outings and helps guest to stay connected with the hotel. A one touch dial allows guests to connect to the hotel immediately plus it can be used as a Wi-Fi hotspot. The courteous staff are always ready to help guests with directions in case one loses their way. Address : 29 Tai Koo Shing Rd, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong
| Favourite Hong Kong eats Hong Kong offers quite a few staple eats that have become synonymous with this part of the world. A visit without sampling at least a few makes for an incomplete culinary experience. Egg Tarts Tai Cheong bakery is where we are told to head for the best egg tarts. Having earned a reputation for having produced the best egg tarts the bakery is now a major tourist attraction and is frequented by locals as well. They also serve other traditional Chinese bakery items such as buns and cookies. Fun Fact: Chris Patten, the last British Governor according to popular report gave the golden centred buttery crusted tart his seal of approval. Patten has been a fan of the tarts for years so much so the two are almost synonymous. Cha siu bao Sometimes sold in Chinese bakeries – a Cha siu bao is a Cantonese dish – a simple bun filled with with barbecue-flavored cha siu pork. The buns are quite popular and can be found sometimes among types of dim sum. Deuk Deuk Tong Deuk Deuk Tong is traditional sweet in Hong Kong and is commonly referred to as Ding Ding Tong. It is a hard sweet made out of maltose and has flavours of ginger and sesame. In Cantonese, deuk means to chisel or break into smaller pieces we learn. When street hawkers sell the candy, it becomes necessary to break apart its original shape with a pair of flat chisels, namely “deuk”. The chiselling or carving out the pieces makes noise and attracts those around to buy. In Cantonese Tong means “candy” or “sugar”. Today, the sweet is said to be offered in many varied flavours.
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The writer was part of a media familiarization tour to Hong Kong sponsored by Cathay Pacific Airlines together with East, Hong Kong.