其實本人幾欣賞 Antique Patisserie. 但有時不太明白, 主理人為何未能將自己的強項同信念帶出去俾多啲生客知道! 先前未搬遷到 NOHO 區, 現址勝香園附近時, 已經有幫襯過中環同鰂魚涌分店. 不過好似一次都無記得寫過 Antique Patisserie.
Nowadays, ANTIQUE Tea Room has evolved into more of a take-away shop, but the Secretive Tea Room can only be accessed if you pre-purchase their Tea Room vouchers. You may then choose the Afternoon Tea set option wanted by pre-booking a table in advance! Ok. To be honest, I don't really get this concept. I mean, unless you're a super-duper Tea Room serving out-of-this-world quality Tea Sets, better than the Peninsula, or Shangri-La or Mandarin Oriental, then may be yes I'll consider purchasing them. It just doesn't make much business sense...

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Anyway here's my likes and dislikes about Antique.

- CAKES - their cakes have been gradually improving during the last 1.5 years. They used to be really simple and boring. Nowadays however, one can visually see the heart and design and love put into their cakes, and it has grown in design-complexity and thoughtfulness, above its local competitors Sift and Zoe in the last 12 months, perhaps even surpassing Thomas Trillion.... YET, Antique Patisserie shops have the worst lightings and fridge display in the world. The cakes just doesn't jump out at you, because it needs better spot lights and at eye-level fridges, with properly printed signages explaining them. And they look better than they taste (the same can be said of most places though). I think customers could be more educated with careful explanations of how each cake has been constructed, with better, legible diagrams and ingredient names!

- COFFEE - despite being a Canadian set up, Antique surprisingly sells the famous albeit commercialised VITTORIA coffee from Australia, and its their most expensive ORO blend as well! Even many Top-hatted restaurants in Australia, or the famous cafes such as Pellegrini's Espresso Bar and Brunetti use it in Melbourne. But who even knows about this hiddne fact in HK? Please advertise it! As they are the exclusive seller of it within HK. And my take-away Caffe latte wasn't half-bad either, just a little too hot and with a tinge of bitterness, which is Vittoria coffee's usual style. Its more of an Australian-Italian ancient style coffee, kind of similar to New York-Italian versions.

- TEA - Antique uses the prestigious French Tea 'Theodor' for its tea sets, and they also carry another good brand as a option. But again, who even knows about it, especially if they don't promote it ? *Scratches head*

- WITTAMER CHOCOLATE - Antique sells the exclusive and world famous Wittamer Chocolate range, not sure if they still intend to as its not on the shelves here. The Belgian equivalent of Godiva or the hand-crafted Goossens, well known for its daggy looks but very good taste, even better than Godiva and Goossens Chocolatier by mouth-feel. But what have they done to promote the brand in HK?

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Wittamer Chocolate eats Better than it Looks!

Wittamer Chocolate eats Better than it Looks!

Old Pic: Pistachio and another Framboise Macaron.

Old Pic: Pistachio and another Framboise Macaron.

Old Pic: Earl Grey Macaron. Not bad.

Old Pic: Earl Grey Macaron. Not bad.

Strawberry Macaron had little Framboise taste..

Strawberry Macaron had little Framboise taste..

Caramel Macaron better. But not chewy enough.

Caramel Macaron better. But not chewy enough.

Good Old Vittoria. A little bitter as usual..

Good Old Vittoria. A little bitter as usual..

Anyway, I think ANTIQUE has a lot of potential in every sector of dessert or drinks it touches. If they could improve their Tea Sets, get it done up like those snobbish British arvo teas, paired with some equally pretty looking and tasty Savouries, u know, think high end - I am sure we will pay, if its even good enough! The sweet options needs an upgrade too aethestically and taste-wise speaking. I mean if you bother to import all these great stuff, you might as well do a better job overall, make the best cakes in HK, properly promote the French tea and imported Coffees, tell people about your exclusive Wittamer chocolates, make better fluffier rather than hard Scones wrapped in cling-wrap for sale. Do up the Display Fridges and Lightings. Don't put a photo of French pastries with a Canele on it, if you aren't intending to sell them...

And what's with that weird VIP pre-paid Tea Room Voucher scheme?
I am not coming here to attend a Yoga Class...