ycyangie的个人专页

I’ve heard a while ago that kale is moving over to Central — finally, the wait is over & I’m sooo excited to see a new healthy eatery in Central/SW district after the recent closure of H_ME and K_nnet. Feeling hungry at 4ish and remember seeing kale as a newly opened restaurant on a delivery app, I decided to take a walk & check it out. Unsurprisingly, it looked quiet when I arrived at around 4:20pm. So quiet that I wasn’t sure if it was open —and felt relieved to learn that it was, as I was warmly greeted by the lady shopkeeper the moment I opened the sliding door. It’s quite a cosy setting ---  I can imagine it might be a bit crowded during peak lunch hours.While I was craving for a salad as an afternoon snack, I also felt like having something warm — so I asked the lady whether seared tuna or crab meat is more popular. She answered seared tuna without hesitation & I gladly took her advice. She went on to explain patiently how the salad choices work — basically you could choose any combination, yep, all of them if you feel like it! And you could also let them know what you prefer less/more of.All the salad options looked delicious so I was struggling a bit... “Hmmm... they all look really good but I already had quite a lot of bread today...” I said.She understood me & read my mind right away — “So less carbs? Sure no problem!”I was having it as take away and couldn’t see the beautiful presentation of the salad right away. The wait took about 5 mins or so — pretty sure they seared the tuna on the spot.When I finally opened my box of salad after a <10 mins walk... Ummm that aromatic sesame oil & light soy sauce marinate of the seared tuna is so appetising! The seared tuna smelled so good that I couldn't help starting with it.Ummm... this was aptly seasoned and seared on point. As someone who prefers lighter and healthier seasoning, I didn't find this too salty. The sesame was crunchy --- you can tell it was sprinkled right before serving. Yum!Okay, of course we are then moving onto the kale salad!..... This was simply the freshest, sweetest and juiciest kale I've had in HK lately So juicy that I suspect that they had kept the kale in a glass of water (just like how you place fresh flowers in a vase with water) in the fridge /  on the counter before de-stemming the kale.The pomegranate was sweet and fresh - a delicious match! I couldn't really tell it was an avocado dressing and only realise so when I was reading the menu while typing this review out --- I suspect that contrary to the printed menu, it was actually a lemon dressing today, which is light and refreshing, and made the deliciously fresh kale stood out.And I was very pleasantly surprised to find that the bed of greens is all  kale! Contrary to most takeaway salads which often has lettuce as the leafy green base, this is pure-kale-pleasure! Love Chinese black fungus and Goji berries! This is lighter than the usual/traditional way of marinating Chinese black fungus with black vinegar, nonetheless refreshingly tangy, tasty, moist and juicy! The cucumber was fresh and crispy too.Moving on the the Quinoa Salad...Fresh, nutty and fluffy red quinoa with crunchy roasted sunflower seeds... ummm... each mouthful was a pleasure. Love how well it goes with the juicy dried cranberry (which was pretty huge despite being dried!). Only wishing there were more cranberries...Quinoa and kale... can't go wrong ;P Yum!As considerately noted by the lady shopkeeper, there's less carbs in my salad -- and thus only one piece of roasted pumpkin. This was aptly seasoned and roasted on point -- still juicy! And I like the hint of rosemary. However, if I am to "pick on" only one thing about this salad, it is the okra, which was a bit dry and yellow after roasting --- having said that, I am not complaining as it is understandable when it comes to roasting okra. (Hi there dear staff of kale, if you're reading this I just want to share with you that I usually just boil my okra with a bit of salt and vegetable oil for a minute --- they stay green, juicy and crispy that way ;))Last but not least, the Beetroot Salad.The beetroot was sweet and aromatically seasoned with orange vinaigrette. I enjoyed my beetroot with the seared tuna --- yummm... the saltiness of the seared tuna brought out the sweetness of the beets!All in all, this was a delicious salad and I am so glad that kale is joining the local healthy-dining scene. I look forward to visiting again and can't wait to try the rest of the goodies on their menu  …查看更多

The Kinnet is one of the very few bookable restaurants around Central/Sheung Wan preparing healthy food, with fresh ingredients, at a reasonably affordable price AND catering for both herbivores & carnivores (so to speak : P)! I feel sorry to see Kinnet go (service ceasing on 5/9/2017) and am regretting a bit that I've delayed writing a review for it --- I have visited tons of times with lots of pictures on my phone. Before it's too late, let me just put together a short review of the highlights I've had in the past year at the Kinnet...=LUNCH/BRUNCH=Deliciously  stir-fried  Kale  &  Mushroom  aptly  seasoned  with  sweet  Caramelised  Onion!  The  Multigrain  bread  is  SO  GOOD  - wonderfully chewy, packed  with  poppy  seeds! Contrary to the (first) impression most Multigrain bread gives, this is not dry at all, it's so soft and tasty.I've always loved the bread served at Kinnet and am so so glad I gave this sandwich another try before Kinnet closes on 5/9 --- 'cause the same sandwich was a bit over-toasted & dry when I first gave it a try a few months ago.While I've ordered the <Seared Chicken Bowl> for my friends a few times, I've never tried it. It does look very fresh and tasty though! A warm option for some who don't feel like having a cold salad.Services at Kinnet has always been excellent --- the waitresses and waiters are attentive to your dietary requirements, and are patient in explaining the ingredients. They are quick in refilling your water, and I was warmly welcomed some towels for drying myself up when the Red Rainstorm Signal was up. The <Crab Meat Eggs Benedict> is SUPER DELICIOUS & FILLING. Two poached XL size eggs - look at that oozy egg yolk on fresh Tomato 🍅  + creamy mashed Avocado , and blending with the generous portion of crab meat. The "yoghurt" dressing is less buttery than the traditional Hollandaise sauce, and matches with the lightly seasoned crab meat well.=SOMETHING SWEET=I LOVE FIGS and already ordered this when I was having a browse at the daily selection of salads at the salad display. Kinnet consistently serves the freshest ingredients and their food always meets (if not exceeds) my expectations --- this <Fig Tart> is rich in flavour just as its beautiful shade of pink, and very "figgy" indeed. Bit too sweet for my liking though.This <Matcha Cheesecake> is wonderfully smooth, aptly sweet & deliciously matcha flavoured, with an aftertaste / a hint of soya milk. The base is thin & light, nothing buttery, packed with some shredded coconuts. YUMMY!=DINNER="Low Calories Set Dinner" $238 for 2 courses: I had grilled veggie salad as starter & <Seared Halibut> as main.Halibut was cooked on point: meat was beautifully tender & juicy, while the skin was perfectly balanced between cooked to crispy & staying chewy with the collagen in it. Overall seasoning was light & matches with the refreshing Mango salsa!<Vegetable Curry>LOVE, love, love Kinnet's veggie curry. One of my favourites in Hong Kong. I can't really take spicy food but this is all fine for me - lovely gingery & aromatic, it's spiced up with refreshing lemongrass. It comes in generous portion, and is served robustly nutty brown rice.I still remember this was highly recommended by the waitress when I first tried Kinnet's dinner --- it was a very good recommendation indeed!***Honestly, I don't really know how to wrap this review up --- how I wish I could say "I look forward to trying new amazing dishes from the Kinnet". Having said that, it only remains for me to say that: Kinnet, you'll be missed! Sorry that I haven't written a review or posted more pictures earlier. I had so many delicious meals and lovely memories with friends and family here. All the best to you!…查看更多

After my fellow bread-freak highly recommended Levain, I took a walk to PMQ one fine Sunday morning (12/8) and was slightly disappointed to see that it was under renovation. Ohhh pheww, luckily Levain has another branch conveniently located at Central MTR station such that I could take my time to visit on a weekday. 第一次光顧Levain，襯著一個天朗氣清的星期天 (12/8) 漫步到PMQ，才發現該分店正進行裝修。幸好中環地鐵站內也有分店，可以輕易地平日光顧 : )Spoiled with choices, it took me almost 10 minutes to make up my mind --- and I went for what caught my eyes first: <Green Tea & Dried Figs Sourdough>. Basically three of my favourite things on Earth in one bread! 左想右想，最後還是選了第一樣吸引我視線的 <綠茶無花果酸種麵包>。While I personally prefer the texture and crust of EK's Figs Bread (a certain bakery from Paris), Levain's Green Tea & Dried Figs Sourdough is much more packed with sweet and juicy dried figs with a delicious hint of sherry...! Though it's slightly smaller than EK's, it's not as expensive. Considering the generous amount of dried figs, I find Levain's pricing more reasonable.^ Look at all those dried figs --- Even the last bite was packed with them! 每一口都是滿滿的無花果乾，而且帶一點點自然的酒香。If you were attracted to this sourdough because of the description "Green Tea", you may be a tiny tiny bit disappointed --- at least I was upon my first bite. But I am not complaining and am not deducting a star for this sourdough. From my own experience in making Green Tea Chiffon Cakes, I understand how bitter natural green tea powder is, and how blindly scaling up the green tea powder amount with the hope of "intensifying" the green tea flavour could mess up the dry:wet ingredients ratio and risk drying up the dough. In short, from the subtle hint of green tea in this sourdough, I know Levain do mean it when they say they insist on using natural ingredients only --- and I am happy to know that ; )如果你選這款包是因為被「綠茶」兩字吸引，也許你會感到有一丁點的失望 --- 就如我當時的第一口感覺。不過，從我在家中焗綠茶雪芳蛋糕的經驗，我知道天然純綠茶粉的苦，也知道為求增強綠茶味而盲目增加綠茶粉份量很容易會打亂乾濕材料比例。從這麵包淡淡的綠茶味，我感受到Levain對用天然素材的堅持。A week later, I tried Levain's <Sesame Bun>.一星期後，我試了另一款麵包 --- <芝麻燒餅>嗯，我知道外表有點像從粥麵店買回來的 ... : PCouldn't wait to dig in... yummmm! Love the rich and aptly sweet Black Sesame flavour... If you like black sesame as they are, instead of being sweetened with desiccated coconut and lots of sugar, you'd enjoy this naturally sweet and aromatic sesame bun! 甜味自然，沒有加椰絲。簡單而美味！^ Look, even the dough itself was packed with sesame! 喜歡芝麻卷或上海大裝芝麻湯圓的朋友一定喜歡這濃郁的黑芝麻涵。麵包內也有粒粒的芝麻~ 由於仍在回味早上吃的芝麻燒餅，所以晚上再次光顧，發現Levain 7時後是 買二送一 的 ; PThe Sesame Bun was so good that I visited Levain again later that day... and was pleasantly surprised by their "Buy 2 get 1 Free" deal after 7pm.I saved the <Mixed Nut Bread Stick> and <Orange peel & Dried Figs Sourdough> for breakfast the next day, and had the <Canele> for dinner.The Canele was aptly dense and chewy --- delicious vanilla custard flavour --- aptly sweet. The caramelised shell was nice, but not the best I've had in Hong Kong, plus it was slightly (just slightly) burnt, so I'm giving it 4 stars. But anyway, given that it was one of the last two Caneles on display at around 7:30pm on a Friday, I don't think my review for Levain's Canele on this occasion is conclusive ; )Canele 甜度適中，口感有彈性，帶香滑的vanilla custard味道。焦糖外層不錯，但有一點點烤過頭，有一丁點苦。不過這是7:30pm左右最後剩下的兩個Canele之一，我相信下次我早點光顧應該會更貼切他們的水準。我把 <樹枝> 和 <香橙無花果酸種麵包> 留作第二天的早餐，想起來不是明智的決定。It was totally my mistake in deciding to save the <Mixed Nuts Bread Stick> and <Orange peel & Dried Figs Sourdough> overnight.前者滿佈果仁，是值得一讚的，可是我隔了個晚上才吃，真的變得很硬。While the former was deliciously packed with a generous amount of nuts, it became quite hard (yes I take the blame!). 下次我應該在<樹枝>新鮮時品嚐！從這次的體驗，即使不談口感，味道上好像另一來自比利時的麵包店所出品的 "Flute" 略勝一疇 --- 因為 "Flute" 有香甜的提子乾，和較可口及味道帶點甜的夏威夷果仁。不過，樹枝定價比Flute便宜大約$10，個人認為是較為合理的 : )I look forward to trying the Mixed Nuts Bread Stick fresh upon purchase next time : P From this experience, I personally prefer LP_ (a certain bakery from Belgium) 's "Flute", which is filled with sweet raisins and buttery Macadamia Nuts. Nevertheless, Flute is much more pricey (HK$38 as far as I remember), and I find Levain's bread stick more reasonably priced (HK$28). The <Orange peel & Dried Figs Sourdough> was tasty, with a citrusy hint of orange  which is stronger compared to the hint of green tea in Levain's Green Tea version of the Dried Figs Sourdough I described above. The tangy orange peel matches the sweet dried figs well. Not sure if I was less lucky this time, but I found slightly less dried figs than the Green Tea version. Anyway, texture aside (because it was my mistake to leave it overnight : P ), this was delicious! <香橙無花果酸種麵包> 的香橙味比綠茶版本的綠茶味明顯，兩款的味道都出色，也和無花果配合得自然和美味。橙皮清新，甜度適中，份量剛好，沒有苦澀味道。不談口感（全因隔了個晚上才吃，是我的錯），這酸稱麵包清新美味，下次見到時我會買來即日享受~過了兩個台風和多雨的星期天，睡前已打算到Levain買早餐。結果，星期一一覺醍來，真的很想吃一口會帶來幸福感的麵包...After two typhoons and a rainy Sunday, all I craved for in beating the Monday blues is some fresh and tasty bread as brekkie... that's why I headed to Levain again this morning!昨天和家人在中式酒樓晚飯，本來打算叫蕃薯糖水，可惜只剩下紅荳和綠荳沙選擇 --- 儘管該酒樓是我一家上下認為最美味和「起沙」的酒樓「晚市奉送」糖水，我到今天早上起來還是想著蕃薯 ... 所以今早一看到 Levain 的 <蕃薯包>，我便二話不說拿起木盤子和麵包夾 ...Going for <Sweet Potato Bun> was a complete no-brainer for me this morning, as I have been dreaming of some sweet potato dessert (a typical Chinese sweet soup dessert made with boiling sweet potato in gingery soup) since dinner with my family last night!平實的賣相，沒有以鮮豔奪目的「紫薯色」作點綴、或一粒粒金黃色的蕃薯粒作招徠 --- 不看麵包櫃的名牌，不會知道是蕃薯包。說實話，賣相不算吸引。當我拿起麵包夾，看到旁邊其他款式銷情好像較好，的確猶疑了一下。但從品嚐Levain芝麻燒餅的經驗，知道吃一口才能了解涵料真材實料的美味，我還是保留了我的選擇。Yes I know this looks nothing fancy and you probably cannot tell it's a "sweet potato bun" from the look of it...  and Yes, I did hesitate for a second when I saw the other types of bread in the same display shelf being sold more quickly --- But having tried Levain's <Sesame Bun>, I have faith in Levain's low profile high quality goodies.果然沒有令我失望！麵包層是薄薄的，卻保留彈性，第一口咬下去已嚐到蕃薯蓉淡香，甜味自然，帶一點點蕃薯皮的微酸，吃得出是用心以新鮮紫薯造的，而且刻意沒有人為地加重甜味。那種甜味沒有其他大型連鎖麵包店的紫薯甜點可口，也沒有那種像忌廉般完美幼滑的人造口感。個人認為味道不算歸類為甜包，所以也適合當早餐 。 I'm glad I stick to my choice! The sweet potato filling tastes delicious --- naturally sweet with a light sour touch, just light enough to make me realise that it was made with fresh sweet potato - such that part of the sweet potato skin was mixed in - and not with artificially flavoured "sweet potato powder" mixed with creamy custard. Personally, I find this bun light enough for breakfast : ) And the bun to filling ratio was just right. Levain 麵包選擇很多，我等不及全部試過後才寫食評...! 尤其 Brioche 的選擇很多，所有配搭都好吸引！看來下次多跑幾公里後可以獎勵自己一下.... : P I'm always tempted to try Levain's Brioche as all the choices seem delicious... perhaps I could treat myself one when I do a longer jog as autumn approaches!…查看更多

Ever since I tried Fresca on a delivery app, I have put it down on my to-go list. It's a good walk up to soho as mid-day exercise. From the pictures in this review you'd know I've revisited quite a few times - not to mention that my camera often doesn't have the privilege to "eat first"! Fresca's regular salad (3 toppings) is $70, and a large one is $90 (4 toppings). For the base, you could choose (a) Greens (Lettuces with light balsamic vinegar & olive oil (or no dressing upon request), (b) Rice (brown rice, red rice, fungus), or (c) a mix of Greens and Rice.I never had Rice only as base. The mix of Greens and Rice (even for the regular size) is already very filling! I like how the fungus + brown&red rice gave the Rice a delightful crunchiness. Also, somehow there seems to be a deliciously nutty hint of coconut oil in the Rice - don't think there's coconut oil in the Rice though, I guess it's just the natural aroma of the whole grains! Staff here are always friendly, you could let them know if you just want a tiny bit of Rice mixed with the Greens I'd say for ladies large salad should go with Greens alone as a base, because the portion of toppings is very generous!<Seasonal Veg (spiced root veg and pumpkin) (warm)>  Love the spices! Bit gingery, good for warming the stomach a bit and "balancing out" the "cold" salad.<Korean Japchae (warm)> Super tasty!  I once told the lady serving me that I find this tastier than Korean restaurants and I do mean it. As a pretty health conscious foodie, I love how this Japchae is aptly flavoured and not overly oily. Its sweetness is subtle and just right, and the sesame oil is aromatic, again in the right amount.<Eggplant with Zucchini> Fresh and tasty  Quite often eggplants in salads are marinated in quite a lot of oil. I find this dressing light enough to be enjoyed on a hot summer day.<Greek Salad with White Cheese> This is very refreshing and summery! <Beetroot Apple Candied Walnut> Beetroot and Apple are fresh - and naturally sweet! There is hardly any seasoning and rightly so, as the freshness and natural sweetness already does the trick. The walnut is crunchy, and despite being candied, is not overly sweet.<Chickpeas & Sweet Corn (warm)> Love Chickpeas! This is marinated in spices (yum!) - a bit of turmeric I think, which reminds me of delicious hummus. A good dose of protein to the veggies!<Goi Chay (Vietnamese rice noodle salad)> I have never been to Vietnam and these noodles remind me more of Chinese Yunan Mi Xian (雲南米線) which is one of my favourite noodles. This is quite a simple topping - lightly seasoned and slightly spicy - tasty nonetheless. It's also quite filling.<Roasted Veggies> Another humble topping, yet fresh and delicious. It's lightly seasoned and roasted.<Spiced Pumpkin (warm)> Creamy and very filling. Lightly spiced up only, when compared to the Chickpeas & Sweet Corn, and the Spiced root veggies I mentioned above.<Stir fried mixed Mushroom (warm)> Nothing fancy but delicious! And matches the Japchae very well.This was still really warm when delivered <Korean bean paste Tofu (warm)> This is available every time I visit, so I guess it's popular and many find it tasty (like I do)! Contrary to what its name may suggest, this is not spicy.<Cashew Cream Coleslaw> Simple and nothing flashy. Again aptly light in dressing, and fresh!Coming to a sweet note...<Blackcurrant,  Apple  &  Cinnamon  Pancake  (gluten  free)>  Warm,  fluffy pancake with an apt amount  of  aptly sweet fillings! The stewed apple wasn't soaked in syrup, and was aptly spiced up by the cinnamon! A healthier option to satisfy cravings for apple pies/crumbles This was warm when I bought from Fresca, and still fluffy when I saved it as my late afternoon snack Last but not least, here's a photo of the window seat on the 1/F... the interior design and decor of Fresca is homey and cosy, and this view makes enjoying a salad here even more chillaxing~ I look forward to new salad topping options (/inventions ;P)!…查看更多

Raindrops keep falling on my head, but that doesn't mean my eyes will not be caught by veg...!  On a rainy Monday with T3 up, I visited Supafood for my first time (the paper bag I got from my Locofama brunch takeaway on Sat served as a good reminder...). The first thing that caught my eyes was the Miso Eggplant Salad, but in light of the weather, I thought getting a Vegetarian Wrap for takeaway would be easier. As it began to pour, I decided to stay behind to enjoy the freshly made wrap.<Vegetarian  Wrap with Sweet Balsamic> with Organic Seasonal Mixed Greens, Feta Cheese, Eggplant, Roast Pumpkin, Cranberries, Cucumber, Lentil, Olives & Bell Peppers (Calories = 147, Protein = 9, Fat =4, Carbs = 23)It was warmmm.... and I was also warmly offered a glass of water 😊At first, I found myself munching into a bed of mixed greens, and was a bit worried that was all that I got... nope, my worry was misplaced. Soon I was biting into supa juicy and sweet roasted pumpkin and flavorful miso eggplant, as well as plenty of lentils, feta cheese and sweet cranberries!It was delicious! Everything was fresh and the tortilla was soft and warm. I particularly enjoyed the eggplant, marinated in an apt amount of miso (I presume, as there's a choice of miso eggplant salad) and roasted on point. Eggplants are all too often cooked in too much oil in many places, and I love how light these were! Not overly oily nor salty.The sweet cranberries went well with the feta. Love the lentils too but having had Locofama's brunch recently, I prefer the lentils served in the latter - which were cooked together with mashed pumpkin (or was it carrot / sweet potato?) and tomato (I think there was as it was such a tasty and tangy mash).All in all, this was one tasty vegetarian wrap in generous portion of supa-fresh ingredients. I find the price reasonable for the portion and location  Looking forward to trying the other options next time!…查看更多

Walked past this newly opened cosy looking restaurant after yoga earlier this week and found their lunch menu looking good, so I decided to give it a try today... I arrived at 12:30 and was warmly welcomed by the bar tender who asked if I'd like a table upstairs. Feeling curious, I gladly took his advice.This was my first visit (and I had never been to the Bar here, "Tipping Point", before). Love the minimalist decor in white and Scandinavian blue.The menu's the same as the one I saw when I walked past on Tuesday --- a selection of pasta (from the classic Carbonara, the vegetarian option Tomato basil cherry to the meat lover's no-brainer Sausage and beef ragu), Risotto ai fungi porcini and pan-fried Salmon & pesto veggies. A two-course lunch with drinks included from HK$88 - 110. My friend went for the Soup and I had the Salad.He liked the Cauliflower Soup packed with "grains" of cauliflower, which wasn't overly creamy. It was light enough to be enjoyed on a super hot day like this.The "all fera" Salad --- a bed of mixed salad topped with grilled zucchini, grilled eggplants, shaved cheese, chia seeds, in pommery honey dressing.A decent portion for the price of this lunch deal, sprinkled with chia seeds to give them the extra crunchiness, in an apt amount of dressing (hmmm but where's the cheese...?). Pretty fresh Romaine, not the freshest rocket, but I'm happy with this considering the price and location.The pan-fried Salmon was cooked and seasoned on point. Juicy and not overly oily. Pesto was quite nice and not overpowering. Generous portion for a HK$110 two course lunch in Central / Soho.Only wishing the broccoli could be lightly seasoned as well. There was a bit of an imbalance compared to the salmon and baby potatoes (which were "shining in oil") --- the broccoli was boiled and unseasoned. As a health conscious foodie I always cook my veggie pretty plainly, but this tasted a bit too plain even for me. I'd say they could be easily touched up by a toss of extra-virgin olive oil.My friend enjoyed his pasta and said he'd be back!And of course, an iced-lemon tea for a melting hot day like this.All in all, this was one great lunch deal in the heart of Central/Soho. I look forward to trying a new lunch menu at Fera next time  (and hope coffee will be served at my next visit after this soft opening!)p.s. No service charge for lunch but we tipped according to service. Wishing you guys a smooth soft opening --- Keep it up!  …查看更多

天灰灰，本想找找看吃頓清新的全素輕食，但不知不覺間就下起雨來了。剛巧經過綠油油的Peace，記得以前吃過一個不錯的沙律，就立刻推門進去了。打算點全素的 Roasted Portobello with Avocado Sandwich in Pumpkin sauce, 可惜當日供應嘅自選麵包已經無晒我想試嘅 "乾果合桃包"，希望下次有機會試 Peace offers a selection of bread of your choice, but unfortunately the one I wanted to try - dried fruit and walnut - was sold out. I was going to order the portobello with avocado sandwich as a light lunch to brighten up the rainy day, and went for the <Grilled Prawn in Dijon Mustard with Mango Burger> instead. Looking forward to try their walnut bread next time!最後點咗 <Grilled  Prawn  in  Dijon  Mustard  with  Mango  Burger>第一感覺，都好大份，目測麵包俾我嘅第一印像有少少乾...Not going to lie - the first impression the burger gave me was that --- the bun looked a bit dry.原來，係我目測唔準。To my pleasant surprise, it turned out that I was wrong.薄薄少少牛油 Dijon mustard 麥包食落雖然未至於超級香軟，不過經過輕輕烤過，微溫將Dijon mustard同牛消輕輕溶化，配合返整體清新配搭，不重手加花巧調味醬汁，配上新鮮同埋清甜嘅生菜，係一個簡單可口嘅 "漢堡"式麥包。或者你可能會覺得太簡單，有d單調，但依個人口味偏好清淡而言，我覺得以呢個價錢，份量好合理，用料算新鮮，純樸地好味。If you are the type of person (like me) who don't find meaty American portion hamburger a pleasure to enjoy, you'd like this light and simple burger. Nothing fancy, just a lightly toasted wholemeal bun with an apt amount of Dijon mustard and butter, with sweet, fresh and crunchy lettuce, tomato and cucumber. The prawn wasn't the freshest but met my expectation as delivered by a cafe (after all, we aren't talking about a seafood restaurant). All in all, this was a simple yet tasty burger.而且Peace亦貼身的把薯條換成額外的新鮮沙律菜 (我只係同waitress講唔洗要個跟餐薯條，並無明言問可唔可以以多d沙律菜取代)。沙律上灑咗少少black truffle vinaigrette, 對於呢個價錢嘅漢堡來講，我係覺得有驚喜嘅 Last but not least --- Credits to the team for being considerate in giving me an extra portion of salad when all I asked for was "no chips please". The salad was another pleasant surprise - fresh leaves lightly seasoned with black truffle vinaigrette.All in all, this was an enjoyable lunch allowing me to wind down despite the weather.…查看更多

Strolling along Amoy Street alone for a late lunch, a bright orange cafe with a sweet smell of tomato caught my eyes. Drawn by the word "Kale", the next thing I realised was --- my legs were already dragging me towards this little cafe.I was warmly welcomed by the waitresses who kept asking me what salad would I like to have --- guess it was because all that I was carrying was a gym bag Without hesitation, I ordered <the Kale> wrap. As all the salad choices looked so fresh and tasty, I couldn't resist the temptation and went for the "Set 2" meal deal, which gave me a choice of 2 salads by +HK$30. Feeling thirsty after gym and seeing the reasonably priced coconut water at +HK$12 (which is about what you pay for at a supermarket) upon purchase of a wrap, I made it into a HK$100 lunch deal.I started with the Kale wrap as it was freshly toasted and warm...Ummm... I was so happy to be munching my way through a generous portion of seriously fresh kale.Tortilla was soft and tasted fresh, light toasted just right. Avocado was ripe, fresh and creamy, in an apt amount. Wish there could be more cucumber and red onion.As to the homemade hummus... to be honest I only realised in hindsight that the light and refreshing dressing was the hummus they were talking about. While I like how light it was, in the appropriate amount so that I could enjoy the super fresh kale without getting sauce all over my fingers, I could hardly tell it was hummus --- 'cause it was so runny it felt like a normal light salad dressing. I was looking forward to some creamy, if not mushy, chickpeas.Nevertheless, this was all in all one refreshingly delicious wrap made with fresh ingredients. No regrets in ordering that!Turning to the salad... with some difficulty ('cause all looked yummy), I picked <Thyme roasted vegetables> and <Tuna pole with sesame citrus dressing> in the end.Everything was fresh and lightly seasoned on point --- I particularly like the crunchy lotus, lightly chargrilled sweet potato, broccoli and tuna. Only wishing there were more tuna!All in all, this was an enjoyable light lunch. I find the portion reasonable for the price and location. This may not be the best place to eat in, but I was lucky enough to have the whole place to myself for enjoying a quiet late lunch. Looking forward to be back and trying out the other wraps, salads and soups …查看更多

"Spoiler alert" - this is a pretty detailed review, so please skip this if you don't want to spoil the surprise! ;) The cute welcoming nibbles were the first thing that caught my eyes as I was taken to my seat at the kitchen counter - "Leaves" made of spinach cracker and pepper grissini "branches", served with a "flower" of butter seasoned with paprika pepper. While its taste wasn't particularly remarkable, it's quite a clever idea to keep the guest occupied with something to play around with while s/he was waiting. As soon as my friend arrived, we were presented with the first welcoming snack of the evening...Kick-starting with two crispy welcoming snacks:Mini cones of edible Flowers with Ginger puree at the bottom -- bitterness was good for me, too much for my friend. I like how it started off as a light crispy bite and ended with the tangy ginger puree -- gradually building up the intensity for the next snack, which was inspired by Chinese Pork Knuckle (南乳豬手). While my friend found the crispy bite-sized bowl a bit too big, I found it alright visually and taste-wise --- just the right proportional of crunchiness and melt-in-your-mouth fat, and just the right portion for finishing in one bite. The fermented tofu (南乳) seasoning was not overpowering.Next was Smoked Quail Eggs -- my favourite of the three snacks  Our friendly waiter reminded us to get our cameras ready...They smelled so good indeed! Aromatically smoked quail eggs with oozy egg yolk that was flavourful with a hint of vinegar. Savouring  my mouthful of this little gem, I asked our server how were they prepared. He happily explained to us it was like taking time to make Chinese tea leaves eggs (茶葉蛋). No wonder they were so flavourful!This was when our little running joke that evening of "what can be and what cannot be eaten" recurred for the first time -- the "mini-test tube" towel at the beginning, the two unshelled decorative eggs.^ "Teamwork makes the Dream Work"While it was enjoyable to watch the team do their magic, we did not have to wait for long before our first cocktail was served.<<Jasime>> marshmallow, pandan, vodka.It was lovely -- such a sweet and smooth start to our dinner!The sip of marshmallow foam followed by sweet smell of pandan leaf, with a subtle hint of vodka -- "toning down" as the (cocktail server said), the mild spiciness of our first dish <Scallops> in 2 ways (sashimi and lightly char-grilled), with firefly squid, finger lime and finger grape.Not disagreeing with our cocktail server (Sorry that I missed your name! All the cocktails were amazing, thank you again for the explanation : ] ), but I'd say in the positive sense that it actually "elevated" the dish nicely and sweetly. Love the Thai twist of the Scallops' seasoning - limey - went well with the hint of pandan in Jasmine. Although I can’t take super spicy food, this was just right even for me -- not overpowering -- in fact, the spiciness  elevated the freshness, sweetness and juiciness of the scallops (which was in pretty generous portion), and was in any event well balanced by the tangy lime juice and sweet finger grape. The little firefly squid was seasoned just right too, and didn't overpower the delicate and naturally sweet scallops.A frozen longan was served together, as a cleanser after this dish. How thoughtful! I imagine this would be really helpful for someone not going for the cocktail pairing.Here comes our second cocktail...<<Red Dates>> pear, cognac and maotaiI found this (and the “Red” which went with the Wagyu) tied for the 2nd best cocktail pairing that evening. "Maotai" added a Chinese twist to this earthy cocktail, and went very well with the <Mushroom>.Mushroom in the Forest - presentation was fascinating - as with the other dishes of the evening.it’s a symphony of colours, resembling the forest bed in the morning. The yeasted cauliflower sauce was very flavourful and aptly buttery, such that I could actually taste the cauliflower. I didn’t manage to capture the dehydration of the seaweed sponge (“moss”) in the joyfully decorated ring, which was visually spectacular, but I did manage to capture this misty forest bed at dawn...Wakey-wakey!Range of mushrooms here - shiitake, black fungus, Chinese mushrooms, big fat Chinese white mushroom, "caterpillar fungus" (蟲草花). The bright red one made from meringue wasn't just appealing like an eye-candy - it was actually quite nice like a delicate marshmallow. More importantly, it completed the picture visually. My favourite was the big fat Chinese white mushroom - thick, tender and juicy - and smooth like good toro which melts in your mouth. Yes, I'm aware that I'm talking mushrooms here!The “mud” was tasty too - robustly flavoured with truffle and not outshone by the cauliflower sauce, which was in my opinion just the right amount.Following an earthy cocktail and a foresty dish, the next cocktail was described by the cocktail server as "a ladies’ favourite"...<<Blood Orange>>  apple, orange liquor, elderflower -- Simple and Elegant. Not my favourite of the evening though ; )Paired with <Sea Cucumber><Sea cucumber> served with langoustine and white asparagus.Heavenly good.Melts in your mouth.It reminded me of braised dried abalone in Chinese style with a melt-in-you-mouth honeydew taste (糖心鮑魚) which I was very fortunate to have had a taste of (and have always remembered the taste of it).Stuffed with langoustine delicately minced and wrapped together with the white asparagus, the sea cucumber was so fresh and nicely done like fresh and good quality minced cuttlefish paste (爽口彈牙蝦滑 / 墨魚滑) at Chinese hotpot places The white asparagus was delicate and sweet.The langoustine bisque was aptly rich, and went very well with the whole dish.A side note --- I was  pleasantly surprised with the tenderness of the sea cucumber! When we were waiting and watching the team buzzing around, I thought the sea cucumber looked a bit "hard and dry" from afar - turned out that I was completely mistaken!Here comes my favourite cocktail of the evening, which was actually a gentlemen’s favourite according to the cocktail server <<Shiitake>> whiskey and consomme --- paired with the <Egg> served with Chinese Churro (油炸鬼) "deep-fried" with truffle oil.I’m a warm-sake person who enjoys sipping it while indulging myself in the aroma (which comes stronger when the liquid is warm) -- and the warm distilled  shiitake juice did exactly that to elevate the oaky whiskey. Both were "homemade" at Vea.If you like something earthy you will love this! The <Egg> with truffle, parmesan and caviar--- I’ve never been to LPW but apparently this is an all time favourite!Since my friend went for the supplement <Langoustine with Uni and handmade Pasta>, we shared the Egg.As I carefully placed my spoon in the middle of this Egg Ravioli … the Oozy egg yolk went blending in perfect harmony both visually and aromatically, with the caviar, truffle and parmesan.It was so deliciously rich that I could hardly taste the egg yolk, but the freshly made ravioli went beautifully tangy with the egg yolk (fresh homemade pasta is the best!) and made up for it. Dipping the Chinese Churro into that heavenly blend of rich sauce was another highlight of this dish. If you have watched Pixar's <Ratatouille> you’d know what I mean -- Remy tasting strawberry and cheese with those fireworks suddenly bursting in the background. It was oh-so-good, making your feet feel light -- I had my half of the egg in one mouthful, it was heavenly and I took my time to savoured it, reluctant to swallow. <<Shiitake>> did it job well -- an earthy and oaky cocktail bringing you down to earth for the next course. <Langoustine with Uni and handmade Pasta> -- handmade pasta served with fresh and sweet uni (sea urchin) and langoustine in a bisque prepared with shell of langoustine.Fresh and matching ingredients. Can't go wrong.The next dish on the tasting menu was <Pigeon>.Knowing my preference of fish over game, my friend had kindly notified the team in advance. I was offered a replacement of the Pigeon with <Amadi Fish>, and that of the Wagyu Beef with Smoked Mackerel. I decided to replace the pigeon only.<Amadi Fish>Crispy scale -- I never enjoyed deep fried food and am the type who can actually say no thanks to crispy Peking duck and Roasted Chinese piglets -- but this crispy fish skin with scale was surprisingly delicate.  I wonder how the team did the magic of preserving the juiciness of the fish beneath.The Fish was nice and fresh -- but after the Egg which came as such a wow dish, the fish didn't come bursting with flavour. For that reason, it wasn't particularly remarkable and I'm out of words to describe how pleasant it was. Nevertheless, it was one tasty Fish course. And the veggie plating was pretty in a cute way. The fungus was marinated with a smoky taste, and stood in stark contrast with the thinly sliced, fresh and "naked" courquette. The delicate fish went well with the marinated fungus and the sweetcorn paste which was naturally sweet.Although I wasn’t presented with a special cocktail for the fish, the <<Earl Grey>> cocktail - made with earl grey tea, honey and mezcal - was nice and oaky, and went well with the fish.As for the <Pigeon>, I only tried a small bite. It was rich and robust in flavour. Nevertheless, since I’m not a big fan of game, I can only say it tastes alright to me. <Wagyu Beef>  Surf and Turf with a Chinese x Japanese twist.The Wagyu beef was cooked and seasoned on point, but unfortunately it wasn't perfectly tender. I don’t want to sound like a perfectionist but after all we are talking about a Michelin-one-star restaurant : PHaving said that, I really like how the “surf” and “turf” were separated by the “pastures” of fresh snap peas -- Well, actually both of them sit on the lush green pastures green pea mousse! The peas gave a refreshing and smooth transition to the rich Wagyu beef to the comparatively delicate white eel. The crispy egg noodles were good too! It tastes just right to me, but one preferring a crunchier texture may not be satisfied. The cocktail <<Elderflower>> had a red base - with dark rum and red wine - can’t go wrong with beef - nicely matched!Winding down with a sweet note...<Strawberry>Absolutely delicious-- credits to the team for the sourcing, all the explanation and presentation. Our server explained that white strawberries are the finest among Japanese ones, and are considered to be the best quality by the Japanese. Reason being -- only two strawberries were allowed to be kept on one plant -- the rest were "sacrificed" such that all the nutrients could be concentrated for the benefit of these big, juicy and aromatic strawberries. p.s. Both of our choices required a supplementary chargeThe White Strawberry was so, so, sooo delicate -- it was like distilled to the purest and most natural form of sweet aroma that no perfume can replicate.Plump and Juicy -- the White Strawberry was so plump and "meaty" that it did not have a "white core".  Every bite was equally heavenly.(Recalling the Ratatouille Remy-eating-strawberry scene) So the tasting menu did come with strawberry and cheese ! The two bright red "strawberries" were actually Strawberry Cheesecake -- really tasty but I didn’t go Remy-tasting-strawberrry-and-cheese as I had the (real) strawberries and the cheesecake separately, as rightly suggested by the server (or else the cheesecake would be too overpowering).The Sorbet and Strawberry cheesecake were nice, but after having the oh-so-fine strawberries they tasted overly sweet for my liking. The Yoghurt and Baby Kiwi were tasty though not particularly remarkable, and the crunchy almond went well with them. The Dessert Wine - a fruity one with a red base - presented in an English teacup. Another beautiful fusion of the evening.Resembling the Chinese way of ending a sumptuous meal with fruits and tea, it was aptly fruity and sweet. I enjoyed it, and I think you would too if you are the type who finds the sweetness of port too strong for your liking.<Chinese Olive> served with burnt milk, jujube and coconut (ice-cream)This is certainly in my top-3 for the evening .When I first saw this on the menu I was bit sceptical about a "savoury" dessert with a Chinese twist, and with great delight I realised that was just my misconception. The pebbles varied in taste and texture -- with chewy marshmallows in white, and crunchy meringue in olive flavour. The coconut ice cream was aptly sweet -- the subtle and natural sweetness was elevated by the mild saltiness of the pebbles. What a wonderful match! Personally, I found the coconut ice cream a bit too cold for my liking (with very slight traces of ice) -- it was really tasty and had it not been too cold, I could have savoured it with the pebbles for a bit longer to enjoy the elevated sweetness.Coming to the final sweet round up of the evening...<Petit four>Surprises are always saved for last…  We unwrapped our Petit Four like excited children sitting beneath the Christmas tree on Boxing Day. Orange & Eark Grey Madeleine -- Freshly made, aptly buttery, light, and fluffy. Wasn’t as tangy as I had expected though. It was good but not the most impressive among the four.Coffee Macaron -- Aromatic coffee. Well-balanced with the taste of almond. Chewy enough for my liking too!Red Bean Soup -- Love this! Bursting with smooth and delicate sweet red bean paste, in a thin layer of soy milk white chocolate. Contrary to the impression white chocolate often give, this was not overly sweet. The sweetness of the chocolate was so subtle that it didn’t overpower the hint of soy milk. Wish I could take some of these home for my grandma Condensed Milk Mochi -- Love, Love, Love this so much! I'd have to say, that was the best mochi I’ve had in my life. At first I was sceptical and bit worried that the use of condensed milk would make this mochi way tooooo sweet -- again, I was wrong. I found the ratio of condensed milk to mochi on point -- the condensed milk filling only took up about a quarter of the mochi, and no, this did not mean the mochi wrapping was too thick or sticky. In fact, it was light and soft like feather. No wonder I heard praises from the diners next to us too!The surprises didn’t end there… A surprise ending with echoing effect (首尾呼應) - It all began with a rosewater towelette and ended with oolong tea served with a … marshmallow!Rose and Oolong tea are good matches -- they are often served together in Chinese tea drinking.The towelette and the marshmallow literally looked the same -- that's the little running joke throughout the dinner on what’s edible and what’s not.I was pleasantly surprised by how rich in aroma that cute little tube of crystal clear “oolong tea” was, and asked our waiter why wasn’t it brown in colour after brewing. Turned out this Oolong “tea” was carefully obtained from multiple distillations with Vea’s special machines at their lounge on 29/F.At the end of the dinner, I was presented with a “gift” from Vea -- a pretty envelope containing the polaroid taken when they served the complimentary surprise (I’m omitting what that is - don’t want to spoil your surprise!), the menu of the evening and a voucher for cocktail. How sweet of the team! Thank you so much Can’t wait to try more cocktails and check out all the interesting machines for cocktail making!Services -- Excellent all in all, and met our expectation. The waiters and waitresses were attentive to topping up my glass of warm water, helped me to get on the stool, explained each dish patiently and were happy to tell us how dishes were prepared so we got our curiosity satisfied, and poured the little tube of water over that self rising towelette when both of us were too indulged in sharing the pasta. All dishes were served at right timing, and both of our dishes were always served at the same time.Ambience -- Smart. Appropriately casual. Intimate. Sitting at the kitchen counter and  watching the team do their magic was an enjoyable and exciting experience!The team was also very friendly and fun to chat with.All in all, it was a very enjoyable culinary experience! …查看更多

Feeling the need to take a breather, I decided to have a quick lunch in Sheung Wan and take my time for a walk back to Central despite the weather. I'm so, so glad I decided to head back on foot, otherwise I wouldn't have come across Po's Atelier. 天氣隨著復活節長假期結束，由前幾天的天朗氣清，變得驟晴驟雨。即使下著雨，也無阻我想到上環走走，吃頓簡單的輕食午餐，然後慢步回中環的打算。真係，真係好慶幸我無被天氣打消念頭，唔係都唔會遇上 Po's Atelier. Thankfully, it was only drizzling by the time I began to make my way back after a light lunch. As I reached the end of Po Hing Fong, a shop with minalistic decor, with its wide sliding door opened, caught my eyes.As I walked in slowly and closed my umbrella carefully, I found myself surrounded by the incredibly lovely aroma of fresh bread, cream and butter. That sweet smell of fresh-from-the-oven bread, trapped in this chic bakery on a humid day like this, simply melted my heart.Thanks to the moisture in the air, the aroma was amplified- it smells like heaven.For a moment, I thought I was in Paris.甫步進，我這個愛麵包之人 除了被眼前 實而不華 的新鮮麵包 定了神也被那新鮮出爐麵包 和陣陣奶油香 停住了腳步正正因為下著濛濛雨，空氣不太流通濕氣把 新鮮麵包 的香氣都留住在店內。真的，好香。那是一種簡單  卻讓人感到滿滿的幸福 的一種香氣。頓時，我以為自己身處巴黎。As an amateur baker (of cakes) in love with bread and sourdough, I feel pretty ashamed of myself for not knowing this place and paying a visit earlier. At this point, I took my phone out for a quick research (and of course, pictures!), and realised - how silly of me - how could I have missed this all along?On a rainy day like this, with a sudden craving for sweets, my eyes were immediately drawn towards the little display card of <Chocolate and Fig Danish>. Unfortunately, it was sold out. The shopkeeper - a lovely and helpful lady - immediately recommended the signature Danish of the day, which was one with Tomato and Cheese (think it was brie). Upon learning my craving for something sweet, she recommended the <Pain Au Chocolat>.女店員十分友善，看到我發現 <朱古力無花果丹麥酥> 售磬的失落神情後，帶著和藹的笑容向我推介 是日丹麥酥 <蕃茄芝士丹麥酥>。見我想食甜嘢，佢即刻推介 <Pain Au Chocolat> (朱古力麵包)。The Pain Au Chocolat, overflowing with chocolate filling, looked absolutely delicious in a devilish way.的確 好吸引 --- 清楚睇到 一層 一層 酥皮--- 朱古力份量都睇落好足^ Look at how chubby they are! Exactly what good puff pastries are all about Bearing in mind that I've just had lunch (albeit a light one), I felt too guilty to indulge in a pain au chocolat and went for the <Cinnamon Loaf> instead. (Trying to convince myself that it's a healthier choice haha!)不過，實在太邪惡喇... 始終o岩o岩食咗lunch 所以，最後揀咗 <肉桂麵包> (其實係自我感覺良好d    定係自欺欺人 XD)^ Look at how beautifully thick the loaf is...!Curious about the batches of freshly baked buns topped with pistachios (or pumpkin seeds... I couldn't tell for sure), which were not displayed, I asked the friendly shopkeeper what flavour were they in. She said they were potato buns specially made for a restaurant. I wonder where I could try them out.I couldn't wait to enjoy the Cinnamon Loaf...As I sliced through it with a fruit knife (the only one I had in hand), I was first super delighted to see how swiftly the knife went through the crust, and that the loaf "sprang back", showing how soft, fresh and spongy it was.一切落去，第一感受係 好開心 即使我係用緊生果力，都切得咁順 --- 麵包酥皮外層清脆，唔痴力，麵包芯好軟，有彈性。切完，個包無扁到。Then, I was slightly disappointed to see that there was no sign of cinnamon at the cross-section.然後，我有少少失望，麵包芯 無我期待嘅 肉桂。Nevertheless, I totally forgot that slight disappointment upon my first bite.Yummm.... It was really, really good. This Cinnamon Loaf was in fact a brioche, and yet the buttery cinnamon crust was not overpowering- it was, in my opinion, aptly buttery and sweet, and did not outshine the moist, soft and spongy white bread.第—啖，已經令我完全忘記剛才少少嘅失望。肉桂外層的牛油酥皮 --- 好 香 脆而且甜度適中   唔痴牙簡簡單單的白麵包芯 --- 好 鬆 軟而且鬆軟得來  係好似  又厚  又軟綿綿  而帶彈性嘅枕頭咁I could not hold back the urge to have a second slice - yes, I know I said I just had lunch!And I'm glad I did - because that made me realised I was too early to judge and to feel slightly disappointed with the absence of cinnamon at the cross-section.實在 太美味所以忍唔到口   襯新鮮食多一舊  (係，我知我已經食咗晏 )好彩切多一舊，唔係我都唔知自己失望得太早...原來，個麵包芯   係 有 肉 桂 架！Turned out there was indeed a beautiful swirl of cinnamon!Super excited.I was about to have a big bite when I suddenly noticed how beautifully caramelised the bottom of the Cinnamon Loaf was!It was so beautiful that I managed to resist the urge to dig into it heartily, and let my camera ate first 正當我諗住  一大啖  享受肉桂嘅美味  先發現   原來  麵包底 係微微焦香嘅金黃色！即刻忍口俾相機食先 ^ Look at the swirl of cinnamon and the heavenly caramelised bottom...! As a big fan of cinnamon I only wish there was more...(Nevertheless, all in all I still think this deserves a 5-star rating!)Although I've never made bread on my own, I guess having a swirl of cinnamon throughout the bread should be achievable.咬落就見到肉桂喇！ 焦脆嘅麵包底  同樣有肉桂嘅香  甜味適中唯一  美中不足係  希望麵包芯多d肉桂  唔係淨係得中間個舊有Too full to finish the last 1/3 of this heavenly tasty Cinnamon Loaf fresh on the same day, I gladly gave it to my colleague who was just about to start his late lunch at his desk. Not being a particular fan of cinnamon, he was cool with the absence of cinnamon filling in his 1/3, and totally agreed with me that it was absolutely delicious Can't wait to visit again and try all the amazing pastries and bread! ;))…查看更多

As a pretty health-conscious foodie, I have included My House on my to-visit list for quite a while. I'm so glad that I finally got to visit after missing their Restaurant Week promotion a few months ago --- their set lunch deserves  two thumbs up!! Ingredients were fresh, food was delicious and carefully prepared, seasoning was on point, and services were great. For the price of HK$138 for 2 courses and $168 for 3 courses (coffee / tea included for both), the quality and portion exceeded my expectation. I'd say without hesitation that it is really good value for money.As far as I remember, the choices for starters were <Soup of the day>, <Marinated and Roasted Vegetables> and <Beetroot Salad>. Choices for mains were <Paper baked Red Snapper>, <Pumpkin rotolo> and <Beef bourguignon>. Dessert of the day were <Lemon Cheesecake> and <Pecan Pie>.Both my friend and I went for the same options for starters and main. As soon as we ordered, fresh and warm bread were served. The garlic butter dip looked delicious in a devilish way. As a health-conscious foodie, I was able to holdback, and just had a tiny bit for tasting- it was nice and creamy, but too heavy for my liking. So I had my bread with my starter instead. <Marinated and Roasted Vegetables>As a veggie lover, I was pleasantly surprised by the generous portion of this starter.Each type of veg was flavourfully marinated with a different seasoning, all of which were roasted on point.I particularly liked the carrots, which were sweetly marinated with an apt amount of honey, elevating the natural sweetness from roasting.The fresh cherry tomatoes were lightly seasoned  just right and naturally sweet.Everything matched well with the goat cheese (or was it feta...), and went well with my bread.I'm giving this a 4-star instead of 5-star rating only because the red bell peppers and onions were, although pleasantly tangy, a bit too salty on their own for my liking. Nevertheless, I am not complaining as they went well with my bread. Feeling happy with my cravings for veggies satisfied, I sat back lazily, and carried on the enjoyable catch-up with my friend at our comfy sofa seat.We didn't have to wait long for our mains...<Paper baked Red Snapper>served with giant couscous and leeks.Yumm.... this was so, so good... Considering the price of this set lunch, a 5-star rating for this dish is an understatement!The Red Snapper was steaming hot, fresh and juicy.It was hardly seasoned --- and rightly so, because it was so fresh!As someone who enjoys sashimi very much, I believe that good quality fish doesn't need much seasoning. All that is needed is a dash of salt, pepper and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Voila! The perfect fish --- Simple. Delicate. Tasty. Soaking up the aromatic, sweet and beautifully flavourful juice from the fresh Red Snapper, the leeks and giant couscous  were absolutely delicious too!Services had already been great throughout, and oh, thank you so much for the complimentary side salad!  It was yummy.<Red Cabbage and Fresh Mint Leaves>lightly seasoned with olive oil and topped with an apt amount of finely grated cheese.The mint leaves were so refreshingly sweet as well!Fresh herbs are unbeatable.(Well, in fact everything presented was so fresh and carefully prepared ;) )Since the main was so good, I changed my mind and decided to end the (supposedly healthy) lunch on a sweet note We ordered a <Pecan Pie> for sharing.Nice catch-up, beautiful weather, great food and pretty colours cheer me up- Well, it was definitely my lucky day to be spoiled with all of them!The Walnut Pie was tasty, and went well with the coffee ice cream (think it was coffee).The pie filling was, to my relief, aptly sweet. All too often, pie fillings is overly sweet and does not balance well with the fruity / nutty toppings.I also enjoyed the oaty crust, which gave the pie more texture.Am giving this a 4-star instead of 5-star rating only because I wish there were more pecans  Last but not least, our drinks as included in the set lunch.Coffee was so-so, but I am not complaining as the set lunch was all in all amazing --- It is really good value for money.Considering the portion and quality of food, we were both a bit sorry to see that this lovely restaurant was rather empty during our visit (at around 12:30-2:10 on a Tuesday).I look forward to visiting again and trying different dishes! …查看更多

Looking for a relaxing wrap up for the 4-day Easter long holiday, I picked (and booked) St. Barts as the catch-up-over-tea place with two lovely girlfriends (on another girlfriend's recommendation ;)). We arrived at ~3.30pm and were assigned a table which was a bit too packed for the three of us. The waiter politely acceded to our request of changing to a more spacious one with sofa seating.Ambience was lovely. The minimalistic decor in white and navy was homey and relaxing - it all felt perfect in the warm sunny afternoon.Attracted by the breakfast menu, we did not give the a la carte menu a detailed look, but I do remember there were plenty of choices for starters, fish/meat, pasta, and salads. As far as I remember, the breakfast menu had a range of choices, from <Banana bread with jam>, <Eggs Benedict>, <Coconut with seasonal fruits bowl> to <the Hangover Burger>. Spoiled for choice, we ordered <the Egyptian Eggs>, <Breakfast Bowl> and <Porridge with fresh bananas> at the end.(p.s. I didn't keep a copy of the menu with me so I'm writing from my memory)<the Egyptian Eggs> served with Turkish bread, avocado, rocket, poached eggs, beetroot hummus, feta and pistachio dukkah.The avocado and rocket were fresh, and the Turkish bread was toasted just right.I only wish they could be more generous on the portion of beetroot hummus.Also, the poached eggs were slightly over-poached for our liking- we were expecting oozy egg yolks...!Nevertheless, all the ingredients match well and this dish deserves a 4-star rating : )<Breakfast Bowl>served with kale, quinoa, avocado, poached eggs and halloumi cheese.Love the super fresh kale!  Lightly pan-fried on point to elevate its sweetness.Again, I am deducting a "star" for this dish because the poached eggs were slightly over-poached for our liking.<Porridge with fresh bananas> served with maple syrup on the side (pursuant to my request).I'm sorry to say that it's a rip-off.To my complete disappointment, I was presented with quick oats for a $130 porridge.  For that price, I'd have expected St. Barts to use whole rolled oats, or at least put more effort into seasoning the oats- perhaps a shake of cinnamon ?Furthermore, if I may make a suggestion, the price charged would be more legitimate if this wasn't so plainly cooked- perhaps the chef could consider adding a dash of almonds, chia seeds and pumpkin seeds?Worst still, one of the blueberries had gone a bit rotten and tasted mouldy.  I didn't realise that until I bit into it, and couldn't tell from the face of it.Last but not least, I'm sorry to say that services did not meet my expectation - the waiter who picked up my call and took my reservation was very friendly, so I was actually a bit surprised with the services I received during my visit. While I give credits to the team for politely acceding to our request of changing to a more comfy table and taking a picture for us, they were not as attentive as I expected. For example, with refilling our water, and giving us a hand when one of us accidentally spilled her glass of water over the floor. For that reason, we lost the mood to stay for a drink / coffee.  Having said that, I understand that the team may be seizing the moment to take a short break in the afternoon. For that I'm prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt.Honestly, I was struggling a bit whether to give St. Barts an "OK" or "Smiley Face" verdict - considering the whole package I decided to give the latter. After all, food was all right and I wouldn't go so far as to say services were unacceptable. All in all, this is a lovely place to visit. I look forward to visiting again and hope to be impressed by their food.…查看更多

Given the excellent reviews and amazingly aromatic symphony of mouthwatering truffle, earthy olive oil and eggy pasta in the air when I arrived at pici at 8ish on a busy Friday night, I had very high hopes of digging into an all Italian fare, and had every reason to feel convinced that an hour of waiting is worth the ultimate pasta experience.Woo-hoo! Finally, the wait was over at around 9:15pm- and we weren't the last in the queue. We were offered a table facing the bar, which was close to the kitchen.This cosy restaurant  was pretty packed - so packed that I couldn't help noticing the couple on my right were playing footsie with each other.Fascinated by the sweet smell of black truffle in the air, both the gent and I immediately agreed on ordering that. Since we couldn't decide between the beef and duck pasta - both of which seemed to be prepared in a similar way according to the menu's description - we asked for the waiter's advice. He helpfully suggested beef, and we took the advice without hesitation. Bread and wine were served as soon as we ordered. Having read pretty positive reviews about the bread served at Pici, I was slightly disappointed.It didn't go so far as having gone stale, but certainly did not meet my expectation.Nevertheless, to be fair, it was almost 9:30pm.The olive oil also deserved some credits - it was quite delicate, so I think it might be extra virgin. I appreciate the fact that Pici has carefully chosen some good olive oil to be served with complimentary bread. Ta-dah! Here goes our starter... <Homemade Meatballs>If you are looking for some robustly flavoured meaty-mighty meatballs, this is anything but that.I expected them to be tangy and herby, which is the impression Italian cuisine has always given me - but these are just simple and homey. As accurately described by the menu, the meatballs weren't seasoned by herbs - I wish they were! While the tomato sauce was quite nice and topped with an apt amount of finely grated Parmesan cheese, it was, in my opinion, a bit plain without the herbs.This was amplified by the fact that the meatballs themselves weren't seasoned much - which I am not complaining about, and am just trying to be as descriptive as I can be. In hindsight, these meatballs reminded me of homemade meatballs I once had at a home-stay family in Oulu, Finland, which were lovingly prepared.Plus, meatball is a pretty humble dish after all, and these meatballs delivered the expectation of "homemade" as described on the menu. So, I am giving it a 4-star rating.Our pasta feast began with <Pappardelle> - with 8 hours slow cooked veal shank ragu, onion, carrot, celery.To our slight disappointment, it did not taste as nice as its aroma. We found the pappardelle pasta slightly over-cooked to our liking - which we found puzzling as the dish wasn't warm enough.At first, we were prepared to give it the benefit of the doubt as we did take almost half a minute to "let our cameras eat first" - but the heart of the pasta was indeed a bit cold, so we mentioned it to the waiter as he passed by, who helpfully passed the word to the kitchen right away.Thankfully, there was an improvement in the temperature of the next two dishes.<Tagliolini with Truffle>Fresh and finely sliced truffle with matching delicate and soft tagliolini - the pairing can't go wrong and the taste is as wonderful as its aroma. Simple. Elegant. Delicious. However, as both of us prefer pasta with a firmer texture, I feel slightly obliged to give this dish a 4-star instead of 5-star rating.The gent remarked that the tagliolini reminded him of Chinese yi mein (伊麵; a type of flat Cantonese egg noodles made from wheat flour),  and I tried so hard not to giggle while savouring a mouthful of it. <Orecchiette> - with Italian sausage, spicy n’duja, cherry tomato.This is the most robustly flavoured dish of the evening - I enjoyed the lovely balance between the spiciness of the sauce, the sweetness of the cherry tomatoes and the tenderness of the Italian sausages. The amount of sauce was just right - the orecchiette pasta wasn't soaked in this tasty sauce, and yet each piece was beautifully flavourful. While this orecchiette pasta was absolutely delicious and, among the three pastas of the evening, our favourite and the most al dente for our liking, unfortunately its texture did not meet my expectations for Pici.No doubt Pici is a very, very popular restaurant and the team must be really, really busy - but it was as if the chef was too busy to give the orecchiette one final, yet crucial, "knead" (/ pinch / press ? - excuse me for not knowing the proper word in pasta making) to give them the signature "small ear" shape, or, put it another way, the "red blood cell" shape.Here comes the finale of our all Italian fare...<Tiramisu>Milkily smooth.Aptly sweet. Aromatically tasty.While both of us agree this was one yummy tiramisu, this wasn't the "perfect" one either of us would have dreamed of.The gent preferred less ladyfinger (Italian savioardi finger biscuits), to which I agree, but what bothered me a tiny bit more was that I could hardly taste the Marsala wine.  Furthermore, as a black-coffee-person who doesn't prefer overly sweet desserts, I found the brown sugar garnish a bit unnecessary. Having said that, since I have never lived in Italy nor studied Italian cuisine, I don't know the "authentic tiramisu recipe", and am just speaking from my taste for tiramisu. All in all, ignoring the fact that the wait took us more than an hour, I find Pici worth visiting.After all, it was a busy Friday night, and I decided to give Pici the benefit of the doubt.Services were also reasonable for one such busy evening.I look forward to visiting again at a relatively off-peak time and trying the other pastas (the liquid parmasen ravioloni was sold out... that sounds delicious...!) …查看更多

Love their flatbread so much that I have lost count of all the times I have visited -- it's simply my comfort food. Ever since I became a member about two years ago I have been topping up my card regularly. If you love vegetarian cuisine and want a change from icy cold salads, you'd enjoy the warm flatbread (wraps) in MANA! -- you could order from the menu, or customise your own with 4 toppings.It has taken me this long to write an openrice review for it becausea) I usually get a takeaway flatbread; and (b) I cannot resist the temptation of unwrapping the warm flatbread and enjoying it right away, and usually end up getting zataar all over my fingers such that I don't want to hold my phone for taking pictures : P Taking my time for a late lunch today so as to avoid the peak lunch hour, I decided to write a review.我來MANA!的次數已經多到記不住。喜歡MANA!的 flatbread，喜歡到兩年前已經為佢而成為會員 : P如果你想食輕食 / 簡單素食，但又唔想太多生冷嘅沙律，你可以試下呢度嘅 flatbread : ) 可以喺menu上揀，或者自選4種配料。由於通常買外賣，或者急不及待享受暖笠笠嘅flatbread，所以一直未寫食評。今日   一個人靜靜的 2:20pm左右 躲到 MANA 避世半刻 -- 心裡想著想著，就想到食評了。I came alone at around 2:20pm today,  and found a seat at the very back of the shop. There are about 6 stools at this part of the shop - it's pretty packed and not that comfortable, but it's the quietest part of the shop. You could look up to the greenery and the blue sky (oh well at least it wasn't raining during my visit)- what more can one ask for in the heart of Central, one of the most bustling areas in HK? Just give yourself a moment of mindfulness, and enjoy a light, simple and refreshing vegetarian lunch :]Indeed, MANA! is a cosy restaurant which may not be best suited for big groups.Nevertheless, if you could grab a seat at the big table up the stairs (or visit during non-peak hours), the seating is decent and the ambiance is chillaxing.  As usual, I ordered a customised flatbread, with Slow dried Tomatoes, Kale, Roasted Veggies, and Purple Yam this time.My usual choices are (any 4 from the following)  我通常會自己拼配料 (4款)，最常叫: Avocado 牛油果, Grilled Tofu 烤豆腐, Portobello Mushrooms 烤大磨菇, Purple Yam 紫薯, Kale 羽衣甘藍, Roasted Veggies 烤野菜, Slow dried Tomato 慢乾蕃茄.Slow dried Tomatoes is my all time favourite, and a healthier option to satisfy my cravings for sun-dried tomatoes (which are often a bit too salty and oily). It's as juicy as fresh tomatoes, and yet delightfully stronger in taste and aroma. A slight problem with having slow dried tomatoes, portobello mushrooms and/or roasted veggies as fillings is that the juice may leak through the flatbread -- Remember to keep your napkins handy ; ) That's why I'd recommend including a leafy filling like kale or baby spinach to soak up the juice a bit, or any other fillings to give your flatbread some crunchiness / texture. Personally, I prefer kale to baby spinach as it gives a nice crunchiness  to the flatbread! Grilled tofu tastes delicious  after soaking up the juice too! I once ordered all three of slow dried tomatoes, portobello mushrooms and roasted veggies in one flatbread, and had a pretty difficult time eating it with a reasonable degree of table manners : P Not going to do that again!慢乾蕃茄，烤大磨菇 同 烤野菜 都比較多汁。如果你揀佢地做配料，記住放定紙巾出來 : P亦可以配一款綠葉菜（例如羽衣甘藍 或 波菜），或者烤豆腐，去吸咁d汁。都好好味架Back to this flatbread -- I find the lightly roasted purple yam a healthier (and guilt-free) substitute of chips. More importantly, it makes this veggie flatbread more substantive -- if you are the kind who can live on a salad for lunch, a half size could pretty much keep you going for the afternoon : )紫薯 好味又飽肚，又唔會有食薯條果種 怕熱氣 / 罪惡感 : P如果 你平時食沙律做午餐就夠飽，咁加咗紫薯做配料嘅話，MANA!嘅半份flatbread都幾夠飽~Look at the beautiful shade of purple!Roasted-Veggies-of-the-day were aubergine (eggplants 矮瓜) Chinese courgette (翠玉瓜) -- I remember there were bell pepper at times.As a regular customer, I find the quality and size of flatbreads here pretty consistent - as far as I remember there was just once or twice that I found the flatbread slightly burnt, or that the flatbread felt lighter than usual. Services are fine all in all - the staff are always happy to help and to explain the menu - and are reasonable during peak hours.Well, it seems that I'll keep topping my card up regularly : P…查看更多

To a non-red-meat-lover like me, knowing that my lovely friends had chosen a burger place for our long-awaited catch up gave me a mild headache. Just a mild one though, as I was really looking forward to catching up at this chillaxing restaurant! : ) Indeed, this branch has the ambience of a lazy weekend burger getaway.The table arrangement was well spaced out and services were good - which was beyond my expectation for the price I was paying for a burger in Central.It was so spaced out that I hardly noticed there were more than two tables with baby strollers. Certainly a family friendly restaurant : )對於一個非紅肉愛好者，看到好友挑了burger place作為聚腳點，儘管很期待聚舊，但仍有一點點不知如何是好。不過呢度氣氛真係好適合 週末輕輕鬆鬆  聚舊傾計枱與枱之間亦都隔得遠，唔留意都唔覺至少有兩枱有BB車服務亦都好I was a bit skeptical about how well Beef & Liberty could present their veggie burger...And I am glad that it did not disappoint!What a pleasant surprise : )<The Beetroot>^ Beetroot, Brown rice, Kidney beans, Cumin, Chilli, Coriander and Goat cheeseThis was a good Beetroot Burger - pretty robustly flavoured, with one fat beetroot "steak", a slice of fresh beet in generous thickness, sandwiched with the right amount of Goat cheese.The bun was aptly buttery - acceptable to someone like me who usually prefers something light. The beetroot "steak" was flavourful, but just a bit too dry for my liking - perhaps a bit over-baked / pan-fried?And I guess replacing the brown rice with something that contains more moisture, like lentils, may do the trick too.Also, I am only giving this 4-stars because I felt slightly thirsty afterwards - which I can live with and am not complaining at all!After all, we are talking about a burger place, not a vegetarian / vegan restaurant ; ) 紅菜頭漢堡比我想象中好！調味豊富，上面再放上一塊新鮮紅菜頭，Goat cheese 份量剛好，唔會搶味。麵包嘅牛油味都唔係太重 / 太 heavy.只係略嫌紅菜頭漢堡部分有少少乾，同埋食完有少少口渴。***All in all, this was one good veggie burger.I'd recommend this to any non-red-meat-lover who happens to visit Beef & Liberty at some point ; )…查看更多