ESCAPADES | Sugared & Spiced

2012/01/012015/08/31

[Hong Kong] Caprice

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Caprice

Address: 6F Four Seasons Hotel, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 3196-8888
Hours: 12:00pm~2:30pm, 6:00pm~10:30pm
Website: www.fourseasons.com/hongkong/dining/caprice/
Prices: [lunch] 460~520HKD + 10%/set, [dinner] 1000+ HKD
Visited on: 2011-12-23

Caprice barely needs an introduction. The only French restaurant in Hong Kong with three Michelin stars, Caprice is led by Chef Vincent Thierry (ex-Le Cinq of Four Seasons Hôtel George V, Paris), who orchestrates a contemporary French menu around seasonal and imported ingredients, many air-flown in from France. All these takes place in surroundings of opulent gold, custom-made Swarovski crystal chandeliers, floor-to-ceiling windows, a spectacular vista of the Victoria Harbour, and a chandeliered open-kitchen as the focal point. Even the air smells elegant.

Caprice

Swarovski chandelier

Open kitchen

It is also worth mentioning that the maître d’, pastry chef and sommelier all have Le Cinq on their résumés. An impressive lineup, for sure.

Plating

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2011/12/292015/08/31

[Hong Kong] Chez Patrick Deli

hong kong

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Chez Patrick Deli

Address: 1/F, 5 Star Street, Wanchai, Hong Kong / 香港灣仔星街5號1樓
Tel: (852) 2527 1408
Hours: 11:00am~11:00pm
Website: chezpatrick.hk
Prices: [lunch] 90~220HKD, [afternoon tea] 90HKD, [dinner] 300~380HKD
Visited on: 2011-12-24

When I stumbled upon Chez Patrick Deli, I was instantly attracted by the warm glow that flowed through its floor-to-ceiling windows. In plain view – a rustic yet modern interior, wooden furnitures, dark timber fishes, pendant lighting. I just had to go in to find out what this is about.

Star Street

A quick browse of the menu will tell you what Chez Patrick Deli is: an all day French bistro serving homey dishes. The cherry on top? It’s got a grocery counter that stocks a fine selection homemade products – perfect for lunch or dinner takeouts.

Chez Patrick Deli

Interior

Pendant lighting

As it was 3:00pm in the afternoon, I sat down for an afternoon tea set (90HKD), which includes tea or coffee plus one “douceur” of your choice – tart, cake, crepe, floating island, creme caramel, or eclair. I opted for a cup of latte, though the tea selection by Mariage Frères was also very attractive, and certainly brought back fond memories of my evening in Ghent, Belgium.

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2011/12/282015/08/31

[Hong Kong] Kisses Cupcakes

hong kong

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Kisses Cupcakes

Address: 24 Gough Street, Noho, Central, Hong Kong / 香港中環歌賦街24號
Tel: +852 2489 9899
Hours: 11:00am~9:30pm
Website: www.kissescupcakes.com
Prices: 25 HKD/cupcake
Date visited: 2011-12-24

Sift has long held the crown for making the “best cupcakes” in Hong Kong, but it seems like there’s a new contender in town. Recently opened on Gough Street is Kisses Cupcakes, backed by the folks behind Chikalicious, a small but popular dessert bar in New York City. Yup, Sift has got competition.

Kisses Cupcakes

Look how cute these are! From left to right: Ferrero Rocher, White & Black, and Triple Chocolate (the labels don’t match, FYI) – all at 25 HKD a piece.

Cupcakes!

Triple Chocolate

Love the adorable cake toppers.

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2011/12/272016/08/01

[Hong Kong] Ritz-Carlton: Checking Out

hong kong

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.

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2011/12/272016/08/01

[Hong Kong] Ritz-Carlton: Checking In

hong kong

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!

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2011/11/252015/08/31

[Seoul] Jangsarang 장사랑

seoul

Jangsarang 장사랑

Add: 624-47, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul / 강남구 신사동 624-47, 서울특별시
Tel: (02) 546-9994
Hours: 11:30am-9pm
Price: approx. 25,000 won/person
Visited: Nov 2011

I had my very first meal in Seoul at 장사랑 Jangsarang, an earthy restaurant serving simple and traditional Korean dishes like mook-sabal, deulkkae sujebi, nakji-bokkeum – at affordable prices. Go with a local friend if you can, not just because the location is hard to find but also because there is no English on the menu, and it doesn’t sound like waiters speak any English either.

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2011/11/242015/08/31

[Seoul] Budnamujip 버드나무집

seoul

Budnamujip 버드나무집

Add*: 689-12 Yeoksam-dong Gangnamgu, Seoul, Korea / 강남구 역삼동 689-12
Tel: (02) 2088 3392
Website: www.budnamujip.com
Price: approx. 50,000~70,000 won/person
Visited: Nov 2011

If you are visiting Seoul and have only one meal allotted to Korean barbecue, Budnamujip should be your choice. This small chain, widely known among locals and visitors as the best korean barbecue restaurant in Seoul, proudly serves 한우 (hanwoo, domestic Korean beef), which in Korea is considered much more superior and expensive than imported beef from American or Australia. Pricey, but it’s worth the extra wons.

*Multiple branches in Seoul, check their website for exact locations.

Upon being seated, a flurry of side dishes descended upon us – japjae, tomato salad in pineapple dressing, pickled cucumbers, grilled eggplants, green salad, fried deodeok…etc. etc. etc.

And of course, kimchi.

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2011/11/232015/08/31

[Seoul] Cha Massi-Neun Ddeul 차마시는뜰

seoul

Cha Massi-Neun Ddeul 차마시는뜰

Add: 35-169 beonji, Samcheong-dong, Seoul
Tel: 2722-7006
Hours: 11am-10:30pm
Price: [tea] 7,000~8,000 won [desserts] 4,000~8,000 won
Visited: Nov 2011

Cha Massi-Neun Ddeul (차마시는뜰), literally “a garden where you drink tea”, is a hidden traditional Korean tea house in Samcheong-dong. With floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city on one side and an interior courtyard garden on other, Cha Massi-Neun Ddeul is a tranquil spot to spend a relaxing afternoon. Pick from a wide selection of soothing tea and enjoy it alongside a freshly steamed pumpkin rice cake.

Plain wood, clean and pristine.

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2011/11/212015/08/31

[Seoul] Miel

seoul

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Miel

Address: 135-100 서울1F Puzzle Haus, 94-3 Chungdam-dong, Gangnam-gu
Tel: +82 2512 2395
Hours: [Mon-Sat] 11:00am~1:00am, [Sun] 11:00am~12:00am
Website: http://miel.kr
Price: [drinks] 8,000~12,000 won, [desserts] 8,000~16,000 won, [main dishes] 13,000~16,000 won

Miel, or “honey” in French, is an art gallery/cafe in Seoul’s ultra sleek (and jaw-droppingly expensive) Fashion and Art district Cheongdam-dong (청담동/淸潭洞). Modern decor, beautiful desserts, friendly service…I love it!

Miel

Cute design

Interior

Menu

Browsing the menu, I noticed a curious item called “Dutch baby pancake” (15,000 won). So what is it? Let’s order one and find out.

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2011/11/202015/08/31

[Seoul] Eating Live Octopus at Noryangjin Fish Market

seoul

On our third day in Seoul, we visited Noryagjin Fish Market (鷺梁津水産市場/노량진수산시장), the city’s largest market for marine products. This 66,000 square meter facility houses over 700 shops selling fresh and dried fish and other seafood from 15 fishing ports around Korea. It was quite disorienting to face so many stalls selling so many different types of seafood (many of which I do not recognize), but I only had one goal to complete that day – eat octopus, alive.

Enough with chic cafes, it’s time to get local.

Noryangjin Fish Market

Seafood!

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