4.27.2013

茶莊 PLANTATION

- 上環 Sheung Wan SLEEPY EYE's PICK!

$ Cafe / Private Kitchen / Live Music


http://plantation.hk


Address:

Shop B, 1-4 Tai On Terrace, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Tel: 3482 2660
Opening hours:
(Member space & Retail) Tue-Fri 11:00-18:00
(Private bookings & Plantation events) Sat & Sun
Features:
Sister of 'Teakha 茶家"
Private kitchen available for dinner
Live music performances on Saturdays 
Other 'Plantation' events
Recommend:
'SOUND OF PRACTICE ON A TERRACE' (check out upcoming events on their Facebook page)
Comments:
So one Sat afternoon my friend invited me to visit this cafe with her at 4pm.  Despite the cafe being in my area, I still had trouble finding where Tai On Terrace was and ended up half an hour late. On my way, my friend texted me and said "Hurry, the plantation has started!!"  Not knowing what the hell she was going on about I had to call her to help me find the place as my google map was not very clear.  She answered my call with a deliberately soft voice and I was wondering why.  When I finally arrived at the place, I knew why...I walked past this kitchen that was at the shop entrance, opened these sliding doors that looked like it led to the cafe lounge area and then all these people were looking my way.  I walked into the middle of a live music acoustic session where the vocalist & guitarist were sitting in front of the sliding doors.  I hurriedly sat down next to my friend in the small crowd and enjoyed the music for almost an hour (the session actually started at 3:30pm and my friend had luckily arrived at 4pm when they had an intermission).
So how it works there is that you can pay a little 'donation' (amount of your choice) and they will provide you some scones & tea for you to enjoy with the performance.  



4.14.2013

THE PRINCIPAL

- 灣仔 Wan Chai SLEEPY EYE's PICK!

$$ Brunch


http://www.theprincipal.com.hk


Address: 
9 Star Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
(located at the end of Star Street right behind Pacific Place 3)
Tel: 2563 3444
Opening hours: 
Mon-Fri (Lunch) 12:00-14:50
        (Dinner) 17:00-00:00
Sat 19:00-00:00
Sun 12:00-17:30
Features:
Newly awarded Michelin one-star restaurant in 2013
Partnership between Chef Jonay Armas and The Press Room Group
Recommend: 
Sunday Brunch course  HKD740 (includes free-flow alcohol/non-alcoholic beverages)
Comments:
Loved the relaxing homely setting inside where you could easily spend a good few hours slowly enjoying the long brunch course that served us seven courses with a free flow of champagne and other beverages.  Food overall was satisfyingly good.  Waiting staff were very attentive and friendly too.  Definitely a better alternative to those buffet brunches at the big hotels that are a lot more crowded and noisier.  


4.13.2013

LIBERTY PRIVATE WORKS


- 中環 Central

$$ Fusion

http://www.lpw.hk

Address:
26/F Stanley 11, 11 Stanley Street, Central, Hong Kong
Tel:  5186 3282 (online reservation form available)

Opening hours: 
(Dinner) Mon-Sat 19:30~
(**2 slots available: 19:30 or 20:30)
Features: 
French-Asian creative cuisine
Private kitchen dining (only counter seats)
Award-winning chef Vicky Cheng who once worked at the acclaimed 'Daniel' in New York.
Recommend: 
8-course degustation menu HKD800 (only one course available and varies each day)
Comments:
This place was first opened as a test kitchen for the later bigger sister restaurant 'Liberty Exchange Kitchen & Bar' at Exchange Square, Central.
The dishes were a little like molecular dining although not as extreme.  
Overall a very pleasant and presentable fixed 8-course dinner for a modest price of HKD800.  We were lucky enough to get a table here for two with just waitlisting one week in advance.  However, would recommend you to book well in advance if you have a group. 

      

IRON MAN 3 Exhibition @ Hysan Place

Exhibition

Venue:

Atrium & Sky Garden, Hysan Place, 500 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay
(Causeway Bay MTR station, Exit F2) 
Event Period: April 2013
Features:
Iron Man life-size statues & figurines displays 
Comments:
Very big Iron Man hype this month with the new Iron Man 3 movie launching on 25 April!


SMILE Yogurt & Dessert Bar

- 銅鑼灣 Causeway Bay SLEEPY EYE's PICK!
$ Sweets


http://www.smile-yogurt.com


Address: 

Causeway Bay Hysan Place:
Shop 509, 5/F Hysan Place,500 Hennessy Road,Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Tel: 2811 8321
Opening hours: 
Sun-Thu 12:00-22:00
Fri-Sat 12:00-22:30

Features: 
Yogurt parfaits
Cakes
Comments:
So glad to see some healthier and lighter parfaits that use yogurt instead of ice-cream.
Recommend the Hysan Place branch in Causeway Bay which has a nice balcony cafe area overlooking the Sky Garden.


'Smile Coffee' yogurt parfait HKD49