Cafe 103 (ex Chocolate library), HK

Went for high tea at Ritz Carlton at the HK's Tallest building - ICC on top of kowloon station on the 103th floor! 

Where else can you have tea on the 103th floor! so we thought we would give it a try.  

It was a pain trying to get a table because you can't book over the phone.  In order to get a table, you have to queue at the lobby at 1pm on the day!!! - to eat at 3pm! 

I don't understand why they have to do that.  It seems to be something normal to do for hotels in hk (penisula too has a similar policy) 

It just crowd up their lobby - which is not pleasant for a 5 star hotel.  It is unpleasant for the people whos staying there.  It's inconvenient for those who want to dine there.  

In that case, maybe they could ensure everyone would turn up on time and avoid no-show.  

They could have just asked for credit card when booking like in the UK and ask for a cancellation fee if no show!  o well.... 

It is indeed pretty there, you can only take the lift up to the 103th floor if you have made a booking.  

We were given a table that doesnt have much view. but we walked around towards the window afterwards to have a look.  

Some not very exciting cookies to start

think it was cinnamon

the tea set! we shared one between the two of us and it was still too much

HK$238 for one, HK$438 for two

Mint bread, smoked salmon, herb cream cheese

Cocoa nib chocolate bread, duck fois gras terrine

Curry bread, rosemary ham, mini cress, tomato chutney

(they were nice.. but I couldn't taste any of the above mint bread/chocolate/curry flavour in the bread at all)

White chocolate berries shot

Chocolate Madeleine

Cohcolate Framboise tart

White coffee choclate tart

Chocolate Millefeuille

Chocolate orange confit macaroon

Marble cheese cake

their signature hot chocolate

so heavenly

Beijing - Foooood

Other than Roast Duck.  There are obviously tons of other yummy food to eat
(though I did get food poisoning on the last week :S )

Snacks:

"Old Beijing" Yogurt (sour milk) 

this is one of the surprising thing I have found in Beijing. 

Their yogurt is nice.. it's different from the European ones that I have been eating

It's more pudding like. (less runny) but it's very nice :) 

it's RMB 4 each from the supermarket

It's called Cheese.. but it's a bit like yogurt.. but its not soury ..

apparently it's made with glutinous rice wine.. 

I like it a lot! 

It has a longgggg queue @ nan luo gu xiang - a very popular street in beijing

apparently they only sell a limited amount each day... 

so don't go too late :) 

"qing zhen" deep fried cookies/donut? 

it's ok...... not THAT nice.. 

Wang fu jing night market
- lots of random things to eat
- no local eats there.. it's designed for tourist
  you can eat many different things there but none of them were high quality
- I didnt actually try much of the stuff - esp those adventurous ones e.g. insects
  just took photos of them :p

skewers

silk worm! 

big fat crab

stew pork in bun 

grilled cheese

deep fried icecream

scorpian/ insects

snake! 

pork bun

Hot pot (Chinese fondue)

 one of the must order for hot pot in beijing is sliced lamb! 

Also the "Cold Tofu" - which is a lot more spongier than the normal tofu

noodles

Meat pancake - so nice! 

Maison Boulud Brunch
- too much food

 

- has a cakes/bun plates

DB burger! with ribs/foie gras centre

nice but I wouldnt say it's amazing... 

I didnt like the dessert .. nothing very exciting

too much cream 

it was pear with earl grey mousse + meringue 

 a basket of fresh madeleine 

so so ... ( the ones i make are better :p ) 

very pretty inside though

Noodles bar at Sanlituen 

with beef brisket 

very nice :) 

freshly made noodles

steamed pork dumpling 燒麥
- at qian man

 Beijing pancake!
 - yummmm. it's worth trying but be careful! this is what killed me! my local colleague had the same thing and she didnt have any problem though
- It was 5rmb only
- It's a pancake with plum? sauce + spring onion + egg + a crispy slice

Aria at China world hotel 

- second western meal I've had

- not cheap and not memorable

seafood bisque - it's more tomatoy than seafood 

so-so

layered chocolate cake

it's a mousse cake 

not memorable

Beijing - Roast Duck!

I was in Beijing for 3 weeks for work.  so had the opportunity to try out the restaurants there. 

Roast Duck is one of the most famous dish in Beijing so of coz I have to try it out!

went to 2 different restaurants for that - Da Dong and Duck king

Da Dong Roast Duck 

one of the more famous restaurant in Beijing... famous for its roast duck - which is crispy but not oily

it is very popular and have a long queue all the time so you must book

It is not cheap as well! especially their tea! 

the roast duck is 268rmb, while a pot of tea is 218rmb!

orange duck soup which was recommended by my guide book

I wasnt a fan of the soup .. but not bad

 food are nicely presented but I wouldnt say any of the dishes are memorable except the roast duck

i think it was fried intestine ( I didnt try it out coz im not a fan of intestine)

prawn

stir fry beef

fried bak hap fa - that was quite nice

the chef chopping the duck up

you have it either with the steam pancake / roast sesame shell

all the diff sauces

duck soup

Duck King

It is not as famous but it was near by the office :)
the underground in beijing is horrendous during rush hour. so I do try and avoid where possible!

- crispy duck spring roll

- sesame transparent noodles

- veg in soup 

- slicing up the duck by the chef

- it was nice but ya... it is not as crispy and more oily then those at da dong.. 

Galvin la Chapelle

We've been past it many times .. finally got the chance to try it out :) 

very pretty inside 

(excuse my phone camera.. something went wrong)

we sat right by the kitchen... observing all the actions inside

 Toptable 48 quid 5 course Menu du chef
very good value we think :) 

 

Pumpkin veloute with mushroom, chestnut and parmasen gnocchi 

I could have another bowl! and with extra gnocchi pls :p 

Game/Foie gras Terrine 

 so so 

Red mullet with root veg + saffron foam

this is well nice! beef fillet with a lump of bone marrow on the right.. 

potato mille feuille - nice a crispy at the top 

Blackberry souffle with coulis + milk icecream 

loved it :)