Canton Deli ♥ ♥

Canton Deli is what happens when you have friends and relatives visiting from Manila.

Why?

Because they all stay at one of them Marco Polo Hotels!

Diba?

 

鹵水鹅片 Braised Goose – okay, this is not really from Canton Deli. It’s from ChefMaster Chiuchow Kitchen next door, by the same owner. That’s the beauty of dining at Canton Deli. You can have both Cantonese and Chiuchow-nese. Quality of their braised goose is not very consistent. But tonight it’s good.

 

椒鹽九肚魚 Salt and Pepper Bombay Duck – another one from the neighbor’s kitchen. This is called Bombay duck but it’s actually fish. Most Chiuchow restaurants make this very well, but ChefMaster’s version is quite disappointing. Grease galore.

 

椒鹽魷魚蘇 Salt and Pepper Squid – salty, peppery, soft and crunchy. Delicious!

 

炸子雞 Crispy Chicken – a staple in Cantonese restaurants. Skin is crisp, meat is tender. Even Sophie likes it.

 

蝦子乾燒伊面 Shrimp Roe E-Fu Noodles – very tasty

 

班粒茄子豆腐煲 Grouper, Eggplant and Tofu in Claypot – good but really oily

 

鮑魚汁花膠扣鵝掌 Sea Cucumber and Goose Web in Abalone Sauce – I love goose web and anything feet! Well, except calloused and stinky ones with athlete’s foot (eeewww!) Canton Deli’s version is good, but not the greatest.

 

楊州炒飯 Yang Chow Fried Rice – Paul’s weakness. Mine, too. Sometimes.

 

芒果西米露 Mango Sago – average stuff you get anywhere

 

芝麻湯丸 – Ritchie’s favorite

 

椰汁糕 Coconut Jelly – light and coconuty

 

圓肉桂花糕 Longan Chrysanthemum Jelly – like eating flowers

 

紅豆仙草冰 Red Bean Ice with Grass Jelly – a healthy dessert that is not too sweet. Or get the one with vanilla ice cream. That’s what I do.

 

Paul, Ritchie, Me, Jeff, Chiz and Jeff’s mini-me Sophie

 

Canton Deli on another occasion: Late night snack with the Soriano sisters.

雲吞麵 Wonton Noodles – not that good, not that bad

 

蜜汁义燒酥 Barbecued Pork Puff Pastry – flaky goodness

 

芋頭糕 Taro Cake – err… umm… just go for the radish cake next time

 

冰梅烤小骨 Spareribs in Plum Sauce – tastes delicious except there’s more bone than meat

 

Canton Deli again on another occasion: Take-out dinner with me, myself and I.

菠蘿叉燒包 Barbecued Pork in Pineapple Bun – this is especially good when piping hot. But still good warm by the time I reach home.

 

There’s the 3rd piece. Sorry, couldn’t resist.

 

咕嚕雞球 Sweet and Sour Chicken Balls – a healthier version than pork. I wish the skin was crunchier but after being trapped for an hour in a plastic box, I would be this soggy, too. Still one of my Canton Deli favorites.

 

皮蛋瘦肉粥 Century Egg and Meat Congee – I cannot decide which my ultimate favorite is, this or the 蠔豉咸蛋瘦肉粥 Dried Oyster Salted Egg Congee. Both are so good I’m torn.

 

 

Canton Deli 廣東茶居: Shop 3303, Level 3, Gateway Arcade, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. 尖沙咀廣東道17號海港城港威商場3樓3303號舖. Tel: +852-26139889

Café Gray Deluxe ♥ ♥

It is not easy to get a table for lunch on such short notice at Café Gray Deluxe. Unless you are on first name basis with THE Chef Gray Kunz.

But if you are just a nobody like me, make sure you’re checked in at the The Upper House, and let the hotel staff take care of it for you.

 

Love the yogurt-olive oil dip

 

Spinach, ricotta and basil ravioli, cream of artichoke – quite good

 

Curried butternut squash soup, crisped oysters, hazelnut whipped cream - yum

 

Coq au vin, pearl onions and bacon, pinot noir

Unless the menu has no lamb, seafood, beef, pasta and pork (in that order), I will never order chicken. But I’ve been hearing many good things about Café Gray’s coq au vin that I just have to skip all of the above meats and go for it.

And WOW.

This is a revelation. I can actually taste the amount of love and time put into the preparation of this dish. The ingredients are simmered for hours and hours in red wine, resulting in an intense, rich, sweet, smoky stew that is hearty and divine. Like beef bourguignon but chicken. This is a winner.

 

Spatzli – crisp and a bit chewy. Drowning this in the coq au vin sauce is the only way to go.

 

Grilled lamb tenderloin “Irish Stew” – bland and boring. But I love the savory scone.

 

Crushed potatoes – just alright

 

Chocolate brioche, butter pudding – just ok

 

Fresh berry pavlova, raspberry coulis – not too okay, meringue too sweet

 

Chunks of chocolate – I love the dark chocolate. Accidentally dropped all of it in my coffee. Ooops.

 

Café Gray Deluxe: 49/F, Upper House, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong. Tel: +852-39681106

The Upper House ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

 

That The Upper House is your home away from home, that is pure BS.

 

Because your home can never be this cool. Check out that ultra sexy logo.

 

Up to The Upper House

 

Now this is why Andre Fu, the young designer of The Upper House, is hailed as the Asian Design Sensation.

 

  

No tacky signs. The room numbers are illuminated from beneath the veneers.

 

Camouflage keycard sensor

 

Studio 80 – 850 square feet of pure luxury. Forgive me for the not so perfectly made up bed. Couldn’t help jumping in before the photo shoot.

 

Super comfortable L-shaped couch

 

You get 2 sets of playing cards, too!

 

Another view of the bedroom. You can self check out using that sleek 41” LCD.

 

In your desk drawer: a Hong Kong travel booklet, a very neat case of cables and wires, and your very own iPod Touch! Yours only for the duration of hotel stay, of course.

 

I’ll let the iPod Touch do the talking.

The very well-stocked maxi-bar, my favorite part of the room.
Remember, except for the wines, everything else is free!

 

Dual temperature wine fridge

 

ATTENTION! Whoever can send me one year supply of these super addicting oatmeal cookies called Oaties (clue: they’re made in UK), you shall be rewarded with one year supply of wet and wild kisses.

 

Firefly drinks to detox, recharge, sharpen and wake me up

 

An assortment of premium quality teas and coffees   

 

 
That’s me wanting to order room service in the middle of the night

 

I couldn’t have prepared myself enough for what I am about to see.

366 square feet of pure-bliss, spa-inspired bathroom.

 

His and hers sinks

 

Vanity table and dressing room

 

Doesn’t the lavatory look like an office? I’d be more than happy to work in here.

 

Walk-in rainshower

 

How about a nice long soak in your very own deep limestone clad tub while watching your favorite show?

 

Or be mesmerized by the beautiful view of the Hong Kong skyline

 

REN brand toiletries, the holy grail of skincare

 

Oh bath salt, bath oil, bath soap, pumice and loofah, I am so gonna use you!

 

I don’t know what possesses me to come and check out the fitness center.

All state of the art gym equipment (not that I’m even slightly interested to take advantage)

 

I’m really just here for the protein bars

 

That The Upper House is your home away from home, that is pure BS.

Because no home can ever be as sweet as this.

Plus, Café Gray Deluxe on the 49th floor serves a mean coq au vin.

 

I do not ever want to leave.

 

The Upper House: Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong. Tel: +852-29181838