Watch Out For…
Three French buddies were missing roast chicken from back home and decided to open
La Rotisserie (
G/F, Manhattan Avenue, 225 Queen’s Rd. Central, Sheung Wan, 2324-1898) just off of Hillier Street to quell their cravings. Before you even see this street-side shop, you’ll catch the fumes of cooked poultry wafting down the alleyway. A giant red rotisserie oven behind the glass-walled kitchen is the main showcase, and it’s packed with rows and rows of golden, corn-fed, France-bred birds all waiting for chef Aurelien Malik Benbernou to unskewer and serve to his customers. You can get the chicken in quarters ($50), halves ($90) or whole ($150), and have them accompanied with mash, ratatouille, roasted veggies and other sides. You can also get sandwiches, salads and quiches here. While we’re on the topic of roast chicken: sadly, and in case you haven’t heard already,
The Chicken Man in Sai Ying Pun had a relatively short run since it opened last year, and is now closed.
Noodle Mi (G/F, 2 Bonham Strand, Sheung Wan) has only been open a mere few weeks, but it’s already brimming with customers. This tiny noodle bar is co-owned by lady chef Duyen Hackett, who also used to own Vietnamese restaurant Song on Hollywood Road, where Les Fils a Maman now is. Chef Hackett continues down the Vietnamese cuisine route, but has now honed in on phos and sandwiches specifically, kinda like Chom Chom on Wellington. Selling points are MSG- and gluten-free dishes and a take-out service.
The
Caffe Habitu group has built a multi-leveled fortress in Causeway Bay, beginning with
The Coffee Academics (
G/F, 38 Yiu Wa St., Causeway Bay, 2156-0313) on the ground floor. TCA is supposed to be a hipper, funkier version of the regular Caffe Habitu outlets, and it’s definitely a gorgeous set-up, especially at night when the lights are dim and people are chilling by the alfresco terrace. Ice-drip, Chemex, AeroPress and other fancy schmancy brewed coffees are all offered, and you can also get snacks and desserts such as handmade truffles to go along. Then there is
The Food Academics (
1/F, 38 Yiu Wa St., Causeway Bay, 2156-1370) on the first floor just above the cafe, serving western-style dishes in a cozy, homey setting. Cooking classes are also available on the premises.
Talk of the Town
Food Charity
Table For Two (
www.tablefor2.org.hk) has just turned one and will be celebrating its anniversary with a dinner at chef Andrea Oschetti’s private kitchen,
Cuore, in Aberdeen (location to be disclosed once your reservation is confirmed). The meal will be matched by local winemaker Eddie McDougall’s hand-selected bottles. It’s not the cheapest dinner, at $1,500 per person, but $500 from each ticket will end up going to Table For Two, which will then use the money to provide school meal programs for children in impoverished countries.
