Eslite The Herbivores, Prune Organic Deli & Workshop, Restaurant Akrame and Man Mo Café

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Published: 4:00pm, 16 Jan 2014Updated: 4:01pm, 19 Oct 2016

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The Herbivores in SoHo is doing so well that it’s teamed up with Eslite bookstore in Causeway Bay for a second project, named—unsurprisingly—Eslite The Herbivores (9/F, Eslite Spectrum, Hysan Place, 500 Hennessy Rd., Causeway Bay, 2613-2920). It’s a breezy 2,500-square-foot venue for a mere 80 diners, so the space-to-customer ratio is pretty incredible. There’s a coffee bar for more casual encounters, and a fine dining section for those who want to take their vegetarian offerings more seriously.

The folks behind Grassroots Pantry in Sai Ying Pun are providing the neighborhood with yet another healthy venture. Prune Organic Deli & Workshop (14 Fuk Sau Lane, Sai Ying Pun, 2873-3353) is a breakfast/lunch/snacks space that stocks local brands such as Bread Elements and Happy Cow, and serves a range of organic and sustainable dishes like gluten-free pancakes and meat-free sandwiches. As its name implies, Prune will also be offering regular cooking workshops and demonstrations, as well as catering for private events.

Man, how depressingly behind-the-times you can get in the F&B world after a mere two-week break. Fresh from my Christmas vacation, I’m already experiencing massive FOMO hearing about all these cool new restos that I still haven’t had a chance to “been-there-done-that” (thanks for the tips, Mark from TK magazine!). Parisian import Restaurant Akrame (9 Ship St., Wan Chai, 2528-5068) by El Bulli-certified chef Akrame Benallal opened up quietly on Ship Street just before the holidays last year, serving fancy French fare in a posh, modern environment. Friends from the media industry have been very positive about the place, so this one’s definitely on my list of go-tos.

Then there’s Man Mo Café (40 Upper Lascar Row, Sheung Wan, 2644-5644), a modern European dim sum (bear with me) restaurant with ceiling fans and a simple black-white color scheme, that serves dishes like foie gras xiao long bao and “kung fu” crème brûlée. (Again, I haven’t been at this point, so I can’t verify what the “kung fu” in the crème brûlée entails. Maybe you have to punch it to break the sugar crust?)

...And Noted

Want to get drunk and meet new people? Sign up for the Common Room Wine Whirl (Common Room, 1/F, Wo On Building, 1-15 Wo On Lane, Central, 2525-3599; Jan 21, 7-9pm) where you’ll get two hours to do exactly that. French winemaker Pascal Jolivet will be offering both red and white wines for a blind tasting by all participants. It’s a singles-friendly networking event where you’ll get to appreciate fine wines and hopefully some fine company as well. RSVP with [email protected].