I am so excited about writing up this blog post. I know I have been away for a while and my only excuse is that I didn't have a laptop...and that I was in Hong Kong eating (and working) away. I was there for three days on a business trip and to see my friend from University, but of course I managed to squeeze in some foodie adventures.

I absolutely love the diverse dining scene Hong Kong has to offer. From traditional Dim Sum restaurants to British pubs, Hong Kong is a melting pot of cuisines.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to explore as much as I wanted to, but here is the first half of my trip. Read the second half here.

DAY 1

My first day was a long stretch. I woke up at 4am and my eyes slowly started to shut at about noon so I desperately needed some coffee. I came across Pacific Coffee Company and got a tall Mochaccino (HK$33). It was probably the best cup of Mochaccino I had all year. I get jittery with too much coffee, so this had just the right amount of coffee and chocolate for me.    

 

                    

Pacific is a franchise so there were several around Hong Kong. They'v also expanded out to Macau, China, Singapore, Malaysia and Cyprus.

Pacific - maybe come out to Taiwan next?

Pacific's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pacificcoffee?fref=ts

For dinner that day, I got some Ho Fun from a street stall and wasn't too satisfied with it sadly.



I passed an ice-cream stall on my way there called Lab Made.



After a disappointing box of noodles, I thought a bowl of liquid nitrogen ice-cream would do the trick so of course I walked out and got myself one!



Branded as Asia's first liquid nitrogen laboratory, it's no surprise there was a queue at 10.30pm on a weekday. Lab Made had four options to choose from and they frequently switch up the flavors. My choices were Tai Chi Tofu Pudding, Crunchy Sea Salt Gelato with Caramel Sauce, HK Custard Bun, and Crème Brulee.



I went with my fave - Crème Brulee.



If you're a science whiz, you'll know how liquid nitrogen ice-cream works. Me on the other hand...well I was just reminiscing about BIll Nye again. The ice-cream was definitely creamier than usual and the sugar shell topped it off perfectly. 

Lab Made's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LabMadeHK?fref=ts

DAY 2

I was in a rush to get to the convention center on the second day and the first place that came to mind for breakfast was the Charlie Brown Cafe. Charlie Brown comics defined my childhood Sunday afternoons. I loved comics as a kid and this place just took me back some years. It's a cute cafe covered in Charlie Brown toys, posters and paintings.









Their breakfast menu was primarily Western and the food was tasty. I went for Hot Cakes with Oranges and some hot tea  (HK$32). M went for an Omlette with toast and a glass of OJ (HK$34).





The cafe had breakfast and lunch options. It was s a great little place with good food and service. I definitely recommend it for all you Charlie Brown fans out there.

Charlie Brown's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/CHARLIE-BROWN-CAFE-Official-Page/180895148592

After hours of walking around at a toy exhibition, a glass of Mojito and a girly catchup on a rooftop bar was music to my ears. I was so excited to meet up with R and catch up since I last saw her in London over the summer. I dropped my bags at hers, had dinner and quickly headed out to Sugar.



Sitting at the top of East Hotel, Sugar was a chilled out rooftop bar and offered a stunning view of the harbor. Sneaky tip: don't miss out on the view from the bathroom, you won't be disappointed. Oh and, if you are out on the terrace do ask for a fuzzy blanket if you get chilly.

[caption id="attachment_567" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo credits: Sugar-HongKong.com[/caption]

R and I both went for a Mojito (HK$50) and got a bowl of complimentary peanuts to nibble on while we chatted away.



Sugar is a great casual hangout spot. With some nibbles, decently priced cocktails and a great view, you are guaranteed to have a great time.

Sugar's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sugar.hongkong

Dazzling Cafe

I have been wanting to go to Dazzling Cafe since it opened back in 2010. Originally a clothing and jewelry boutique, the owner of Dazzling decided to expand and start a cafe specializing in the infamous honey toast. There are now 7 Dazzling Cafes across Taiwan (in Taipei, Hsinchu, Taichung, and Tainan).



Each branch has a different color scheme and overall feel. There's Dazzling Cafe Pink, Mint, Blueberry, Sunshine, Bubble, Sky and Deluxe.  We went to Dazzling Cafe Sunshine which was located in ShinKong Mitsukoshi in Xinyi (close to Taipei 101). With yellow tinted lights, wall frames and menus the cafe clearly resonated sunshine.

 











My friends and I had already decided that we wanted honey toast, but there were so many tempting options to choose from! Being the indecisive girls that we are, after a good 5 minutes of um-ing and ah-ing we went for the Hazelnut Chocolate Honey Toast (NT$290). It was honestly a plate of heaven. With a mix of warm honey toast, hazelnut sauce and cold vanilla ice cream, it was the perfect combination. I can't believe I hadn't tried it sooner!





Let me just warn you, as small as it looks on the photo, it is actually big enough for four people. Although, small confession - we were three and managed to demolish it (don't judge us).

Along with the the Honey Toast we got a drink each. E and K got a pot of warm Strawberry Tea with Milk (NT$160) and I went for the Hazelnut Cocoa (NT$160).





The Strawberry tea pot was big enough to share between two people, whereas the cocoa drinks were suitable for one. The hazelnut cocoa tasted just as good as it looks. The best way I could describe it would be - melting Nutella and Ferrero Rocher in a mug. The hazelnut wasn't too overpowering and you could also taste the chocolate. My only complaint would be that they could have made the consistency a bit creamier and thicker.

If you're more of a savory person, then Dazzling has plenty of main dishes. If you haven't already checked out Dazzling Cafe, make sure to find your closest branch.

I definitely see what all the hype was about now!



Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/dazzling.cafe?fref=ts

Address: 2F, No. 11, Sōngshòu Road, Xìnyì District, Taipei

Phone: 2723-0767

Opening times: Sun - Thurs 11am - 11pm
Fri - Sat 12pm - 11pm

Nearest MRT station: Taipei City Hall

La Bey Cafe

On a cold rainy day, there is nothing more comforting than a cup of hot chocolate. Add a few fluffy marshmallows on top and it's heaven in a cup.

My friend G just got back from a three week trip around Korea and Malaysia so we decided to look for a cafe and chit chat away.

I passed La Bey several times on Zhongyi Street and always took a quick glance to find a full cafe and cute accents of decor hanging inside. When trying to decide on a place, La Bey quickly popped to mind and we made our way there.



La Bey is a cozy, independent cafe run by a (very sweet) couple. As soon as you step inside you get the homely feeling - with wooden tables, couches and a magazine corner it is the perfect place to unwind and relax. For those who just can't itch away the temptation of checking emails, there is also free WiFi access.











The cafe has a range of drinks and food on their menu such as coffee, tea, sandwiches, cakes and waffles. We went in at around 5pm and thought we'd save some tummy space for dinner so just decided to go with a hot drink.









G and I went for Sipping Chocolate (80NT) and E went for a Caramel Milk Tea and Lemon Drizzle Cake (180NT). You can choose to get just a hot drink or get a refillable tea pot with one slice of cake, pastry or honey toast.

The couple prepare all the food and drinks themselves so our order did take longer than the usual chain cafe - approx 20 minutes or so, but it was well worth it.

Can we all take a moment and appreciate the froth and cute marshmallow on top?



The hot chocolate had the perfect balance of cocoa and sugar. It wasn't too bitter or too sweet and the caramel drizzle added an extra hint of sweetness.

I tried some of E's Lemon Drizzle Cake and it was delish. I'm not a big lemon cake fan, but the lemon wasn't too overpowering and the cake was moist and spongy enough.





We ended up staying at La Bey for a good two hours. The service was great - E got offered a top up and overall we were happy bunnies. I would highly recommend La Bey if you are in Tianmu. I know I'll definitely be going back for some coffee and cake.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/La-Bey-Cafe-Bar/329594947060742?fref=ts

Address: Zhongyi Street No 157, Taipei, Taiwan

Closest MRT: Zhishan

Opening times: Noon to 11 (kitchen closes at 10) Monday to Sunday