a restaurant with a view, chocolate library in hong kong (3/5)

Chocolate Library has caused a frenzy among Hong Kong eaters for a while now, especially its dessert high tea which is served in mini bookshelfs (hence the name of the restaurant).

I'm not a huge fan of dessert, so I went for the lunch buffet with my sister one fine afternoon. For HK$280, it was a bargain. We were seated on the edge of a balcony overlooking what looked like a fancy Italian restaurant underneath, popular with suited corporate types. The huge windows gave an amazing view of Hong Kong - I could only imagine how stunning it will be in the evening.

Service was impeccable. Fast, friendly and discreet. Chefs milled about refilling empty dishes on the buffet bars, and were keen to strike up friendly conversations.

The food itself was the weakest point of the experience. Presentation was excellent, but quality was just not quite there. I didn't even touch any of the hot food, with the Chinese palette sitting uncomfortable in the middle of a selection of fusion starters and decidedly European desserts. The ham on the roast was a huge disappointment. The pumpkin soup, however, was delicious. There was a good selection of cheeses, where I spent the most time at.

And finally the dessert. There was a wide selection, albeit a bit idiotically arranged - I found it hard to pick up pieces from the lower shelves, but alas, it is the Chocolate Library after all. The brownie and hazelnut mousse with a crunchy base were excellent, and my sister loved the pecan pie.

I went for the novelty of eating on the 103rd floor, and for that alone the price was justified. Time is tight though, with the buffet opening at half 12, and ending promptly at 2 pm to prepare for tea time. Before you go, pay the washroom a visit. The view is even more amazing.

Mediocre cold cuts and excellent cheeses.

The hazelnut mousses with a crunchy base.

View from the washroom.

shatin 18: the best peking duck in Hong Kong (5/5)

Hong Kong special! As yours truly has come home for the summer. Shatin 18 in the Hyatt Regency Hotel is a must-do every time I'm in Hong Kong (the nearest MTR station is University). The food here is amazing, and in particular, its Peking Duck.

You can choose how many courses you want your duck with, and we always go for the 3-course option. The first of which is the traditional duck with pancakes, but with a twist. The second is a flavourful duck soup, the third is a lettuce wrap with stirfried duck mince.

The first course itself is split into three. Crispy, supple duck skin sliced from the breast is dipped in sugar and melts in your mouth. The duck breast is eaten in the traditional manner, with pancakes, dark sauce, and raw cucumber and spring onions. The duck thigh is cut out with the skin, and eaten like the duck breast but with garlic as well. Absolutely sensational.

Reservations ahead of time is a must. They suck at answering the phone, but persevere, the food is definitely worth it.

Home made chilli oils for those who like it hot

Dark sauce for the breast, sugar for the skin, garlic for the thigh

Crispy duck skin, roasted to perfection

Duck breast

Duck thigh

We left just in time as Typhoon no. 8 was sweeping in

atariya: the best sushi in london (4.5/5)

Atariya has quite an unassuming shop front on James Street, just off Bond Street (turn at the Body Shop). Calling in advance to place your order is highly recommended (number: 02074911178) or you're in for a long wait. The sushi is fantastic here, the fish is extremely fresh and the prices reasonable for the quality you're getting.

The must tries include white tuna, medium fatty tuna (seriously, it just melts in your mouth) and sea urchin, and all the usual suspects like salmon, tuna and scallops. The tempura prawn roll is unorthodox but delicious.

There are other branches of Atariya which are proper restaurants, but I've never been so I can't vouch for them. The James Street branch itself has only 6 or so tables, and as it is a takeaway place it closes early at 8pm. We had a takeaway feast once upon a time, and for way too much sushi for 4 people, it cost us £130 for top notch sushi and sashimi (and we got a complimentary bottle of soy sauce!). Trust me, it doesn't get much better than this in London.

brunswick food market (3.5/5)

My favourite food market is the one closest to home. It's definitely not as big or as busy as Southbank, but it's very well situated near two parks (including Russell Square Park), and there is plenty of seating in Brunswick. It's also right outside Waitrose if you fancy a drink - not that you need anything other than a fresh lemonade from the stall (£2).

Highly recommended are the Polish Sausage Sandwich (£4), Argentine Rib Eye Sandwich (£5.80 but a bit hard to eat without cutlery) and Korean dumplings (£3 for 6, fried or steamed).

The market is open every Saturday.

fish n chips time: north sea fish restaurant (4/5)

I had the pleasure of living down the road from the North Sea Fish Restaurant, a very reputable fish and chips place in London (I had no idea until my flatmate's dad pointed it out to us). I didn't actually try the it till two months before I moved out, which was probably for the best as I found myself at the takeaway shop far too many times to be considered healthy. Because despite what they tell you, fried fish and chips, no matter how good they are, just cannot be 'the healthiest meal for all the family'.

There is a very good range of fish to choose from, from sole to scampi. I liked the haddock best personally. Don't forget to buy the tartar sauce for an extra 80p, it's delicious!

Haddock and chips

I can't believe I forgot to take a photo of the shop front. Anyway, if you're at King's Cross station waiting for the Eurostar, it's worth the 5-minute trek down to Leigh Street for a dose of fish, though it may be a bit hard to find. Go down Euston Road away from McDonalds, turn left at Judd Street when you see O'Neils, then walk straight down and turn right at Leigh Street, where there is a bright green convenience shop. North Sea is just in the middle of the road.

burger and lobster, soho (4/5)

The opening of the Soho branch has been long anticipated by yours truly, and it took a second visit to snag a place in the bustling restaurant having been turned away in despair on a Wednesday evening. Yes, it was full on a Wednesday, and we were told there was an hour to an hour and a quarter's wait when we got there at 7:45.

Tip number 1: get there early. We got a table on the subsequent Saturday after getting there at half 6, and it was already near full capacity.

Overall, it was a fantastic experience. Don't order the burger, it is only average, even though the extra cripsy bacon was absolutely smashing.

We ordered a medium lobster finished on the grill with garlic butter (standard = £20, medium = £30, jumbo = £40), and devoured it like a pack of wolves. The lobster tasted awesome, though the texture suggested that it's not as fresh as it can be. Some bits tasted a bit too burned, next time I'll have it half steamed and half grilled. Both burger and lobster came with a small salad and chips, and it was more than enough for two people sharing.

The atmosphere was great as well - lively, friendly and loud. It's no place for a first date, but fantastic for a casual dinner with friends.

london alternative cinema

While we all love going to the cinema to watch the latest blockbuster releases (we highly recommend The Dark Knight Rises!) in the comfort of the standard cinema space, there are whole new worlds in which you can have that cinema experience. 

Secret Cinema

A cinema community of professionals who want to bring the cinema experience to life. Literally. They set up monthly gatherings at specified locations. You will arrive as if you were on the set, costumes optional! The actors are well trained and are really into their roles, making you feel like the scenario is a reality. Once watching the film you will pick up on references no matter how small based on what you have experienced beforehand. We went to the Prometheus edition of this venture, and while the actual screening of the film was a disappointment, the build-up was well created and executed. This has huge potential to cover classic films, and for those of you who always have wanted to be part of the action; this is the thing for you. 

Hypersleep

Actors are very dynamic in their interaction with the crowd

Life-size props fill the space

Rooftop Film Club

The top of the Queen of Hoxton, a trendy bar on the border of Liverpool Street and Shoreditch, lies the Rooftop Cinema Club. Here at the brink of dusk is another more memorable cinema experience. Wireless noise-cancelling headphones and a powerful projector allow clear audio and vision even in the early evening. While blockbusters arn't necessarily shown here, it's a great way of re-watching the classics. We saw Pan's Labyrinth, and I didn't even need to wear my glasses for the subtitles. The staff are very friendly and there are also places to get popcorn and snacks, even a blanket for those not layered up. It seems that only severe weather conditions can stop the show from rolling on.