JWM - Volume 2, Issue 4 - (Page 61)

neighborhood, has generated a lot of chatter on food blogs since it became the world’s cheapest michelin-starred restaurant in 2010. the star was michelin’s way of honoring more affordable dining options a year after being criticized as elitist and out of touch with local tastes. But the question remained: is it really that good? just getting a seat at tim Ho wan is an adventure. after my friends and i took the metro to mong Kok and finally found the restaurant during a cab ride, we were dismayed to see a line literally stretching around the block. my immediate thought was, What have I gotten us into? But the restaurant wisely doesn’t make you wait outside, stomachs grumbling—they give you a number and tell you when to come back for your seating. So we set off for the nearby bird and flower market, had a pleasant stroll and returned ready to feast. we may have been a little too hungry when we crammed into our seats because we ordered practically everything on the menu. Steaming baskets began stacking high at our table, garnering amused looks from our neighbors. the baked BBQ pork buns (char siu bao) were worth the trip alone—the dough was flaky and sweet, not at all what i was expecting. and the bill—a pleasant surprise at around US$30 for four people. as good as those pork buns were, however, tim Ho wan was missing one thing: a good cocktail. So, returning to the city, i decided to find a slightly fancier spot for dinner. my friend Naomi recommended a restaurant and bar called Lily & Bloom, which she said had a speakeasy vibe. indeed, the leather banquettes, ornate metal grillwork, dim lighting and hard-to-find entrance (again) are intended to evoke the spirit of early 20th century supper clubs and hidden Prohibition-era bars—as are the specialty cocktails. i took my friend’s suggestion and asked for an off-the-menu cocktail to go with my plate of oysters: the aviation, made with aviation gin, maraschino liqueur, lemon juice and a splash of crème de violette. and striking up a conversation with the bartender, i couldn’t resist the urge to ask for one more local recommendation. “is there a place around here to sing karaoke?” i asked. after eating nonstop for days, i could have used the exercise—and dancing to madonna at that hour was all i was going to get. [ ResouRces Moustache 31 Aberdeen st. Phone: (852) 2541-1955 moustachehongkong.com Da Ping Huo 49 Hollywood Rd. (Graham st.) Phone: (852) 2559-1317 Yardbird 33 Bridges st. Phone: (852) 2547-9273 yardbirdrestaurant.com Tim Ho Wan (Mong Kok branch): 2-20 Kwong Wa street Phone: (852) 2332-2896 Lily & Bloom: 33 Wyndham street Phone: (852) 2810-6166 lily-bloom.com J WM MAGAZINE 61 j w m a r r i o t t. c o m http://www.moustachehongkong.com http://www.yardbirdrestaurant.com http://www.lily-bloom.com http://www.JWMARRIOTT.COM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JWM - Volume 2, Issue 4

JWM - Volume 2, Issue 4
Table of Contents
Contributors
JW Experts
Editor’s Letter
Distinctive Products, People, Ideas & Style
A Quiet Place
The Food Trap
Start With the Wine
Hidden Treasures
The Portal
Hidden Hong Kong
Grains of Truth
Game Theory
Mumbai Dreams
JW Experience
My Passion

JWM - Volume 2, Issue 4