LeaveHomeSafe App Required for Restaurants and Bars

From 9 December usage of the ‘LeaveHomeSafe‘ mobile app will be strictly enforced for entering all restaurants.

The Government has announced the updated arrangements for using the “LeaveHomeSafe” (LHS) mobile application that will take effect on 9 December 2021.

Scanning of the venue QR code will be required for entry to all premises regulated under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F). The modes of operation of catering business will also be adjusted accordingly…

Cap 599F covers all catering business premises that offer dine-in services, bars or pubs, bathhouses, party rooms, clubs or nightclubs, karaoke establishments, mahjong-tin kau premises, cruise ships, amusement game centres, fitness centres, places of amusement, places of public entertainment, beauty parlours and massage establishments, clubhouses, sports premises, swimming pools, hotel and guesthouses, and event premises.

If you are not sure there is more information www.coronavirus.gov.hk

Adiós Coyote

After almost 23 years and too many frozen margaritas and shots of tequila to count Coyote Wanchai shut its doors last night for the final time.

Another ‘victim’ of greedy landlords who have destroyed so many businesses in Hong Kong. Sadly, there are now more empty/closed former bars/restaurants on Wanchai’s Lockhart Road than open ones.

Surely in the middle of a global pandemic, with no tourists likely for at least another six months – as a landlord it’s better to have some money coming in than to have your place sit empty for months…

Anyway, Coyote is gone like so many others over the years. There were a surprising number of people having a last drink who were also there on opening night…

A final few bcene photos…

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Ruby Tuesday Tuen Mun Review

Ruby Tuesday are on a tear with the opening of a third new restaurant in less than a year. The success of the new style restaurant in K11 Art Mall saw the opening of a first Ruby Tuesday in what could be considered a very local market: Po Lam – Tseung Kwan O. The new outlet in Tuen Mun builds on those successes while incorporating new Covid protections and innovations to ensure the safety of customers and staff.

The Tuen Mun branch, located on the ground floor of Trend Plaza, is smaller than the other new outlets but incorporates the outdoor seating which has proven very popular among customers. While it may be a little hot (or wet), there are no fans, to sit outside in summer. The outdoor tables will surely be in high demand as the weather cools.

The feel of the new branch is a little darker than the bright openness of K11, the more notable difference though is Ruby Tuesday’s first open kitchen in Hong Kong. It’s not fully open, but offers diners the chance to see the kitchen crew in action and also a chance to see that Covid protocols are being observed in the kitchen and that the staff member tasked with keeping the broad swathes of stainless steel shining clean is on task.

As for the food, a new Express set lunch (available only at TKO, Po Lam and Tuen Mun) offers meals at prices similar to local chain outlets. And the staff were working hard to ensure that diners could enjoy their meal during a lunch hour.

It was steaming hot the day bc visited Ruby’s in Tuen Mun so we sampled Ruby’s range of (delicious) smoothies and iced drinks – the highlight being Ruby’s Passion a mango smoothie topped with passion fruit puree, the tartness of passion fruit reigning in the sweetness of the mango. The coffee frappuccino with ice cream was basically flavourless liquid and a disappointment compared to the rather nice one we enjoyed previously at K11.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2021/20210625-11pro-Ruby-Tuesday-Tuen-Mun-/i-7ZdJJw2

On a personal note, I don’t really see the point of trying to create ‘fake’ meat and have always found the results disappointing. Discussing this recently, a friend offered a suggestion, don’t think of Impossible as fake meat, think of it as something like tofu which can be prepared and enjoyed in many different ways. Seen and eaten in that way, it’s an enjoyable and textured alternative to meat. Ruby’s Impossible quesadilla was tasty and filling, while the newly added Butcher’s Steak offered a meaty and flavourful reminder that there really is nothing like meat.

bc hadn’t noticed it on the menus in previous visits, so we can’t say if it’s new, but several menu items had a Keto symbol to help those on that food plan.

One of the many small changes in recent years that have re-energised the brand locally and made it an enjoyable place for lunch and dinner where the food tastes as good as it looks.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2021/20210625-11pro-Ruby-Tuesday-Tuen-Mun-/i-7qGnSjF

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2021/20210625-11pro-Ruby-Tuesday-Tuen-Mun-/i-JSJJ2cn

Ruby Tuesday Tuen Mun

Location: Shop 39-40, Level 1, North Wing, Trend Plaza, Tuen Mun
Tel: 3598 3098

InTaste a New Food Stand in Tuen Mun

Newly opened in Orchid Court, Tuen Mun is 燃味棧 InTaste a small takeaway food stand serving burritos, hotdogs and other tasty snacks.

This is the third iteration of InTaste for owner Kelvin Chui and features an expanded menu with the addition of hot dogs and assorted snacks to the menu. Portion sizes are good and served in as environmentally friendly packaging as possible.

Delivery is coming soon.

燃味棧 InTaste
Shop 5, Orchid Court, 14 Yan Oi Tong Circuit, Tuen Mun
Tel: 9303 6665
Open: 11:30am – 9:30pm

Ruby Tuesday Opens in Tuen Mun

Ruby Tuesday have a new outlet in Trend Plaza, Tuen Mun. It’s the chain’s seventh restaurant and the third new location opened in the last year.

Commenting about the new outlet Ruby Tuesday Managing Director Leslie Bailey said “We have taken every lesson that the COVID-19 Pandemic has taught us and incorporated it into our new restaurant design. In addition to the standard water and air-filters, we’ve also taken the extra precaution of adding a state-of-the-art Philips UV Disinfection System to filter and clean the air circulating in the restaurant.”

Ruby Tuesday Tuen Mun

Location: Shop 39-40, Level 1, North Wing, Trend Plaza, Tuen Mun
Tel: 3598 3098

Primo Pizza Grand Opening – 22 May, 2021

A beautiful Sunday afternoon saw Primo Pizza & Bar celebrate its Grand Opening. Located at 169 Gloucester Road family, friends, customers and those lucky enough to be walking past enjoyed a mix of tasty pizzas washed down with cold beer accompanied by some laid-back jazz standards.

Congratulation, see the full gallery of images here

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Primo Pizza and Bar
179 Gloucester Road, Wanchai
Open: 11am-11pm
www.facebook.com/pizzaprimohk

images: primo pizza

11 Hong Kong Restaurants in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2021

Hong Kong has 11 entries in ‘Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2021‘ with local Cantonese restaurant The Chairman replacing last year’s numero uno Singapore’s Odette in top spot.

The very subjective list is compiled and voted on by over 300 ‘leaders’ in Asia’s culinary field including journalists, food critics, chefs, restaurateurs and culinary experts.

Quite how it can pretend to be remotely objective this year when travel and dining out have been extensively curtailed… But congratulations to the local restaurants listed.

The local restaurants in this year’s ‘Top 50’ are Vea (16),  Neighbourhood (17), Belon (25), Caprice (28), Otto e Mezzo Bombana (33), Amber (37), Ta Vie (38), Mono (44), Lung King Heen (47) and Seventh Son (48).

The only Macau entry is Wing Lei Palace in 50th spot.

Ruby Tuesday Opens in Tseung Kwan O

Just in time for Christmas Ruby Tuesday have opened a new outlet in Metro City, Po Lam.

Ruby Tuesday Managing Director Leslie Bailey talked about the new outlet “Ruby Tuesday, Metro City Plaza, Po Lam is our largest restaurant by size. We’ve made every effort to ensure that the dining experience is first-class and our talented local designer has created a space that evolves throughout the day; whether alone, together, or as a family, we provide you with a [really] comfortable dining experience and our team will provide you with quality food, served with passion, in an environment, we take pride in.”

“We have taken every lesson that the COVID-19 Pandemic has taught us and incorporated it into our new restaurant design,” Bailey continued. “In addition to the standard water and air-filters, we’ve also taken the extra precaution of adding a state-of-the-art Philips UV Disinfection System to filter and clean the air circulating in the restaurant, thus reducing the risk of any secondary infection. You will find two automated handwashing and sanitization stations. With the children’s station at a lower level to encourage children to focus on washing their hands properly.

Over the holidays it’s BYO – Bring your own alcohol – until the liquor licence is approved.

Ruby’s Festive Platter Set( $798) includes: Honey Glazed Ham Hock, Lamb Shank, Boston Lobster, Roast Pumpkin & Chestnut Soup (2), Smoked Salmon and mulled wine (2 glasses)

Ruby Tuesday Metro City

Location: Shop UG020 – 021, UG/F, MCP Central, Tseung Kwan O
Tel: 2154 1318