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 words Chitra Panjabi
I have a friend that always eats his dessert before his main meal. His reasoning? Life is short, so you may as well have the good stuff first. Few people could disagree with such logic and perhaps that is why several establishments have decided to skip the main course altogether and offer only dessert buffets for the city’s sweet-toothed patrons. |
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Café on the Park
Chocolate with a twist seems to be the order of the day at Café on the Park (2/F, Royal Pacific Hotel & Towers, 33 Canton Road, TST). Alongside a wide range of chocolate-flavoured desserts, the chefs have created some unusual hot mains. If you feel daring, try the grilled chicken with dark chocolate sauce or roasted spare ribs with jalapeno and curry chocolate sauce. Willy Wonka would be proud.
Afternoon tea buffet available Sat, Sun & Public Holidays from 3:15pm to 5:15pm. Late night buffet available Fri, Sat & Public Holiday eves from 10pm. Adult $138 / Child $98. Discount of 25% for payment by credit card by 4 or more adults. Reservations: 2738 2322 |
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The Balcony
If chocolate doesn’t take your fancy, The Balcony (4/F, The Royal Garden, 69 Mody Road, TST East) is running a Fresh Fruit Carnival, sure to appeal to the health buff in you. Look out especially for their creative use of fish collagen and spirulina – the blue-green algae has been described as the perfect health food. If you haven’t tried it, there’s no time like the present.
Afternoon tea dessert buffet available Sat, Sun & Public Holidays from 2:30pm to 5pm. Adult $138 / Child $98. 10% service charge applies. Reservations: 2733 2033 |
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Palm Court
It seems to be a cocoa time of year, as Palm Court (Lobby level, Langham Hotel, 8 Peking Road, TST) has also made chocolate its flavour of the month. The pastry chef has chosen Valrhona chocolate for its unique taste and smooth textures. Of his 15 or so dishes, the dark chocolate fondue and double chocolate brownies are not to be missed. The brownies are perfectly chewy and nutty whilst the fondue is smooth and complements the accompanying fruits very nicely. White chocolate rice pudding with candied fruits has a lovely subtle flavour and the white chocolate mint crème brûlée is perfectly minty.
Dessert buffet available Fri & Sat from 8.30pm. $138 per person. 10% service charge applies. Reservations: 2375 1133 |
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La Scala
For an Eastern take on desserts, La Scala (Level 2, Royal Plaza Hotel, 193 Prince Edward Road West, Mongkok) is featuring a Japanese Delights afternoon tea buffet with edo puffs, green tea crème brûlée and konomeyaki (a type of Japanese pancake). The Royal Plaza also has a regular dessert buffet at La Fontana (Lobby level, Royal Plaza Hotel, 193 Prince Edward Road West, Mongkok) with the usual array of Western desserts.
La Scala afternoon tea dessert buffet available Sat, Sun & Public Holidays from 3:15pm to 5pm. Adult $128 / Child $98. Discount of 15% to reservations for 2 or more people. 10% service charge applies. Reservations: 2622 6156.
La Fontana dessert buffet available daily from 8pm. $78 per person. 10% service charge applies. Reservations: 2622 6167. |
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Regala Café &
Dessert Bar
Across the harbour, the theme of the Regala Café & Dessert Bar’s (G/F, Regal Kowloon Hotel, 71 Mody Road, TST East) newly launched late night dessert buffet is ‘Chocolate Indulgence’. And that is apt, as indulge you will. Twenty dishes have been specially created to showcase the versatility of the sticky brown sweet stuff. The pastry chef’s favourite dessert – basil raspberry chocolate terrine – is absolutely divine. Made with raspberry chocolate mousse and a layer of basil-flavoured mousses, the contrast between the sweet tanginess and the crisp freshness of the basil is deeply satisfying. The mint chocolate gateau is deliciously rich yet light and the ivory chocolate dome is an intoxicating mix of creamy white chocolate mousse and brandy soaked cherries.
Late night dessert buffet available Fri & Sat from 9:30pm. $88 per person. 10% service charge applies. Reservations: 2313 8788 |
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Tiffin Lounge
The granddaddy of all buffets is the expansive spread in the Tiffin Lounge (M/F, Grand Hyatt, 1 Harbour Road, Wanchai). It has over 40 desserts inspired by Eastern and Western traditions. With winter approaching, the Tiffin has chosen chocolate as its main theme and introduced speciality chocolate cakes of which the raspberry almond chocolate and white chocolate cappuccino cakes are definite highlights. These smooth blends of chocolate with other delicate flavours really hit the (sweet) spot: even just looking at the cakes is enough to have your mouth watering. But old favourites are still on the menu: cheesecake, tiramisu, fruit flavoured pies and tarts and freshly made waffles to name just a few. And if the food isn’t enough, the view might get you salivating as the floor to ceiling windows grant a magnificent panorama of the harbour and glittering skyline.
Dessert buffet available daily from 8pm. Sun – Thu: Adult $180 / Child $120, Fri & Sat: Adult $198 / Child $138. 10% service charge applies. Reservations: 2584 7822
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