Forget about hitting the high-priced shopping malls like Pacific Place, The Landmark etc. Check out the shops at Times Square and for some really cool new stuff for the younger set either from Japan or copied from the Japanese originals and sold in many of those shops behind the Excelsior Hotel in Causeway Bay. Stylish- very- and inexpensive.
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ROCK GALLERY
EMPEROR TOWER.
JOHNSON ROAD, WANCHAI
If into music and a collector, check out Rock Gallery, especially if a Beatles fan. We have no idea how, but the place is stacked with some incredible Beatles bootlegs from an Italian label called Yellow Dog.
The CDs go for HK$120- around AUS$30- and we have bought demos by Lennon called The Dakota Sessions, one CD which has 28 versions of Strawberry Fields Forever including Lennon’s original home recording before he and Producer George Martin layered and layered what was a simple song written on an acoustic guitar.
The place also has fantastic bootlegs by U2, Queen, Led Zeppelin, the Stones, Dylan and the Doors, The Who etc.
Spoiler alert: Being selfish music fans and big time music Collectors, we have practically wiped out most of the Beatles bootlegs so no one else could own them.
Yeah, we’ve got a ticket to ride- and we don’t care!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2kOI9hQZo0
GURU
13 ELGIN STREET, SOHO
This is “fine Indian dining”, but not what many, especially, from the UK would consider Indian. Usually, these curries come floating in oil and with ghee used in the cooking process which, after a meal, can make one feel like a beached whale. Not at Guru.
With dishes cooked in olive oil, the curries are light and more Northern Indian in taste and offers you the luxury of being able to get up from the table and still exhale without any buttons popping and flatulence suffocating those around you. A favorite of Jenny Chapman and their mates, many visiting music industry executives and where we once had a memorable meal with The Gnasher and the owner of Ortensia.
Meanwhile, let’s not forget Mr. Creosote.
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For what many might consider your typically Indian food, take in the daily Indian curry buffets at the Lobby Lounge of the Conrad and at the Dicken’s Bar in the Basement of the Excelsior.
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14 LOWER ELGIN
This is a spanking- mmmmm- new private club in the quietest street in Soho and which be the perfect place for it as it should be mightily exclusive.
We attended a party there last night hosted by whom we call Mr K, the young, well-connected Korean owner, and the place was PACKED with absolute crackers- and with style and brains and not the usual ordinary mob found down that area. These were legitimate models, a few actresses and some very photo-shy yummy mummies.
The male of the species seemed those who have chauffer-driven Mercs and don’t mind putting their hands in their pockets and splurging.
What we were doing there, beats even us, but we’ll be going back for more simply cos we can, baby.
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And now for a commercial break.
When this video was sent to us, we didn’t know what to expect.
After watching it, we still don’t. All we know is that it reminds us of Monty Python meeting Zoolander.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0TchstYCAE
Damn, Zoolander was a very funny movie. Blue Steel lives!
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Back now to where to go and what to do: Well, if you can afford it, or have won the Triple Trio, the best Italian cuisine is at Nicholini’s in the Conrad Hotel.
The hotel also serves the best Sunday brunch in the world at La Brasserie and we have entertained Sting, Norah Jones and Bowie at the hotel’s excellent Chinese Restaurant- Golden Leaf.
Love the venues and service in this hotel.
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For Thai food, so many are pretty good, but Tuk Tuk Thai in Grahame Street,Soho, stands out for us.
Sure, sure,order the usual suspects- The Green Chicken Curry, the Pad Thai, the satay etc, but ask for the crispy fish- de-boned in spicy sauce. Mama!
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There is Sevva in Prince’s Building whose Manageress- local socialite Bonnie Gokson- is so incensed with us for something we wrote that we hear she has mentioned how she can “make us disappear”- surely, a nasty rumour or a Diva Moment?- for French cuisine though we find most of the Beautiful People who frequent the place to be way too AbFab and pretentious for our tastes. Not Bonnie, of course.
Way too many dahlings and botox and so many air kisses flying around, the oxygen around us gets sucked out so badly, one needs mouth to mouth resuscitation to stand up again.
But the food, especially the desserts, is excellent.
NOT for the faint-hearted when presented with the bill.
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to be continued…
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