SPD4459 [Cafe 休閒篇] Common Ground, Cake + Shop - by Hazel

This is another unique tiny café in the NOHO (North of Hollywood Wood) area. The unit was used to be a local design jewelry shop and office, and have been converted to a café and shop. Had a chance to chat with Sean, one of the 4 partners about the concept of the café. 


Common Ground, as it’s named, aims to be a common place for friends or strangers to mingle. As Sean briefed, many of the wooden furniture were “upcycled” from used benches, desk, floor tiles which also reflects the philosophy of the shop.

Like many cafes around, Common Ground have limited choices of food, but you can feel their passion from their food. Glad that I paid the visit on a Monday evening and share the 4-seated table with no one. Jazz was played in the house and the visit made my day.

Flat White ($35)

Feel so hot, milk has a little burnt (too hot to make milk taste sour).

The outside ares make me feel relax.

Salted chocolate ($40)

My eyes spot on this recommended drink (marked with an asterisk) on the menu. Made from their own mixed chocolate base, the shake was rich in chocolate flavour all the way till I finished the drink. However, I could barely taste the sea salt in the mix but it gave an interesting finishing. 

Common Toast ($50) 

Diced portobello mushroom and onion were deglazed with cream and rested on toasted dried tomato bread. The bread was just a bit too crispy and dry but overall still a good savoury snack. Local grown organic greens and tomatoes sat on the centre of the plate with balsamic cream. The salad was fresh and delicious. This was another recommended dish on the menu board which I totally agreed.

Address: G/F, 19 Shing Wong Road, Central, Hong Kong / 中環城皇街19號地下

Telephone: 2818 8318

Price: $50-$100

SPD4459 [Dessert甜品篇] Leisure Time Crêpe 優閑甜品班戟店 - by Jun (SPD4459)

Previously, I introduced Sweet Classroom甜品堂. Just as Sweet Classroom, Leisure Time Crêpe 優閑甜品班戟店 is a tiny dessert store. It has only 8 seats inside. However, it isn't directly proportional to its desserts' taste and quality. Leisure Time Crêpe 優閑甜品班戟店 is in the top 10 of the best dessert stores on OpenRice recently. And now, sometimes it is filled with crowds of people who want to try its delicious desserts.

Leisure Time Crêpe 優閑甜品班戟店 is certainly a pleasant place to have your relaxing dessert moments since the whole shop is filled up with the smell of crepes which is all from the food ingredients, not any perfume. 

The shop is also decorated with warm colours so that everyone can enjoy the greatest feeling of comfort while having desserts.

The chef looks professional and pays attention to hygiene since she is wearing gloves while making desserts.

Leisure Time Crêpe 優閑甜品班戟店 is well-known for its crepe for sure just like its name. Here is the menu. You can see that there're different flavors of crepe and the prices are reasonable. :)

This is Banana and Hazelnut Ice Cream with Caramel Sauce. I love the ice cream because I like hazelnut and the sauce is delicious.  

Salty flavors crepes are also available. 

This is Lettuce, Tomato & Sweet Corn Crepe. I didn't eat it because I don't like eating sweet corn. It was eaten by my friend, and she said the flavor was good because it was like salad. So, I think who love salad will also love this crepe!

Other than crepes, it has other types of desserts such as brownies...

and cheese cake... It is a rich cheese cake, I love it!

Special drinks are also worth trying...

such as Purple Smoothie (It's also user's hot pick:D). Purple Smoothie contains 3 flavors including orange, blueberry, and banana. It is fresh and tastes like orange flavor is more notable.

Of course, there're still a lots to try, and it is not easy to run a tiny dessert shop in HK, so would you like to have a try and support it personally?

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Leisure Time Crêpe 優閑甜品班戟店
Address: 
Shop 6, G/F.,Yee Fung Court, 2 Sheung Fung Lane, 88 Second Street, Sai Ying Pun, Western District 
西環西營盤第二街88號常豐里2號怡豐閣6號地舖

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/leisuretimecrepe 

OpenRice's reviews:
http://www.openrice.com/english/restaurant/sr2.htm?shopid=142959 

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(Student of SPD4459 Internet Marketing and Public Relations)

SPD4459 [Cafe休閒篇] 茶。家 teakha - by Hazel

很喜歡上環這一帶，給人一種遠離人間煙火，與世無爭的感覺。
走到累了，就到小小的咖啡店，吃點蛋糕，飲杯咖啡，人生真寫意。
I really love Sheung Wan, it gives me a peaceful feeling.
when feeling tired, go to a small coffee shop, eat a piece of cake, drink a cup of coffee, life is really enjoyable.




太平山街一帶是上環的後花園，很寧靜的地方，有好幾間特色的店舖，是一條還能感受特色的街道。

Tai Ping Shan Street is a very quiet place. There are several specialty shops and full of characteristic.

今次就黎茶。家，掛著可愛的茶壺招牌。茶家就在太平山街的一個轉角處，讓慕名前來的人能暫時躲到一個角落，享受片刻的寧靜。
teakha located on a corner at Tai Ping Shan Street, so that people can come here temporarily hid in a corner, enjoy a moment of tranquility.

                                                             
外觀十分簡潔！
Simple!

店鋪內沒有豪華裝
修，以綠色植物和一些器皿作點綴，舒服而又溫馨。

No luxurious
decoration, use green plants and utensils for decoration. It is comfortable and warm.

茶。家的主打當然是茶啦！這裡的茶類飲品都有數十種，此外也提供小量特色蛋糕。
teakha is mainly sells tea! In addition to tea drink, also provide some cake.


Recommend:

Keemun Rose Tea 祁門玫瑰花茶

Sea Salt Yin Yang; Green Tea Cheesecake

               海鹽鴛鴦；綠茶芝士蛋糕

茶味好濃郁, 玫瑰味都好出, 值得一試 !
The tea and rose flavor is strong. It is worth to try!












不像茶餐廳的鴛鴦，加了海鹽令它變得特別。
The Yin Yang is not like any other Yin Yang in Cha Chann Teng. What makes it different is the sea salt.

綠茶芝士蛋糕不像紐約芝士蛋糕那麼硬，而是很鬆軟的。芝士的味道稍微勝過抹茶，但都不會太重。
The cheesecake not hard like a New York Cheesecake. It is more creamy.The taste of cheese slightly outweighs Matcha, but not too heavy. 

Masala Chai印度香料奶茶

香料的味道比茶味出，比港式奶茶甜。      
The taste of spices slightly outweighs tea. And more sweet than the Hong Kong-style milk tea.







   
  


 Menu (not listed dairy selection):

In addition:


如果運氣好，週末有可能會遇到有Live band show！
If you are lucky, you may meet the Live band show at weekend!











Website for more detail:  http://teakha.com/

Address：Shop B, No 18 Tai Ping Shan Street , SOHO, Sheung Wan
地址：上環蘇豪太平山街18號B舖
Phone/電話：2858 9185
Price/價錢:$: 51-100

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SPD4459 [Cafe] Cafe Deadend - by Hazel

Are you looking for a place for relax? 

Now, i'd like to recommend a coffee shop to you.

Cafe Deadend

As its name suggests Deadend is located at the end of Po Hing Fong  in Sheung Wan. 
顧名思義--deadend,死胡同
It having outdoor area with a tree of purple flowers in front of white wall. 

There is peacefulness, as if this place is its own world with a particularly slow pace; almost a still image. this atmosphere is ideal for chilling with a couple of girlfriends in the afternoon. loved the simple combination of the green shrubs, the yellowish lighting, the white walls and the black windows/doors. 

Entering to the cafe inside, the place is not too big with a few of tables and a long table bar.
A open kitchen decoration where you all can see how chefs do cooking, washing and making drinks. 





Cappuccino
The latte art was very nice, a beautiful heart. the foam was smooth and thick, but the amount of it was not quite enough. the coffee beneath was good, strong enough to not be covered up by the milk. the size of the drink however was rather small.







Dirty
Espresso with cold milk. Interesting, right?! Usually coffee like latte is added hot milk & pull off with the latte art on top. But when the cold milk hits the hot espresso, its looks really “dirty”…literally! The uneven color of the cold milk with the espresso looks interesting! The taste of it was alright, since cold milk was added, it’s either very hot or cold.







In addition to  coffee, but also provide sandwiches, bread, salad and apple pies.

More Details:

Address：G/F, No 72 Po Hing Fong , Sheung Wan

地址：上環普慶坊72號地下

Phone/電話：6716 7005

Price/價錢:$: 51-100

SPD4459 [Nostalgia懷舊篇] Starbucks Coffee Cafe in Central - by Natalie(SPD4459)

I think all of you have heard about Starbucks Coffee and you should be very familiar of it. 
This time i will introduce you the Starbucks Coffee featuring Hong Kong Style!

This Starbucks Coffee located in Duddell Street,
which is a very famous place for filming soap tv drama and music video

People like to take their pre-wedding photo at the stairs out Starbucks too!!

The interior design of this Starbucks is surround by the old Hong Kong style. Customer can enjoy their cup of coffee in this "old" Hong Kong. They can also take many beautiful photos here.

If you want to taste the old Hong Kong, you must come and relax here!!
Enjoy~ :D




Address:  Floor M2, Baskerville House, 13 Duddell Street, , Central 
Telephone: 2523 5685