Restaurants, cafes, bars
I found the signing petition initiated by the WildAid on the website supporthk.org demanding Maxim, the biggest Chinese restaurant group in Hong Kong, to stop selling shark’s fin soup a little depressing. 7 years have passed since I took part in the campaign which successfully forced Citi Bank to drop its credit card promotion for card holders to enjoy shark’s fin meal at Maxim at … Continue reading Say No to Shark Fin Soup Loud and Clear
Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) is the term used by many corporations and the HKEX to describe what was previously known as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Despite the change in name, its primary function is still public relations. ESG/CSR departments hold events such as beach cleanups, environmental forums, student sustainability challenges, visits to elderly homes, collecting “lai see” packets for re-use and so forth. The … Continue reading Real Environmental & Social Responsibility at Bijas
PRODUCT RATING There are many reusable take-out coffee cups on the market, but the keepcup looks good and works well. It’s easy to use and very easy to clean. It feels good in your hand and against your lips (I hate the feel of those cheap disposable plastic lids against my lips). It is not waterproof, so don’t toss it in your bag when full. It’s … Continue reading Bring Your Own Cup
Price HKD 110 for a set meal that includes soup, main and coffee or tea. Food rating Very good. Simple, light fare that is tasty. HK Magazine’s restaurant review gave it a 4-star rating (out of 5). The chef was previously a volunteer at World Peace Cafe. The veggie soups are great, not thick like the puree most western restaurants serve and not watery like most Chinese soups. Green rating Quite green. … Continue reading Eat Light
PRICE HK$75-125 per person
FOOD RATING Great. I really enjoy the food and not just because it’s vegetarian. The masterfully combined spices in each dish create unique flavors that are like a vacation for your taste buds. The curries, breads and seasoned rice are all super tasty.
GREEN RATING Quite Green
LOCATION East Tsim Sha Tsui MTR. Just above Wing On department store.
Woodlands is located in a mall that is trapped in time. The shops look like they haven’t been renovated since Like a Virgin was a hit. The restaurant itself has been around since 1981 and kind of looks like it. The “decor”, if you can call it that, is old school and you certainly wouldn’t come here for the ambiance. That being said, its got great big windows looking out at the street with lots of trees and sunlight. It’s spacious and relatively quiet, which is quite a luxury in Hong Kong.
What you do come here for is the awesomely authentic food. Never having been to India, how do I know its authentic? First, when you walk in there is a sink beside the bar for customers to wash their hands (as you probably know Indian food is eaten with your hands). When you sit down, you’ll notice that over 90% of the diners are of Indian descent with a sprinkling of locals and tourists. And finally, all the food arrive on stainless steel dishes.
This is a place I enjoyed dining at even before I converted to eating meat only once per week. Back then I loved eating Indian dishes with meat but always found myself feeling stuffed from all the heavy sauces. Afterwards I feel like not wanting to have Indian food again for another 3 months. At Woodlands I never get that feeling, I could eat here once a week. Continue reading “Woodlands: Authentic Indian Vegetarian”
PRICE HK$40-45 for set lunch. Pick 3 out of 6 daily dishes. Includes free refills of soup and rice. FOOD RATING Goood. Menu changes daily. A contemporized version of home-style cooking without all the hard to digest fake meats. The daily soup at Liza Veggies is highly recommended. The corn on the cob baked in lemon grass leaves at Happy Veggie is wonderful when available. For dinner, … Continue reading Homestyle Chinese Vegetarian
FOOD RATING Tasty. Veggie burgers are the specialty at VeggieSF. GREEN RATING Quite Green. Vegetarian. PRICE Lunch HK$100-120. Dinner HK$150-200+ LOCATION VeggieSF is at #11 Stanley Street on the 10th Floor. Central. Call 3902-3902 for reservations, it often fills up during lunch. VeggieSF has a hip, retro vibe with many genuine artifacts shipped from the US. The mismatched chairs, colorful cutlery and retro signs makes it feel more like … Continue reading A diner in the heart of Central
Restaurant Rating Delicious food. Great service. Comfortable, understated ambiance. Quality without being fussy. Green Rating Deep Green. Vegetarian. Organic. Local. The kitchen minimizes food waste in imaginative ways. For example, the pulp from making juices is used in the burgers. Short of installing some solar panels on the roof, dining doesn’t get much more sustainable than this in Hong Kong. Price (per person) Dinner HK$200-300 … Continue reading A Hidden Gem
PRODUCT Portable chopsticks with case
PRODUCT RATING Very Good. These single-piece, portable chopsticks by muji require no assembly. The chopsticks and case are easy to clean. However, some may have difficulty adjusting to slightly shorter length. Like most of muji’s products, they are relatively high quality and well designed. Made of plastic.
GREEN RATING Light Green. Single-use, disposable chopsticks are a huge problem adding to the plague of regional deforestation. If you use disposable chopsticks while eating lunch at your desk or at sushi restaurants, try bringing a pair of your own. In addition to deforestation, there are also other health and environmental issues associated with using and disposing of single-use chopsticks.
AVAILABLE AT muji. You can also find other portable chopsticks in stores throughout Hong Kong.
Do you use disposable chopsticks to eat lunch at your desk? Or enjoy sushi at places that provide disposable chopsticks? You may want to consider bringing your own for the sake of the planet and your own health. According to the NY Times:
Due to lax enforcement of productions standards in China, disposable chopsticks also pose other risks for consumers and the environment:
Industrial-grade sulfur, paraffin, hydrogen peroxide and insect repellent are among the harmful chemicals that Chinese media investigations have exposed during production. Paraffin is a known carcinogen, and hydrogen peroxide can harm the digestive system. Chopsticks irresponsibly disposed of can contaminate water and soil quality. Continue reading “BYO Chopsticks to Reduce Deforestation”
Thanks to the efforts of tireless individuals from organizations such as Bloom and Sea Shepherd there are many more shark fin free banquet options in Hong Kong. Bloom has been instrumental in working behind the scenes to help hotels and restaurants understand this issue, while Gary Stokes of Sea Shepherd has been fearless in his own unique approach. Studies show that predator shark species have all … Continue reading The Shark Fin Free Banquet
Go Green Hong Kong 