Comments on Life as a Bon Vivant: Cantopop 港土茶記 (Hong Kong)

I was in HK for a couple of months earlier this ye...

2011-12-24T20:24:45.428+08:00

I was in HK for a couple of months earlier this year and it would have been great is this place was open then. Great review and totally agree with what you said about perception and comparison.

As for "What happened to soy sauce?", I could be wrong - but perhaps it's because most of the soy sauce in HK contains MSG? That's what I noticed on the ingredients list. I can't remember the brands, but L** K** K** for sure - there's MSG.

Good read! Nice and honest review with valuable fe...

2011-11-07T11:11:24.898+08:00

Good read! Nice and honest review with valuable feedback! Keep it up!:)

The above posted pictures are okay to prove beauty...

2011-11-03T17:31:39.200+08:00

The above posted pictures are okay to prove beauty of hong kong hotel.Thanks for posting. This makes me enthusiastic.

I think the beauty of its positioning as cha chaan...

2011-11-01T23:37:49.777+08:00

I think the beauty of its positioning as cha chaan teng is that it can be anything and everything. That gave them a platform to keep inventing new items on the menu using a limited set of ingredients (essentially what a local cha chaan teng does) and do 家常小菜 (Cantonese home-style cooking) with a twist!

Of course the musical egg and homemade luncheon meat blah blah blah gave them the much needed hype to get people's interest in the opening, and if and when they can grow out of it by putting ppl's focus back on local ingredients, sustainability along with solid cooking, it does provide an unique alternative for comfort, no-nonsense food.

Of course in many ways it's still a work in progress but I do admire their vision of trying to do something different and finding ways to improve. We definitely need more of these in local food scene.

What a great and honest post as usual. I also enc...

2011-11-01T23:14:58.026+08:00

What a great and honest post as usual. I also encountered similar issues when visiting Cantopop over a few separate visits as you probably already know..

For me the whole concept of having sustainable and ethnically sourced ingredients and being all of home-made is what enticed me to give it praise for its effort - but at the end of the day I do also treasure taste and versatibility, as well as execution (well, that affects taste lol)

I think Cantopop has the potential. But from my point of view, short term pain is good for the longer run rather than juggling between whether to support its underlying concept or just give them direct feedback. There are certainly dishes that I like, but equally others which needs addressing to! But if Posto Pubblico has set an example for the group, hopefully they will eventually rebound and become a leader in leading forward this responsible and ethical movement of approach. :S

@Janice: yeah, a slight tweak in the marketing may...

2011-11-01T17:15:19.237+08:00

@Janice: yeah, a slight tweak in the marketing may be the trick but we will see in time how this will turn out. I still think the concept is a solid one just how they decide to execute it would determine the final outcome.

As I was talking to @Razlan, the have time and recourses to figure it out. With their own "farm" and several restos to back it up in any case. Their sustaining dining concept goes beyond individual resto I think, it is a concept for their operation as well in terms of semi-centralized supplies chain. Quite smart way to do it if you ask me. It seems Cantopop has a mission to achieve so let's wait and see how things will turn out and then return for a visit!

Jason

Dear Jason, On behalf of IHM and Cantopop, thank ...

2011-11-01T17:14:07.098+08:00

Dear Jason,

On behalf of IHM and Cantopop, thank you very much for your review on Cantopop which we will share your post with our team. Thank you for your visit on the night and may I wish you a wonderful week ahead.

Should I be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us directly.

Yours Sincerely
Geoffrey Wu

Director of Communications
IHM

@Edena: I reckon if this concept is executed in UK...

2011-11-01T17:08:37.151+08:00

@Edena: I reckon if this concept is executed in UK then its start would be quite different. They may want to change the idea of cha chaan teng from being a place for hearty food to local joint with healthy options but sometimes something will never give. I think it should change its focus to CCT inspired resto, then again that's just me! :)

Great post, J! Agree it's all about perspectiv...

2011-11-01T16:08:37.607+08:00

Great post, J! Agree it's all about perspective. A change in the marketing strategy will help though. It is after all sustainable healthy eating and living they are after, no?

Great post, and very succinctly put. I didn't ...

2011-11-01T11:48:29.542+08:00

Great post, and very succinctly put. I didn't read any reviews of Cantopop before going, and so my take on its food was based entirely on my own judgment and experience. You would have known I didn't have a good one from our Foursquare discussion. The "crossover" is definitely confusing for (1) diners like me who will definitely compare it to the typical char chaan teng, and (2) health-conscious diners whom will like the concept of sustainable eating but wondered if this is what HK-cafe-style food is about. It is a niche in the market, but a shoe that is hard to fill. The question is, is there such a demand for such a niche in the market? Debatable. Only its profitability in the long run will tell.

A really interesting post, I like this "style...

2011-11-01T11:22:01.402+08:00

A really interesting post, I like this "style"! I think you're quite right about the branding issue. If they call it char siu, we (or at least I and all the other naysayers) expect char siu. But by referencing something familiar, they also appeal to diners, because otherwise a technical term like sous-vide alone may alienate your average Central luncher. The egg fuyong looks quite good btw - it's hard to get it in HK (despite everyone overseas thinking it's a common Chinese dish!). We tried to get some from the takeaway menu at Yung Kee but they said we had to wait half an hour! Might try it at Cantopop.
I think the personality you speak of will come with time, and perhaps also some slight tweaking of the marketing message - I'm sure they're reading your post and will take your advice!
And I just wanted to reiterate - I like this pensive style! More, I say!