Category Archive for Hong Kong + Macau
PANDA CAFE IN HONG KONG: ASIA CRAZY, WEIRD THEME RESTAURANTS, MONGKOK DINING. SWAROVSKI BEAR NECKLACES.
Hard to believe I’ve now known Seba for over a year. We met last Halloween in Tokyo; remember our SaTaN and Candy Spooky concert video?
Since then, we’ve had a multitude of adventures around the world (with more in the works). Let’s flash-back to Hong Kong, and our visit to the Panda House Cafe in Mongkok.
A panda theme restaurant sounded like a cute spot for lunch. But it ended up… not quite as expected. Read on, for the story. (Bear necklaces gifted from Soho Hearts, who produced our Panda charity necklace.)
Panda makeup means loading on the black eyeshadow. To add depth, I drew on bottom lashes with a liquid eyeliner pen from Japan, and added brown eyeshadow above. Fake eyelashes top off the look.
Black and white punk top, and short skirt: Spider (photos of the Mongkok Gothic Lolita store here)
The cafe had the right idea going: panda bears on the menus, and in every inch of the restaurant. But the execution wasn’t quite on point.
First, the theme restaurant was located in an apartment building for locals (it felt like we were visiting my grandparents’ Mongkok flat). Second, as you can see, the place was a tad dusty and run-down…
The collection of plush panda toys was impressive.
However, the general wear-and-tear was a downer.
I like to see the positive sides of places I review. For example… this drink looked great in photos!
The menu consisted of Chinese-meets-Western cafe fare.
Fusion is always a crapshoot. In this case, the tuna salad didn’t quite work… but we appreciated the careful decoration of sliced processed cheese on top!
I can’t say I’d recommend the Hong Kong panda cafe. However, with the right attitude, anything can be an adventure (even if it doesn’t pan out as expected).
We invite you to check out our Panda Bear necklace with Soho Hearts. Proceeds go to help the Sendai government rebuild the areas hardest hit by the earthquake.
Are you a fan of pandas and purikura, as I am? Ever had a day that turned out all wrong — but still ended up being fun?
PS: Come join my spooky-cute world! Simply click >>
Song of the Day: Kunoichi Panda – Kanaderu Tabi no Tochuu de (Sendai-based Jrock band)
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CUTE DECORATED HALLOWEEN CANDY: STICKY, DESIGNER CUSTOM CANDY STORE IN HONG KONG. SMILEY FACE HANDMADE CANDIES.
Halloween is days away! Have you got sweets for trick-or-treaters yet? I’ve got something cute up my sleeve.
Flash back to Hong Kong, when Seba and I visited Sticky, a specialty candy shop.
Remember my cousin, who runs a cute cooking school where we made panda bread? She collaborates with Sticky, confectioner of handmade, rock-style lollies.
The colorful, cute designs are irresistible. A frog, an elephant!
How on Earth do you make these intricate bon-bons by hand?
If you visit the Tsum Tsa Shui store, you can see the skilled process in action. Seba even suited up and joined them behind the counter!
First, the candymakers spread a hot colored sugar-water mixture, and make abstract shapes. Once it firms up, the slab is sectioned by color.
Seba learned that candy can weigh a lot. He stretched out the orange portion with a hook, to change the color and texture.
The various colored sections are assembled and rolled together, to form a giant happy face.
Then, the boys stretched it to a thin and fragile point.
Seba chopped the strand into dime-size pieces. Behold: each one has a cross-eyed happy face on it! We personalized our bag with a custom label: “By La Carmina + Seba.”
We had so much fun at Sticky, and the owner is a sweetheart. I hope you’ll swing by for a free sample! (Shop B201, B2F, K11 Mall, 18 Hanoi Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong)
Sticky also has locations in Singapore, Malaysia and Sydney.
Later on, we went out for a Hong Kong nightcrawl with my friend Heidi, who has visited me in Tokyo. I’m wearing a cat-eared top by Spider (lots of HK Gothic clothes are available in my Garage Sale!)
There’s not much of an alternative/Gothic party scene here. However, we found our types of people at Le Boudoir, a French burlesque/cocktail bar in Soho. (BF, 65 Wyndham St, Central, HK.)
Inside, there were chaises under chandeliers. We tried a Versailles cocktail, but preferred the spicy honey one.
All of my Hong Kong and Macau posts are in this category — including info on Gothic Lolita Kawaii shopping. Give it a gander.
Do you have a sweet tooth? What are your favorite candies?
Song of the Day: Zola Jesus – Night (Have you heard of this Gothic-artsy musician yet?)
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LA CARMINA
