A Singaporean-Hong Kong friend of mine recently informed me that she had postponed her daughter's wedding for a year in order to find a date which was auspicious for the bride and groom, both of the bride's parents and the groom's parents. When her western educated daughter demurred, the mother of the bride angrily said that her daughter was being a Bridezilla and the wedding wasn't just about the bride.
I was speechless. Just as well. After trying to find several diplomatic replies to this family dilemma (wedding already over)I decided that silence was the best reply as I could not comment without incriminating myself.
My friend thinks I am a good listener. I just keep nodding with eyes wide open with surprise.
Leaflets about wedding banquet options are on side tables.
Stepping into the restaurant I find it is the size of a banqueting hall. However partitions crimson cross and life in all directions to provide any size of function room.
THE FOOD
I was unable to locate any kind or drinks or desserts menu. I asked for juice. No such thing. I had to settle for Chinese tea, provided automatically from a tea pot placed on the table at the start of the meal.
HONG KONG 'PEKING' DUCK
We ordered Peking Duck. It was delicious, thought not very filling, served traditional style, with crispy brown skin, a bit like potato chips, with only a sliver of meat on each pice, if you were lucky (or in my case picky!. However, the pancakes, unlike the wafer thin ones which tear apart and are served in London, our Hong Kong pancakes were thin but solid filling.
Chicken in Dried Mandarin Peel
Chicken in Dried Mandarin Peel was the surprise on the menu and the success of the evening. So tasty. Must try this at home. Another way to use up what would usually be wasted.
The menu indicates that you can finish your meal Chinese style with soup. In the old days you would make a casserole, divide up the vegetables and any meat or fish or other protein. At the end, when all the solids were gone, you could fill up by finishing off the soup at the bottom of the casserole or wok or bowl.
TEA AND DRINKS
Having arrived late, after 9 pm, from the Inside Out Bar which I described in my previous post, by the time the meal is ordered and served we are last. The whole place its demolishing around us. Walls slide off.
Tablecloths are removed. Giant circular table tops like plates for dinosaurs are wheeled out on their edge and disappear into a back storage area.
From the back of their card I see that the group includes two more restaurants, one on Kowloon.
The Graces Restaurant
20/F, Lee Theatre Plaza
99 Percival Street
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel: 2882 1889
Website: www.the-graces.com.hk
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