or: What Time Is Brunch?

I am having a weekend of extraordinary decadence as a result of two celebrations – one 40th birthday party and a baby shower for twins. People who have previously lived in HK have flown in from their current home bases to join. It’s just as well in one instance because the birthday boy actually lives in Bangkok at the moment and it would have been weird to have had his birthday party without him. Not impossible. Just unusual.

Anyway, as is the case with a lot of celebrations in HK, there is food and alcohol involved.

We had a reservation made at a well-known restaurant for the 40th for 8pm last night and today, we have a reservation for 12pm for the baby shower.

“Why am I telling you all of this?” you may ask.

“Be patient,” I say in return.

Last night started with a few beverages and some nibblies at my place so I could see how many people I can actually fit in here (quite a few as it turns out) and so they could see my place since I’ve been talking about the renovations for quite some time now, before we Ubered into Central for the main meal.

We had been careful not to eat or drink too much as the champagne and sake is free-flow at the restaurant and so is the food. It is not a buffet. It is one where they bring you a variety of dishes as starters and then you can keep asking for more (which we did because their sushi and sashimi is awesome) and then they bring in the heavier style dishes. We didn’t ask for more of these, we were full.

We still had dessert – a chocolate fondue with an array of dipping foods including fruits, profiteroles and macaroons.

The champagne continued as the DJ cranked up the tunes. He played some old school music and made it super funky. Some danced. We were busy yelling at each other over the music

It is the kind of restaurant that is dimly lit with strategically placed lights. Except for the bright neon light behind us which they turned on to let us know it was time to wrap it up. I couldn’t see for a while after that.

We stayed for more drinks before heading to another bar.

I was at home just before 3am.

What do you think they call this meal?

Today’s dining experience is at an upmarket hotel.

It is also all you can eat with free-flowing champagne.

Starters are brought to the table and there are various food stations located around the venue to gather pretty much anything else you could possible want from pastas through to fish. There will also be a large dessert selection.

It starts at 12pm and will finish at 3pm.

I’m not sure when I’ll get home as yet…

What do you think they call this meal?

For some reason that I am yet to work out, both of these meals have been marketed as “brunch”.

I can kind of understand the second one as they take bookings from 11am however the first one is not even close. I still wouldn’t call it brunch but it appears my definition is a little rigid.

They market this meal as “an evening brunch”.

I am in Topsy-Turvy Land.

 

* Thanks to Electric Light Orchestra for the title to this post.