Victoria Harbour Brunch

The best weekend activity is undoubtedly eating and drinking. For me, I still have no desire to travel north. Staying in Hong Kong and enjoying a Weekend Brunch at a hotel with friends is my choice. The Mistral at InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong has moved from the basement to the first floor, becoming a true sea-view restaurant. It's a relaxing place to have brunch. The brunch here is similar to others, with a buffet of cold seafood, pasta, and desserts. The main course offers six choices, including meat, seafood, and even vegetarian options. I must mention that their red and white champagne and sparkling wine Free Flow is only an additional HKD 200, which is a great deal! The appetizers include various salads and cold cuts, with a wide variety of options. The salads feature fresh ingredients like beetroot, colorful eggplant, and buffalo mozzarella with tomatoes, all beautifully presented. The cold cuts include prosciutto, salami, veal slices, and various cheeses. Even the cantaloupe slices are arranged like flowers, making them very appetizing (or too pretty to eat?). The cold seafood selection is impressive, with shrimp, crayfish, lobster, mussels, clams, and Alaskan crab legs, all of good quality. The crab legs are particularly outstanding, being meaty and sweet. At the pasta station, the chef prepares Italian dumplings, pasta, risotto, and cold soups. The handmade noodles with rich cheese are a winner. For the main course, I followed the manager's recommendation and chose the seafood stew and the Australian Wagyu beef with foie gras. The seafood stew includes squid, clams, mussels, grouper, sea bass, and prawns in a rich lobster bisque. The fresh ingredients ensure a solid dish that seafood lovers will enjoy. The Australian Wagyu beef uses the tenderloin cut, so even though it's thick, it remains tender. Paired with the rich and flavorful foie gras, it's a delight for meat lovers like myself. The desserts are all tempting, but a few are must-tries. The chocolate mousse is smooth and not too sweet; the tiramisu is moist and delicious; and the Basque cheesecake with truffle is a perfect finishing touch. Other desserts like traditional Sicilian cannoli and mille-feuille are also well-executed. Finish with a cup of Movenpick ice cream, a macaron, and coffee, and you can have a very enjoyable weekend in Hong Kong. Restaurant Information: The Mistral 1/F, InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong, 70 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui