QUINTESSENTIALLY | Insider | Quintessentially

Brunch – possibly the only time when it’s socially acceptable to drink before midday.

One of the best brunches I’ve tried recently is at Bloom, which has just opened for weekday lunches and weekend brunches in addition to its nightly dinner service. Bloom has developed quite a reputation for its sleek style and NYC/bistro fare, and opening its doors to the lunchtime crowd is a good move – the restaurant takes on a totally different feel during the day. Gone are the dim lights and underground speakeasy vibe; instead, the restaurant is flooded with light from the large windows and it feels like a much friendlier, less intimidating and more casual space.

The key to kicking off a good brunch is, of course, a fantastic Bloody Mary. Bloom offers a choice of Bloody Mary cocktails (original was tangy and subtly spicy) as well as a Bloody Mary bar with a choice of ingredients. Pick and choose your unique blend and the helpful bartenders will mix it up for you in a tall tumbler with plenty of old school, square cut and solid ice.

The menu is short and sweet, opening with eggs and finishing with a list of items from the raw bar and selection of Bloody Marys. Fresh oysters and a Bloody Mary – now that’s my idea of a decadent start to the day.

The mains run the gamut from Eggs Benedict (known here as Bloom Benny) to a full fry up with American ‘biscuits’ (savoury scones to us Brits) with a meaty sausage patty, grilled tomato, extremely crisp bacon and herby hash browns. The Bloom Benny uses thick-cut ham and though the rind was a little fatty, the hollandaise sauce allowed the flavour of the eggs and ham to shine through. The hash browns were a posh version of the classic American side dish, jazzed up with rosemary and fried to a crisp; they were salty, moreish and oh-so-good.

The highlight of the meal was the ending – an oatmeal crème brûlée: dessert, breakfast style. Big enough to share between four people, this particular brûlée comes topped with deliciously chewy oatmeal, fresh strawberries, bananas and raspberries, and is the best re-interpretation of breakfast/dessert I’ve ever had.

Given its gourmet pedigree, the relaxing environment and the delicious food, Brunch at Bloom is terrific value for money and definitely one of our favourite new brunch spots in Hong Kong.

Bloom, 5/F, Lan Kwai Fong Tower, 33 Wyndham Street, Central – +852 2810 6166