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The yummy paella
The very first time I tried Sunday Brunch with a Passion was at Catalunya in Singapore in 2014. I was very impressed with the vibrant atmosphere, amicable staff, excellent showmanship and extensive array of Spanish delights. Sadly, the restaurant ended operations on 2 June this year.
I made a trip to Hong Kong to try the brunch at Catalunya Hong Kong as I heard many positive reviews and working in Shenzhen gives me the opportunity to travel to Hong Kong regularly. Being an avid fan of Spanish cuisine, I was excited to experience what the restaurant has to offer.
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The interior
Drawing inspiration from the conviviality of Barcelona’s renowned Boqueria market, the brunch offers a delightful selection of Spanish classics which you can indulge to your heart’s content.
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Assorted breads
The restaurant's interior is a little dark and sombre and is not as lively as the former Catalunya in Singapore. However, the ambience is cosy and the restaurant staff make you feel at home the moment you step into the restaurant.
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Cod fish “Esqueixada
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Charcuterie section
Inspired by Catalan recipes, Catalunya's brunch buffet offers a sublime dining experience, satisfying even the most discerning of palates.
Whet your appetite and titillate your senses with the dazzling repertoire of Spanish tapas and other appetisers at the buffet line including the charcuterie such as iberico ham bellota, iberico chorizo, assorted cheese platter, smoked anchovies, scallop salad, cod fish “Esqueixada”, salpicon de mariscos (seafood salad), smoked salmon, yoghurt, assorted breads and more. My favourites are the charcuterie and assorted cheese platter.
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Fresh fruit juices
What caught my attention was the fresh fruit station which consists of various freshly squeezed fruit juices such as orange, apple, watermelon, guava and more. Fruit juices are great for the extra vitamin boost.
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Seafood platter
You can also order some of the other items from the menu such as the seafood platter consisting of fresh oysters, prawns, crabs and geoduck clam, bikini (sandwich consisting of iberico ham, cheese and black truffle), pepito (grilled steak and cheese) and choice of omelette. Choose either the French (traditional style), Spanish (potato and onion) or Trampó (potato, chorizo and onion).
After about an hour into the brunch, the staff brought out the four main signature dishes including the paella, suckling pig “Segovian Style”, salt crusted whole fish and tomahawk steak.
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Paella
The first dish that was brought out was the paella and the restaurant team captivated me with the fantastic showmanship, meticulously dishing the paella into smaller plates.
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Chefs in action, dishing out the paella
The paella was fragrant and the delectable flavours of the prawn and squid are nicely blended into the rice, giving it a very tantalising flavour. The rice had a nice, slightly moist texture while the grains were pleasantly separate. The prawns and squid were succulent, adding a distinct sweetness to the dish.
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Suckling pig
The suckling pig was well-marinated, the flesh was savoury and juicy while the skin had a nice, crisp texture.
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Tomahawk steak
The tomahawk steak was cooked to precision with the right degree of tenderness.
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Salt crusted whole fish
For those who like fish, the salt crusted whole fish was a winner. The fish was roasted in a hard salt crust, helping to maintain an even temperature, protecting the fish from the oven’s dry heat.
This helped to lock in the juices, resulting in a delicious and silky fish.
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Restauarant Manager serving the salt crusted fish
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Delightful Sweet Treats
The wonderful meal ended with a big bang with an amazing assortment of sweet treats such as tiramisu, mixed fruit tarts, churros and more.
Catalunya's Brunch with a Passion is priced at HK$630 per person (including free flow of fresh juices). For child aged 3 to 9 years old, it is priced at HK$110. Add HK$1,588 for free flow of Krug Grande Cuvée or ad HK$320 for free flow of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, Sangria and Cava Belvedere Bloody Mary.
Catalunya Hong Kong is located at G/F Guardian House Morrison Hill, 32 Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai Hong Kong.
For reservations, please call +852 2866 7900. For more information, please visit here.