While other European countries like France and Italy have long been considered as the mecca of fine-dining, England has traditionally been relegated to a much-lower rank when it comes to Michelin-star-quality gourmandry. But if your knowledge of British food is limited to ordering bangers and mash, and fish and chips, then perhaps it’s time you headed to the Old Police Headquarters at Tai Kwun where Aqua Group’s British restaurant Statement has successfully given good ol’ English cuisine a modern makeover.

Particularly indulgent in this regard is their four-course Britannia brunch menu that is only offered on the weekends. First up is an array of artisanal charcuterie with sourdough bread and a jar of pickles and a sumptuous seafood platter that boasts everything from fresh Irish oysters and Norwegian smoked salmon to Cornish prawns, and mussels and clams. We particularly loved the juicy, tender prawns that were lightly poached to enhance their flavours further.

Moving on to the mains, the classic roast British beef is the obvious highlight of the menu, with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and vegetables all providing suitable accompaniments. Make sure to keep your cameras ready while the beef is being hand-carved in front of you on a vintage silver trolley. Prepared in a traditional fashion, the succulent pieces of the beef pair perfectly well with the crunchiness of the Yorkshire pudding. Our only grouch was that the portions were perhaps a tad on the frugal side.

However, if beef’s not your thing, Statement also offers a selection of other main courses such as roasted corn-fed pork shoulder with mustard and paprika, or roasted cauliflower with capers and raisins, or its own take of beer-battered fish and chips.

The last dish of the four-course brunch is obviously the dessert, with such classics as sticky toffee pudding, sea-salt butterscotch ice cream and chocolate orange mousse bringing back memories of childhood. Of course, all this is accompanied by free-flowing drinks, so be it Veuve Clicquot champagne or classic cocktails like Bloody Mary, take your pick of poison and settle down for a relaxing, indulgent experience, because, after all, what else are weekends meant for?

Statement
Police Headquarters, Block 01, Tai Kwun
10 Hollywood Road, Central
Weekend brunch: 11.30am to 3pm, $628 p.p.
www.statement.com.hk

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay