Da Dolce Gelato

Crunkies-flavor Gelato
$28 (single-flavor cup)
Da Dolce (Langham Place)

I had never seen many customers frequent that gelato shop in the basement of Langham place, whose decor was straight out of 2001: A Space Odyssey. In all of my visits, I had counted at most four or five patrons in the shop at the same time as I was stopping by.

Small wonder I went Oh-Jeui this evening at the sight of so many Honky people sitting comfortably at the gleaming white picnic benches, which had been split apart into smaller seating areas for this event. I looked around. The signs were different. There were many pictures of Ramen, interspersed with much Japanese print that I found unintelligible. The only thing I gleaned from the posters was the fact, the new reality that half of the gelato shop had without warning become a Ramen joint called Domon. This change is for the best, I believe, because now this merchant has the vehicle -- hot food -- necessary to drive traffic.

I'm sitting by myself in the austere, lonely corner of the shop devoted exclusively to the consumption of gelato, having just finished a crunkies-flavored cup of the stuff. I was thinking earlier, while looking at the exorbitant $28 sticker price for a single-flavor cup, how gelato is a relative substitute for "premium" coffees and "artisan" teas in Hong Kong. At the $28 price point, consumers can choose either from a single-flavor cup from a vendor such as Da Dolce or XTC on Ice, or a tall coffee drink from either Starbucks or Pacific Coffee. To be sure, $28 is the entrance fee in Hong Kong to occupy a small corner of this pseudo-public space, in order to do what I'm doing now: ruminating on food!

Bottled Water

Bonaqua $5.2 

Cool $5.2

Vita $4.8 

Circle K (Across from Wanchai fire station)

View Hong Kong Price Discrimination in a larger map

Bonaqua $6.2

Cool $6.8

Circle K (Times Square UA Cinema)

I had always suspected that Circle K actively promulgated price discrimination at its stores and at last, I have definitive proof that it does.

This afternoon I stopped by the Circle K stand across from the Times Square UA cinema, the one that boasts twin refrigerators which stock an assortment of lukewarm beverages ripe for a muggy Hong Kong day.  One look at the pricing, however, and I quickly walked away, my tongue hanging out not in thirst but in disgust, for who would willingly pay $6.8 for a Cool, or $6.2 for Bonaqua when the going price for both is around five dollars?

Seeking a better deal, along the underpass I walked about one hundred meters, until I reached another Circle K, farther away from the maddening crowds and consequently, I suspected, less prone than its higher traffic cousin to ridiculous price points.  Indeed, I found both the Bonaqua and Cool priced at $5.2, savings of 1 dollar and $1.6 respectively in comparison to their Times Square prices.  In fact, this branch even stocked Vita, a choice which the Times Square branch didn't even offer, priced at $4.8, the least expensive of the three brands.  I chose the Vita, and felt somewhat smug in doing so.

For me, and for the impecunious at large, walking a hundred meters away from the throngs to find a colder, cheaper drink is well worth the effort -- support low prices; don't give into extortion!  

넥타린 (복숭아)

넥타린들
4,000 원
트럭 (명동)

A basketful of nectarines costs 1,000 won less than a basketful of plums; or does that farmer, in whose truck I find all this delicious fruit, set the price by the swarthy visage of his customer?  If the latter is the case, then is it possible to bargain with the dude?

What lends credence to the bargaining idea is the lack of conspicuous price tags on the various items in his truck, as though the fruit in his truck were used cars in a parking lot just waiting for the right price-insensitive customer to walk by.  Indeed, I have seen price tags on other trucks in Seoul, so my suspicions have been raised.  I'm going to consult several of my friends tomorrow on this matter - the investigation continues!

홍 대 의 커피

Cappuccino

1,900 원 (포 장); 4,500 원 (dine in)

Coffee Brown (홍 대, 서 울, 한 국)

Coffee, it seems, is a national drink of Korea; and the schemes to price it have blown me away.  While walking in Hong Dae today, I noticed a multitude of coffee shops, most of which can be found on second floors; and when I went inside one to check out the menu, I winced at the exorbitant charges for a cup of Joe; prices that are outrageous in Hong Kong, even.  Then I went back out and found a Coffee Brown kiosk, where cappuccino could be bought at a reasonable 1,900 won; and thinking that I could find a seat on the second floor, where they have a cafe, I marched up the stairs, only to find out that dining in - ordering a cappuccino ten feet from the ground - more than doubles the price of the product - whoah! (O_O)  I descended from the cafe area and bought my coffee on the ground.  It appears that at least in Hong Dae, sitting inside commands a ridiculous premium; and if you are willing to consume outside, in an environment that doesn't guarantee a comfortable seat, you can save quite a lot of change!

Coffee at McCafes

Mochaccino, Latte and Flat White

$20-$22

McDonald's (Kowloon Tong)

I'm not sure if this is price discrimination between stores in Hong Kong, or the result of a price increase of $1HKD for all coffees sold in McCafes throughout Hong Kong.

Flat White

Flat White
$15 (small)
McDonald's (Lam Tin)

• Buy four coffees, get one free
• No photography in stores
• Active price discrimination

1. e.g. $15/17/19 for flat white
2. $17/19/21 for cappuccino et al.

Ham, Turkey and Swiss Panini

Ham, Turkey and Swiss Panini
$40
Delifrance (Stanley, HK)

Not all Delifrance outlets provide drinks with set meals. The restaurant in Stanley and others which are frequented by foreigners, I suspect, will skip the addition of drinks to maximize profit.