Green Queen Foodie: Ali Oli Bakery Cafe – A Healthy Eating Oasis in Kwun Tong


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If you know of Ali Oli Bakery Cafe, then you’ll know it’s an institution for serving up European and Western baked goods in Hong Kong. In fact they’re longstanding bakery of 25 years based in Sai Kung, is popular for their extensive product list serving favorites such as their sausage rolls, cottage pies and some delicious homemade breads & preserves. If your not fortunate enough to live in the New Territories, then fear not friends as Ali Oli have opened up a little store located on the 2nd floor of One Pacific Centre in Kwun Tong. Hoorah! And just to put the icing on the cake, they’ve got a brand new menu catering for all your special dietary needs. Double whammy.

Ali Oli bakery Cafe Kwun Tong JPG

Owner, Hazel Cheung, has rejuvenated the menu offerings due to the surge in food intolerances, dietary requirements and a demand for healthier, greener, sustainable food options in Hong Kong. The menu, currently in Kwun Tong only, includes friendly vegan and vegetarian meals, paleo, as well as gluten-free, dairy-free, low carb and low-fat options. Expect organic soy milk as a dairy-free option with your coffee (nut milks to be included at year’s end), gluten-free sandwiches and a large selection of delicious salads such as organic quinoa and beetroot, Mediterranean pearl barley, Moroccan couscous and a changing weekly special, all at a very reasonable price. Need a nourishing drink to enhance your health kick? Order a slow/cold pressed juice or if adventure is your bag, concoct your own then add a superfood side of chia seeds, aloe-vera gel and psyllium husk while you’re at it. Your body will be doing a little happy dance from all the goodness it’s receiving.

 Ali Oli Juice JPG

On my visit to the new branch, Hazel created a special slow pressed juice for me (not on the menu, of course =D) consisting of beetroot, apple, celery, grapefruit juice and pepper. A deliciously deep yet vibrant hue almost resembling and tasting blackberry like with a hint of tartness from the apple and the pepper gave a light zing reminiscent of a bloody mary sans alcohol! I would have liked to have savoured every drop but I chugged it like it was a shot! Mah bad L It got me checking what other lovely combinations they had available. Think of energizing names like Kick Off bearing apple, carrot and ginger; or Feeling Fresh with tomato, orange, carrot and grapefruit; or how about the juice that’s all the rage these days, the Detox – cucumber, celery, lemon, capsicum, spinach and tomato. It was too easy to drink and I felt boosted, ready for the next course.

Ali Oli Quinoa Salad

Gluten-free and vegan organic quinoa and black bean with corn, coriander, tomato and balsamic vinaigrette was in order as was a vegetarian herbed roast pumpkin, sprinkled with a mixture of parmesan and cheddar cheese. A vegan chickpea chana masala with sweet potato, the special for the week, was added to the mix as a hot dish for the day. All were light, flavorsome and dare we say, you’ll be coming back for more.

The cafe is modest in size compared to its Sai Kung sister but it does boast a 10-person communal dining space. Ali Oli Kwun Tong is looking to cater particularly to those working viciously long hours in the office and who are generally time-poor when it comes to taking extra measures for their health. Gym fanatics, travelers, foodies or those seeking healthy alternatives will also be attracted to Ali Oli‘s new menu offerings. If you don’t have time to enjoy a leisurely lunch, then grab a takeaway and feel good about using their biodegradable cutlery. Oh and if you want to grab one of their freshly baked gluten-free breads to take home, call a couple of days ahead and it’ll be baked and delivered to Kwun Tong for you to pick up. Bonus!

 Chickpea Soup JPG

Ali Oli is also committed to the health of the community in promoting healthy, environmentally friendly living in Hong Kong. They have joined forces with Green Monday Hong Kong. Whenever possible, they locally source their produce, change their menu seasonally and use only high quality, fresh ingredients in support of their philosophy which emphasizes on homemade, handmade products and using no preservatives.

Ali Oli in Kwun Tong does not have all the offerings as its big sister in Sai Kung. What it loses in space, they exceed in a great selection of healthy, fresh food options that tastes oh-so-omnomnom-ly good. Coupled with the flexibility in catering for special dietary requirements, there’s nothing you won’t like about their new store. So what are ya waiting for? Get on it then! 2015 Update: Ali Oli Kwun Tong but they have opened a Kwai Hing branch at: Kiosk B02, Level 2, Tower 2, Kowloon Commerce Centre, 51 Kwai Cheong Road (Kwai Hing station Exit E) , phone: +852 2779 1882

Author

  • Sonalie Figueiras

    2021 Women of Power, 2019 GEN T Honoree, V Label Global Hero, 2 x TEDx Speaker: Serial social entrepreneur & trends forecaster Sonalie Figueiras is a sustainability expert, food futurist and eco-powerhouse who has been inspiring global audiences for over a decade with practical steps on how to fight climate change. Known as the Green Queen of Asia, she is the founder and Editor in Chief of the award-winning Green Queen - the region’s first impact media platform that educates millions of readers on the connection between health, sustainability and the environment and showcases future solutions. She is also the co-founder and CEO of organic sourcing platform Ekowarehouse and climate tech SaaS Source Green, which helps consumer brands quit plastic packaging thanks to proprietary plastic reduction software. In addition, Sonalie is a global keynote speaker and an advisor to multiple mission-driven startups and NGOs, and a venture partner to several VC funds.

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