Words by Aude Camus
You know I’m a sucker for a good bite (especially if there’s a cannelé involved), but let me just say: I did not expect to fall this hard for a chicken schnitzel sandwich. And yet, here I am –plotting my return to LMO Freshly Baked before the end of the month, just to have that Yardbird special one more time.
Let’s back up a little. Following the success of its first outpost at BaseHall, LMO Freshly Baked opened its doors at LANDMARK earlier this year. The concept? Elevated grab-and-go, with a line-up of expertly made sandwiches, nourishing soups and beautifully buttery pastries, all courtesy of Chef Richard Ekkebus and his team at Mandarin Oriental, The Landmark.
You know I’m a sucker for a good bite (especially if there’s a cannelé involved), but let me just say: I did not expect to fall this hard for a chicken schnitzel sandwich. And yet, here I am –plotting my return to LMO Freshly Baked before the end of the month, just to have that Yardbird special one more time.
Let’s back up a little. Following the success of its first outpost at BaseHall, LMO Freshly Baked opened its doors at LANDMARK earlier this year. The concept? Elevated grab-and-go, with a line-up of expertly made sandwiches, nourishing soups and beautifully buttery pastries, all courtesy of Chef Richard Ekkebus and his team at Mandarin Oriental, The Landmark.
And now, they’re raising the bar even higher with The Tastemaker Series – a new campaign that brings together some of Hong Kong’s most celebrated chefs and restaurants for a cause. Each month, from May to September, LMO Freshly Baked is teaming up with a local icon to launch a short-run collaboration menu. The goal? To reinterpret their signature flavours in a grab-and-go format that Central’s on-the-go crowd can enjoy – all while raising funds for MINDSET, a mental health charity supported by the Jardine Matheson Group. For every item sold, HKD10 will be donated.
First up is none other than Yardbird – the modern izakaya that changed the game when it opened back in 2011. And let me tell you, they’ve nailed it. The Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich (HKD88) is crispy, juicy, and packed with flavour, elevated with sesame kewpie and crunchy cabbage. There’s also a Caesar Salad with crispy jako and nori, and a comforting Three Yellow Chicken Meatball Soup (HKD58) with myoga and negi – but that schnitzel? It stole the show.
First up is none other than Yardbird – the modern izakaya that changed the game when it opened back in 2011. And let me tell you, they’ve nailed it. The Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich (HKD88) is crispy, juicy, and packed with flavour, elevated with sesame kewpie and crunchy cabbage. There’s also a Caesar Salad with crispy jako and nori, and a comforting Three Yellow Chicken Meatball Soup (HKD58) with myoga and negi – but that schnitzel? It stole the show.
The Yardbird collab is available until 31 May, so run (don’t walk) if you want a taste. And mark your calendars, because upcoming partners in the series include:
Bar Leone (June)
The Chairman (July)
TATE Dining Room (August)
Little Bao (September)
Of course, while you’re there, don’t skip dessert. LMO Freshly Baked’s cannelés and financiers are worth the trip alone – golden, buttery bites of joy baked fresh daily.
So yes, a quick stop for coffee and a pastry might just turn into an award-winning lunch and a charitable act. And honestly? That’s my kind of detour.
LMO Freshly Baked LANDMARK Atrium
https://www.mandarinoriental.com/en/hong-kong/the-landmark/dine/lmo-freshly-baked
Shop 233-234, 2/F, LANDMARK, 15 Queen’s Road, Central
Bar Leone (June)
The Chairman (July)
TATE Dining Room (August)
Little Bao (September)
Of course, while you’re there, don’t skip dessert. LMO Freshly Baked’s cannelés and financiers are worth the trip alone – golden, buttery bites of joy baked fresh daily.
So yes, a quick stop for coffee and a pastry might just turn into an award-winning lunch and a charitable act. And honestly? That’s my kind of detour.
LMO Freshly Baked LANDMARK Atrium
https://www.mandarinoriental.com/en/hong-kong/the-landmark/dine/lmo-freshly-baked
Shop 233-234, 2/F, LANDMARK, 15 Queen’s Road, Central