Ever feel a bit self-conscious when you’re eating on your own at a restaurant? How about if the waiting staff plonked a huge cuddly toy opposite you to make you feel less like a lonely loser? That would help, right?
That’s exactly the plan at Hong Kong’s new eatery the Moomin Café, which has been successfully employing the anti-loneliness strategy in Tokyo for the last decade. But they are a bit weird over there.
If you don’t know what Moomins are (we grieve for your childhood), they’re wonderful hippo-like creatures who live in Moomin Land (obviously) with their friends, having been imagined to life by Finnish writer Tove Jansson exactly 100 years ago.
The books were translated into dozens of languages and enjoyed particular popularity in the 90s with the creation of a TV series.
According to CNN, Moominmamma, Moominpappa, Hattifatteners, Little My and Snufkin will all be available as dining partners in the restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui’s Harbour City. However, in contrast to the Japanese version, the plushies will be placed at random tables, so it’s really just the luck of the draw, not how miserable you look, as to whether you get one.
As this is Hong Kong, everyone will no doubt get shoved onto the same table anyway. Elbow room is for wimps.
Despite being a Japanese-born concept, both the interior and the menu of the Moomin Café have been designed to reflect Finnish life. The dining room is kitted out to look like a traditional house, and there will be such weird sounding dishes as Salmon Milk Soup, Jansson’s Temptation and Pickled Herring up for gobbling.
If you try only one thing, however, make sure it’s the Moomin House Pancakes – a stack of pancakes accompanied by a ceramic Moomin House filled with custard and chocolate yumminess – available only in Hong Kong.
What better way to cure the embarrassment of eating alone?
Photos: Facebook
