SCANNOW 城市編輯室-心度探索（Deep Dive）- 留下

店主的話

「留下」這家店的創立念頭，始於一個在西九草地野餐的悠閒時刻。當時，店主們- 呀森，Carman，呀芷腦海中浮現了「留下」這個名字。這個名字的意義，不僅僅是因為店鋪正好位於他們馬鞍山的家樓下，更深層的原因，是近年來許多人選擇離開香港，他們希望能將來自不同地方的美食帶給那些選擇「留下」在香港的人們。這份簡單而溫暖的初心，成為了「留下」這個品牌的基石。

若要用三個形容詞來概括「留下」這家店的品牌精神，那便是「用心」、「堅持」和「照去」。

首先是「用心」。店主們對每一道菜品和服務細節都投入了極大的心力，希望能讓顧客在「留下」享受到美食，並度過一段悠閒美好的時光。這份對細節的專注，是他們創立店鋪的初衷。

再來是「堅持」。他們堅持每天親自前往市場挑選最新鮮的蟶子，確保食材品質上乘，讓顧客品嚐到最鮮美的滋味。這份對食材來源和品質的執著，是他們對美食的承諾。

最後是「照去」。店主們認為，很多事情不能過於猶豫或瞻前顧後，「做咗先試咗先」。這種敢於嘗試、實踐的精神，體現了他們面對創業挑戰時的果敢與行動力。

在「留下」創業的初期，最大的挑戰莫過於他們對咖啡領域的一竅不通。店主們一度曾考慮不將咖啡作為店鋪的主打項目。然而，隨著經營的深入，他們逐漸意識到咖啡的品質對於一家小店而言至關重要。正是在這個轉折點，他們的咖啡師發揮了關鍵作用。咖啡師的專業知識和對咖啡的熱情，為「留下」指明了新的方向，也讓店主們得以重新找到堅持下去的動力。正因為有了咖啡師的專業支持，他們才能克服初期的困難，並在咖啡領域持續精進，讓「留下」不僅提供美食，也成為一個能讓顧客享受高品質咖啡的溫馨空間。

品牌故事

顧客笑容：汗水與努力的最好回報

在「留下」的日常營運中，最讓店主們感到「這就是我想做的事」的瞬間，莫過於每次看到顧客品嚐他們用心準備的食物，或者留意到那些不經意的小細節時，臉上露出滿足的笑容。那一刻，所有的努力和汗水都變得值得，他們深切感受到自己的付出能夠帶給他人喜悅，這正是他們持續前行的動力。

本地創作：香港多元文化的珍貴印記

對於「本地創作」和「手作」在這個城市的位置，「留下」的店主們認為，香港受到多種文化背景的影響，這使得本地創作顯得更加珍貴，值得大家欣賞和保留。他們相信，本地創作不僅能讓作品更加獨特，更能反映出這個城市的多元性和活力。因此，他們特別喜愛自家創作的醬料搭配，因為這樣能夠讓顧客感受到那份來自本土的用心和獨特，同時也希望藉此推廣香港的在地創意。

鮮味交響：本地蟶子全蛋闊意粉的獨特魅力

在「留下」眾多菜品中，最受客人喜愛的無疑是他們的「本地蟶子全蛋闊意粉」。這道菜的特別之處在於，店主們堅持每天早上親自到街市挑選最新鮮的蟶子，確保食材的品質和鮮度。更獨特的是，蟶子與意粉的搭配在市場上相對少見，這份創意的組合，讓這道菜式在眾多選擇中脫穎而出，以其獨特的鮮味和口感，深深吸引並贏得了顧客的喜愛。

有溫度的堅持：小店裡的細緻服務

在「留下」的日常營運中，店主們有一項特別堅持的小細節，是客人可能不會注意到，但他們卻認為絕對不能少的——那就是在服務細節上做到「有溫度」和「多互動」。例如，客人入座後，他們一定會先為客人斟水；堅持人手落單，而不使用 QR code；並且特意不設用餐時間限制。雖然這樣會提高人力成本，但店主們希望顧客能從這些細節中，真切地感受到他們的用心，營造出家一般的舒適與自在。

味蕾的探索：沖涼時光的靈感啟迪

當靈感枯竭的時候，「留下」的店主們總有自己獨特的妙招。他們通常會在沖涼的時候，靜靜回想自己在其他國家品嚐過的美食，從那些美好的味蕾記憶中尋找新的靈感。隨後，他們會嘗試在餐廳裡重現那些美味。這個「回憶—重現」的過程，不僅僅是烹飪，更是一種創作與挑戰，也正是這種挑戰，激發了他們對美食創作的熱情，讓他們得以不斷推出新的驚喜。

《家》的旋律：「留下」的聚會與歸屬

如果「留下」這個品牌是一首歌，店主們會選擇陳綺貞的《家》。這首歌的歌詞與「留下」的精神不謀而合。歌中提到「白天忙碌，晚上分享」，這正好體現了「留下」餐廳的理念：在忙碌的城市生活中，他們希望創造一個能讓人們聚在一起、分享美好時光的空間。歌曲中還有一句深具意義的歌詞：「自己才是自己的家」，店主們也認同這個觀點。他們相信，其實無論身在何處，只要能找到屬於自己的歸屬感，那裡就是「家」。

跨越國界的友誼：墨西哥客人的生命啟示

在「留下」的經營歲月裡，有一位墨西哥客人讓店主們印象深刻。這位客人經常光顧，甚至還會帶著墨西哥的裝飾品贈予他們，這些裝飾至今仍珍藏在店裡。然而，最後一次見面時，客人告訴他們他需要回到墨西哥醫病。不幸的是，最終傳來了他未能康復的消息。

這段經歷，雖然聽起來有些老套，卻給店主們帶來了深刻的體悟。他們真心覺得，明天會發生什麼事誰也無法預知，所以最重要的是珍惜當下擁有的一切。這位墨西哥客人，以他的人生故事，為「留下」的團隊上了一堂寶貴的課，讓他們更加珍惜生命中的每一個相遇與當下的時光。

致十年後的自己：勇敢嘗試，無懼失敗

如果能對十年前的自己說一句話，「留下」的店主們會堅定地說：「有咩想做的事就去做，失敗都唔緊要，起碼試過。」

這句話承載著他們對過去的總結與對未來的期許。他們深知，人生中最大的遺憾往往不是失敗，而是從未嘗試。這份鼓勵，不僅是對十年前那個可能猶豫不決的自己，更是對所有正處於迷茫或裹足不前的人們的溫柔提醒：勇敢邁出第一步，即使結果不如預期，嘗試的過程本身就是一種寶貴的經歷與成長。

活在當下：「留下」的家與歸屬

「留下」這個品牌最希望大家當下能感受到的，便是在這裡找到此刻「留下」的理由，並享受如同家一般的氛圍。店主們期盼每位顧客來到這裡，都能感受到那份自在與溫馨，就像是從家裡「行落樓下」吃飯一樣輕鬆愜意。

地址：馬鞍山鞍誠街18號MOSTown Street新港城中心大街(2期)地下G-2/29-30號舖

營業時間：星期二至四 ： 11:00 - 18:00/ 星期五至日 ： 11:00 - 20:30 (逢星期一小休 · 如公眾假期將改為星期二)

A Message from the founder

The idea for Stay was born during a leisurely picnic on the West Kowloon grass. At that time, the owners - Ah Sum, Carman, and Ah Tsz - had the name " Stay" pop into their minds. The significance of this name isn't just because the shop is conveniently located downstairs from their home in Ma On Shan. A deeper reason is that, with many people choosing to leave Hong Kong in recent years, they hoped to bring delicious food from different places to those who chose to " Stay behind" in Hong Kong. This simple yet warm intention became the cornerstone of the " Stay" brand.

If three adjectives were to summarize the brand spirit of " Stay," they would be "heartfelt," "persistent," and "just do it."

The first is "heartfelt." The owners pour immense effort into every dish and service detail, hoping that customers at " Stay" can enjoy delicious food and spend a relaxed and wonderful time. This dedication to detail is the original intention behind establishing the shop.

Next is "persistent." They insist on personally going to the market every morning to select the freshest razor clams, ensuring top-notch ingredient quality, so customers can taste the most exquisite flavors. This commitment to ingredient sourcing and quality is their promise to gourmet food.

Finally, "just do it." The owners believe that many things shouldn't be overly hesitated or pondered; "just do it first, try it first." This daring and practical spirit embodies their courage and initiative in facing entrepreneurial challenges.

In the early days of "Stay," the biggest challenge was their complete lack of knowledge in the coffee field. The owners even considered not making coffee a main offering. However, as the business deepened, they gradually realized that coffee quality was crucial for a small shop. It was at this turning point that their barista played a pivotal role. The barista's professional knowledge and passion for coffee pointed " Stay" in a new direction and allowed the owners to regain the motivation to persevere. It was thanks to the professional support of the barista that they were able to overcome initial difficulties and continue to improve in the coffee field, making "Stay" not only a place for delicious food but also a cozy space where customers can enjoy high-quality coffee.

Brand Story

Customer Smiles: The Best Reward for Sweat and Effort

In the daily operations of "Stay," the moments that make the owners feel "this is what I want to do" are undoubtedly when they see customers' satisfied smiles as they taste the meticulously prepared food or notice those subtle details. At that moment, all the effort and sweat become worthwhile. They deeply feel that their contributions can bring joy to others, which is precisely their continuous driving force.

Local Creations: Precious Imprints of Hong Kong's Diverse Culture

Regarding the place of "local creations" and "handcrafts" in this city, the owners of "Stay" believe that Hong Kong is influenced by various cultural backgrounds, which makes local creations even more precious and worthy of appreciation and preservation. They believe that local creations not only make works more unique but also reflect the city's diversity and vitality. Therefore, they particularly love their homemade sauce pairings, as this allows customers to feel the local care and uniqueness, while also hoping to promote Hong Kong's local creativity.

Symphony of Freshness: The Unique Charm of Local Razor Clam All-Egg Wide Pasta

Among "Stay" 's many dishes, the most popular is undoubtedly their "Local Razor Clam All-Egg Wide Pasta." The special feature of this dish is that the owners insist on personally going to the wet market every morning to select the freshest razor clams, ensuring the quality and freshness of the ingredients. What's more unique is that the combination of razor clams and pasta is relatively rare in the market. This creative pairing makes the dish stand out among many choices, deeply attracting and winning customers' favor with its unique freshness and taste.

Warm Persistence: Attentive Service in a Small Shop

In the daily operations of "Stay," the owners have a particularly persistent small detail that customers might not notice but which they consider absolutely essential – that is, to provide "warm" and "interactive" service details. For example, after customers are seated, they will always serve water first; they insist on taking orders manually instead of using QR codes; and they deliberately do not set time limits for dining. Although this increases labor costs, the owners hope that customers can truly feel their dedication through these details, creating a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere like home.

Culinary Exploration: Inspiration from Shower Time

When inspiration runs dry, the owners of "Stay" always have their unique tricks. They usually quietly recall the delicious food they tasted in other countries while taking a shower, seeking new inspiration from those wonderful taste memories. Afterward, they try to recreate those flavors in the restaurant. This "recall-recreate" process is not just cooking; it is a creation and a challenge, and it is precisely this challenge that ignites their passion for food creation, allowing them to continuously introduce new surprises.

The Melody of "Home": "Stay" 's Gatherings and Belonging

If the brand "Stay" were a song, the owners would choose Cheer Chen's "Home." The lyrics of this song perfectly align with the spirit of "Lau Ha." The song mentions "busy during the day, sharing at night," which perfectly embodies the restaurant's philosophy: in the busy urban life, they hope to create a space where people can gather and share beautiful moments. There is also a deeply meaningful lyric in the song: "You yourself are your own home." The owners also agree with this view. They believe that no matter where one is, as long as one can find a sense of belonging, that place is "home."

Cross-Border Friendship: Life Lessons from a Mexican Guest

During "Stay" 's years of operation, one Mexican guest left a deep impression on the owners. This guest frequently visited and even brought Mexican decorations as gifts, which are still treasured in the shop today. However, during their last meeting, the guest told them he needed to return to Mexico for medical treatment. Unfortunately, news eventually came that he had not recovered.

This experience, though it may sound clichéd, brought profound realizations to the owners. They genuinely feel that no one can predict what tomorrow will bring, so the most important thing is to cherish everything one has in the present. This Mexican guest, through his life story, taught the "Stay" team a valuable lesson, making them cherish every encounter and every moment in life even more.

To My Ten-Years-Ago Self: Be Brave, Fear Not Failure

If they could say one thing to their ten-years-ago selves, the owners of "Stay" would firmly say: "Do what you want to do; it doesn't matter if you fail, at least you tried." This sentence carries their summary of the past and their hopes for the future. They deeply understand that the greatest regrets in life are often not failures but never having tried. This encouragement is not only for their possibly hesitant ten-years-ago selves but also a gentle reminder to all those who are lost or hesitant: bravely take the first step; even if the outcome is not as expected, the process of trying itself is a valuable experience and growth.

Living in the Present: "Stay" 's Home and Belonging

What the "Stay" brand most hopes everyone can feel in the present moment is to find a reason to "stay behind" here and enjoy an atmosphere like home. The owners hope that every customer who comes here can feel that sense of ease and warmth, as if they are simply "walking downstairs from home" for a meal.

Address: Shop G-2/29-30, G/F, MOSTown Street (Phase 2), 18 On Shing Street, Ma On Shan 

Business Hour: Tue-Thur：11:00 - 18:00/ Fri-Sun：11:00 - 20:30 Mon OFF( if Mon is PH will off on Tue)