[Review 996] Chocolate fondue at HLS @ 許留山 Hui Lau Shan Healthy Dessert

23/02/2011
許留山 Hui Lau Shan Healthy Dessert
旺角奶路臣街11號遠東發展旺角大廈地下2號舖
Nelson Street
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/chocolate-fondue-at-hls-e2151245

Ordered the chocolate fondue, which is practically as good as the fondue else where, the fruit could have been fresher and the fruit selection could have been more appropriate.
Usually it is berries, but I suppose in Hong Kong, I have to make to with the locally available fruit such a melon.
I consider melon as more of a fruit to go with savoury items such as Parma ham

The fondue set comprises of chocolate fondue, ice-cream, plate of cut fruit consisting of banana, kiwi, strawberries, honeydew melon and cantaloupe melon, finger biscuits and 3 marshmallows.

Although the waitress forgot to light up the candle beneath the chocolate fondue until I was halfway through eating it, I could have done without because the type of chocolate they used is not even fondue chocolate but lame chocolate sauce which does not go hard when you dip cold things into it.

The fondue set costs $58 but there are vouchers to download on their website.

Apart from the chocolate set, I also got the curry mixture, which consists of fish balls, sliced stomach, squid tentacles and white carrot.
The curry was a little too spicy for me and there was a film of chilli oil at the top, which made it even spicy.
The sliced stomach was a little too soft, but the rest was ok.

[Review 995] More branches have opened in HK wiv improvements @ Hot.com

23/02/2011

Hot.com
旺角登打士街43P-S號鴻輝大廈地下
G/F, Hung Fai Building. 430 Dundas Street, Mong Kok
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/more-branches-have-opened-in-hk-wiv-improvements-e2151238

Since my last visit, there has been some improvements and more choices, although some are slightly weird, but that is expected for MK, there will be all sorts of weird and wonderful food, some that taste ok, some that do not, but there will always be someone that will order it.

This time ordered the fried delights, chicken nuggets, and fish cubes.

I wanted to order the fried chicken drumstick, but the product shot had a lot of grounded chili powder sprinkled on it, but that was for product shot purposes said the guy that worked there.

Anyway, I was surprised they have opened a few more branches in HK.

As for the snacks the chicken looked like fried breaded scallops, the oil was fresh, hence all the fried food tasted ok, however I didn’t appreciate the Chinese Mayonnaise or the Chinese version of Salad cream, it just tastes so Chinese, it’s sweet basically, yuck.

I could have done with ketchup!

Another interesting snack was the siu mai, it wasn’t interesting because it was fried, but because of the sauces, I think they must have invented it by replacing fries with siu mai, and putting cheese sauce, tomato meat sauce!~ Weird~~
But saying that, I may try the siu mai with cheese sauce, but the one with meat sauce is slightly too weird.

[Review 994] Hazelnut Teapresso @ Kami Teapresso

23/02/2011
Kami Teapresso
尖沙咀加連威老道34-36號G19號舖
Shop G19, 34-36 Granville Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/hazelnut-teapresso-e2151237

I was truly excited with this new Tea joint being a Tea lover, there are so many choices for TEA.
The name of the shop Teapresso, sends images to my mind of the tea looking like enticing cappuccino with a foamy top.
The packing was well designed with thought with a Japanese accent and reminds me of origami and geometric triangle lattices, matrixes and kaleidoscope patterns.
The tea was served hot or cold with the following flavours: maple, caramel, hazelnut.
There were many bottles of different syrups, and the tea was sweetened by the flavour you choose.
The one I chose was Hazelnut.
I was slightly disappointed because it was just Hong Kong style tea with added syrup flavouring and not made expresso style with a foaming top.
Perhaps if I should have got the green tea latte instead.

[Review 993] German pudding - creme brulee in an egg tart @ TIT*F

21/02/2011

TIT*F (已結業)
銅鑼灣摩頓台25號地下
G/F, 25 Morton Terrace, Causeway Bay
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/german-pudding-creme-brulee-in-an-egg-tart-e2150877

This shop has been on my go list for ages, finally made it, but I only got one of the two items I wanted.
The bread with herbs and purple cabbage was sold out.
The shop keeper was very helpful and nice.
The German pudding I got resembles an egg tart, and looks like those egg tarts from Yamazaki bakery with a deep cup.
The taste of the filling and texture was like Creme Brulee, except that it was lighter and not so sweet.
At the bottom of the German pudding, I found some melted chocolate chips. The German pudding reminds me of Mark and Spencers egg custard tarts with nutmeg on the top, except the filling is much firmer for Marks the Spencers tart.

[Review 992] Banana crumble, beat that! @ 意粉屋 The Spaghetti House

18/02/2011
意粉屋 The Spaghetti House
旺角彌敦道639號雅蘭中心一期1樓
1/F, Grand Tower, 639 Nathan Road, Mong Kok, Hong Kong, Mong Kok
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/banana-crumble-beat-that-e2150218

Normally its apple crumble, but here its "Baked Banana and chocolate crumble", thats why I decided to give it a try.
Before it arrived, I imagined it to be mushy sweet baked banana beneath the crumble, but when it arrived it was only the crumbs at the top were baked, the banana beneath it was fresh cut slices and cold.
The chocolate sauce was runny but not too sweet, it was bitter, so I asked what it was, and it turns out to be Martini.
There was a scoop of ice-cream on top too.

[Review 991] I am back......and.........tapas lunch is back @ UnoMas

17/02/2011

UnoMas - Spanish Restaurant (已結業)
灣仔駱克道54-62號博匯大廈1樓
1/F, Broadway Buildling, 54-62 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/i-am-back-and-tapas-lunch-is-back-e2150138

I am back......and.........tapas lunch is back


As stated in my earlier review at Uno Mas on 3/11/2009
"if they have the tapa's lunch I will come back again."
http://www.openrice.com/restaurant/commentdetail.htm?commentid=2041031

So here I am, I am back here again!!!!
The new MOTTO by UnoMas is:
one more?
much more?
unlimited tapas
at uno mas

Since 2009, I have to say, there have been BIG BIG improvements, and this time it certainly deserves a review.
Some of the staff are still the same that worked there before, and some new ones.

After sitting down, they kindly offered water, and asked if I wanted hot or cold, previously not attended to, and there were more smiles on their faces than before.

The menu was very pleasing, I was happy with their 3 tapas lunch per person before, but now it is unlimited which is even more amazing.

There are 17 choices of tapas including soup and dessert.

Instead of the annoying air conditioning being on during the cold winter, making you colder, they had heater, which made the dining experience alot warmer, and the food was kept warm, unlike those irritating air conditioners.
The only slight dissapointment was the baby squids were not on the tapas menu , i have been craving for it since my last tapas lunch here two years ago, which shows this place is better than it seems since it is still here after 2 year considering alot come and go in the Wan Chai area.

There 17 choices of tapas are:
I tried all the tapas except for 2, 4, 8, 14.

1-PATATAS BRAVAS
Deep fried new potatoes dusted with spicy paprika, served with alioli
COMMENT:
The potatoes were fluffy inside with a crisp outer layer jazzed up by the spicy paprika and the mayonnaise was gorgeous with the potato.

 2-ENSALADILLA RUSA
Russian Salad with Tuna
Didnt try:

3-CROQUETA DE POLLO
Chicken potato croquettes
COMMENT:
These were fried just right to crispy golden brown, and the potato inside was silky, however the chicken couldnt be tasted.
Left hand side of picture below

4-CALAMARES A LA ANDALUZA
Fried squid rings "Andalucia"
Didnt try:

5-GAMBAS AL AJILLO
Sautéed prawns with garlic
COMMENT:
The prawns were very fresh and the sauce was very appropriate for dipping the bread in.

6-COCA SABLE CON ANCHOAS Y PIMENTO ROJO DEL PIQUILLO
Shortbread with olive tapenade, piquillo red pepper, white anchovies, and Manchego cheese
COMMENT:
This was presented very nicely, the sauce, the layers and it tasted nice especially the olive puree, although I would have preferred savory bread/biscuit.

7-ALBÓNDIGAS CON TOMATE
Meatballs with tomato herb sauce
COMMENT:
These tasted how it should, bit like italian meatballs.
Middle of the picture

8-CHORIZO FRITO
Fried chorizo sausage in red wine reduction
Didnt try:

9-PINCHO MORUNO DE CERDO
Grilled marinated pork skewers
COMMENT:
Just ordinary marinated pork
No picture

10-SETAS MIXTAS AL JEREZ
Sautéed mixed mushrooms with dry sherry
COMMENT:
Mushrooms always taste good and with sherry even better.

11-CONCHINILLO ASADO CON MIEL Y AJOS TIERNOS
Honey roast suckling pig with spring onion
COMMENT:
Quite sweet, and the pork was tender, the skin was slightly sticky

12-RABO DE TORO
Braised Ox tail in red wine reduction
COMMENT:
The ox tail was very tender and the sauce was rich.
See the meatballs picture on the left.

13-ARROZ NEGRO
Rice cooked in squid ink, garlic and onion
COMMENT:
The rice was so yummy and fully flavoured, and not undercooked.

14-ARROZ CON VERDURAS
Mixed seasonal vegetables braised in saffron rice
Didnt try:

15- TORTILLA DE PATATA
Potato, onion and egg omelette with alioli
Didnt try:
But tried on my previous visit, it is basically like a big omlette, and its too filling for lunch.

16-SOUP OF THE DAY
COMMENT:
It was spinach that day in clear consomme, the spinach was blanched just right.

17-DESSERT OF THE DAY
COMMENT:
It was almond ice-cream which I do not have a picture, but it was good anyway, not too sweet.

Complimentary bread:

Matching silver pencil and Menu stand

[Review 990] The Hong Kong Limehouse vs East London Limehouse @ Limehouse

17/02/2011
Limehouse (灣仔)

灣仔船街35號地下

G/F, 35 Ship Street, Wan Chai

https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/the-hong-kong-limehouse-vs-east-london-limehouse-e2150046

Limehouse is an area in East London, part of the borough of Tower Hamlets, towns nearby the Limehouse are Isle of Dogs, Wapping, Shadwell, Stepney, Rotherhithe, Bethnal Green and Ratcliff.

In the old days there were large Chinese communities at Limehouse and Shadwell, established by the crews of merchantmen in the opium and tea trades, particularly chinese workers sold to work overseas. After the Second World War many of the Chinese community relocated to Soho.

For the old generation of Chinese in UK, Limehouse and Popular was a community for workers there with former Chinatown nearby in the Pennyfields. The second/third generations of BBC’s probably have less recollection of that or have been told stories by their grandparents of tales of dish washing and other duties in Chinese restaurants.

Limehouse was a maritime area in the old days with functioning docks, however the modern Limehouse has evolved with the Docklands railway serving it at Limehouse DLR station.

The Limehouse in HK could possibly be opened by a 2nd or 3rd generation BBC who knows the best of both worlds, but that is my guess.

Anyway, I have been longing to try out this restaurant since it opened, but it was closed when I wanted to try, and the phone is hard to get through.

The Limehouse in HK is situated in a secluded side street in Wan Chai, slightly uphill, with wooden windows and doors. When you dine there in the daytime, the gentle sun rays shine through the windows into the restaurant. Perhaps in period before the not so hot summer, it would be great to sit outside and eat, and if there were lush grass areas around it would be wonderful and golden retrievers running loose.

Well anyway for lunch, there was a simple lunch, which includes soup and mains, I chose the soup and bangers and mash.

When the pea soup was served, it had freshly chopped mint on the top, and fine bubbles on top.
The top layer is fine green foam, and the watery soup beneath it, is a darker green.
The greenness of it was like fresh chlorophyll, the consistency of the soup was very watery, yet it contained pieces of pea in it.
Although it was watery, the taste was intense, and the fresh mint complimented the soup very well.
I think this is the best pea soup I have had so far.

For the bangers and mash, it was three sausages on top of mash, a side of peas, and sauce.
The sauce was slightly disappointing because it wasn’t the usual gravy, it was made of mustard, mayonnaise and tasted creamy.

The Trifle which I wanted to try wasn’t available that day, but it looks delicious from earlier OR pictures.
In the end, I ordered the Lemon tart, which I haven’t had in a while, the lemon curd was nice and tangy and the whole tart was very buttery, the only thing that ruined it was the black crust on the edge.

Overall the meal was good, and it was relaxing dining there with the sun shining through, the sausages could have tasted better, and gravy would have been preferred.
Recently, I found the pork sausages I have been missing at Queen Victoria, the ones served for school dinner that everyone hates in the UK!!