Supersupergirl from openrice

[Review 1277] Second chance to try the chicken pie @ 新鳳凰餅店 New Phoenix Cake Shop

14/09/2011
新鳳凰餅店 New Phoenix Cake Shop
北角七姊妹道206-208號昌利大廈地下
G/F, Cheong Lee Building, 206-208 Tsat Tsz Mui Road, North Point , North Point
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/second-chance-to-try-the-chicken-pie-e2194677

On my first visit to OR I noticed these chicken pies, but I assumed they were the typical Chinese type so I didnt try them.
But after reading HKE's review, they seemed worth trying because it contained Parmesan cheese.
Quarry Bay is not an area I usually go, so I just had to wait until the next time I was in the area.
Anyway, I had to go to Quarry Bay again thanks to OR

The chicken pie costs $6 and they had egg tarts too which I might try next time.
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Chicken Pie
It was slightly warm which was better than cold.
The pastry was the short crust type and you could smell the usual Chinese butter.
The crust was just right, not too hard and not too crumbly, it had the usual buttery and sweet taste of Chinese pies.
Anyway the filling was the best, it was simple, it was diced chicken thigh, onions and rich brown gravy.
The chicken was fresh and tender.
The parmesan could not be visually seen, but it worked well and made the whole pie taste nice.
The parmesan was really subtle and did not over power anything.
I really liked this chicken pie because it tasted the same as the gravy chicken pies in UK except for the sweet crust.
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Price: $6
Service: OK
Yummy factor: the filling was as nice as UK, apart from the pastry.
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[Review 1276] Creme brulee froyo @ Cherry on Top

11/09/2011
Cherry on Top
將軍澳唐德街1號將軍澳廣場1樓065號舖
Shop 65, 1/F, Tseung Kwan O Plaza, 1 Tong Tak Street, Tseung Kwan O
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/creme-brulee-fr oyo-e2194238

Sometimes when I walk past the flavours are boring, but today they had creme brulee so I stopped to try it.
Although it was probably due to creme brulee essence they used for the flavouring, it was quite nice and the taste of creme brulee was quite strong.
The vanilla one kept its standards.

But for any froyo flavour that isnt the original flavour, I do not have the expectation of real froyo taste.
I just expect it to taste like cold milky soft serve with flavour.

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Price: $12
Service: OK
Yummy factor: OK
English menu: YES and pictures
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[Review 1275] Strawberry tofu pudding @ 許留山 Hui Lau Shan Healthy Dessert

許留山 Hui Lau Shan Healthy Dessert
銅鑼灣波斯富街24-30號寶漢大廈地下26號舖
Percival St,, Causeway Bay
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/strawberry-tofu-pudding-hls-e2194237

Saw these cute jars of pudding with the supporting poster so decided to try it.

There were four flavours:
Milk pudding with diced mango
Chocolate pudding with melon
Tofu strawberry pudding with strawberry
Steamed egg pudding with chocolate curls.

They all seemed good, except for the weird combination of chocolate pudding and melon.
I would have eaten them separately if I ordered it.

I do not like mango in general so I didnt get the milk pudding.
Overall, all the puddings were good except for the melon and mango.

Next time I am going to try the steamed egg with chocolate curls.

The strawberry pudding was quite good, the sweetness of the pudding was balanced by the sourness of the fresh strawberry.
It would be great if the pudding contained aloe vera pieces in it.
As well as strawberries it also had tofu taste.

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Price: $12
Service: OK
Yummy factor: OK
English menu: YES and pictures
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[Review 1274] Chocolat-ier the new confectionery craze @ Chocolat-ier

11/09/2011
Chocolat-ier
尖沙咀河內道18號K11購物藝術館B2樓7號舖
Kiosk No. 7, Level B2, K11 Art Mall, 18 Hanoi Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/chocolat-ier-the-new-confectionary-craze-e2194235

Bought them previously as written in the review below:
http://www.openrice.com/restaurant/commentdetail.htm?commentid=2154243

This time they had coconut mushrooms from the pick n mix shops from UK.
Since I was homesick, I got some.

The rest of the chocolates tasted as good as before, I got the blackcurrant one which wasn't there before.
It is good to see that they are getting popular in Hong Kong.

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Price: Bit expensive
Service: OK
Yummy factor: OK
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[Review 1273] Maxim's western inspired cafe with Nippon touch @ 美心小品 MAXIM’S AND YOU

08/09/20
美心小品 MAXIM’S AND YOU
將軍澳常寧路2號TKO Gateway東翼1樓151號舖
Shop 151, 1/F, East Wing, TKO Gateway, 2 Sheung Ning Road, Tseung Kwan O
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/maxims-western-inspired-cafe-with-nippon-touch-e2193928

CantoPop and Simplylife are similar in ways.

Simplylife is a chinese fast food chain that is famous for their local Chinese fast food, but now they have come up with Simplylife and Deli and Wine which dishes out western food.
The décor and everything is very Western inspired.

However CantoPop is a Chinese café restaurant with a Chinese café theme serving interesting western food items such as Scotch egg and using western methods to cook.

Anyway the décor at Simplylife is very western; with lots of plants at every table and matching Chinaware.

I was amazed with all that botany there, there were no flies or ants about because in other restaurants that do not have plants they still manage to have flies and other fiendish friends!!

Although they have tried to serve 90% Western food, there were still some items that were a bit localized.
Some of the fast food items such as the burgers were Japanese inspired as well as the curry.
There was Ox Tripe pasta, which was quite localised especially with the use of ox tripe.
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Sweet banana toast:
This item is not always available but if you do manage to order it you need to wait for a while because it is freshly baked.
It is definitely worth waiting for because it is delicious, it tastes similar to bread pudding but much lighter. The sliced bananas are caramelised through baking.

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Fried chicken with curry sauce and pasta:
The pasta was al-dente and the curry sauce is the typical Japanese curry sauce.
The curry sauce was slightly to salty.
The chicken is almost the same as the Japanese style fried chicken with a flavourful crispy coating.

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Prawn burger:
The presentation and style is the same as the Japanese burgers.
The bun is slightly different and Maxim's has put the effort into sourcing matching buns and not used the local buns!!
It is also served in a paper pocket like the Japanese burger joints.

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Cheese and ham toast:
This was the best, it was nice and simple

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Breakfast:
Overall it was ok, the bread is similar to the Japanese bo-logne bread.
The only element in this breakfast that made it proper Western was the sausage.
The rest are just common items that can be sourced anywhere.

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Overall it is quite a nice place to eat, however I only liked the Western items.
Maxims have created a Western restaurant serving Japanese inspired food with a western touch!
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Price: $50
English menu: yes, and they have pictures!
Service: OK
Yummy factor: OK
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[Review 1272] Marks and Spencers Farmhouse pate @ Marks & Spencer Food Store 食品專門店 Marks & Spencer Food Store

08/09/2011
Marks & Spencer Food Store 食品專門店 Marks & Spencer Food Store
灣仔告士打道88號其昌大廈地下B舖
Shop B, G/F, China Underwriters Centre, 88 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/marks-and-spencers-farmhouse-pate-e2193847
Mark and Spencers pate is always good.
The farmhouse pate is smooth with a hint of madeira.
The tub is fairly big and the pate is filled to the rim.
However it is difficult to spread, especially if you are using the local bread which deflates like a sponge without rigidity.
There is also duck and orange pate which is nice too, it has a layer of orange jelly on top.

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Price: $3x
Service: OK
Yummy factor: OK
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[Review 1271] I love the vibes! The biggest and best branch! @ Paisano's Pizzeria

08/09/2011

Paisano's Pizzeria
灣仔柯布連道5號耀基商業大廈地下
G/F, Iuki Tower, 5 O'Brian Road, Wan Chai

Before this place opened, this area used to smell of second hand smoke, it was like the ghetto of Wan Chai.
It was so grey and gloomy it reminded me of one of the exits at Sham Shui Po.
I don't know why, but all the smokers gather at both ends of this footbridge.

There would be so many people cluttering there for no reason as well, but it has changed now.
The people clutter elsewhere nearer the escalator entrance.

Paisano's has definitely brightened that area and given it lively vibes, it is now the mini LKF of Wan Chai.

Perhaps, there will be smaller pubs opening on Thompson road in the distant future bringing more vibes and energy.

When you walk over the footbridge these days, you are greeted by the smell of delicious Pizza and herbs.

Overall the pizza's were sensational, but could be re-heated better because they were cold.
Hopefully when I dine here in the winter, my pizza won't be ice-cold.

Tried three flavours: Vegetarian, Paisano's slice and the Manhattan.
Manhattan and Paisano's are similar but Manhattan does not have olives.
The pizza base is just right, and the tomato sauce is rich and the cheese is not stringy and tasteless.