[Review 1484] First visit to Hokkaido dairy farm milk restaurant @ 北海道牧場餐廳 HOKKAIDO DAIRY FARM MILK RESTAURANT

07/03/2012

北海道牧場餐廳 HOKKAIDO DAIRY FARM MILK RESTAURANT
金鐘夏愨道16號遠東金融中心地下D1號舖
Shop D1, G/F, Far East Finance Centre, 16 Harcourt, Admiralty
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/first-visit-to-hokkaido-dairy-farm-milk-restaurant-e2222956

I have always wanted to try this place but when I went to the Wan Chai branch last year it was closed.
The branch in Wan Chai used to be open during the day, but now they have extended their opening hours.

Anyway I decided to try this branch first.

You order and pay at the counter and they will bring over the food.

There are a bar tables or tables to choose from.
Being my first time here, I found the menu confusing, so in the end ordered the set with scrambled eggs, ham, toast and spaghetti in soup with roast pork.
Although this restaurant is Japanese, I felt it was so Chinese because of the style of the sets with the typical pasta, eggs and toast.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Scrambled egg
The egg was soft and fluffy and not too buttery.
I was really impressed with the egg.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Fried egg
They were not as tasty as the scrambled eggs, but they were interesting.
I kept dropping the yolk from the spoon by accident on to the plate because the egg was so slippery, but the yolk membrane was so strong that it did not break!
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Ham
The ham tasted fake and the texture was like plastic.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Spaghetti in soup with roast pork:
The soup was really nice and creamy and the roast pork was very Chinese.
The roast pork was quite lean yet soft.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Toast
I liked the toast as well, it was crispy and soft in the middle. The toast had real salted butter spread on it.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Sesame oil
It is thick golden brown sesame oil in the bottle. When the lid was opened, the smell of sesame oil was strong.
After applying it to the food, it really enhanced it and there was a lovely sesame oil taste, although there was a slight bitterness to it.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
On every table there is a bottle of sesame oil which diners can use to enhance their food

[Review 1483] Fritillary and apricot drink @ 紅坊 Red More

06/03/2012

紅坊 Red More
尖沙咀九龍彌敦道111-181號柏麗大道G63號舖
Shop G63, G/F, Park Lane Shopper's Boulevard, 111-181 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/fritillary-and-apricot-drink-e2222947

After trying the delicacies on my last visit, I went back for the drinks.

They had quite a few interesting drinks such as the cashew nut drink, wolfberry and tomato, apricot juice with fritillary.

I assumed they would use fresh fruit for the juices, but they used dried fruits, nuts and berries.
For each drink, all the different ingredients are put in the blender.
Each ingredient comes in individual packs ready to be opened and put in the blender with ice.

It was fun watching them make the drinks, taking out the relevant packs to make each drink.
Same with the ready to eat delicacies, each item was packed in different bags, sachets of tendons, abalone, vegetables.

When I ordered the Apricot juice with fritillary, I saw them get a packet of dried apricots and a packet of fritillary and put the contents in the blender.
Initially I didn’t find the ginseng drink interesting, but blended dry ginseng sounds interesting.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Fritillary and apricot drink
I requested the drink without honey because the apricot was sweet enough, and it turned out just right.
However the drink was thick and syrupy.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Sea cucumber stuffed with prawn patty in truffle sauce
The sea cucumber was not soft enough and the truffle sauce was not strong enough.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
There is a new branch in Causeway Bay with more choices, so I'll be there soon!~
This is a very old review that I just felt like writing up.

[Review 1482] Conspiracy dinner under close surveillance @ 海港燒鵝海鮮酒家 Victoria Harbour Roasted Goose Seafood Restaurant

06/03/2012

海港燒鵝海鮮酒家 Victoria Harbour Roasted Goose Seafood Restaurant
馬鞍山鞍駿街1號馬鞍山中心1樓
1/F, Ma On Shan Centre, 1 On Chun Street, Ma On Shan
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/conspiracy-dinner-under-close-surveillance-e2222944

Please note part of this review is fictional except details about the food.
I was at a round table meeting with the secret society about some plans of possible asteroid attacks.

While we were at this meeting, we had to order food and pretend to be normal civilians, however our meeting was nearly uncovered by some opposition agent dressed as a waiter who kept us in heavy surveillance.

After a while, two agents appeared and kept close watch on us.

Luckily our meeting details were discussed and ended successfully without being exposed!
During the secret meeting, they ordered beef ribs in black pepper gravy, steamed scallops and lobster with E-noodles.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Lobster with E-noodles
The noodles were quite nice and the cheese sauce was not too heavy.
However the lobster was overcooked.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Beef ribs in black pepper gravy
The concept of this was really good, but the beef was unbelievably gamey that no one would eat it.

☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Steamed scallops:
The scallops were nice and tender and the green onions and garlic complimented it very well.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 1481] Snack express does not really impress @ 小食快綫 Snack Express

06/03/2012

小食快綫 Snack Express
大埔港鐵東鐵線大埔墟站TAP 12舖
Tai Po Market MTR Station, Tai Po
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/snack-express-does-not-really-impress-e2222943

Havent had fish shao mai for a long time so decided to get some.
This snack shop is located inside the MTR, so the food is not exposed to the traffic pollution or second hand smoke.
Their snack selection was ok, however the service was a bit rude.
I ordered two portions and she only heard one, so when I asked for another portion, the staff got annoyed.
As for the soy sauce, she put about a ladle of soy sauce in it!!

[Review 1480] A different perspective of American cookies @ 菲爾斯曲奇專賣店 Mrs. Fields Cookies

06/03/2012

菲爾斯曲奇專賣店 Mrs. Fields Cookies
灣仔港鐵灣仔站WAC 3舖
Shop WAC 3, Wan Chai MTR Station, Wan Chai
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/a-different-perspective-of-american-cookies-e2222913

Every time when I walk past Mrs Fields, there is a sweet smell lingering in the air.
It’s one of those shops that have been around for ages so there is no urgency in trying it and there are many branches around.

I never stopped by because they specialize in cookies and I didn’t know that American and British Cookies were different.

I have never liked cookies, because British cookies are just like hard biscuits.
But the American ones are so much different, not only are they bigger in size, they are soft and chewy!!!

Mrs Fields specializes in cookies, brownies and muffins.

As well as the cookies the muffins were also different, the British ones are disc shaped and the Americans are like cup cakes.
Muffins are nice, but I have always found them messy to eat, the top of the muffin would be hard, and the muffin beneath would just crumble.

In the end I decided to try the brownies which were so nice that I ended up trying their other products and I was addicted.

For the muffins, some flavours are only available on the even days of the week ie Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and the other flavours available on the odd days ie Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Brownies:
Amazingly rich and silky with intense cocoa taste.
There are three flavours: chocolate chip, chocolate fudge and double chocolate

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Butter muffin:
The flour mixture had a strong taste but did not over power the buttery taste.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Apple and cinnamon muffin:
This is one of my favourite muffins because there is so much cinnamon and sugar on top which is crunchy.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Apricot muffin $14
This is available on even days and there was generous pieces of apricot inside.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Cherry muffin $14
Same as the apricot, it is is also available on even days.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Macadamia cookie:
There was generous pieces of macadamia nuts in it.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Cream cheese ring cake
The cake was really rich with pieces of cream cheese in it.
It was more of chocolate cake than cheese.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Premium cup cake
This was quite dense and the size was smaller than the muffin.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Cherry fudge $12
My favourite cookie, there was so much tart cherries in the cookie and it was nice and soft.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 1479] Maur's Kitchen and its magical soups @ 摩廚 Maureen

06/03/2012
摩廚 Maureen
灣仔慶雲街11號地下
G/F, 11 Hing Wan Street, Wan Chai
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/maurs-kitchen-and-its-magical-soups-e2222908


Found out about this restaurant through Jamel, but as I did not know what noodles they served and the location so I did not go until I saw it listed on Openrice.

After I read Jamel's review I just had to go.
However the opening hours are just 11-6pm for the time being.
This restaurant is located near the Blue house and inside this noodle bar it was really nice.

There were some Western comforts inside such the jar of Humbugs (old-fashioned British sweets) and there was some Spanish Ham with the hoof attached.

Some English sweets

Their concept was really good because they have used traditional Chinese soups as a broth for the noodles.
They have rich experience in making Chinese soups because they used to own The Soup Cafe.

There are basically two broths: Chinese ham, whelk and chicken or Pork and shark bones with dried scallop and Chinese mushrooms.
The chicken soup comes with the lemon chicken or the abalone, and the Roast pork and the Spanish ham which have a stronger taste is paired with the pork bone soup.

This was the kind of noodles and standards I was expecting for More Noodles in Central.
But anyway the price of the noodles here is cheaper than More Noodles and about the same price as Butao.
Although the menu is simple, it is concise and neat and had English.

It was really good that they offered Spanish Ham on the menu because it is similar to Chinese Jinhua ham.

Despite being opened recently the noodle bar was full of people and the turnover rate was quite fast.

In the end I chose the Abalone noodles and I was greedy so I ordered extra sides of Lemon chicken, Chinese wine egg and Spanish Ham, but to my dismay the Spanish Ham was sold out!
But I considered myself lucky because one of the broths was sold out too.

Same as More noodles I found myself scouring for the Abalone when the noodles arrived, however the presentation of the noodles here were brilliant, the Abalone, Chicken and Chinese Wine egg were served separately.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Noodles:
I was really gutted because I forgot to take a picture of the noodles so I will have to be more descriptive.
On top of the noodles were some peashoots, chinese mushrooms and julienne potatoes which were not starchy.
The soup was as nice as expected however the julienne potatoes were slightly oily.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Lemon chicken:
From the review below, it seems there was more black pepper on top, but there was less on mine.
The olive oil with lemon was served separately on a metal spoon.
The lemon and olive oil was not exactly sour as I hoped, and the chicken was sliced chicken breast which reminded me of those ready to eat chicken breast slices.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Abalone
I was really impressed that it was sliced for your convenience.
The abalone was covered in sauce which gave it some flavour.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Chinese wine egg
The wine tasted strong and it was slightly bitter, it was sprinkled with rock salt which contains fruit peel in it.
I found the spoon that held the lemon oil a brilliant tool to eat the egg with because I can't eat with those Chinese ceramic spoons and chopsticks.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Salt:
Italian salt which contains orange peel.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Lemon and ginger drink
I loved this drink, it had the exact taste of sweetened fresh lemonade with ginger.
The ginger was quite strong.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 1478] The warmth of Abalone treasures @ Hess 61 戀戀鮑情

06/03/2012
戀戀鮑情 Hess 61
灣仔軒尼詩道61號地下
G/F, 61 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/the-warmth-of-abalone-treasures-at-hess-61-e2222880

Found out about this new shop on Openrice because the name of the restaurant was interesting, I thought the English name was quite random and not related to the Chinese name.

After having abalone noodles at Maur's Kitchen I decided to try this place.

The menu offered was extremely interesting, although it was Chinese food they also served Iberico ham.

I found the double boiled hokkaido milk with abalone interesting, because hokkaido milk is usually for desserts and this time it is a savoury soup!

The Iberico ham linguine was also interesting, but in the end I ordered the Steamed Abalone with Rice Wrapped with lotus leaf and Fish noodles with abalone sauce.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★


Steamed Abalone with Rice Wrapped with lotus leaf $88
I was really looking forward to this but it was disappointing because it was just plain egg fried rice with a piece of abalone in it.

The abalone sauce was separate.
The set came with black fungus in vinegar, orange juice and a dessert
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

Fish noodles with abalone sauce $45
Although this was cheaper I really liked it, the noodles were made with fish were extremely soft and did not contain any grounded bones.

For the noodles there was a choice of instant noodles, udon or fish noodles.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★


The entrance of the restaurant was quite interesting, on the left there is a fishing net and some abalone shells in the basket where you can write messages and hang it on the fishing net.


Overall the food was ok, but I wished I ordered the hokkaido milk with abalone if I knew it was fried rice inside the wrapped rice.
The restaurant was surprisingly packed even though it had only opened by two days, however it was extremely noisy.