[Review 1533] Golden chicken with golden patties @ 金雞去骨海南雞專門店 Golden Chicken

24/04/2012
金雞去骨海南雞專門店 Golden Chicken
西貢福民路(食街)34號地舖
Shop 34, Ko Fu Building, Fuk Man Road, Sai Kung
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/golden-chicken-with-golden-patties-e2231057

I don't usually write about local Sai Kung food, but since others have written about it I decided to as well.
This place renowned for their boneless chicken Hainanese style.
Anyway, I am not sure if this restaurant is Thai Style or Chinese style because they have an introductory about their chicken and how it is made to suit Hong Kong tastes.
But the items found here such as the chicken and braised pork knuckles are found in Thai Restaurants.

As for the drinks it was Chinese style so if it is Chinese style then it doesnt matter, but if it is meant to be a Thai style restaurant then I would have hoped to see Lime cordial or Iced lime on the menu or even Iced longnan water.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Chicken:
The chicken was lean and the skin separated from the meat easily.
The chicken that was given was value for money not like some restaurants where they just give you bones or fat.
I really liked the quality of their chicken because it was clean and the meat was white without any veins or blood in it.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Pork and Salted fish patty:
Each patty had been rolled flat to perfection before it was fried.
It looks like there is only one piece of patty but there was another patty beneath it.
The taste of this patty tasted exactly the same as the 煎鹹魚肉餅 @ 清水灣電影製片廠 (Not to be confused with the old TVB building in CWB).
However the version here was slightly sweeter so I prefer the one @ 清水灣電影製片廠.
The patty was crispy and crunchy on the outside and soft on the centre. It has been made so that it is thin and can be easily fried.
It is slightly sticky but the quality of the patty was good, there was no grounded bones or pork tendons.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I am not sure if the canteen at 清水灣電影製片廠 is open to the public, but there are always police dining in there, as well as the 煎鹹魚肉餅 another signature dish crispy chicken thigh steak with crunchy vegetable coating on it. The Chef from this restaurant may be or worked at that place before because one of the Chefs at the Studio was also from Sai Kung!

[Review 1532] Quick French crepe romance in Sai Kung @ Crepes Francaises 法國班戟店

24/04/2012
Crepes Francaises 法國班戟店
西貢福民路5號地下
G/F, 5 Fuk Man Road, Sai Kung
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/quick-french-crepe-romance-in-sai-kung-e2231052


Apart from the dine in creperies in Wan Chai, the last time I had a quick crepe was at this French Creperie located in a supermarket called VANGUARD in the back streets of Wan Chai on Jaffe Road.

The prices at that joint were really cheap around $2x-$30 but the crepes there were different to the ones served at La Creperies, Kramphouse and Fleur De Sel.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++[
Crepes @ cafe-liegeois - Vanguard supermarket in Wan Chai Jaffe Road
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Anyway, discovered this small joint in Sai Kung serving French Crepes, the shop was really nicely decorated with pretty pastel LED lights.
I was expecting the crepes to cost more because Sai Kung is a tourist town, but they were really cheap $25 for savoury pancakes and around $15-$20 per sweet crepe!!
I have always loved Galettes so I ordered a savoury one, there was cheese + egg + Chinese red sausage pancake, but I opted for the Cheese + mixed vegetables which has mushrooms, potatoes, tomatoes.
I requested it without the tomatoes because I didnt want the crepe to go soggy.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The joint has an open kitchen, so I was able to watch him make the crepe all the way through.
I saw him take out whole potato which I thought was raw because it was still in its skin, so I was a little hesistant whether the potatoes would be soft enough. The galette equipment and utensils were professional.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Anyway the pancakes were made and presented exactly like the ones at La Creperies, Kramphouse and Fleur De Sel with the edges folded in to make a square shape.
For $25 I was very impressed it was the same as the Crepes in Wan Chai, and it was even better than the Crepe I had at Vanguard where the crepe base was yellow and soft!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The potatoes were amazingly soft and a perfect match with cheese and mushrooms, however if they were not the canned mushrooms it would taste better, but the taste was good enough and I really loved it.
The amount of cheese was generous compared with the crepe joint at Vanguard. I think it was Mozarella cheese that was used in the crepe.
I asked the owner how he managed to make the potatoes soft enough and he said they were boiled before hand so this guy really knows his stuff! The crepe was cripsy on the outside the filling was soft inside, the crepe base was the familiar buckwheat mixture found the authentic creperies.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Chocolate mousse cup
Tried the chocolate mousse which was also made by the owner.
Mousse is also another item that originates from France.
The mousse is very different from the usual mousses because the ones I have tried are usually made with whipped cream and this one you can taste the whipped egg white and the smoothness of the egg white.
Although saying that, the appearance of the mousse bubbles are coarser because it is made of whipped eggs whites and not cream which does not affect the smoothness of the mousse.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The owner is really friendly and was a Chinese expat living in France for years.
I made the mistake of speaking English because he only speaks Chinese and French!!!!
It was good timing to discover this joint because of the coming Le French May - Le French GourMay
month in May.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Le French GourMay
For the fourth year in a row, Le French GourMay will offer visitors of Hong Kong and Macau one month to discover the best of French wines and gastronomy. From 1 to 31 May, local Hong Kong and Macau restaurants, starred chefs and fine food designers, as well as wine importers and distributors will celebrate the month of “gourmands” and “gourmets” with dedicated menus, wine tastings, promotions and workshops.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It reminds me of the French Market held at the Eastbourne promenade where the French come over and have stalls selling French produces.

[Review 1531] WOTSITS x McD's Cheese rush Shake Shake fries @ 麥當勞 McDonald's

23/04/2012

麥當勞 McDonald's
灣仔軒尼詩道1號熙信樓1樓C舖
Shop C, 1/F, Asian House, 1 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/wotsits-x-mcds-cheese-rush-shake-shake-fries-e2230764


I am so glad there is a new shake shake seasoning that I havent tried.

The new one is called Cheese rush and claims that it has strong cheese flavour.

The colour of the seasoning is orange, after putting the seasoning on the chips, it smells the same as WOTSITS (cheese puffs by Walkers).

The taste and colour was the same as wotsits which are very cheesy with some saltiness however the Cheese rush seasoning was a little bit sweet which ruined it.

[Review 1530] 《公Lee》《Kung利》@ 月滿莊士敦道 branches to Wan Chai @ 公利 Kung Lee

23/04/2012
公利 Kung Lee
灣仔莊士敦道113號6B舖
Shop 6B, 113 Johnston Road, Wan Chai
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/%E3%80%8A%E5%85%AClee%E3%80%8B%E3%80%8Akung%E5%88%A9%E3%80%8B-%E6%9C%88%E6%BB%BF%E8%8E%8A%E5%A3%AB%E6%95%A6%E9%81%93-e2230675

Kung Lee could not have chosen a better spot in Hong Kong to sell their famous cane sugar drinks and Cane Sugar pudding!
Located right next to Southern Playground and the Southern Stadium, there is bound to be people needing to rehydrate themselves after strenuous sports!
Also smack in the heart of Wan Chai, round the corner from the MTR exit, near the trams, near the footbridge leading to the exhibition centre, and a must pass point for people heading towards Queen's Road East.
As well as that, it is also a passing point for people going to the Arts Centre and Performing arts academy!
Anyway it is really good to see it in Wan Chai, although the cane sugar drink costs $1 dollar more but I am saving a few dollars by not having to travel to Central and hiking up the hill!
Since I can always grab a drink, I got the Cane sugar pudding which is usually sold out, it costs $12 which is the same price as the Central branch.
The puddings are made on site and not transported from the Central branch asked by many people that day.
The shop floor is tiled with those old green tiles which is surprising that you can still source them nowadays!
Anyway the pudding tasted as good as the Central branch and the sweetness was just right.
It leaves a sweet aftertaste as well and the texture of the pudding was quite firm.
While many historic buildings are being preserved in Wan Chai it is fun to see another addition with some historic feel added to it.
At the moment the interior is quite plain and I wonder if they will bring more iconic items to the shop.

If this branch existed a few years ago it would be cool to see it included in the film 《月滿軒尼詩》（Crossing Hennessy）!

[Review 1529] Feels like fish and chips by the seaside @ Camden Town

Camden Town 
西貢西貢海傍街49號
49 Sai Kung Hoi Pong Street, Sai Kung
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/feels-like-fish-and-chips-by-the-seaside-e2230674

With all these new places that have opened in Sai Kung, I had to resist getting Crepes at Crepe Francais, Japanese hotdogs at Juicy J's and my favourite roast chicken at Smart King!!!
I came here just for the fish and chips and to see if I could get any memories of Camden Town back.
When I got there, it reminded of seaside towns such as Brighton and Eastbourne at the seafront, especially the popcorn machine.

Inside the shop, it looked more like a fish and chip shop with fryers and the glass cabinet.
However it did not have that familiar fish and chip shop feeling like the Chippy.
It felt nothing like Camden town, the only Camden town familiarity I could find was the photos on the side of the wall, and the Camden Town tube station sign.
That was the only element of London I felt in there.

Anyway, the brilliant thing was that they forked out on British magazines and they were the latest issues, so I wouldn't mind going there often to eat something and read the magazines.
The menu however was quite limited, the only two things that were British was the fish and chips, cumberland sausage and chips.
The rest were quite Chinesey such as chicken wings Chinese style which are plain chicken wings that are dunked in the oil and fried.
Judging by the previous pictures, the hamburger looks Chinese as well.
It would be great if they imported some pies such as chicken pies or beef and onion pies.
I wanted to order the grilled squids but it didn't quite match my fish and chips.

In the end I just got fish and chips with mushy peas and a chocolate milkshake.
I had no expectations for the mushy peas because the previous comment mentioned that they were rather watery and they were indeed watery as if they were diluted to make more portions out of it.
From the picture it looks like soup with some mushy peas in the centre.


The chips were ok, but perhaps a little overdone.
It was good they had Sarson's vinegar but it lacked a vinegary taste and there was only a slight bitter taste to it.
The batter on the fish was great, it was thin and crispy, the texture of the fish was too soft but it was nice and moist.
However the fish may have been in starch for too long that it had no texture, it just melted in my mouth.
Finally the chocolate drink was too sweet.


But overall, it is nice dining there and it feels like eating fish and chips at the British seaside.
This shop is owned by the locals and there was a girl from the local Sai Kung school there most probably the daughter of the owners.

[Review 1528] Pandan Cake @ McCafe

22/04/2012
McCafe
旺角亞皆老街8號朗豪坊2樓32-37號舖
Shop 32-37, 2/F, Langham Place, 8 Argyle Street, Mong Kok, Hong Kong, Mong Kok
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/mccafe-pandan-cake-e2230539

I was really looking forward to this because I love Pandan.

It was an interesting cake to be offered by McCafe because usually the cakes are chocolate, cookies, hazelnuts and berries so this was quite different from their usual range.

I bought this cake with the Himalayan tea, which I have already written about earlier, but the Pandan cake is a new item introduced on 19th April 2012.
A la Carte the cake costs $25 but with the tea, it costs $16.
The pandan and red beans in the cake were a strange combination! I am also quite biased because I do not like red beans.
Usually pandan is paired with coconut.
Anyway, I found the cake extremely sweet because after finishing the cake, the Himalayan tea was tasteless, so you can imagine how sweet the cake was if the tea tasted not sweet at all.
The cake tasted like those Chinese coconut and red bean puddings and the pandan taste was so faint I couldn’t taste it.
Perhaps the red beans and coconut taste was too strong that I could not taste any pandan.
Without the red beans the cake would have been nice, because I didn’t like the starchy sugary red beans!
The cake had biscuit base, layered with pandan sponge cake and cream.
On the top it was dusted with cake crumbs.
It would be great if one day McDs came up with a pie filled with Kaya or Pandan

[Review 1257] Korean Walnut shaped Taiyakis filled with red bean @ 韓國皇帝胡桃紅豆餅 Korean Walnut Cookie

韓國皇帝胡桃紅豆餅 Korean Walnut Cookie
北角馬寶道1A地下3號舖
Shop 3, G/F, 1A Marble Road, North Point
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/korean-walnut-shaped-taiyakis-filled-with-red-bean-e2230290


I am not a fan of red bean paste but I decided to give it a try.
The owner was really friendly and there were other items as well to try but since I am allergic to the Kimchi I just tried this.
The outer layer of this walnut snack was similar to the Taiyaki, so I expected it to taste soft and slightly tough on the skin with sweet red bean paste in the middle with the occasional pieces of walnut.
For red bean lovers this would be a great snack because they are bite sized and if they are freshly done they taste nice warm as well.