[Review 2017] A choice of expensive or cheap ramens @ 富良野日式拉麵 Furano Ramen House

15/11/2012
富良野日式拉麵 Furano Ramen House
天后電氣道23號地下
G/F, 23 Electric Road, Tin Hau
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/a-choice-of-expensive-or-cheap-ramens-e2269665

Walked past this ramen joint so many times after it opened but somehow I did not get the urge to go in.
They used to just have ramens that were priced between $68-78 which is about the same price as the famous ramens.


Anyway, there were no photos before so it was like taking a risk if it was not nice.

About a few months later, they finally had product pictures of ramen and rices but only costing around $34-38 which meant the previous ramens were not doing well or they had no faith in serving it at that price.

Since it costs only $3X I dont have any expectations for it but at least I could find out the type of noodles they use and if it is good then I would probably try the more expensive ramens later on.

I ordered the ramen in spicy soup with beef and minced meat and rice, but the minced meat and rice was sold out.
So the guy asked if I wanted the Pacific Saury (Chaau doh yue) with rice so I ordered that instead.

The food came with a drink so I chose this herbal tea.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
ramen in spicy soup with beef:


The broth was really spicy, it tastes exactly like those Korean Nong Shim cup noodles.
The ramen was similar to pasta and exactly the same type of noodles they used in FAIRWOOD's ramen king series.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Pacific Saury with rice:


To be honest I thought the fish was marinated eel and not Pacific saury, but the guy insists it was Pacific saury.
Anyway, the texture of pacific saury is not like that.
Usually I hate Japanese rice because it is hard and heavy, but here the rice is a mix between Japanese rice and normal long grain rice. I would say 10% of Japanese rice and 90% long grain rice which made it easier to swallow and the taste was much nicer.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Herbal tea:

I was not quite sure what this drink was, but it did not taste of any herbs nor was it flowery.
I was pretty sure it was water and coloured sugar syrup because the taste was very pleasant and there was no sour aftertaste or weird aftertaste that cordials give you.
When you see this drink, it is actually pink.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Photos of the shop:



★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 2016] Pandan cake at Fresh Wheat Bakery in Tai Hang @ 美麥多飽餅屋 Fresh Wheat Bakery

15/11/2012
美麥多飽餅屋 Fresh Wheat Bakery
大坑勵德邨邨榮樓20號舖地下
Shop 20, G/F, Tsuen Wing Lau, Lai Tak Tsuen, Tai Hang
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/pandan-cake-at-fresh-wheat-bakery-in-tai-hang-e2269664

Went to Fresh Wheat Bakery in Tai Hang which seems to be a new branch, however the attitude of the staff there was not that good.
I felt that she was giving people the looks so they would hurry up and leave.

Anyway I bought a Pandan cake.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Pandan cake:


Overall the cake was too sweet and lacked pandan taste.
The egg tasted really strong and it tasted like an ordinary cake which was coloured green.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 2015] Cream croquettes and natto beans curry @ CoCo壹番屋 CoCo Ichibanya

15/11/2012
CoCo壹番屋 CoCo Ichibanya
銅鑼灣告士打道311號皇室堡4樓402號舖
Shop 402, 4/F, Windsor House, 311 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/cream-croquettes-and-natto-beans-curry-coco-e2269663

Went back for their delicious curries because you can choose almost any combination.

This time tried the cream croquettes and I think I will also try the deep fried fish next time too.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
cream croquettes and natto beans curry:

Again had the non spicy curry which tastes like gravy with a hint of curry without the spicyness.
The cream croquettes were basically potato croquettes.
The filling inside was different to what I expected, it was really silky and slightly creamy.
However there was no potato taste, hence that is why I chose the Natto beans to go with it.
It was a bit like having breakfast with potato and beans.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Salad and lemon tea:

The salad and drinks were Ok, the syrup was added by yourself which was good.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Pork curry:

The pork curry was shredded pork and the pork was quite lean and fresh.
The curry was quite spicy because I chose the mild one.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Restaurant photo:

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 2014] childhood memoirs: cream slices @ Boulangerie Bistronomique

14/11/2012
Boulangerie Bistronomique (已結業)
此店已改名為Bistronomique
西環堅尼地城爹核士街1號地下1A號舖
Shop 1A, G/F, 1 Davis Street, Kennedy Town, Western District
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/childhood-memoirs-cream-slices-e2269341

When I was a kid there would always be boxes of cream slices in the fridge, there was a bakery round the corner which did delicious cream slices.

That bakery is still around but not the same price as back then.
It probably costed around 50p and now it probably costs around £1ish.

When I saw the pictures of the vanilla slices at this place, they looked exactly the same as the ones I had at that bakery, even the icing with the brown patterns were identical.

Although they were French vanilla slices which meant the filling would be slightly different I still had to try it.

Boulangerie is located in Kennedy town and faces the sea. When I got there it just reminded me of home because of the sea but there was a pier missing.

The seaside view had a reminiscence to the seaside view in UK, it was clear, unpolluted by little boats and people.
Although I did say that about Camden Town in Sai Kung, but the sea view there was clotted with little boats and noise.

Anyway back to the bakery, it was simplistic inside with some French products on the shelves however they also had Chinese teas as well!

As well as the shelf products they had other bakery items and baguettes.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Vanilla slices:

As expected it was different to the UK one, it did not have fresh cream or jam, but anyway it was delicious.
The vanilla custard was not too sweet and had lots of vanilla seeds in it.
I tried the pastry on its own and found it was salty which enhanced the custard.
The icing on top added extra sweetness to it.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

I really wanted to try their sandwiches as well especially the one with the pigs head!!
I also want to try the Vietnamese one too because it has double pate in it and not because it was an Asian flavour.

The bill was neatly slipped to a ring pull lid!

Next time I'll be back for the sandwiches and I hope their chips are the freshly thin cut ones I had in France.

[Review 2013] childhood memoirs: Dipping soldiers in egg yolk @ BACAR

14/11/2012
BACAR
中環蘇豪些利街2號
2 Shelley Street, SOHO, Central
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/childhood-memoirs-dipping-soldiers-in-egg-yolk-e2269340

I was choosing a place to eat and this restaurant attracted me because of the brie on foccacia, egg and soldiers and there is a wide variety for brunch such as scrambled egg white.

The food also came with a choice of drinks which was impressive.
They had Smoothies, coffee or tea, champagne and something alcoholic which I cant remember.

Usually I always order a tea to end a perfect meal, but here they had smoothies.

As there were so many items I wanted to try, I came here twice which are both written in this review.
All the brunches came with a side portion of fruit.
The restaurant setting was nice and relaxing.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Vegetarian breakfast:

Compared to the All day breakfast which was not vegetarian, the Vegetarian was much nicer because it had asparagus, spinach, potato rosti.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
All day breakfast:

The all day breakfast tasted ok.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Toasted Brie and mixed mushrooms foccacia:

Although this was delicious, it tasted how it should have been because there was truffle on it.
The mushrooms were slightly disappointing because they had Asian mushrooms in it.
The brie tasted cheesy and strong like how it should.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Ducks eggs and soldiers:

I wish they had marmite soldiers, but truffle soldiers were good enough.

I thought the eggs would come in egg cups but they came in mini expresso cups and I thought they would be ready for dipping but you had to peel it yourself.
Anyway I peeled it carefully and ate the top of the egg making a hole just big enough to dip the soldiers and carefully dipping it so that the egg yolk did not overflow.

It was good that duck eggs were used because the yolk was much thicker and the egg white was quite firm.
The soldiers and egg yolks were so delicious and the truffle made is luxurious.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
I loved their smoothies, it was not sweet and tasted natrual with the taste of ice, natural yogurt and the fruit.
Although it was slightly icy, it was really nice.
It has to finished quickly though because the ice and yogurt separates.
raspberry smoothie:
This was really nice and you could taste the fresh raspberries, however there were too many raspberry pips in this.
Apple and strawberry smoothie:

The raspberry was good, but the apple and strawberry was the best, there was lots of blended apple pieces and green apple skin in the smoothie and it felt really wholesome.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 2012] Fine dining in the hustle and bustle of Wan Chai @ Le Chef

13/11/2012
Le Chef 
灣仔軒尼詩道41-49號香港灣仔維景酒店閣樓
M/F, Metropark Hotel Wan Chai Hong Kong, 41-49 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/fine-dining-in-the-hustle-and-bustle-of-wan-chai-e2269084

I was so happy to get invited to a tasting dinner at Le Chef which used to be Cafe De Metro park.
During lunchtimes they serve the buffet and in the evening they serve fine dinners paired with specially selected wines.
The new decor is so much nicer and stylish.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Assorted bread and condiments:

I loved the bread selection and the breads were warm too.
They had foccacia and mini crispy buns as well and it was delicious with the butter and balsamic vinegar provided.
The oil which I thought was olive oil was actually orange flavoured oil.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Botan Ebi Carpaccio in Ceviche:

This was beautifully presented but I felt that there was too much yuzu sauce which covered the prawn taste and it was slightly too sweet.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Togarashi Seared Tuna Salad with Shizo Vert:

The tuna was delicious. The edges of the tuna were crispy. As the the flavouring was quite heavy, the crispy edges and soft tender tuna reminded me of the Chinese roast pork belly.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Cream of Pumpkin & Fennel Soup with Scallop:

The colour of this soup looked like butternut squash, but the taste was amazing. It was extremely creamy and I love Fennel.
The Fennel was strong and wholesome.
The scallop in the soup gave it some depth.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Seafood Tomato Soup:

This soup was quite interesting, it was quite creamy with strong basil.
There were lots of mussels in the soup.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Double Flavored Brown Crab: Baked Brown Crab Shell with Crab Meat & Mango Salad:

The mango salad and crabmeat was a refreshing pairing and the mango was really sweet.
The baked crab was full of surprises, there were mushrooms in the creamy sauce and beneath the sauce, there was generous crab roe!!

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Sauteed Tilapia with Lemon-herb Glaze:

The fish was really satisying and the mash was delicious.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Poached Japanese White Peach in Red Wine:


The poached peach was presented beautifully and there shard of yellow sugar glass on top was pretty.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Coffee or Tea :

To finish off the meal there was soothing tea.
The lemon slices were separate so you could decide how much lemon to put in.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Once again I would like to thank Le Chef and the the related people for inviting me and giving me the lovely travelling garment holder.

[Review 2011] Best caramel salted ice cream @ Teakha 茶。家 休息中

13/11/2012

茶。家 Teakha

上環太平山街18B號地舖

G/F, 18B Tai Ping Shan Road, Sheung Wan

https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/best-caramel-salted-ice-cream-teakha-e2269083


I missed the caramel salted ice cream when they first had it and was gutted it was a different ice-cream on the menu when I finally made it to Teakha.

Anyway, found out they had the caramel icecream again after someones update.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
caramel salted ice cream:

The caramel taste was strong and I loved that burnt taste to it.
The ice-cream melted quickly but that did not matter because it made the ice-cream even more delicious.
The salt taste was strong but combined with the caramel it did not taste salty but enhanced the caramel taste.
Apart from that the rich colour in the ice-cream was very pleasing.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★