[Review 2506] The brand new look @ 壹碗麵 Mian

14/05/2013
壹碗麵  Mian
鰂魚涌濱海街48號地下
G/F, 48 Pan Hoi Street, Quarry Bay
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/the-brand-new-look-of-mian-e2296619

Previously this shop was located at North Point famous for serving Chinese pappardelle noodles.
The new Mian is much more hip and modern located on the same street as Yo Bago.
The menu is nice and simple too.

I came back for the pappardelle noodles and to try the savoury rice which was a new addition.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Pappardelle noodles and beef cheeks:
The portion size is much bigger than before and the taste was good as before so the standard has been kept!
The beef cheeks were lovely and tender.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Savoury rice:
The rice was really nice especially with the celery leaves on top giving it a nice aroma.
I just felt that the rice was too mushy and salty.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Mian homemade sauce:
They used to have jars of this on the table but now they only give you a reasonable amount!
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 2505] Dessert with Neighborhood Gourmet @ 蘭苑饎館 Lan Yuen Chee Koon

14/05/2013
蘭苑饎館  Lan Yuen Chee Koon
太子西洋菜北街318號集賢樓地舖
G/F, 318 Sai Yeung Choi St North, Prince Edward
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/dessert-with-neighborhood-gourmet-e2296618

I really liked the pistachio dessert on my visit I decided to go back for it.
I also had the pineapple pudding as well.
There is a jar that they proudly show people the pistachio nuts that they use.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Pistachio dessert:
While I was there, the TV was broadcasting Neighborhood Gourmet which also happened to feature their pistachio dessert.
The dessert was slightly disappointing this time because it was lumpy and quite sweet.
I hope on my next visit it will taste as good as my first visit.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Pineapple pudding:
The pineapple pudding was quite nice with pieces of pineapple in the dessert.
However it was slightly too sweet.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 2504] Not a very flat fish is it? @ 威仕頓餐廳 Western Papa

14/05/2013
威仕頓餐廳 Western Papa
上環德輔道中304-306號地下
G/F, 304-306 Des Voeux Road, Sheung Wan
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/not-a-very-flat-fish-is-it-e2296607

Came here for the flatfish as stated on the menu and because they had pineapple juice.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Garlic butter toast:

There was a choice of toast or soup so I chose toast!
I think they meant garlic bread because it did not look like toast to me.
This was the only decent tasting item there.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Flat fish with rice:

There were chips or spaghetti as an option.
Luckily I chose rice because they serve crinkle cut chips.
I was a bit annoyed because they couldn't answer me what type of chips they served until I suggested different types of chips eg thin, thick, shoestring, or crinkle cut.
Anyway the fish (比目魚) did not look flat when it came, it looked more like cod.
The flatfish in UK are certainly not like this if you've had plaice or sole.
I googled flat fish and a majority of them were flat and did not look like this.
As for the taste, it was really fishy and tasteless, the sauce did not help either.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
White chicken curry:


The curry was not that pleasant, the ginger in it was strong and it was weird to have ginger in it.
The chicken did not taste that fresh and the rice was too wet and mushy.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Pineapple juice:

At first I thought it was great they had pineapple juice as a drink option!
It was not juice but Pineapple squash!
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 2503] Instant noodles with cheese and seaweed broth @ 翠華餐廳 Tsui Wah Restaurant

14/05/2013
翠華餐廳 Tsui Wah Restaurant
佐敦白加士街77-83號
77-78 Parkes Street,, Jordan
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/instant-noodles-with-cheese-and-seaweed-broth-e2296604

Recently walked past Tsui Wah Restaurant and saw the poster for the noodle set.
I was mainly attracted by the unusual noodles because it was noodles in cheese with seaweed.
Anyway, finally tried it because it was only available during the afternoon.
The set comes with a beverage, crispy bun, scrambled egg and noodles for $40.
I was given a spoon and fork for the noodles which I found weird because it is difficult eating noodles in broth served in a bowl.
Wouldn't it be easier with chopsticks!
Its a bit like eating steaks with chopsticks and a Chinese spoon which some places do because they give you chopsticks and spoon when people order noodles and steaks.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Noodles with cheese, seaweed and luncheon ham:
It was difficult eating with a spoon and fork so asked for chopsticks.

I was quite disappointed because it was the Korean Nong Shim instant noodles and not the local brand of instant noodles.
The noodles were tasteless because the broth was tasteless but later I found the broth powder conjugated and clumped together at the bottom of the bowl.
After stirring it, there was taste in the soup and it was spicy, the exact broth given in Nong Shim instant noodles.
I just expected the broth to be mixed properly and not to be done by the customer because I assumed the noodles were ready to eat when served.
As for the seaweed, the taste was bland initially because of the broth and the luncheon ham had a weird taste because it tasted like luncheon ham soaked in celery.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Mini crispy bun:
I thought this was the usual crispy bun that was buttered and drizzled with condensed milk, but it was a mini version of the crispy bun.
It was buttered with no other extra frills such as condensed milk which made it the best item out of the set because the bun was chewy in the middle and crispy on the outside with delicious butter on it.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Scrambled egg:

Too oily and the oil was rancid.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Beverage:
Not going to comment because the drinks served at Chinese cafes are not my cup of tea.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 2502] Just average! @ 金牌小龍 King's Dumpling

13/05/2013
金牌小龍 King's Dumpling
銅鑼灣告士打道311號皇室堡304-305號舖
Shop 304-305, Windsor House, 311 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/just-average-e2296602

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Jellyfish:
At first I was surprised they ordered two dishes of the Jellyfish.
When I put my chopsticks to the dish I realised why, there is a mountain of shredded cucumber beneath it and there is not much jellyfish there.
The jellyfish was satisfactory but not extremely delicious.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Dumplings with sauce:
Ordered this because the product shot looked nice with dumplings covered in sauce, but when it arrived they just looked like plain boiled dumplings with spring onions on top.
After taking one I realised the sauce was beneath and I felt that it should have been mixed before serving.
The dumplings were quite nice and basically it was soy sauce and sesame oil that gave the dumplings flavour.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 2501] Let's pig out with a little piggy party @ 季季紅風味酒家

13/05/2013
季季紅風味酒家
灣仔灣仔道3號尚翹峰第1座1樓, 2樓, 地下B1號舖
Shop 1, Level B,1,2, Phase 1 The Zenith, 3 Wan Chai Road, Wan Chai
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/lets-pig-out-with-a-little-piggy-party-e2296593

Not a fan of Chinese food but I will still try it because I believe that you should try everything as a foodie and often there are surprises.
The theme of the banquet was the Birthday Pig, it is basically a roasted piglet stuffed with fried rice and decorated with birthday decorations.
As well as the roast piglet, we tried other dishes as well.
Thanks to the PR for supplying the English dish names and the Chinese dish names which I have used in this review.
This restaurant is decorated with many pig ornaments.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
蝦禾米乳香豬 (Barbecue Suck Ling Pig Stuffed with Fried Rice):
Basically it is as roasted piglet stuffed with fried rice that has dried shrimps in it, and the skin of the piglet is roasted until it is crispy.
When it was served there was a strong peanut butter smell and the roast piglet was lovely and crispy with even layers of meat and crispy skin.
The fried rice was really nice and not too greasy or dry.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
冰鎮原隻鮑魚件萵苣(Iced Abalone with Lettuce):
The abalone was chilled and tender and it tasted like it was soaked in Chinese wine.
It was sweet and appetizing.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
砵酒焗爽蠔 (Braised Oysters in Port Wine Sauce):
The oysters had a really strong oyster smell but the coating was slightly too thick and could have been crispier.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
紅菜頭西芹雲耳鮮淮山 (Stir fried Celery):
This was stir fried celery, beetroots, carrots, black fungas and Chinese yam (wy-saan).
It was nice and colourful with a crisp crunch.
The beetroot was sweet and the Chinese yam tasted similar to crunchy water chestnuts.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
潮式滷水拼盆 (Soy Sauce Combination in Chaozhou Style):
Did not try this because I do not eat offal.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
鬆子五柳大桂皇 (Deep Fried Perch in Sweet & Sour Sauce):
The fish was really nice and I liked it how the sauce was poured on top when it was served to keep it crispy.
However I felt that the sauce should be kept separate so you can decide how much sauce you want because it can get a bit sweet.
It was nice how they scored the fish which gave it that pretty pattern.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
玫瑰頭抽黃金雞 (Soya Chicken):

The chicken was nice and tender with a strong soy sauce taste.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
豬肺頂蝴蝶腩菜膽湯 (Double Boiled Pig’s Lung with Dry & Fresh Cabbage):

Nice MSG free soup.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
杞子桂花糕 (Osmanthus Pudding):

When it came I thought they put egg white in it, but after trying the pieces they were similar to feta cheese/cream cheese but they turned out to be clumped pieces of cream.
The cream was interesting but since they were clotted cream pieces, perhaps they should have been bigger and more prominent or non existent at all because it was a bit strange at first sight.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
楊枝甘露 (Mango Sago Dessert with Pomelo):

I was too full to try.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 2500] ♥ Auntie Sweet's desserts that melt your ♥@ 甜姨姨私房甜品 Auntie Sweet

13/05/2013
甜姨姨私房甜品 Auntie Sweet
天后清風街13號地下
G/F, 13 Tsing Fung Street, Tin Hau
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/auntie-sweets-desserts-that-melt-your-e2296592

Before they moved here, they had another branch nearby, but that time they only specialized in Chinese desserts so I never went because I can't stand Chinese desserts.
As well as Auntie Sweet, there is also Dessert Loma (Dessert old mum) across the road which serves snowflake ice and cakes which I have already tried at Shaukeiwan.
I went to Auntie Sweet because I wanted to try the strawberry yoghurt sago which is a modified version of the one at Chung's dessert in Po Lam.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
You melt my heart:

Ordered this because the tubs of tofu looked cute, they were made to order and it comes with a timer to indicate when it is ready to eat.
I also got it because it was chocolate flavoured tofu.
The chocolate tofu is ready to eat in three easy steps.
When the timer goes off, add the slice of chocolate to the tofu.
(Notice the surface of the chocolate is MATT)
When the surface of the chocolate is shiny, the chocolate tofu is ready to eat.
I felt that the chocolate tofu was delicious on its own without the addition of the chocolate slice and it was packed with tastes of soy bean and chocolate.
The texture was silky and delicate with a lovely beany aroma and tastes similar to Western chocolate pudding.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Strawberry yoghurt sago:

I used to like this dessert at Chung's but the sweetness got too sweet, but at this place they have a yogurt version.
The taste was amazing because they used natural yoghurt which was gorgeous, it is similar to frozen smoothie but the ice particles were finer and melted quickly leaving deliciously cold yoghurt sago.
The sweetness was just right but I would prefer more yoghurt in the dessert because the yoghurt taste was not strong enough.
It also contains coco de nata just like the dessert at Chung's.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Chocolate cookie milkshake:

The cocoa taste was strong.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
To try on next visit:
On my next visit I want to try the Green tea tofu milkshake!

I will order the strawberry yoghurt sago and chocolate tofu again and hopefully it tastes consistent!!
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★