[Review 2582] Kagoshima sweet purple potato crystal Zongzi @ 東海堂 Arome Bakery

11/06/2013
東海堂  Arome Bakery
將軍澳坑口培成路15號連理街143號
Shop 143, the Lane, 15 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/kagoshima-sweet-purple-potato-crystal-zongzi-e2300884

Just like the mooncakes, where the traditions have been broken with snowy mooncakes.

There is now a sweet version of Zongzi that is ready to eat.
It was introduced last year but I did not get a chance to try it because they came in a pack of three with only one flavour I liked.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Kagoshima sweet purple potato crystal Zongzi:
At Arome Bakery, they come in single flavours in packs of twos so I was able to get the flavour I liked.

After removing it from the vacumn sealed pack, it is wrapped in dried leaves just like the usual Zongzi's.
The size of these Zongzi's are slightly smaller.
When I removed the leaf wrapping, the appearance was slightly different from their product shot.
On the product shot there is purple filling incased within the crystal clear exterior.
It was just a purple mass when I unwrapped it, the Zongzi stuck to the leaf wrapping and got deformed hence it did not come out as a perfect tetrahedral shape.

The taste was not bad, and the filling was slightly starchy with a hint of sweet purple potato taste.
The sweetness was just right and not as cloyingly sweet as this other brand I tried but the leaf wrapping was a bit oily.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 2581] Hojicha latte @ 太平洋咖啡 Pacific Coffee

11/06/2013
太平洋咖啡  Pacific Coffee
灣仔莊士敦道181號大有廣場1樓107號舖
Shop 107, 1/F, Tai Yau Plaza, 181 Johnston Road, Wan Chai
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/hojicha-latte-e2300872

Hojicha latte:

After trying the genmaicha latte, I decided try the hojicha as well which was hot.
This drink fared slightly better because the roasted tea taste was strong and it had a slight hint of coffee.
The drink was quite milky because when I saw them make it, about 80% of it was milk.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Chicken Caesar sandwich:

The chicken in the sandwich was white meat and thinly sliced. It was a bit dry and there could have been more sauce.
The Caesar sauce was a bit weak lacking the cheesy sour cream taste.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 2580] Interesting dishes at King's Dumpling @ 金牌小龍 King's Dumpling

11/06/2013
金牌小龍 King's Dumpling
尖沙咀彌敦道100號The ONE 4樓404-405號舖
Shop 404-405, 4/F, The ONE, 100 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/interesting-dishes-at-kings-dumpling-e2300864

Previously dined at King's Dumpling but the choices that they chose were different.

On this visit tried the other items.

In my mind the dumplings here are Shanghainese style but there were a few items on the menu which made me think they were Taiwanese so tried them as well.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Rice tube pudding:

The tube pudding is a must try because the rice is very tasty, spiced up with the chili sauce.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Tomato and egg with noodles:

The noodles were appetizing with rich tomato and egg sauce, however I would prefer the tomatoes to be more tart and the sauce to be less sweet.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Steamed crab meat dumplings:

The dumplings were really nice bursting with crab meat broth inside.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Red bean cake:

The red bean cake looked nice in the previous reviews so ordered it.
The texture was interesting, it was chewy with red bean paste in the middle.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Pork and vegetable wonton:

The dumpling skin was a bit thick but the pork and vegetable filling inside was nice, there was a good balance of chopped vegetables and pork.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Steamed vegetable dumplings:

This was my favourite because the vegetables inside were sliced ultra fine and it had glass vermicelli and black fungas in it as well giving it a nice crisp crunch.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Three-Cup Chicken:

This was another nice dish which was quite spicy with strong fragrant basil taste.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Pan-fried dumplings:

The pan fried dumplings reminded me of the Taiwanese ones because the shape was long and thin.
The dumplings were nice and crispy on the outside and the pork filling was tasty inside.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 2579] Luxurious rice dumplings from Maxim's @ 美心皇宮 Maxim's Palace Chinese Restaurant

10/06/2013
美心皇宮 Maxim's Palace Chinese Restaurant
太古太古城道18號太古城中心二期2樓255號舖
Shop 255, 2/F, Phase II, Cityplaza, 18 Taikoo Shing Road, Tai Koo
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/luxurious-rice-dumplings-from-maxims-e2300858

Thanks to Maxim's for inviting me to their dumpling tasting and dumpling making event which I could not attend.

It was so nice of them to arrange some rice dumplings for me to try.

As you know I am not an expert on dumplings but I gathered there were two shapes: tetrahedral and cylindrical.

The shape of the rice dumplings range from being approximately tetrahedral in southern China to cylindrical in northern China. Wrapping the rice dumplings neatly is a skill that is passed down through families, as are the recipes. Making rice dumplings is traditionally a family event of which everyone helps out.

I was given four rice dumplings to try, two were tetrahedral shaped and the other two were cylindrical.
Tetrahedral rice dumpling flavours:
Rice dumpling with abalone and dried scallops
Rice dumpling with braised beef tendons
Cylindrical rice dumpling flavours:
Rice Dumpling with Chinese Ham and Chinese mushroom in Jiaxing Style
Hakka Style Squid Rice Dumpling

Evidently the two Tetrahedral ones tasted the best and are must buy flavours.
I was really excited about these dumplings I did not take photos of them before they were heated up.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Rice dumpling with abalone and dried scallops:

As you can see, there are generous pieces of scallop on the top of the dumpling.
The glutinous rice is distinct and each grain of rice is covered and flavoured with sauce.

The dumpling was filled with delicious ginko nuts, pork and a abalone.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Rice dumpling with braised beef tendons:

This was one similar to the abalone one but I felt that this one tasted even better because the sauce was stronger and richer.
There were delectable pieces of chestnuts in it too.

I loved the beef tendon which was big, soft and gelatinous.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Rice Dumpling with Chinese Ham and Chinese mushroom in Jiaxing Style:

The glutinous rice in this was much chewier.

Inside the dumpling there was a huge piece of lean meat and Chinese ham in it, there was salted egg yolk in it too.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Hakka Style Squid Rice Dumpling:

This was similar to the above but the taste of the glutinous rice was lighter
It had delicious squid, mushrooms, pork belly, chestnuts and peanuts in the middle.


The squid in this was the star of the dumpling because it gave it that ruralistic touch.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 2578] Delicious burgers @ CEO Neway

10/06/2013
CEO Neway (已結業)
銅鑼灣糖街2-8號
2-8 Sugar Street, Causeway Bay
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/delicious-burgers-ceo-neway-e2300851

Tried to come here previously for their buffet and their arrangement annoyed me because I got there at 5.30 when the dinner buffet starts and they did not have any rooms on that floor

Anyway came back another time during the afternoon hours so had the tea set.

All the tea set items were $28 ranging from cakes to noodles.

I was really hungry so chose the chicken with rice, but luckily it was not available because I chose the burger instead which turned out to be delicious.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Hamburger (first order)


The burger was surprisingly delicious for someone who does not like beef.
It was grilled just right without a strong charred taste.
The patty was quite meaty but there were some bits that were unchewable and it was smothered with delicious ketchup and bbq sauce garnished with tomato and guerkins.
As for the potato wedges they were a bit too salty.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Hamburger (Second order):
The second burger was not as good as the first, the amount of wedges was stingy compared to the first plate and the burger itself was cold!
It just amazes me how two burgers can be so inconsistent on the same day and order.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 2577] Iced Genmaicha Latte @ 太平洋咖啡 Pacific Coffee

10/06/2013
太平洋咖啡  Pacific Coffee
將軍澳坑口重華路8號東港城1樓C區
Area C, Level 1, East Point City, 8 Chung Wa Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/iced-genmaicha-latte-e2300773

Decided to try the new drinks at East Point City's Pacific Coffee.
There was a choice of Hojicha Latte or Genmaicha, but the Hojicha latte is probably a less popular choice because it is only served hot.

As it was extremely hot that day, I got the Genmaicha.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Iced Genmaicha Latte:

When it came, it was basically a latte with a few ice cubes in it.

The taste was quite strong. The green tea taste was really grassy and the taste of roasted rice was very prominent.
It was very milky as well.
On the bottom of the cup, there was some sort of sedimentation which could have been rice but it was slightly sticky and chewy.


★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 2576] Tropical assorted taffy @ 菲爾斯曲奇專賣店 Mrs. Fields Cookies

09/06/2013
菲爾斯曲奇專賣店  Mrs. Fields Cookies
中環港鐵中環站W8號舖
Shop W8, Central MTR Station, Central
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/tropical-assorted-taffy-e2300711

Thanks to Garycwm for getting me these Taffy.
The taffy were really nice and chewy, it was much softer than toffee.
The chocolate and lime tasted the best.

Apart from the Tropical assorted they also have other flavours but I like the tropical ones because they are colourful.

Taffy is a chewy candy similar to toffee, in the UK they are called chews.
The taffy is rolled, cut into small pastel-coloured pieces and wrapped in wax paper to keep it soft.

There is also salt water taffy that was accidentally invented due to a flood at a sweet shop in Atlanta City.
The sweet shop was flooded with Alantic Ocean water which ruined the candies.

When a young girl went into the shop and asked for taffy, they offered some "salt water taffy." At the time it was a joke, because all the taffy had been soaked with salt water, but the girl was delighted. She bought the candy and proudly walked down to the beach to show her friends.