[Review 2689] Goodbye Chippy and welcome Shortbread Teas @ Shortbread Teas

03/08/2013
Shortbread Teas
中環威靈頓街55號
55 Wellington Street, Central
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/goodbye-chippy-and-welcome-shortbread-teas-e2311800


When I saw this restaurant listed on Openrice, the name Shortbread sounded really familiar so I looked up Shortbread on Openrice and found this other restaurant in Tai Po called The Shortbread Company which I intended to go but it was closed down.

Anyway, found out that the owners of this place used to own that.
The owners Clive and Karin are really really nice!

Shortbread Teas is slightly different from The shortbread company because here they serve teas and cakes.
It is located in Central which is convenient for everyone!

Ironically the location is round the corner from where Chippy's used to be!!!!

Basically there are two entrances to Shortbread Teas, you can either go to the alleyway round the corner from where Chippy's used to be (by the stairs next to the fancy dress shop) or get there from Wellington Street and go down the lovely sky blue staircases which reminds me of Victorian houses with a banister.

If you do go by the stairs method, you would expect it to be like a basement down there but its not because your faced with glass doors at the back, a bit like a patio.
The decor in there is great, its just like home. Although Timeout describes it as "the bedroom of a present-day British teenager", I really liked the tartan curtains and flowery wallpapers.

There are colourful teapots and cute things hanging on the wall.

The teapots are fun because I got a different colour everytime, next time I hope to get the pale blue one, and when the teas come, there is a 3 minute hour glass (each hour glass has different coloured sands too) to indicate when the tea is ready to drink.

The choice of tea is amazing too, there are jars of teas near the teapot displays and there are samples of each tea which you can smell before ordering.

 I have been here so many times now, on my first visit, I went mad and ate 2 cakes, 1 scone and a slice of quiche because there was finally some real British stuff and FRESHLY BAKED.
There are still more items to try and the different teas as well.












★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★:
Victorian Sponge:

I have been searching all over Hong Kong for this cake but couldnt find a place that had it.
They used to have them at Teakha but they've stopped doing them and they were sold out when I got there.
Anyway, I was so happy they had it here.
It normally has buttercream or cream in it but Hong Kong people are not keen on cream.
However you can ask for cream and I put lashings of gorgeous double whipped cream and the Victorian Sponge just tasted amazing because the soft cake, cream and jam was heaven.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Carrot cake:

The carrot cake was delicious because it had walnuts in it too, so it eased my craving for walnut cake as well.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Chocolate and beetroot cake:

This cake was moist, rich and extremely chocolately.
The secret of the texture is the beetroot because it makes it moist and gives it a rich colour without using artificial colourings.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Cream tea set:

Again, I requested EXTRA whipped cream because the scone was just perfect in everyway!
If you smell the scone, it has that fragrant baked scone smell too.
Basically the best scone in Hong Kong and it tastes better than the scone at Ali-Oli's Bakery Cafe.
Everytime they open the oven door to check their baking cakes, there is a gorgeous smell which opens up my appetite again even though I am full.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Breakfast tea:

The breakfast tea was fragrant because I loved the leafy earthy tone.
Highland toffee tea is also really popular and it has a lovely sweet irresistable smelling scent!
I can't wait till Christmas because I tried their Christmas pudding tea which will be launched in Christmas and it was amazing!
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Ginger cake slice:

I forgot to take a photo of the slice intact because I just couldnt wait to eat it, this turned out to be one of my favourites because the ginger was just right and not too intense yet you could actually see real pieces of ginger in it.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Apple pie:

This was made with granny smith apples, and tasted amazingly with cream.
The pastry was the best part too, it was just right and not too thick, the pastry smelt good and was dusted with delicious sugar on top.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Bakewell Tart:
I was hesitant about trying this because I never liked Mr Kipling's but after I tried it I had to eat another one!
The tart of soft and chewy with a heavenly almond scent, and there was a thin layer of jam at the bottom.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 2688] Great Village bakery @ Village Bakery

31/07/2013
Village Bakery
大嶼山梅窩碼頭路16號福安閣地下2號舖
Shop 2, G/F, Lucky Court, 16 Mui Wo Ferry Pier Road, Lantau Island
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/great-village-bakery-e2311242











I was surprised this bakery was not listed on OpenRice but since it was appealing from the outside I went in.
There is a good selection of cheeses in the cabinet.
As well as cheese, they have cheesecakes as well.
The small cheesecake is interesting, because the centre has caved in and I thought it was one of those Taiwanese semi baked cheesecakes.
They had a good range of bread and Western ice lollies.
I went in for the Chocolate cranberry rye sourdough which only costs $18 and looks like a huge scone.


★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Chocolate cranberry rye sourdough:

The sourdough was huge and heavy, it was delicious fresh and heated up because the cabinet has a heater keeping it warm.
It was lovely and chewy with chocolate chips and cranberry giving it a delicious flavour, but the chocolate was a bit messy as I got melted chocolate all over my fingers.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 2687] Delicious cookies from Cafe 8 Degrees @ 8度餐廳 Café 8 Degrees

30/07/2013
8度餐廳 Café 8 Degrees
土瓜灣九龍城道199號8度海逸酒店地下
G/F, Harbour Plaza 8 Degrees, 199 Kowloon City Road, To Kwa Wan
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/delicious-cookies-from-cafe-8-degrees-e2311066


Thanks to a friend for these delicious cookies.





★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Chocolate and almond cookies:

As you can see, it was loaded with lots of almond in it.
Each bite was delicious with a good crunch of almond combined with a strong cocao taste.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Palmiers:

Compared to other palmiers, the size of these were much smaller which was good because you can pop them in your mouth without breaking them.
They were crisp and buttery with a delicate flakey texture.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 2686] Delicious! Cheap! EAT AT YOUR OWN RISK! @ 鴻記潮州滷鵝快餐

30/07/2013
鴻記潮州滷鵝快餐
灣仔駱克道224號地下
G/F, 224 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/delicious-cheap-eat-at-your-own-risk-e2310970





This WAS my favourite eatery because it was cheap and delicious and offers a wide range for chiu chow food.
It was a pity on a recent visit I found a dead intact woodlouse in the food.
Before I black listed it, my favourite was the goose liver and goose blood jelly!
They both tasted strong and the goose liver was moist.
It is hard rating this place because the food is good so I would give it a smile, but since I found a woodlouse I want to give it a crying face.
Anyway I hope it was a one-off and should I bother telling them I found a woodlouse in the food?

[Review 2685] Not very good banquet hall @ 百好宴會廳 Very good Banquet Hall

29/07/2013
百好宴會廳 Very good Banquet Hall
將軍澳培成路8號南豐廣場1樓R3號舖
Shop R3, 1//F, Nam Fung Shopping Arcade, 8 Pui Shing Road, Tseung Kwan O
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/not-very-good-banquet-hall-e2310963


Went to the restaurant below.









★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Steamed fish:

The steamed fish was on promotion for $28 but you need to check to see if it is still available and you must order other dishes that cost at least $68 to qualify.

It was a fresh fish but it was ruined by the oil which was rancid.
Either it was steamed in this oil or the oil was heated in a stinky wok and poured on top of the fish.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Chinese style angus filet:

The menu here was idiot proof with photographs for every dish.

Again, the wok or whatever it was cooked in was rancid so it had an unpleasant taste.
Anyway, the beef was marinated in soda flour prior to cooking hence its soft tasteless texture.
It was quite salty too.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Steamed aubergines topped with dried prawns and squid:

This dish was meant to healthy, ie steamed aubergines!!
But it turned out the whole dish was REALLY oily and there was a pool of oil at the bottom which makes me wonder if it was steamed in oil.



I felt that they put sugar in this dish because it tasted really artificially sweet.
The dried prawns on the top were fried and tasted a bit bitter.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
It is advised to check your bill because one of the items was cancelled by them because it was sold out and we were still billed for it. GREAT JOB!!

[Review 2684] Delicious BBQ pork toast on Cloud 9 @ 新雲景燒臘茶餐廳 Cloud View Chinese BBQ Congee Needle Restaurant

27/07/2013
新雲景燒臘茶餐廳  Cloud View Chinese BBQ Congee Needle Restaurant
北角寶馬山道賽西湖商場5號舖
Shop 5, G/F, Braemar Hill Shopping Centre, North Point
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/delicious-bbq-pork-toast-on-cloud-9-e2310349





Before I talk about food, I have just discovered Braemar Hill is such a great place, the air is crisp and pure, and the whole area is clean and unpolluted that I wonder why people still go to Sai Kung thinking it is such a nice area.

Anyway, the English name on OpenRice is somewhat hilarious because it is called "Cloud View Chinese BBQ Congee NEEDLE Restaurant" (perhaps noodle instead of needle?)


I found this restaurant really interesting because it is located in Braemar Hill where all the tycoons live but this place was really down to earth and the prices were reasonable too.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Soya chicken and roast pork with rice:


The best tasting roast pork in Hong Kong!!! I thought Joy Hing was good but this is the best!
It is slightly fatty but the texture is gelatinous and also burnt too so it is crispy as well.
There is no bitter taste even though it is slightly charred but the texture of the pork was really moist and soft.
The chicken was good too and their rice also stood out too because it was fragrant and fluffy!
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Roast pork toast:


There was thinly sliced lean pork in the middle and the chewiness of it paired nicely with the crispy toast.
Basically, it was delicious, and the un buttered version is even better because the margarine ruins it. 
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
The roast pork here is so delicious that I have purposely got the minibus up here three times now just for their roast pork!

[Review 2683] Good concept but too oily @ 大久屋 Daikuya

27/07/2013
大久屋 Daikuya
將軍澳唐俊街9號Popcorn 2 期 G50 cookedDeli by city'super
Shop G50, cookedDeli by city'super, Popcorn 2, 9 Tong Chun Street, Tseung Kwan O
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/good-concept-but-too-oily-e2310348

I am not really a fan of pork or deep fried cutlets, but tried this place because of the Japanese style pork kievs.

As well as these pork kievs, they had other snacks too such as fried cutlet egg, fried cheese etc, but none of them were available when I tried to order them.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
At the counter, they had samples of the different kievs:

Kiev filled with miso and radish:

Kiev filled with creamy mushrooms:


Kiev filled with Spinach:











★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Decided to get the Kiev with miso and radish because the spinach and mushroom ones looked a bit creamy.

The set comes with soba, rice or ochazuke, julienne cabbage and a drink.

The soba was a bit too soft for my liking.

The julienne vegetables were really nice because of the sesame sauce.

The green tea was the best out of the set because it was not too sweet and the green tea taste was strong.

The star of the meal! The Kiev!
It was a bit too oily!


I was a bit disappointed the filling was same colour as the coating. The miso was not even dark nor was there any miso paste or beans in it because I could only taste some slight grated radish.
The filling was bit weak and tasteless.
More annoyingly, the pork was very fatty!

[Review 7821] Kaya toast @ 一粥麵 Super Super Congee & Noodle

19/12/2020 一粥麵  Super Super Congee & Noodle 樂富聯合道198號樂富廣場1樓1113-1114號舖 Shop 1113-1114, 1/F, Lok Fu Shopping Centre, 198 Junction Road, L...