[Review 2970] Buffet @ 綠茵閣 Garden Cafe

18/11/2013
綠茵閣  Garden Cafe
北角城市花園道9號城市花園酒店1樓
1/F, City Garden Hotel, 9 City Garden Road, North Point
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/buffet-garden-cafe-e2331720


Selected Garden Cafe for buffet because it was close to the MTR station.

There was a wide selection of food and a drinks counter.

Here are some of the highlights in the selection:
huge steamed fish
Braised ducks feet and mushrooms:

Here is one of the plates of food I had:

The dessert selection was great too, they had banoffee pie.

The green tea bun was cute and not too sweet.

The mint mousse with chocolate with my favourite because the mint was refreshing balanced by the rich chocolate flakes.

Lastly I finished with a cherry crepe with cream.


I'll be back!

[Review 2969] Back for more British goodies @ Vanilla

18/11/2013
Vanilla
半山摩羅廟街33號地下
mosque Road
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/back-for-more-british-goodies-e2331719

The black forest cake I had last time was amazing so went back for more.
This time I had a savoury tart too and I still have to come back for pies and quiches.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Black forest cake:

On my last review, I forgot to show how many whole cherries it had in the middle, so this visit, I have taken the top part of the cake off.
As you can see, there are nine plump cherries in the middle and one on the top, so thats 10.

In between the cherries, there was gorgeous whipped cream.
As well as that the chocolate shavings on top were amazing because they were NANO thin and melts in your mouth. They were as soft as snowflakes.
The cake as a whole was delicious, the chocolate sponge was light and the cream was deliciously fresh whipped cream guaranteed with a juicy cherry in each bite because there were so many cherries in this cake!
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Feta and tomato tart:
I was hoping the tart to taste like a quiche but it did not.

Anyway, it was a thin tart base filled with peas, feta and tomato.
The tomato and feta paired nicely and I wish there was more Feta because it tasted lovely.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 2968] Cakes @ J'aime bien Patisserie

17/11/2013
J'aime bien Patisserie
灣仔聖佛蘭士街33號萬豪閣地下3號舖
Shop no.3, UG/F, Manrich Court, 33 St. Francis Street, Wan Chai
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/cakes-jaime-bien-patisserie-e2331624

It was hard getting a seat there because it was packed with people so opted for takeaway.
Since there were only two cakes I wanted to try I could not get a box because you only get a box for three cakes or more.
I don't think I would have been impressed if I bought the most expensive cake which costs $52 and given just a flimsy paper bag to carry it.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Pistachio and tofu entremet:

Pistachio dacquoise, tofu mousse, red fruit jelly, white chocolate glaze
This was my favourite, light tofu mousse with fragrant pistachio puree and fruity red jelly in the middle.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Caramel Cube $42:

The caramel cube was a bit heavy with a cheesecake texture.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 2967] Noodles @ 新拱照車仔麵

17/11/2013
新拱照車仔麵
灣仔譚臣道101號
101 Thomson Road, Wan Chai
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/noodles-%E6%96%B0%E6%8B%B1%E7%85%A7%E8%BB%8A%E4%BB%94%E9%BA%B5-e2331616

Came here for some quick instant noodles.
The only bonus of ordering the noodle set was the bottled coke.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Instant noodles with luncheon meat, pork blood jelly:
The noodles were too soft and tasteless, and the blood curds were quite salty.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 2966] Not a Beary Christmas :( @ 太平洋咖啡 Pacific Coffee

17/11/2013
太平洋咖啡 Pacific Coffee
灣仔駱克道41號東城大廈UG4-5號舖
UG 4-5, 41 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/not-a-beary-christmas-e2331610

Saw the new poster for the new Beary Christmas drinks.
The Crema scura black forest mocha was really cute because the poster showed a cute latte art animal of a polar bear.

Honestly it's too good to be true that PC could do latte art.
It's just the same if McDonald's had a poster serving Wagyu or Foie Gras burgers!

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Crema scura black forest mocha:

I know photos are only there for illustration purposes but I was just expecting a poor attempt at the polar bar but not NONE!!!

They should learn how to do animal latte art from Allegretto in TST or don't bother putting up a poster like that if they can't do it.

I specifically dined there so that the mocha would be in a ceramic cup and not a paper cup because the lid would just demolish the polar bear.


When it came, there was no bear at all which was disappointing.
I asked why it was in a paper cup and he just said that the polar bear is for illustration purposes and they do not do them   .
The taste was just mocha with blackcurrant syrup!
Thanks for the lovely shxt start to Christmas!
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 2965] The Trigger Dog Family has grown @ 熱狗家族 Trigger Dog Family

17/11/2013
熱狗家族 Trigger Dog Family
北角電器道254-280號華凱大廈A4舖
Shop A4, Wah Hoi Mansion, 254-280 Electric Road, North Point
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/the-trigger-dog-family-has-grown-e2331362

Since my last visit, this place has been in the limelight.
They have created two more new hotdogs and palmiers.

There is going to be a cake cabinet soon with cakes, macarons and even cocktails.
I am really looking forward to this other hotdog with avocado filling.

Here was what we tried:

Both hotdogs were paired with frankfurters which has a nice soft texture that doesn't distract you when your eating it and the buns were lovely and soft.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Oliver:

Looking like a hotdog covered in cocktail sauce or mentaiko dressing, it is actually a hotdog with seafood on top.
I wasn't sure how they were going to taste together but this has now become my favourite hotdog because of the sauce and seafood.
The sauce is made from tomato, yoghurt and sesame making it slightly Turkish style because the tomato and yoghurt was really appetizing.
As for the seafood filling, it was tasty and not like the normal frozen ones which are rubbery and tasteless.
They were pieces of small mussels and pieces of squid which went really well with the Frankfurter.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Crazy dog:

This was a frankfurter topped with pork chili con carne which has a better delicate texture.
It is a tastier version of Wendy which is beef bolognaise (please see previous review).
The spices in this gave it more depth and kick and personally I love chili con carne.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Chocolate brownie:

The chocolate brownie was as good as before and not cloyingly sweet.
I loved it warm because it was soft and had a strong cocao taste.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Palmiers:

I was surprised they made Palmiers.
They were quite nice because the buttery taste and smell was not too overpowering.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

Looking forward to the coming hotdog with avocado filling and possible fried chicken!

[Review 2964]Italian food at Oak Tree Ristorante @ Oak Tree Ristorante

16/11/2013
Oak Tree Ristorante
此店已改名為 Marco’s Oyster Bar & Grill
佐敦西貢街23號彩鴻酒店1樓
1/F, Travelodge Kowloon, 23 Saigon Street, Jordan
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/italian-food-at-oak-tree-ristorante-e2331343

Located in the quiet end of Jordan lies Oak Tree Ristorante.

It has fun and lively vibes for gatherings and large groups.

Here was what we tried:

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Fresh Oysters:


Scotland and Tasmanian oysters.
Both were nice and fresh, nicely opened without pieces of shell in it.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Italian Antipasto Plate with Farmer Bread:


A nice selection of Parma ham, mozzarella di bufala, salami, artichokes, grilled vegetables in extra virgin olive oil.
Their bread was deliciously soft with lots of fragrant herbs.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Black Truffle and Porcini Mushrooms Cream Soup:

Tasted extremely milky with lots of porcini mushrooms that had a crunch to it.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Mushroom and Truffle Pizza:

Tomato, mozzarella cheese, mixed mushrooms & truffles.
I liked the pizza because the tomato base was really tangy.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
1/2 Lobster Tail in Wine Sauce topped with Black Truffle Shaving:

The lobster could have been meatier.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Meat platter:

A selection of prime Rib Eye, US Pork Chop and lamb Chops.
As I was quite full I did not try it.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Mushroom and seabass Risotto:

Italian rice slowly cooked in mushroom served with seabass.
The risotto was nice and creamy and the fish was tender.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Gnocchi alla Romana:

This was my favourite Italian potato gnocchi.
It was soft and thickly covered in delicious tomato sauce.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Classic Tiramisu:

Nice and creamy.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Napoleon Cake:

Light and flakey pastry with sweet strawberries in the middle.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Snow Ball:

After trying this, Snow ball is now my favourite alcoholic drink because it is sweet and different.
Made with advocaat which contains egg and tastes similar to eggnog.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★