[Review 3160] Quantity not quality @ 德仔記(點心小菜王)

10/02/2014
德仔記(點心小菜王)
油麻地彌敦道385-389號地下28-31號舖
Shop28-31, G/F, 385-389 Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/quantity-not-quality-e2346097

As my general rule, I try not to spend more than $40 on Chinese food in the MK area because it is bound to be crap so if food is going to be crap I might as well choose cheap food.

Anyway chose this place randomly.
At the front they have a steamer with Chinese buns and drawers of food brightly labelled in red.
The menu was good, it had pictures and ENGLISH too!

It was quite funny because they had wonton with instant noodles as opposed to wonton type noodles.

Regrettably, the noodles which I did not order would have probably been a safe option because you can't fail with instant noodles.
After ordering, I was given the bill!
[Spot the difference??]

The restaurant name and the restaurant name on the bill seem to different.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Roast pork bun:

Two huge buns, but unfortunately the bun was really dense and sticky, the flour mixture had not risen properly.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Chicken feet in black bean sauce:

They were nice and soft but too salty.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
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Price: $32

[Review 3159] There has been some improvement @ 百味出色 Amazing Food

07/02/2014
百味出色 Amazing Food
灣仔石水渠街1號其發大廈地下8號舖
Shop 8, G/F., Luckifast Building, 1 Stone Nullah Lane, Wan Chai
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/there-has-been-some-improvement-e2345526

On my previous review, I was annoyed with their PFC boxes because you can literally taste it in the food.
Gave it another try and it was good that they have used different PFC boxes because the food does not taste of PFC which makes it a tad healthier.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
beef patty with egg:

I don't think the beef patty was 100% beef and the pink colour looked like it was raw.
It appears that there is a lot of flour and soda powder mixed in because the texture is very elastic and soft, and the pinkness is probably due to the soda powder.
To be honest, it did not taste like beef or have any beef taste.
There were lots of chopped parsley in it but I could not taste it.
The egg fared better because the egg yolk was partly runny inside and the rice was a little bit too hard but tasted good with the sweetness of the soy sauce.
In terms of portion, it was quite small because it was steamed in a ceramic bowl and then put in the box when you order it.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 3158] A lovely Tavern for Taiwanese healthy desserts @

07/02/2014
227甜棧 227 Desserts Tavern
Shop B, G/F., 246 Fa Yuen Street, Prince Edward
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/a-lovely-tavern-for-taiwanese-healthy-desserts-e2345524

Dined here ages ago in the sticky hot summer but never got round to writing this because the menu was in Chinese and the ingredients were Taiwanese which is hard to review in English.

Situated on the quiet side of Prince Edward lies this very Oriental themed dessert place that could be classified as Chinese style too because of the red painted walls, lanterns and dark heavy wood tables and chairs.

On the menu, there were three types of desserts:
-DIY with fixed options
-Hot desserts
-Desserts with fish maw

I like the DIY desserts where you have to choose main dessert from the choice of:
soy bean dessert, black soy bean dessert, black sugar slush or grass jelly.
Then you choose some toppings ranging from lotus seeds, pearls, glutinous rice etc.

Lastly you choose the final topping out of soymilk, black sugar water or black sugar slush.
I decided to get grass jelly as a base.

The grass jelly here is different to the usual ones which are cut into cubes.
Here they scoop it out so the grass jelly is a big chunk!

On the table the black syrup is separate so you can added your desired amount.

There is a tank of hot tea which was really good because it is good having Chinese with sweet desserts.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Fish maw jelly:

The fish maw jelly was really nice because it was not too sweet.
I would like the black sugar syrup to be served separately before they serve it so that I can try what it tastes like naturally without any flavourings.

There are pieces of fish maw in the jelly which are slightly chewy because it has been chilled.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
My DIY dessert:

Dessert base
- grass jelly
Toppings
- black sugar jelly
- wolfberry jelly
Dessert topping
- black sugar slush

The dessert was divine and they gave you metal spoons just like the one above which was useful for spooning the grass jelly because the texture of this grass jelly was tougher than the usual ones.
The black sugar slush was so refreshing because it melts into a sweet liquid when you eat it giving the dessert an extra boost of black sugar sweetness.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
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[Review 3157] A cute coffee shed @ Mymy Caffe

06/02/2014
Mymy Caffe
上環急庇利街地下8號C舖
Shop C, G/F, 8 Cleverly Street, Sheung Wan
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/a-cute-coffee-shed-e2345379

I have always wanted to try this place because it is the smallest coffee shop in Hong Kong, but since I do not drink coffee there was nothing for me to try until I read the recent reviews about chocolate!
The shop is about the width of a bicycle.
The sitting area is so small that only one person can go in and if someone wants to get out or get in, you have to come out to let the other person do so.

Although the place is tiny, it is heavily decorated with bric a brac and postcards.
This place has a lot of publicity because of its size but it is strange that there are not many reviews on it.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Thick hot chocolate:

I loved it because it was so thick you have to spoon it like a dessert.
To be honest it tasted like chocolate flavoured English custard and there was no sour aftertaste which was amazing.

Definitely a good choice for a cold winters day and if your feeling peckish for dessert.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Grapefruit soda (crodino):

This soda was unique and there is nothing that tastes quite like this.
The owners flew them here from Italy.
They said it was grapefruit soda which looked like Irn bru from its coppery orange colour.
The taste was sweet at first and then came an ultra bitter tone, which tastes exactly like grapefruit peel!
According to Wiki Crodino is a non-alcoholic bitter aperitif, produced since 1964. It is an orange colored drink made of herbal extracts and sugar, and it is sold in 6 oz bottles primarily consumed in Italy and other European countries.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
hot chocolate with ginger:

This was a little disappointing because I was expecting it to be thick just like the chocolate drink above.
The ginger was nice and strong but there was a slight sour aftertaste.
It also had a milkier taste and a powdery chocolate texture in the drink.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

I can't wait to come back for the thick chocolate again.
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[Review 3156] A quick stop of food @ 合興潮州粉面專家

06/02/2014
合興潮州粉面專家
灣仔譚臣道119號舖
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/a-quick-stop-of-food-e2345366

This place has been opened for quite a while but I have never intended to dine there.
I only dined here because the place was empty and I was too lazy to go elsewhere.
As well as Wan Chai, they have branches in Shau Kei Wan.

Surprisingly the menu has English!


The sugar sachets were contained in a sugar lump container which was kind of funny.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Soup:

The soup came with the rice and the seaweed was quite clean because there was no sand in it.
It was topped with crushed fried garlic and chopped parsley which gave it some smoky and grassy taste to the soup.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Ox's stomach with rice:

I chose rice because noodles are not filling.
Basically the rice had some tasteless sauce poured on top which made the rice wet.
The ox's stomach was tasteless as well, but after I used the soy sauce and chili oil, it enhanced the rice and ox's stomach and made it more delectable.
Overall, the food was ok, but I did not like the soggy rice so only had half of it which was a waste and I wish they had metal spoons because I can't eat with those weird shaped spoons.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
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Price: $33

[Review 3155] Maxim's Love Story 2014 @ 美心西餅 Maxim's Cake Shop

05/02/2014
美心西餅 Maxim's Cake Shop
中環德輔道中20號德成大廈地下3號舖
Shop 3, G/F, Tak Shing House, 20 Des Voeux Road Central, Central
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/maxims-love-story-2014-e2345226

Thanks to Maxim's for sending me some of their Valentines cake to try.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Rose Garden $128:
This was a Pretty cake with rose patterned cream on the outside with three layers of different pink coloured cream.
They give you raspberry crunchies and chocolate hearts so that you decorate the cake how you want.

Beneath the cream is strawberry sponge and pieces of strawberry in it.
It was a nice soft cake with lots of velvety cream complemented by chunky raspberry crunchies that was not too sweet.

For those who can read Chinese:

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Our Love Story $78:

The packaging is really pretty and has two cakes inside:

It would be a nice surprise as the cakes are discreetly disguised in the box.
+++

Strawberry mousse cake with strawberry jelly topped with three fresh raspberries.
+++

Chocolate mousse cake with crispy chocolate inside.
+++
As a girl, I liked the strawberry mousse cake because of the raspberries on top and the strawberry jelly in the middle in light strawberry mousse.

The chocolate was stronger and quite rich which would suitable for guys too and girls with a sweet tooth.

Again, more description in Chinese if you read Chinese.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

They also have other cakes in the series for Valentines day.

[Review 3154] Vegetarian sweet and sour @ 華豐燒臘專家 Wah Fung

03/02/2014
華豐燒臘專家 Wah Fung
中環威靈頓街112-114號
112-114 Wellington Street, Central
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/vegetarian-sweet-and-sour-e2344798

Came here randomly and I did not realise they were specialists in roast so ordered other stuff.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Vegetarian sweet and sour:
This was monkey mushrooms coated in cornflour and cooked in the usual way to make the sweet and sour dish.
It was really nice, just like the meat version but after having a few, I got tired eating them.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Lamb stew with beancurd skin in fermented beancurd sauce:

The beancurd skin was not soft enough and the sauce was really salty.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Rice:

The rice was not that fresh because it was yellow.
You could see that it was very yellow compared to the white bowl.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
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Price: $1xx