[Review 3199] Big balls! @ 長洲東源小食店 TUNG YUEN SNACK

03/03/2014
長洲東源小食店 TUNG YUEN SNACK
長洲海傍街30號後座地下
G/F, 30 Praya Street, Cheung Chau
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/big-balls-e2349650

In Cheung Chau, there are lots of places selling HUGE BALLS, oops I mean huge fish balls.
I went to this stall randomly because they had five flavours:
Curry, Green Curry, Satay, Gravy and plain.
I chose the gravy because it was not spicy.
I also had a skewer of offal as well.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Fish balls in gravy:

To me, fish balls are not really my cup of tea because I often find grounded fish bones in it and there is not more than 10% of fish in the mixture which is why it does not have any fish taste and needs sauces and more MSG in the mixture.
As I was a spoilt brat, the fishballs I had were homemade which had more fish meat than flour in them.
Anyway, the fish balls here were ok, at least they did not contain any bones and they were springy and elastic.
The sauce was sweet and savoury which helped flavour the outside of the fishball and because it was so big by the time you got through to the middle there was no sauce left and it just tastes like the ordinary fish ball with a hint of sweetness but no fish taste.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Offal:

Not my cup of tea because the colour of it was dull and they stank.
Something was not cleaned properly which stank out everything in the pot.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
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Price: $19

[Review 3198] Let's duck to Cheung Chau for French crepes @ 食duck啦 Omyduck

03/03/2014
食duck啦 Omyduck
長洲海傍街37號地下
G/F, 37 Praya Street, Cheung Chau
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/lets-duck-to-cheung-chau-for-french-crepes-e2349648

Saw this shop listed on OpenRice and the name 食duck啦 Omyduck was really catchy so I googled it and found out that they did French crepes so I went to Cheung Chau especially for them.
Their logo is really nice too with a duck wearing a French beret with a curly moustache and blue striped t-shirt.
It is located near the pier which was great.
There was a French guy wearing a classic French beret making crepes with fresh bananas, sauces laid at the front of the stall.

 0 讚好

The menu was simple, there were savoury galettes and sweet crepes.

The savoury crepes were made with buckwheat served crispy with savoury fillings, there was a choice of:
omyduck (duck confit, rocket salad, homemade dressing)
La complete (ham, French cheese and egg)
smoked salmon (smoked salmon, fresh cream, fresh cheese)

For sweet crepes, there was a choice of:
Butter and sugar
lemon and sugar
nutella chocolate
mango, strawberry or cherry
nutella and banana
grand marnier

Anyway ordered the omyduck because of the duck confit.

Basically he puts the galette mixture on the galette maker.


Then he put some cheese on my galette for some reason but it does not say there was cheese in the one I ordered.

Then he put my favourite dijon mustard.

On the other galette iron, he heats up the duck.


I didn't spot him put any rocket salad in it as stated on the menu  and the galette was ready.

Anyway, it was really nice of him to slice it for me because there is no seating.  If it wasn't sliced it would be hard to eat the crepe with a plastic fork standing up without a knife.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
omyduck:

It was nicely sliced into bite sized pieces which made it easier to enjoy.

The crepe was fantastic because it was crispy and the filling was delicious with the mustard which enhanced the duck with some extra saltiness and tanginess in taste while the cheese held it together when it melted.
For improvements, the duck could have been softer and shredded into smaller chunks so that it could be uniformly distributed in the crepe.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Lemon and sugar crepe:

When he made it, he squeezed quite a fair bit of lemon into the crepe.
Anyway, I loved the texture of the crepe because it was soft and elastic.
He also put quite a fair bit of butter in it too which made me think "merde" in my head because I don't like butter but overall it was so delicious because it was really lemoney and not too sweet and the butter helped to give it that extra grease so that it wasnt too dry.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

As a summary, I really loved the crepes and I hope the standards remain the same.
I super regretted not getting the other salmon one too because not many places do salmon crepes and the price of these savoury crepes were a bargain, but Cheung Chau is annoyingly far and getting in and out of CC is rather troublesome just like sai kung !


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Price: $70

[Review 3197] Thes BEST Dim Sum in Hong Kong @ Dragon I

02/03/2014
Dragon I
中環雲咸街60號中央廣場平台
Podium, The Centrium, 60 Wyndham Street, Central
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/thes-best-dim-sum-in-hong-kong-e2349491

Thes BEST Dim Sum in Hong Kong
2014-03-02  6992 瀏覽
At night, this is a thriving swanky chic club, in the day it is a classy restaurant for quality dim sums.

It is reassuring to see that 80% of the patrons are expats.
Although most expats are in Central, you don't find a majority of them in other Chinese restaurants which means this place is good!
 0 讚好

I used to think the dim sums at Loyal dining and Loong Toh Yuen were good but the ones here are amazing, almost everything you order turns out great whereas at the other dim sum places, there are only one or two that are good.
I was surprised they are nominated in the Michelin nor in openrice's latest list because Dragon i dates back to 1967 way before I was born!!

As this restaurant is a nightclub at night, you would expect unpleasant smells from spilt drinks/alcohol/vomit but there were none.

However they do use aroma essences which make me dizzy.

Basically they serve all you can eat dim sum at $198 per person with nice ambiance because you don't get surrounded by loud chatter and clinking ceramics!
The best part is that you don't  need to rinse anything!
Pity I did not discover this place earlier because it was cheaper before and I have been here so many times.

The quality is not as consistent as I would have hoped but the in general, the food quality is better than the dim sums elsewhere.

The staff here speak good English and are very attentative and they even refill your cups of tea as well.

I loved the huge oriental black teapot with flowers which was so classic and it holds a lot of tea in it too.
 0 讚好

 0 讚好

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Fried crab claws:
 0 讚好

It was a treat having these for dim sum because you usually find them in Chinese banquets and not served a la carte.
It was big and surprisingly filled with quality REAL crabmeat and prawn patty.
Again it was delicious when their frying oil was fresh.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Sauces:

complimentary chili sauces that goes well with all their dim sums and enhances the taste.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Jellyfish:
 0 讚好

The jellyfish appetizer was divine, it was chunky pieces of jellyfish head which have a meatier texture soaked in their aromatic sesame and chili sauce seasoning.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Rice rolls with roast pork:
The best of the best here!!
They have joined forces with Joy Hing roast who are famous for roast pork!!
 0 讚好


The rice rolls were truly delicious as well because of the thinly sliced roast pork from JH inside wrapped tautly in the delicious THIN and al dente rice rolls skin paired with their delicious sweet soy sauce!!
From the photo you can see how translucent the rice roll skin was.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Fried crab dumplings:

This was similar to the crab claws, but it had more crabmeat inside which was fluffier and softer encased in the delicious crispy shell!
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Sharks fin dumpling in soup:
 0 讚好

I was surprised by this as well because I found crabmeat in it too, but the soup was a bit heavy for my liking however they have red vinegar which balances it out.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Beef and parsley balls:

If they are consistent, these beef balls are delicious because the parsley was fragrant and they put lots into it.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
fried squid rings:

These squid rings were addictive because they were chunky, soft and the coating was thin and delicious.
I loved the soft fatty texture of each squid ring complemented by the light crispy batter.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Vegetarian rice rolls:


Another genius dish of rice rolls because they were filled with crunchy vietnamese rolls with a crisp netting and juicy pieces of white carrot and waterchestnuts inside complemented by the fragrant parsley leaves on the outside.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Roast pork buns:

If these buns could be consistent, again they taste the best because the bun was really fluffy and soft without being dry.
The roast pork filling inside was delicious and not fatty.
Usually expats and I hate these roast pork buns because they just taste sweet but here you can actually taste the roast pork and the fluffy bun was not that sweet as well.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Anyway, I love this place for dim sum and I don't get bored of it.
If you google this place, it comes up with the best place for dim sum in expat forums but it hasn't been nominated for anything yet.
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Price: $198 per person

[Review 3196]Just my luck, NOT!! @ 甜品工房 The Dessert Kitchen

02/03/2014
甜品工房 The Dessert Kitchen
尖沙咀厚福街12-12A號地下
G/F, 12-12A Hau Fook Street, Tsim Sha Tsui

https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/just-my-luck-not-e2349348
Just my luck, NOT!!


I've never believed in group buying or even attempted to register an account to buy these things because it does not really work in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong, out of most countries is profit orientated while it's mother country is corrupted.
You can just tell how money hungry they are with cosmetic shops selling samples which are meant to be given to customers.
Same with retailers who try and get you to spend over a certain amount to give you a mere worthless discounts or samples that were meant to be free anyway.

They just copy schemes and change the rules beneficial to them such as bonus points which you have to spend it within a certain period or you only get points awarded for spending a pathetic huge amount which the ordinary person does not.
Never have I been deducted in the UK where I have not spent my points.

Most restaurants will increase the prices and make it look like you are getting a good deal through group buying when in fact you are just paying the normal price because group buying just guarantees revenue for a restaurant.
Restaurants or companies likely to go bust soon like to take on these schemes.

Anyway, this time I bought the group buy because I had already tried the icecream at the original price for $35 before the $10 group buy deal was introduced.
(minimum of two orders ie $20)
{SEPARATE REVIEW ON ITS WAY FOR NORMAL PAYING EXPERIENCE, WHICH I SHALL SHARE AFTER THE GROUP BUY OFFER ENDS.}
I only got it because it was pathetically cheap and $20 to me is not a lot of money because I often waste more than $20 on shitty food.

The redemption period for this group buy is from 10th of Feb to 31st of March.

ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE, THEY WERE BOASTING THAT 8400 people BOUGHT THIS DEAL.

ANYWAY, THE MAIN POINT IS THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST 8400 PORTIONS OF ICECREAM IN STOCK AND MAYBE EXTRA FOR WALK IN CUSTOMERS.
SINCE THE REDEMPTION PERIOD IS FROM 10/2/14 TO 31/3/14, IT MEANS THAT THERE IS 49 DAYS TO REDEEM IT.
ON AVERAGE THEY SHOULD BE DISHING OUT 171 CUPS OF ICECREAM PER DAY (8400/49), WHICH IS ABOUT 17 CUPS PER HOUR (171/10) IF THEIR OPENING TIMES ARE CORRECT FROM 3PM TO 1AM.
The probability of an equal distribution in real life models certainly don't happen!
But most probably, there is a low redemption in the first few days and a sudden surge of people redeeming nearer the deadline which means they need to dish out more than 171 cups per day increasing the hourly rate to 30 cups per hour!~!

I had to wait for the flavours to be rotated because I have already tried the other flavours at full price before the group buy redemption started.

It was very kind of the dessert shop to reply to my enquiry when the new flavours were out so I went there on the 24/2/14.
However when I got there, their kitchen broke down, hence it was closed for the evening.
Luckily, I found a good eatery nearby called Mr. Chef Cafe.
http://www.openrice.com/restaurant/commentdetail.htm?commentid=2349006


Went back a few days later (28/2/14) and the flavour I wanted was not available and they don't know when it would be available.
Luckily, I stumbled on this new McDonalds with modern decor.

Anyway, my third and last attempt (2/3/14), called and they said they had it but when I got there, there was a sign saying sold out!!
hooray!! time for this negative review!!!

Initially I was going to write a long review combining the paid experience and group buy experience which would feature four flavours:
Sweet potato, Tomato and yoghurt, sweetcorn and salt and some other flavour!!
But anyway, lets just say $20 wasted!!! Because it is wasting my time and money on further visits to TST because I don't go there!~
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[Review 3195] Spring at Azure @ Azure Restaurant Slash Bar

01/03/2014
Azure Restaurant Slash Bar
中環中環蘭桂坊雲咸街33號隆堡蘭桂坊酒店29-30樓
29-30/F, Hotel LKF by Rhombus, 33 Wyndham Street, Lan Kwai Fong， Central, Central
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/spring-at-azure-e2349170

Spring at Azure
2014-03-01  26 瀏覽
Tried the spring four course dinner which begins on March 4 for $588.
I have always been a fan of Azure because of the breathtaking views of Hong Kong and amazing location.
 0 讚好

The decor of Azure is fantastic with a classy bar at the end.
 0 讚好

A cocktail of colourful and fun drinks we had that night.
 0 讚好

Naturally I love the vibes and the people here because the Chef is British and they have a hotel in the UK too.

To start off, we had bread which a came with three butters!! Not one but a choice of three!!
There was olive, truffle and Italian tomato.
 0 讚好

All three butters were exceptionally good.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Goat's cheese:

This was compressed watermelon which is juicier and concentrated paired with goats cheese, pistachio, truffle and olive.
As you can see, it was presented colourfully and elegantly especially the golden caviar balls and truffle powder.
The cubes of juicy watermelon and cheese were just wonderful, a sweet burst followed by savoriness of the cheese.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Minestrone di primavera:
Light spring minestrone soup with finely diced zucchini.
 0 讚好


The soup was poured into the bowl infusing with the vegetables and light foam.
I loved this soup because it couldn't be more refreshing, I loved the tartness and richness of the tomato.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

For the mains, there are three choices which we all tried:

Roasted red mullet:

Roasted Charlotte potatoes and fennel with an olive and capers salsa.
Succulent fish paired with heavily soaked fennel in alcohol which had a striking taste.

Veal saltimbocca:

Classic Italian dish with thin pan-fried veal scaloppini with sauteed spinach and prosciutto.
Even though beef is not my favourite meat, but this is the one to choose because the veal meat was soft and supple.
The prosciutto was gorgeous too because it was crispy and salty!!

Pappardelle with short rib ragu:

US beef short rib braised in red wine and beef stock with fresh tomatoes and basil.
As well as the veal, I liked this too because of the richly braised beef but the pappardelle could have been softer and more tomato and basil sauce would be good.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Chamomile mascarpone mousse:

Lime jelly infused with chamomile served with homemade honey ice-cream.
Dessert here was visually stunning as well as mouth watering especially the honey icecream which had a fragrant honey taste, and the mousse in the middle had this texture similar to marshmallow.
I finished with the orange segment last as a refreshing juicy palate cleanser.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★