Supersupergirl from openrice

[Review 3426] Japanese style Lemon Meringue @ 米珈琲 Bei Coffee

08/06/2014
米珈琲 Bei Coffee
西貢西貢大街3號地下
G/F., 3 Sai Kung Tai Street, Sai Kung
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/japanese-style-lemon-meringue-e2368565

Went here because I saw the new Lemon Meringue on their FB.
It looked different to the usual ones.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Lemon meringue:
When it came it certainly looked different, it was a rectangular block slice that was seared on all sides.
There is no short crust pastry base which is replaced with a thin piece of black sesame cracker.
I liked the thin layer of lemon curd which had fine strands of lemon rind in it that were not bitter but gave it a nice zesty taste with a generous layer of fluffy but not sweet meringue on top.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
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[Review 3425] Affordable dim sum on Elgin Road @ 鼎點 1968 Ding Dim 1968

08/06/2014
鼎點 1968 Ding Dim 1968
中環蘇豪伊利近街14D號A舖
Shop No.A, 14D Elgin Street, Soho, Central
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/affordable-dim-sum-on-elgin-road-e2368250

Tried this new dim sum restaurant on Elgin road opposite Vbest Tea House which used to be the only Chinese restaurant there.
The prices between Vbest and Ding dim 1968 are very different.There is no 10% service charge but there is a $3 per person tea charge.
Dim sums cost around $2x per basket which is cheap dining in Central.
The restaurant was quite small but evidently successful because it was almost 99% full.
Nice interior and the staff wear Tshirts printed with Ding Dim 1968.

Cute model trolley.
There must be some meaning with the 1968 because their mobile number ends with 1968 which is part of the restaurant name too.

It was impressive that they had a website and Facebook with the menu on there.
However I tried to call the number 96981968 listed to see if they were open but it did not work.

I think they should have a teapot on each table so that diners can refill tea themselves as the staff were quite busy.

While I was eating, I found some hair (which looked like a piece of eyelash) embedded in the dumpling skin so I informed one of the waitresses.
You could hear the chef in the background making an issue that I should have found more hairs instead of one and he said I should have taken photographs which I regret not doing because he probably thought I was framing him.

Initially the chef wanted to replace that one dumpling but the manager said to give a full portion.

To be honest, their dim sums are not expensive if they thought I was trying to get more and it would not bother me to just get one or a full portion!!

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Fried dumplings with shrimp and foie gras:

The fried prawn dumpings with foie gras were my favourite because it was light and crispy and the foie gras texture was like pate mousse.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Steamed rice with chicken feet and spareribs:

The rice beneath it was delicious, every grain was flavoured and evenly coated with sauce after it had been steamed.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Steamed chicken feet:
This was interesting because it had CRINKLE CUT CHIPS beneath it.
According to Ding Dim 1968 traditionally chopped potatoes and lotus roots are used, French fries have been an alternative in HK in some restaurants, for below reason:
Chopped potatoes and蓮藕 are normally used to keep the chicken/pork ribs a-floated (from the oily but tasty sauce) but most of the time they are not eaten and go to waste... French fries, on the contrary, are consumed as observed (similar to poutine!)

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Har gau:

The prawn dumpings were nice and springy but a bit salty.
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[Review 3424] The secret to Cake's Secrets is Anchor cream @ 詩餅坊 Cake's Secrets

07/06/2014
詩餅坊 Cake's Secrets
西環堅尼地城厚和街43號地下
G/F, 43 Hau Wo Street, Kennedy Town, Western District
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/the-secret-to-cakes-secrets-is-anchor-cream-e2368196

After dining at Fish and Chick for a salad [http://www.openrice.com/restaurant/commentdetail.htm?commentid=2367880], then having some fried chicken at Sunday's Grocery (not listed on OpenRice yet), this was my last stop for dessert.
Since my last visit, there are so many new cakes in the range.

As usual I had my favourite purple sweet potato dessert.
The taste was just as good as before with delicious silky purple potato that is not too sweet with fluffy whipped cream in the middle that was balanced perfectly with their light dreamy layers of delicate sponge cake!!

I found out that they use Anchor whipping cream in their cakes which is why it tastes so deliciously different.

[Review 3423] A taste of China from Singapore @ 樂天皇朝 Paradise Dynasty

07/06/2014
樂天皇朝 Paradise Dynasty
銅鑼灣波斯富街99號利舞臺廣場6樓
6/F, Lee Theatre, 99 Percival Street, Causeway Bay
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/a-taste-of-china-from-singapore-e2368194

It took me by surprise that Paradise Dynasty which serves Chinese food was from Singapore but then some Chinese foods such as dimsum taste better in the UK compared to local crap.
At Paradise Dynasty, I appreciate the spaciousness of the tables which are well spaced out and you won't feel claustrophobic staring and listening to people who are on the other table that seem right next to you.
Most of the tables are normal sized (but by Hong Kong standards HUGE!!).
At the entrance, there is a lovely open kitchen protected by glass where you can see the Xiao Long Baos being made.

Here was what we tried:

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Steamed Original Xiao Long Bao:
0 讚好

It was the first time I learnt how to pick up a XLB properly with chopsticks because you have to pick it up at the strongest point which is near the top.
0 讚好

The broth was extremely clear and almost oiless which was pleasing to see because they don't use pigs skin.
I liked their recipe because you won't feel bloated after having one.
0 讚好

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Assorted Xiao Long Baos:
0 讚好

There are eight flavours and you eat them in order of lightest taste.
It was really thoughtful of them to arrange more than one basket so that we could taste more than one flavour.
I tried the ginseng, cheese and crab.
The ginseng was not strong enough but the cheese was likeable because it had soft mozzarella in it that did not over power the XLB.
The crab was really nice too with lots of crabmeat in it.
At the moment there is a buy one get one free promotion on the weekends.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Drunken Chicken:

The chicken was tender infused with fragrant wine.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Chilled Jellyfish and Seafood in Vinaigrette:
1 讚好

This was my favourite because their fruit vinaigrette was really appetizing.
As well as jellyfish, there were squid and prawns too.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Lettuce rolls with homemade Sesame sauce:
0 讚好

This is just simple rolled lettuce held together by a piece of cucumber to be dipped in their homemade sesame sauce.
I loved this because it was just like eating sesame salad in a convenient way packed with so much lettuce in one bite covered in delicious sweet sesame sauce.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Pork Dumpling with Hot Chilli Sauce:

This was nice but I found it too spicy.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Radish Pastry:

The radish pastry was nice but after having so much tasty dishes I needed chili oil on it to spice it up.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Spicy Szechuan Crispy Chicken:

When this dish was brought over, you could smell the fragrant chilis and Sichuan peppercorns but again the spicy dishes at this place are guaranteed spicy!!
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Stir-fried Marbled Beef with Scallion:
0 讚好

This was juicy slices of beef in delicious oyster sauce with onions tasting similar to the beef and onions that you get at British Chinese takeaways.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Scrambled Egg White with Fish and Dried Scallop:
0 讚好

0 讚好

Another simple dish eaten with the egg yolk smeared on top of the egg white.
Great and simple with rice.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Stewed Sliced Fish with Chinese Wine Sauce:

The fish was chunky infused with strong wine flavour.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Steamed chive and pork dumplings:

These were my favourite because the dumpling skin was soft and not too thick filled with delicious minced pork and fragrant chives.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Doubled-boiled Chicken Soup:

The soup was lovely and clear with strong chicken taste.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Chilled Aloe Vera and Osmanthus Jelly in Honey Lemon Juice:

Refreshing dessert with honey lemon juice loaded with aloe vera pieces, osmanthus jelly that was not too sweet.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Durian Xiao Long Bao:

Exclusive Durian XLB's only in Hong Kong.

This was amazingly delicious served HOT!!! I assumed that Durian was going to taste weird hot but the durian taste was not altered by the steaming process.
The best sweet version of XLB I have tasted but for Durian lovers only because it has real and fresh durian flesh in it from Malaysia.

[Review 3422] A double hotdog is not enough @ 永樂園餐廳 Wing Lok Yuen Restaurant

06/06/2014
永樂園餐廳 Wing Lok Yuen Restaurant
中環昭隆街19 號地下
G/F, 19 Chiu Lung Street, Central
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/a-double-hotdog-is-not-enough-e2368107

For local hotdogs there are two well known ones in Hong Kong, one is Danish bakery and the other one is Wing Lok Yuen.
They are now both in Central which was why I suddenly remembered this place.
Out of the two, I prefer Wing Lok Yuen because both the bun and Frank taste good.
Here they use the ZWAN brand which is part of the Zwanenberg Food Group from the Netherlands. Zwanenberg Food Group is one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of processed meat products.

You can either get a takeout or dine downstairs.

I was greeted with a blinding almost fluorescent yellow menu contrasted with visually uncomfortable RED borders which have turned orange because it was printed on yellow paper~~!
Before I ordered, I was surprised they gave me a cup of water.

Ordered the double frank hotdog and the Salty lemon tea which I thought did not exist because when I was at Sing heung yuen, I ordered the salty lemon drink and mixed it with tea instead of 7up.
Next time I will order the Salty lemon with water which I did not see earlier.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
double hotdog:

The franks were so tweeny weeny and short that there should be at least four per bun.
But anyway, it tastes good because the bun is normal and it was nicely heated with normal tasting Franks.
The only thing I did not like was the sugary thick sauce which I scraped away.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
salty lemon tea:

When it came I was surprised the salty lemon had already been mixed in the tea so you could see pieces of salty lemon floating in it.
The taste was not salty or sour enough and it was the most bitter drink I ever drank.
I could not make out whether the bitterness came from the tea or the salty lemon but it was astringent just like detergent!
At this restaurant, they have these really cute teaspoons.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
second double hotdog without sauce: