[Review 3611] Venture into the basement for Lane noodles! @ 巷仔見麵館 Lane Noodles

25/08/2014
巷仔見麵館 Lane Noodles
中環皇后大道中88號勵精中心1樓
1/F, Wah Kwong Regent Centre, 88 Queen's Road Central, Central
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/venture-into-the-basement-for-lane-noodles-e2387542

There are two entrances for this restaurant, one is on Queen's Road where you go up to the first floor and the second one is on Stanley Street where you go through this alleyway and down to the ground floor.

I discovered this place because of that weird alley way.
At the basement, you were greeted with baby blue light shades which are normally red.
On the wall, there was a colourful display of folded stools.
The restaurant over looks cafe de coral.


Here was what I had
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Congee:

The congee was tasteless to begin with but after it cooled down, you could taste the congee and pork in it.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Stir fried noodles:

The noodles looked impressive but they were greasy and tasteless.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Wonton noodles:
 0 讚好

The wontons were cold.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Thin  pancakes:

Out of all the food that was ordered, this tasted the best, they were thin and crispy loaded with spring onions and dried shrimp.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 3610] Thai feast at Koh Thai @ Koh Thai

24/08/2014
Koh Thai
灣仔莊士敦道60號J Senses1樓
Shop 9, 1/F, J Senses, 60 Johnston Road, Wan Chai
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/thai-feast-at-koh-thai-e2387429


Great place to meet up with friends because this place is expat friendly and conveniently located on Ship Street.

Here was the feast we had

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Toong Thong:
 0 讚好

These were Thai style treasure bags which tasted similar to fried wontons with meat in the middle.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Tom Yum Kung
Thailand's famous spicy soup prepared in a shrimp bouillon with lemongrass, kaffir leaves and galangal

 0 讚好

Personally I found it too spicy.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Ruam Mit Koh Thai
Mixed Platter: fresh spring rolls, satays, and prawn cakes

This was great for sharing and the satays were paired with delicious peanut sauce.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Khor Moo Yang
Tender slices of marinated grilled pork neck served with Chef’s very special spicy sauce

The grilled pork neck meat was meaty and not that fatty.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Gaeng Massamun Ka Gae
slow-roasted lamb shank "fill off the bone" meat in massamun curry, baby pumpkin & okra

I loved lamb and the lamb shank was soft and came off the bone easily.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Pla Kra Pong Tod Sam Rod:
Whole wild red snapper deep fried and served on the bone with a koh thai special sweet and sour sauce with chili

The fish was amazing, it was crispy and the fish was silky with a spicy twist.
I loved it because it was Thai version of sweet and sour fish.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Gai Phad Med Ma Muang Himmapan
Stir-fried pieces of chicken, crunchy, cashew nuts, dried chili, onion and water chestnut

Kung Po chicken lovers will love this.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Kradook Moo Phad Nam Prik Pao
Koh Thai signature dish.
Tender slow-roasted pork ribs in a tangy sweet tamarind chili jam

When it was ordered, I did not know it was the signature dish but it turned out to be my favourite because the meat was so soft and came off the bone easily drenched in sweet and spicy dressing which is a nice change from Western smokey ribs.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 3609] Naked with fun @ Naked Gurume Gyarari

24/08/2014
Naked Gurume Gyarari
中環蘇豪伊利近街28號1樓
1/F, 28 Elgin Street, Soho, Central
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/naked-with-fun-e2387342

Since the last visit, the menu has improved.

I liked the way, the menu has been divided into different sections such as
-foreplay
-aphrodisiacs
-cuddles
-Let's get it on

The decor could have been more daring with lace patterns to match the menu.
Here was what I had.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Thai style:
Fried garlic, lime, fish sauce, sweet chili paste and sea grapes.

The oyster was plump and fresh which went well with the fried garlic and sauces but the sauces could have been stronger.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Black truffle root chips:

Crispy lotus root slices paired with Yuzu garlic cream and black truffle paste.
The lotus root chips tasted like crisps but I couldn't quite taste the Yuzu in the dip but the truffle was nice and strong.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Tomato paired with quinoa and uni budo:
Sea grapes, bonita flakes, beetroot, red radish, endives, cucumber, creamy shisho dressing.

This was an interesting salad because there were Japanese elements and western elements paired together.
The quinoa was soft and delicous smothered in creamy shiso dressing with refreshing tomatoes.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Tuna tartar:

Poached quail egg, big eye tuna, cucumber, ginger cilantro truffle oil served on a Crispy wonton wrap.
Delicious minced tartar packed with flavours from the ginger and truffle topped with a perfectly runny quail egg.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Chipotle mekajiki belly:

This was swordfish belly which had an interesting texture, it was like marbled beef which melted in your mouth but it was actually fish.
It was paired with delicious Chipotle sauce which was spicy and balanced the fish oils.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Braised short rib:

This was juicy chunks of beef paired with chunky pieces of beetroot and asparagus.
I loved the chunky sweet pieces of beetroot.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Bird's Nest with Naked Milk Pudding:
To finish off, had the birds nest milk pudding which was beautifully decorated with purple potato powder.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

[Review 3608] My favourite mooncake 2014 @ 2/3 Dolci

24/08/2014
2/3 Dolci
中環皇后大道中38-48號萬年大廈1樓1號舖
Shop 1, 1/F, Manning House, 38-48 Queen's Road Central, Central
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/my-favourite-mooncake-e2386941


I was thrilled to receive a mooncake gift certificate for Dolci's mooncakes because I tried it before and it was delicious.

I redeemed it quickly because these mooncakes are just divine and it comes with my favourite Jasmine tea.
The box had a modern subtle moon festival theme with clouds, moon and a rabbit.

If you look carefully, you will find a rabbit looking at the moon with its colour matched to the tea packaging.
Normally when I have these mini custard mooncakes, a quarter would be enough because it is usually too sweet and buttery but these are so palatable that I have a whole one in one go and selfishly I did not share these with anyone because they are too good to share.
After microwaving it for 10 seconds, it becomes warm and fragrant, and the custard filling was dreamy unlike other brands!!

[Review 3607] Exotic sausages - Beware or do you dare? @ Craft Brew & Co

23/08/2014
Craft Brew & Co
中環奧卑利街17號地舖
G/F, 17 Old Bailey Street, Central
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/exotic-sausages-beware-or-do-you-dare-e2386939

Craft and Brew is on the corner of Old Bailey Street with simple rustic decor and lots of beer taps.
I was really excited about Craft and Brew because they serve some really DIFFERENT sausages!!!!
It gave me the same excitement as BRAT did because they don't just serve ordinary meat sausages.
The selection is more exhilarating than BRAT with their EXOTICS range featuring:
Snake, rabbit and Jalapeno
Crocodile, wild boar and chili
Mexican buffulo nachos
roast duck and plum
Beef, chili and chocolate
Chicken, honey and macadamia
Roast duck and plum was obviously going to be delicious but as a daring foodie I had to try the Snake and rabbit.
I wanted to try the crocodile too but it has Wild boar which is basically pork.
As there were so many sausages, I came here a few times.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Snake and rabbit sausage:
To be honest if I did not know it was rabbit and snake meat I would have assumed it was a chicken sausage because the texture was like chicken and the colour was pale.
The snake and rabbit sausage was interesting because it was velvety and the Jalapenos gave it a lovely kick of spiciness.
For the sides, the beetroot relish was nice and sweet which was great with the spicy sausage and saukeraut is always good with sausage.
The potato salad was lovely and creamy.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Mexican lamb merguez:
The lamb was slightly gamey and chewy because they use fresh natrual casings.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Chicken, honey and macadamia:
I knew this going to be delicious but it was amazing because it was sweet and juicy and it had WHOLE macadamia nuts in the sausage.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Roast duck and plum:
The duck sausage was fun because it was like the East meets the West tasting like peking duck.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
Although I do not drink but they have almost every beer you would want.
There were two which I found interesting because of the names:
Dead pony and Dead frog!

For improvements, it would be great if they did not put the paper sheet beneath the sausages because when you cut the sausages you end up ripping the paper as well.

◎ⓢⓤⓟⓔⓡⓢⓤⓟⓔⓡⓖⓘⓡⓛ◎

[Review 3606] Spices for your tastebuds at Spicy House @ 麻醉館 Spicy House

23/08/2014
麻醉館 Spicy House
黃大仙飛鳳街46號地下
G/F, 46 Fei Fung Street, Wong Tai Sin
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/spices-for-your-tastebuds-at-spicy-house-e2386931
Spicy House is located near the Wong Tai Sin MTR.
Went there to try some Sichuan dishes which were great and creative.

Here was what we had.

Some dishes do not have English names hence the Chinese name.
+++++++++
毛血旺

This was a huge bowl with porks blood, luncheon ham, cow's stomach tripe and instestines.
A typical Sichuan dish which was very aromatic because of the Sichuan peppercorns leaving your mouth feeling extremely numb afterwards.
My favourite were the porks blood and luncheon meat.
+++++++++
川烤BB豬
Sichuan roast suckling pig

This is an adaption where they have used Roast sucking pig instead of other meats.
It was really enjoyable because the skin was crispy just like pork crackling and the sauce was like rich Western gravy spiked with Sichuan spices perfect with rice, potatoes or noodles.
+++++++++
冰鎮鮮鮑魚同
Fresh chilled abalone

The photograph does not show, but when it was brought to the table, there was cold smoke coming from it and the abalone was sweet and fresh with a light soy sauce taste.
+++++++++
桑拿田雞
Frog sauna style


The inspiration behind this dish is hot steam saunas which is why there are hot pebbles in the sauna style wooden tub so that when the frogmeat is poured into the bowl, it will sizzle and let off steam.
The frog meat was spicy and springy and it was just like eating chicken.
+++++++++
豆花黃魚
Fish with beancurd

Last but not least, this was my favourite because the fish was extremely silky paired with appetizing pickled vegetables and smooth beancurd which the fish even more silky.
+++++++++
To watch this episode of 玩轉18區 at 麻醉館 hosted by 周中師傅, Miki and Supersupergirl and other shows by Aplus YUS, please see the video below.