[Review 4576] Singaporean in the East side of HK @ 班蘭小館

27/08/2015
班蘭小館
西灣河筲箕灣道49號麗灣大廈地下H舖
Shop H, G/F, Lai Wan Building, 49 Shau Kei Wan Road, Sai Wan Ho
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/singaporean-in-the-east-side-of-hk-e2484400


This place serves Singaporean food hence it is called Pandan something in Chinese.

Went here for lunch but there was only one Singaporean dish on the menu.

It is so sad that non-Cantonese restaurants have to serve a majority of Cantonese dishes during lunch to get more customers because the locals are just too conservative on their food choices.

On the wall were some interesting dishes because the combination of ingredients were weird but this place has some hard core fans who have opened an account just to express their opinions on this place.

Tomato and mountain yam with vegetarian abalone
Lemon and pepper pork
Singaporean oyster omelette
Coconut sugar and black vinegar fish


+++++++++++++++++++++++
Anyway, tried the Singaporean chicken, which was ok but not outstanding and tried this other localized dish which was chicken with pumpkin and okra.
The chicken dish was a bit too oily and sweet but tasted ok however I didn’t like the chicken because it had chicken skin attached to it.

Finished off with the pandan barley drink, which was quite soothing and not too sweet.

[Review 4575] Strawberry & Dorset clotted cream scones @ Marks & Spencer - Food Department

27/08/2015
Marks & Spencer - 食品部  休息中
Marks & Spencer - Food Department
青衣青敬路33號青衣城101-102及219-220號舖
Shops 101-102 and 219-220, Maritime Square, 33 Tsing King Road, Tsing Yi
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/strawberry-dorset-clotted-cream-scones-e2484399

Got this because I love clotted cream and it seemed delicious the fact that it had Dorset clotted cream in it.
I couldn’t quite taste the cream because it was mixed into the scone but the pieces of strawberry were quite fragrant and it was not too sweet.
To conclude, it would definitely taste good with some whipped cream!

[Review 4574] Unwanted fish scraps made delicious @ 一流一海南雞外賣專門店

27/08/2015
一流一海南雞外賣專門店 (已搬遷) 新店位置
此店已搬遷及改名為 珍寶海南雞專門店
北角書局街12-18號樂嘉中心地下1A號舖
Shop 1A, G/F, Roca Centre, 12-18 Shu Kuk Street, North Point
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/unwanted-fish-scraps-made-delicious-e2484397

It is clever how they have cooked unwanted salmon fish skin with a thin layer of salmon attached that is thrown away when the salmon is used for sashimi to make an edible meal costing $36.
The fish was quite oily but the texture was soft like jelly and it was quite tasty that you didn’t need the spring onions which are a bonus.
It is good to see that this grubby gem is still here two years after my last visit!

[Review 4573] Crab style East meets the West @ Holy Crab Bar and Restaurant

27/08/2015
Holy Crab Bar and Restaurant
中環蘭桂坊8-11號昌隆商業大廈3樓
3/F, Cosmos Building, 8-11 Lan Kwai Fong, Central
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/crab-style-east-meets-the-west-e2484192

I was quite surprised to discover that Holy Crab are doing an “East Meets West” menu in conjunction with The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Hong Kong and The Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao available from now until the 16th of September 2015
The menu features 4 Western, 4 Eastern and 2 Specialty Cocktails.

The Western menu uses Canadian seafood and ingredients, created by Salient Group’s Executive Chef Mark Kerkstra while the Eastern menu has been created by Chef Cuisinier of the French Embassy in Bangkok, Chalee Kader referred by The Royal Thai Consulate of Hong Kong.
 0 讚好

To be honest, I have a Western palatte so I was naturally attracted to the Western choices, however the locals will probably like the Eastern menu because it uses a lot of lemongrass and Asian spices, although the soup looks good.
 0 讚好

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
Dungeness Crab Popover ($140)
 0 讚好

British Columbia Dungeness Crab and Gruyere Cheese popover with a Cajun Honey Gastrique.
I liked these crispy chewy popovers filled with crabmeat and cheese!
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
Canard Poutine ($230)

Duck Fat Gravy with Duck Confit, Quebec Foie Gras and Gruyere Cheese over Duck Fat Fries.
This was my favourite West dish because of the melted cheese!
Sinfully delicious cheesy fries and foie gras!
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
Crown and Maple Canadian Seafood Trio ($200)

British Columbia Cherry Stone Clams, Nova Scotia Lobster Tail and Bay of Fundy Jumbo Scallops baked in a Bacon, Crown Royal and Quebec Maple Syrup Glaze.
This was a sweet seafood delight because it was topped with crispy maple syrup glazed bacon bits.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
Pond and Pasture Grits ($200)

Coffee Grilled Ontario Pork Loin and Tiger Prawns with Cajun style Cheddar Cheese Grits.
The pork was succulent and juicy paired with creamy cheese grits.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
North ($200)

Kao Soy - Prawns in northern Thai curry and spices, with flat egg noodles, garnished with crispy noodles, pickled mustard leaves, shallots, and chili oil.
This was too spicy for my tastebuds.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
North East ($180)


Papaya Salad and salted duck egg - served with grilled lemongrass chicken and sticky rice.
This was refreshing but very spicy.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
Central ($388)

Crab and Curry Powder - stir fry Swimming Crab with curry powder, chili oil, eggs and celery.
This was surprisingly good because it was curried crab meat on top of rice so it was really convenient to eat.
It would taste even better if it was not so salty.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
South ($120)

Chicken Turmeric Soup - free-range chicken boiled with turmeric root, chili and coriander.
I loved this soup because of the strong turmeric and lemon flavours.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
Lychee Delight ($85)

A vodka-based cocktail using lychee juice, topped off with champagne, representing the East.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
Royal Maple ($85)

A gin-based cocktail using pineapple juice and sweet Canadian maple syrup with a hint of ginger, topped off with champagne, representing the West.
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆

[Review 4572] Second visit to JAR @ JAR Just-a-Restaurant

27/08/2015
JAR Just-a-Restaurant
中環擺花街8號2樓
2/F, 8 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/second-visit-to-jar-e2484191


Since my last visit, the Chef has changed so I was glad to see some different dishes on the menu.

+++++++++++++
Smoked salmon and blue crab salad:
 0 讚好

The salad was a bit different because I found it tasting quite savoury because the crab meat had a briny taste.
+++++++++++++
Olives with white anchovies:
 1 讚好

I love white anchovies and they were soaked in vinegar which made them really appetizing.
+++++++++++++
Spanish cold cut platter:
 0 讚好

(Serrano ham, chorizo, olive and Manchego cheese)
My favourites had to be the cheese and olives.
+++++++++++++
Braised octopus and pearl onion with red wine sauce:
 0 讚好

The octopus had sweet taste which was drenched in this lovely wine sauce.
+++++++++++++
Chorizo croquette:

The croquettes were creamy with potato mash in the middle.
+++++++++++++
Fried padron peppers with garlic and sea salt:

These are a classic.
Delicious peppers sprinkled with sea salt that brings out the flavour.
+++++++++++++
Chili garlic prawns:

The prawns were springy topped with aromatic crispy garlic.
+++++++++++++
Spanish octopus in garlic olive oil:
 0 讚好

The octopus was springy with lovely olive oil and garlic flavouring.
+++++++++++++
Pan fried crab cake with garlic mayo:

The fried crab was a bit different, there was quite a lot of potato in it just like the Chorizo croquette above.
+++++++++++++
Pideua with seafood:

As a carbs lover, the rice was tasty because it has absorbed all the seafood flavours with a hint of tomato.
I loved the pideua which is super mini sized macaroni and you can see how tiny they are right next to the fettucine.


+++++++++++++
Fettucine with braised veal cheek in red wine sauce:

The star was the veal cheek which was so gelatinous and soft!
+++++++++++++
Duck confit:

The duck confit had a crisp duck skin and it was not too salty.
+++++++++++++
Jar banoffee pie:

The banoffee was loaded with banana infused cream which tasted natrual.
+++++++++++++
Creme brulee:

The creme brulee was thick and creamy.
+++++++++++++

[Review 4571] I paid for my drink not like some people! @ 太平洋咖啡 Pacific Coffee

26/08/2015
太平洋咖啡  Pacific Coffee
灣仔摩理臣山道11號隆堡雅逸酒店地舖
G/F, Hotel Bonaparte by Rhombus, 11 Morrison Hill Road, Wan Chai
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/i-paid-for-my-drink-not-like-some-people-e2484189

I tried to go to Pacific Coffee at Tang Lung Street because there are some cakes exclusive to that branch but the place was packed so went to this branch for a drink.
This branch was small and cozy with two sides and a wasted entrance that divides the café into two sides.
Got the Earl Grey tea, which was really hot to begin with, but then the air con is really strong so it cools down fast.
I didn’t like the brand they used because it had a weird taste of rose.
Anyway, I get annoyed with people abusing McDonald’s, McCafe and Coffee places especially when they are non-paying people and sitting there.
The place was pretty empty and this woman who did not buy a drink sat right next to me for at least 20 minutes pretending she was my friend.
+++++++++
No drink on her table!
Her sitting right next to my bag!
+++++++++