[Review 5762] Out of the world cake experience @ Verde MAR

07/02/2017
Verde MAR
灣仔大王東街24號地下
G/F, 24 Tai Wong Street East, Wan Chai
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/out-of-the-world-cake-experience-e2725060

Verde MAR is obviously a Mexican restaurant but strangely I was lured here by some cakes on this visit!!!
As you know, I always like to try different and unique things, so when I spotted this chocolate avocado cake on their FB I had to try it.
They are doing these adorable cactus cakes for Valentines from now until the 14th FEB.

Choco-Avocado Saguaro and Key Lime Barrel Cactus!

(Dine-in $98/pc and takeaway $113/pc including the plate)
Had both and they were amazing because the texture of the cake is firm but soft yet moist and not too sweet and the buttercream was so delicious.
I haven't had such decent cakes for ages and they taste as good as the ones in the UK.

+++

Choco-Avocado Saguaro:
Inside was this yummy chocolate cake covered with avocado buttercream which is slightly salted to bring out the avocado taste.
I was so impressed that you could taste the avocado as it was blended into the buttercream with chunks big enough that you can prominently taste it.

+++

Key Lime Barrel Cactus:

This was also damn good because the cake in the middle was good on top of a chocolate cake base at the bottom.

It was covered in tangy lime buttercream spiked with coconut pieces and cream cheese in the middle.

The pairing of lime and coconut is always delicious.

+++

For mains, we also had the Mexican caldo hotpot which is basically soup.

There are three choices of chicken, seafood or vegetarian with cactus.




All served with diced avocado, onions, coriander, chili and lime to complement it.

My friends had the chicken while I had the vegetarian one


Basically a hearty hotpot loaded with goodies in a nourishing soup.

For me, I liked the vegetarian because it healthy and you get cactus.


The avocado pieces in the soup strangly taste good.

As a cactus fan, I had the cactus juice which was blended with apple and orange, while my friend had the tequila sweetheart cocktail concocted with tequila, lime, honey and a cinnamon stick.

The tequila sweetheart is definitely something sweet to order as I love the strong honey which tones down the tequila.

[Review 5761] Some hits and misses @ 利泰正宗泰國精美食坊

07/02/2017
利泰正宗泰國精美食坊
將軍澳將軍澳寶林街市71號舖
Shop 71, Po Lam Market, Tseung Kwan O, Tseung Kwan O
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/some-hits-and-misses-e2724953

Some hits and misses
2017-02-07  317 瀏覽
Went here quite a few times and some dishes are hits, while some are misses.

Hainan chicken rice:

Miss! the rice was cold and tasteless.
 0 讚好

Pandan crepe:

Miss! too crispy and sweet.
 0 讚好

Tomyumkung noodles:

Hit! very spicy and flavourful.
 0 讚好

Spicy noodles salad:

Hit! Surprisingly delicious Thai style instant noodle salad.
Spicy, extremely tangy and garlicky and they chose the right instant noodle for it.
 0 讚好

Yenfato noodles:

Hit! quite authentic and you don't have to go to Kowloon City for it.

[Review 5760] Mediocre @ 堅度食堂 Caine Road's Cafeteria

07/02/2017
堅度食堂 Caine Road's Cafeteria
半山堅道58-62號美蘭閣地下4號舖
Shop 4, G/F, Midland Court, 58-62 Caine Road, Mid-Levels
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/mediocre-e2724926
I guess I was just curious so dined here because this joint has been on Caine Road for quite a while in the posh territory.
It didn't look welcoming from the outside and you couldn't peep inside so perhaps this is a restaurant for celebrities who are avoiding the paparazzi.
Had the salmon with spring onion rice and it was literally chopped salmon with spring onions.
Unfortunately, it didn't taste nice because the whole thing was just sweetness.

[Review 5759] Hearty dinner at Westwood Carvery @ Westwood Carvery

07/02/2017
Westwood Carvery
中環蘭桂坊和安里2號地舖
G/F, 2 Wo On Lane, Lan Kwai Fong, Central
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/hearty-dinner-at-westwood-carvery-e2724921

As a Brit, we always have roast dinners on Sunday which is a family thing but there are not many places for good roasts in Hong Kong.
Westwood Carvery does a similar thing so went here for it.
Started with the homemade Beef Barley Vegetable Soup which is quite similar to the soups we get in the UK and it was wholesome and delicious with lots of vegetables in a strong beef broth.
To accompany the meats, we had lots of sides to share:
Grilled Asparagus with Sea Salt and Pepper, Sautéed Mixed Mushrooms, Creamed Spinach with Bacon and Creamed Corn.
My favourite sides were the asparagus and creamed corn which was thick and sweet.
For meats, we had the slow-Roasted Beef Short Rib which was juicy and tender.
The Slow-Roasted Baby Back Pork Ribs were evidently finger licking delicious as it was gone in a flash.
We also had the avocado wontons which look like Chinese gold ingots, they were crispy filled with creamy avocado in the middle.
Finished with Apple & Mixed Berry Crumble with Vanilla Ice Cream.
The crumble was buttery complemented by the healthy oats.
For drinks, I had the green lemonade which was mixed with refreshing cucumber and jalapeno.

[Review 5758] Curry @ 吉豚屋吉列豬扒專門店 Ca-Tu-Ya

06/02/2017
吉豚屋吉列豬扒專門店  Ca-Tu-Ya
油麻地彌敦道546號旺角大樓地下B-C舖
Shop B-C, G/F, Mong Kok Building, 546 Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/curry-e2724455

Tried the curry because I haven't tried it before at Catayu.
The curry sauce wasn't too spicy but quite sweet and the fried chicken was done nicely.
I also had some extra cabbage which was delicious with the sauces on the table.It is really good how it was sliced so thinly, something I can't do at home hence it is definitely worth ordering and eating veg is good for you anyway.

[Review 5757] Eating Thai food with a Spanish touch @ Somtam 鄉下仔泰國餐廳

06/02/2017
Somtam 鄉下仔泰國餐廳
將軍澳寶琳北路18號寶林街市PL54A舖
Shop PL86, Po Lam Market, 18 Po Lam Road North, Tseung Kwan O
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/eating-thai-food-with-a-spanish-touch-e2724438

At first I thought it was a Spanish eatery because of the tables, but it turned out to be a Thai joint.
I wonder if the people dining there even know the tables are Spanish because this joint is located in the outskirts of town.

Anyway, ordered the chicken with rice.
Portions are massive and good for sharing because they are in fierce competition since there is another Thai joint nearby.

For me, the rice and sauce won.
The sauce was a little different and it had yellow soya beans [mean see dao] in it which gave it some extra saltiness.
The chicken was ok but when I was expecting the bird to be small, it turned out to be a big bird hence the white meat was not that tender.

[Review 5756] The best beancurd skin wontons @ Fung Chuk 烽築 (香港仔)

05/02/2017
烽築 Fung Chuk
香港仔湖北街12號裕景中心地下7號舖
Shop 7, G/F, Goodview Centre, 12 Wu Pak Street, Aberdeen
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/the-best-beancurd-skin-wontons-e2724321

Previously went to Leitung but didn't realize there was a boat over here hence this second trip.
Discovered this place because I took advantage of the half fare MTR promotion and went to LeiTung where I got the boat over.

I don't know how long this joint has been around but there are no reviews.

Decided to try this place because it stood out selling Hong Kong style fast food with a modern lcd screen showing the food they had.

Decided to get the fish maw mock fin soup and the beancurd skin wontons.
It took a while because the wontons were made to order.
++++
beancurd skin wontons:


The beancurd skin was so crispy that the edges came off when you took it out but it was so delicious because it was so crispy and light.

The filling they put inside the beancurd skin was well chosen because it was the fish paste that you find stuffed into tofu, green peppers etc so it had this lovely fish taste.


++++
The fish maw mock fin soup was just the usual, the texture was very thick and gummy, perhaps the fish maw got completely dissolved.

Since I had lots of beancurd skin crumbs, I decided to put it in the soup.