[Review 6001] Generous portions @ Cafe Siam

04/06/2017
Cafe Siam
中環德己立街21號The Plaza 2-3樓
2-3/F, The Plaza , 21 D'Aguilar Street, Central
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/generous-portions-e2799208

It is good dining here because the staff are attentive, the portions are big and the dishes come quite fast.
Started with the pad thai which was stir fried nicely loaded with lots of seafood.
As a fish lover, the fish was great because it was steamed just right so the fish was tender and soft.


The tamarind ribs were like a Thai version of BBQ ribs so I found them quite enjoyable.
I was going to order a soup but the staff suggested this new tomyumgung soup with mussels and it was quite good because the mussels are fresh and the soup is refreshing.


The stuffed wings are good for sharing, again they were huge stuffed with black fungus and other goodies.


The catfish papaya salad was another great appetizer but I found the sauce quite acidic.

[Review 6000] Jiangnan delights @ 翡翠江南 Crystal Jade Jiang Nan

04/06/2017
翡翠江南 Crystal Jade Jiang Nan
灣仔莊士敦道181號大有廣場3樓310號舖
Shop 310, Tai Yau Plaza, 181 Johnston Road, Wan Chai
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/jiangnan-delights-e2799176

Jiangnan delights
2017-06-04  1711 瀏覽
The reason I have not had much Jiangnan food before is that there are not many Jiangnan restaurants in Hong Kong.
This is a good place to go as they serve some rustic Jiangnan dishes but some have to be pre ordered.

Started with the Homemade Wine Flavoured Egg which had a good balance, the wine was fragrant but not too strong.
 0 讚好

The Pickled Cucumber Rolls blow you away because the pickled ginger taste is more prominent.
 0 讚好

The Jelly Fish Bulb Tossed with Scallion Oil was flawless.
 0 讚好


Next was the piping hot Soup with Fresh & Salted Pork in “Shanghai” Style.
It had a fragrant pork flavour to it.
 0 讚好

They also have Deep-fried Shrimp Toast with Pigeon Egg which is a traditional dish that you have to order in advance.
I was quite surprised by the taste because they said there is a slice of fat in it but I couldn't taste it which was good.
Another classic dish was the Braised Pork Belly served with Lotus Buns, a soft fatty pork belly eaten with the cute buns.
The Smoked Pigeon with Rose and Tea Leaves was really impressive because they presented it beautifully like a mini chicken.
The best part was the breast meat because they have removed the bones so you are left with pure meat.
To me pigeons taste like a mini goose.

For carbs, there was Bamboo Charcoal Noodles in Double-boiled Chicken Soup.
I liked the way the soup was served separate so the noodles don't go too soft but the taste of chicken soup was umami to its max.

Last but not least was the Steamed  Xiao Long Bao stuffed with Kurobuta Pork and it was good there was no smelly pork aroma and the taste was pleasing.

Also had the Deep-fried Radish Pastry which was a beautifully shaped pastry filled with sweet radish in the middle.


For dessert finished with the handcrafted beers and the Hangzhou style millet cake was damn good because it was not too sweet.
 0 讚好


The Imperial pea pudding and Ejiao jelly had a very starchy texture.

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[Review 5999] Fancy ice buns from Marks and Sparks @ Marks & Spencer

04/06/2017
Marks & Spencer - 食品部  休息中
Marks & Spencer - Food Department
將軍澳坑口重華路8號東港城1樓199舖
Shop 199, 1/F, East Point City, 8 Chung Wa Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/fancy-ice-buns-from-marks-and-sparks-e2799136

Fancy ice buns from Marks and Sparks
2017-06-04  561 瀏覽
I think this is the first time I have ever seen an iced bun sold in Hong Kong.
These are common treats in UK bakeries, they are basically plain buns topped with fondant icing.
The one I got from Marks and Sparks has been jazzed up because it had sultanas and other things in it.
I loved the sweetness and it reminded me of an iced hot cross bun because of the raisins and lemon peel.
They come in packs of one or two but sadly the wrapper sticks to the icing so when you take it out of the bag some of the icing gets stuck.

[Review 5998] Langham branch exclusive dishes @ 飲茶 Yum Cha

03/06/2017
飲茶  Yum Cha
旺角亞皆老街8號朗豪坊4樓7號舖
Shop 7, 4/F, Langham Place, 8 Argyle Street, Mong Kok
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/langham-branch-exclusive-dishes-e2798494

Langham branch exclusive dishes
2017-06-03  66 瀏覽
I rarely go to the Langham mall because it is just escalators and escalators.
Luckily, Yum Cha is on the fourth floor so there are only two escalators that you need to get if you are coming from Portland road. Otherwise it is about 6 escalators if you come from the Langham MTR exit.
Thankfully you don't have to take those doomed escalators but then again this is why I refuse to dine in commercial buildings because if there is a fire, you are dead and the staircases are probably clotted with stuff that you can't escape.

At this branch, there are four exclusive dishes!~
Spicy diced chicken in Sichuan style.
Spicy Sichuan minced pork buns
Spicy beef, noodles in spicy soup
Beggar's chicken
++++++
Spicy diced chicken in Sichuan style:


This was quite nice but a bit too salty.
++++++
Spicy Sichuan minced pork buns:


These cute pink buns are filled with delicious juicy spicy minced pork in the middle.
They definitely tasted good.
++++++
Spicy beef, noodles in spicy soup:


This was too spicy for me.
++++++
Beggar's chicken:


This is a modern version with truffle gravy and I love the way it is wrapped in lotus leaf keeping it moist while making it fragrant.
A brilliant Chinese style chicken if you are looking for a Western roast chicken comfort.
++++++

[Review 5997] Quinoa Zongzi @ 東海薈 · 拉斐特 East Ocean‧Lafayette

03/06/2017
東海薈 · 拉斐特 East Ocean‧Lafayette
此店前身為 東海酒家
尖沙咀彌敦道100號The ONE 12樓
12/F, The ONE, 100 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/quinoa-zongzi-e2798471

Quinoa Zongzi
2017-06-03  590 瀏覽
East Ocean has come up with some impressive creations for Chinese festivals.
For New years they did some nice vegetarian Chinese New Year puddings while the sweet one was also delicious.
They have also whipped up a vegetarian Quinoa zongzi.
It was not that firm but I really liked it because it was tasty and healthy.

The other zongzi had an interesting pairing because there were green beans and dried scallops.

[Review 5996] Luxurious Zongzi stuffed with a lobster tail @ 帝京餅店 Cake Shop

03/06/2017
帝京餅店  Cake Shop
旺角太子道西193號帝京酒店大堂
Hotel Lobby, Royal Plaza Hotel, 193 Prince Edward Road West, Mong Kok
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/luxurious-zongzi-stuffed-with-a-lobster-tail-e2798461

Luxurious Zongzi stuffed with a lobster tail
2017-06-03  1291 瀏覽
This particular Zongzi stuffed with a lobster tail was extremely delicious but sadly I didn't get many pictures of it because I was really hungry in the middle of the night so without thinking, I just shoved it in boiling water and started eating it right after it was done.
The sticky soft glutinous rice and cheese went really well together and the hint of black truffle made it luxurious.
I liked the beans in the Zongzi because they were still firm and not starchy.
In the middle there was a chunky piece of lobster tail.

[Review 5995] 2017 Kung Fu Zongzi @ 功夫點心 Kung Fu Dim Sum

03/06/2017
功夫點心  Kung Fu Dim Sum
紅磡黃埔民兆街12號地下
G/F, 12 Man Siu Street, Whampoa, Hung Hom
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/kung-fu-zongzi-e2798447

I was back in UK last year so missed out on so many Zongzis.
This year tried the ones from KungFu and it comes in a set of three in a lovely box.
The most memorable one was the sweet red bean because the filling was runny and the whole thing was not too sweet.
The savory ones were just as good and loaded with rich salted egg yolk and fatty pork.