[Review 6400] More extensive menu @ Ask

03/02/2018
Ask  營業中
上環皇后大道中202號The Putman地下A號舖
Shop A, G/F, The Putman, 202 Queen's Road Central, Sheung Wan
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/more-extensive-menu-e2971840

More extensive menu
2018-02-03  67 瀏覽
Since my last visit, the menu is now more extensive with all day breakfasts, pancakes and more pastas.My friend suggested this place for a meeting so that we could discuss something without getting chucked out like other places.
Anyway, had the mocha and a tea to start with.
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For mains, I had the spicy chicken and mushroom pasta which was quite al-dente with a double fiery punch because it had black pepper as well as chili.
The Parmesan cheese on top was a little strange though.

The Sakura shrimp toast turned out different too, I was expecting toast topped with sakura shrimp but it was topped with prawn and mayonnaise with mentaiko.
But as a prawn and mayonnaise toast, it tasted quite nice.
It was also crustless, the HK way!

[Review 6399] Famous oyster udon @ 八沢 (已結業) Hachi Sawa

31/01/2018
八沢 (已結業) Hachi Sawa
上環皇后大道中181號新紀元廣場1樓101A號舖
Shop 101A, 1/F, Grand Millennium Plaza, 181 Queen's Road Central, Sheung Wan
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/famous-oyster-udon-e2969153

Famous oyster udon
2018-01-31  78 瀏覽
This location used to be DANDAN Soul Food from Sichuan but now it is Hachi Sawa.Ever since I saw a friend post the vegetarian udon with Bamboo piths I have been wanting to try it.
Went to the branch in Shaukeiwan but they didn't have it, but frankly I prefer this branch because it is more accessible and there are more options on the menu.
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Tried two different udons: signature oyster udon and the new one with bamboo pith and Japanese chicken.
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It was difficult choosing between the new one and the vegetarian one but tried the new one because it contains sake.
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The chicken was very tender because it is the Japanese chicken which is also recommended by celebrity chef Kei San.
The broth contains red dates which make the broth very sweet so it would be good if the sake flavour was stronger.
As for the oyster noodles, they tasted great and full of oyster flavour.
But compared to the SKW branch, you get less seaweed here and more mince.
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Finished with the strawberry soda which was fantastic and not as sweet as compared to SKW.
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Will return again to try the vegetarian udon.

[Review 6398] Private dinner with Pottery demo @ 梓桐堂 Gitone Limited

31/01/2018
梓桐堂  Gitone Limited
西灣河鯉景灣蘇豪東B期太康街45號GB-27-28號舖
Shop GB-27-28, 45 Tai Hong Street, Site B, Soho East, Lei King Wan, Sai Wan Ho
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/private-dinner-with-pottery-demo-e2969139

Private dinner with Pottery demo
2018-01-31  2666 瀏覽
As a Kid, I always had fun at pottery classes.
My favourite part was adding broken glass to the pottery so that it melts into coloured glass into the cavity and doing the coloured glazing which you can't see until it has been fired in the kiln.
Anyway, I was surprised to learn that you can take pottery classes in HK too at Gitone which also serves private dinners there.
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Ceramics made by Gitone.

Here was what we had for dinner:
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Started with the Gitone Garden appetizer which had a great assortment of Chinese delights.
I loved the drunken chicken and tofu.
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Next was the sweetcorn soup, it was light and comforting.

Next was the Sweet and sour spare ribs with enoki mushrooms which were cooked in delicious black vinegar with a sticky sauce glazing.
The spare ribs were so moreish but I wish they were more meaty.


It was followed by the Braised grouper with spring onions and scallions which was really fragrant.

The Fried rice with preserved Chinese olives and Spanish pork was my favourite because I love fried rice and the preserved olives gave it a nice salty note.
The vegetables were a good balance to the meal and the vegetables were tender and blanched just right.
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Finished with Chinese dessert which was nourishing and traditional.

[Review 6397] Shopping for Matcha @ 宇治園 UJI-EN

30/01/2018
宇治園  UJI-EN
尖沙咀廣東道3-27號海港城港威商場4樓4201-4202K號舖
Shop 4201-4202K, 4/F, Gateway Arcade, Harbour City, 3-27 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/shopping-for-matcha-e2969117

It is getting near CNY so went here to get some Matcha gifts for friends.There is a good variety at Uji-En from snacks to drinks, not sure what my friend wanted so got some Matcha Wafer rolls for $98 and this instant drink for $58.
After shopping for gifts, stopped by for noodles.
There are four different noodles to choose from and I chose the Japanese plum Namacha Men because I didn't feel like any meat that day.

As with all Japanese noodles, the bonito broth was light and clear served hot which was comforting on a cold day.
The broth isn't strong which is really good because when you mix the plum, the tartness of the plum accentuates the broth making it even more moreish and appetizing.
Finished lunch with two must order desserts: Hojicha Jelly and The Hojicha Tea set.

+++
Hojicha Jelly:
Again, the tea flavours are perfectly balanced and the softserve is not too sweet which goes with the jelly and Anmitsu and starchy red beans.

+++
Hojicha Tiramisu:
The Tiramisu was just light and fluffy, while the top was creamy and evilicious.
It was sweet but not cloyingly sweet paired nicely with the hot tea.

+++
Definitely coming back again for other desserts when I am in the area.

[Review 6396] Intrigued by beef from Castrated Calves @ 亞古鍋 (裝修中) Ragout Hotpot

30/01/2018
亞古鍋 (裝修中) Ragout Hotpot
銅鑼灣登龍街1-29號金朝陽中心2期Midtown 27樓
27/F, Soundwill Plaza 2 - Midtown, 1-29 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/intrigued-by-beef-from-castrated-calves-e2969066

Intrigued by beef from Castrated Calves
2018-01-30  1582 瀏覽
I am always intrigued by LEGALLY weird and strange items on the menu because as a foodie I am just curious on how it tastes.When I saw the menu, I didn't think they seriously meant castrated meat so asked the staff and it turns out that they specialize in serving meat from Castrated Cows because it stops the hormones hence the ratio of fat and meat is balanced.
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I also thought it was going to be some fusion or Western hotpot because of the name Ragout but it is hotpot in a lovely modern environment with great views.
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Started with the Penta Green mocktail which was an appetizing concoction of apple, lime, grape, mint and cucumber.


We chose the Nourish Pot which has fish maw served on the side to begin with.
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As with all hotpots, there are sauces and condiments.

For meats, we had the Bovine Chest Oil which was not chest oil but three different parts of beef from the Castrated cow (Chuck, Outer Brisket and Flank).

They all had different textures so this is a good way to sample different parts of the cow.

The Homemade Jade beancurd was interesting from the photos I saw on the internet because it was beancurd topped with blended spinach.

It was really amazing how the spinach stayed intact and didn't disperse in the broth when it was being stirred about.
I liked it because I just love beancurd and spinach.
We also had veggies cuttlefish balls and wontons.


Anyway, I will definitely come back again and try the other restaurant upstairs!

[Review 6395] A bright star on Hollywood Road @ Pho Up

30/01/2018
Pho Up (已結業)
中環荷李活道39-43號安樂樓地下C號舖
Shop C, G/F, On Lok Mansion, 39-43 Hollywood Road, Central
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/a-bright-star-on-hollywood-road-e2968623

A bright star on Hollywood Road
2018-01-30  2152 瀏覽
If you know me, I have an obsession with stars or anything that shines.Well this place just got my attention after shopping at Marks and Spencers.
The decor is nice and bright with a green and orange theme.

Looking at the menu, it was nice and defined yet concise because you have noodles, salads, drinks etc and dessert.
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As I wanted to try everything, I decided to order a noodle, banh mi, salad and dessert.

Started with drinks.
The Avocado smoothie is a must for me, it was nice how it wasn't too sweet so you could taste the unami of the avocado.
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My friend had the ice lime tea which tastes different to your usual tea.
It is hard to describe the taste but to me it tasted like Cadbury's Turkish delight with a hint of lipstick.
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Started with the goi nom bo which is salad with banana blossom .
The salad is refreshing and complex in taste. It had all the tastes you could imagine from being sweet, sour, bitter and spicy.
Banana blossom is also good for your health too which you can google for more info!

Next was the bun rieu, the broth was great with a strong crab taste taste and the herbs were well balanced.
The noodles were a bit like rice vermicelli and soaked the broth well.
If you have been to Sisombath , the noodles are quite similar to the noodles served there.

Next was the bahn mi.
The baguette was so good because it was light and crispy and the filling was simple but delicious.
It had pate, three different meat slices, cilantro and their specially made sauce which gave it that lovely sweet and spicy kick.
This baguette is definitely worth sinking your teeth into because it is imported from Vietnam to guarantee a good quality baguette..

Finished with the dessert which I was also anticipating.
On the bottom layer is pandan jelly, the middle layer is coconut granite topped with coconut icecream.
The star of the dessert was the coconut granite which is pure coconut water that you can taste so it was a brilliant way to end the meal.

[Review 6394] Shame on HK dimsum @ 陶陶居海鮮火鍋酒家 Tou Tou Koi

28/01/2018
陶陶居海鮮火鍋酒家 Tou Tou Koi
新馬路爐石塘巷6-8號地舖
G/F, 6-8 Travessa do Mastro, Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro
https://www.openrice.com/zh/macau/review/shame-on-hk-dimsum-e2967925

Shame on HK dimsum
2018-01-28  4106 瀏覽
As I was in Macau with friends, they decided to go yumcha the next morning.
I didn't have any expectations because 99% of the dimsum in Hong Kong is crap, yet dimsum represents Hong Kong.
The 1% of delish dimsum goes to Dragon i, YumCha and Social Palace because there is quality control to some extent.
It really makes me wonder what tourists think of HK dimsum because the quality and taste is definitely better in UK and other countries according to ABCs and CBCs.
I think we had about 8 dimsums here and nearly every dish was good.
Just judging by appearance, they were neat and not oily and by taste, they tasted really good because it wasn't too oily and sweet.
My favourite was the beancurd sheet and gingko congee.
A simple but difficult congee to taste good because it was creamy all the way through and you could taste the gingko which was soft and creamy, while the beancurd sheets were soft but intact.
Definitely coming here to gorge out again and we were lucky we sat in a quiet area as yumcha can get quite noisy or perhaps HKer are just plain right noisy.
Shame on Hong Kong food which is just full of oil, msg and sugar that it really inspires me to become and chef in HK and cook shiit especially on the dark side of Kowloon where you don't get any service at all.