Hong Kong Eats...Again!

Just a few days in Hong Kong for some work still ended up as a food trip.   I am not too fond of Chinese food, but if I am to have any, I'd prefer to have it in HK as they have the best.

DIN TAI FUNG

 Truly, the best shao long pao so far.  The wrapping is firm, doesnt break when you pick it up with  chopsticks but its tender to the bite, just the right thickness. And it was juicy succulent.  The soup bursts in your mouth as you bite into it. 

 

Vegetable and mushroom dumplings - yummy yummy.  Dipped in soy sauce with a little vinegar, these dumplings were tasty!

BUTAO

 

 

There was a line of about 12 people ahead of us, but the guy said just 15 minutes.  True enough, the line moved so fast we were up next in no time at all.  

Ordering was easy and simple.  Fill out a check list and they put it together quickly. 

 Look at that belly!  It was tender and juicy.  And the soup was rich enough (at normal level).  

Butao Ramen is deliciuos and filling.  For a hole in the wall place, not so cheap at HK$90 but given its right off Lan kwai fong in Central, and this delicious meal in itself, not bad at all.

 

TIM HO WAN

The best ma-chang ever!!!  (Glutinous Pork rice).  Not alot of people order this.  But I've always like ma-chang.  This is the best I've tasted.  Plus side, no shrimps!!  (Being allergic to shrimps, i can't eat this at most places)

 

 These are the baked pork buns that earned Tim Ho Wan its michelin star.  Its good.  The bun arrive crisp on the outside, chewy inside.  The filling is just a bit sweet for me.  But the bread bun is really good. Overall, better than the last one I thought was really yummy.  

Hakaw - didnt have these

 Not sure what this is called.  Some kinda Pork asado hofan.  Yummy!  The hofan is sticky and tender at the same time.  And the filling is a perfect combination of sweet and salty.

 AWFULLY CHOCOLATE

I just wanted to have some Godiva ice cream. Last time i had its was like 4 years ago.  But the someone had bought out all the stock in the Godiva shop in IFC (they had dark chocolate in the freezer but someone owned it already).  It was sad.  So we had some ice cream outside our hotel instead at a shop called Awfully Chocolate.  A little too sweet for me, but i'll take ice cream any day :)

Magnolia Flavor House

When we were kids, ice cream was served on special occasions only.  And it was a major treat to get an ice cream cake from the Magnolia factory on Aurora Blvd (see Nostalgia manila's photos).  The best part was after eating all that ice cream (cake), you get to play with the dry ice - see how it sticks to your fingers :)  I remember being able to eat at the plant's ice cream parlor a few times - i think i always had the Banana Split or the Peach Melba.

Now, that factory is a Robinson's mall / residential condo. But there is a new ice cream parlor in the mall that will bring back memories!  The Magnolia Flavor House.  I doubt it has any connection to the old ice cream parlor but they did try to give it that spin using Magnolia ice cream.

Making Sundaes -P75 ea.  Is that a frozen chopping board?  

Sprinkles!  A very large j

Making the Banana Split P240

 My Banana Split - no nuts!

 Black and White P200 for the kids - replaced nuts with chocolate candies (mini nips) replaced pretzels with stick-o.  I was told they would charge an additional P15 per topping but they didnt - maybe because they just made substitutions.

I found the ice cream choices limited - but then again, how much ice cream can you have?  Kids found the ice cream "bland"  (not sweet enough?).  Next time we'll try the clubhouse sandwich and the burgers.  And I'll have the Peach Melba too.

Soul of Korea - Food!!

Spent a few days in Seoul, South Korea and the food was fantastic.  I'm not fond of spicy food, so there were a few things i didn't eat much of but it was still good (Kimchi for instance). 

 Barbecue

Barbecue restaurants abound.  We tried at least 3 and all were great!  Restaurants don't mix - either they serve only beef or only pork.  But the meat is really tender, well marbled and flavorful! I'd estimate average per head in a simple barbecue restaurant would be P800 to 1000 but well worth it.  And those suction cups actually work.  It wasn't as hot in front of the grill and I didnt come out smelling too much of smoke.

Myeongdong Gyoja

This place was in all the guidebooks.  And when we arrived it was packed with both locals and tourists.  There were only 4 items on the menu and we ordered all of it.  Each order was W8000 (about P297). Big servings that could be shared.  It's Korean-style fastfood - you pay right after ordering and the food comes shortly after.

 Fantastic Dumplings! I can finish a whole order.  The sauce - kikkoman and vinegar was just the right combnation to complement the juicy dumplings.

 Hot noodle soup, traditional Korean style.  The noodles were just right - slightly chewy and tender. Clear soup was light, minced meat was ever so mildly spicy and the dumplings (like wantons) were flavorful.  Nice.

Cold noodles. Can't remember much of this one but like because its spicy and i didn't have too much of it.

 Cold Noodle Soup that tasted much like a mild cucumber soup.  It was bland at first.  But later on became addicting especially after taking a heaping serving of the spicy noodles.  It was cool and refreshing.

Bibimbap

Would have eaten more of this if it weren't so so spicy...

Beef Soup / Stew (??)

 I don't know what this is called.  It got confusing.  Some restos named it Bulgogi on the menu and we would just point to the photo.  But each time it was yummy.  Light broth, tender beef.  And the best thing - not spicy at all :)  The best one was in Insadong -

Paris Baguette

Strawberry Tiramisu - yummy

Sweet Potato - ahmmm yup, kamote cake.  Not bad but i wouldn't go for seconds.



Lotte Department Store Food Court

Japanese Katsudon meal.  W8000 about P300.

Side Dishes

Most restaurants will serve side dishes or appetizers.  Usually you can ask for seconds.  Not all the same.  Some will give spinach, octopus, bean sprouts, glass noodles (like a cold chap chae), potato, sweet potato and many more.  But everyone gives Kimchi :)

Street Food

They looked like cylindrical fish ball stuffed with something (sausage, kani, kimchi).  After much gestures and actions, i finally ended with a cheese filled one.  Interesting, very filling for W2000 (about P75)

For some reason, there are a number of waffle stores in Seoul.  But this was interesting because it was just a cart on the road.  She was serving pizza too.  But the sign said waffle with cream or waffle and ice cream.  I of course chose waffle with ice cream - all 3 flavors of blueberry, apple and lemon.  Despite the strawberry syrup (that's not ketchup), it wasnt sweet for me.  Then she folded it like a sandwich.  ahhh, yum!  W2500 (about P95), I should have gone back for more.

I saw this on someone's blog before going to Seoul.  Ofcourse I had to have it.  W2000 (P75) and about 6 to 7 inches high -  Its crazy!  The ice cream itself was not creamy, a bit icy.  But the flavor was good.  It was just a thrill to have that much soft serve!  I came back for the other flavors but they ran out...  Choco strawberry again then :)

 

Now, I've tried a number of Korean ice cream (ala frozen delights) over here.  But this one, was interesting - because it had a foldable plastic spoon tucked inside the label.  It said "peel here" and there it was under the false bottom of the cup.  I had to bring the little teaspoon home.

 

Soju.  I don't watch much Koreanovela.  But i've seen a number enough to see that soju is a part of Korean lifestyle - after office drink while eating noodles or maybe a few bottles to ease a broken heart.  When in Korea, must soju then!