Showing posts with label International Food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label International Food. Show all posts

5-star Hotel Dining Experience

If you think that dining experience at 5-star hotels are always 5-star, wrong!

I’m a health club member of Island Shangri-la and I swim there almost everyday. I receive some dining coupons recently and thought I should take my friends there because the poolside restaurant environment is really nice. Unfortunately that was the only strength they had. Food and services had no way to impress.

The table I booked was completely empty when we arrived. They offered us another table which had only two settings while I booked for four. We had to wait for 30 minutes to have the table fully set.

The food was unreasonably expensive, comparing to their quality. The $240 sea bass was next to rotten. I assume any professional chef should be able to tell that fish was not fresh enough to be served on any dining table. Pomelo salad, Phad Thai, chicken, spring rolls were just so so. The wanton in Tom Yam soup was not bad but $155 for only 6 wantons was just too expensive.

They didn’t re-fill water though the four of us were completely dry. They also didn’t remove/replace used/empty dishes. Our table was such a mess. Any high street fast food shop in Hong Kong could provide better services. In fact we were the only group of guests that evening, apart from the single gentlemen who enjoyed his cigar more than food. What are the excuses for poor services and poor food?

Pomelo Salad ($180)
Wan Ton in Tom Yam Soup ($155)

Spring Rolls ($85)
Thought this is the cheapest on the menu
Chicken in Leaves ($85)
Stir Fried Noodle ($165)
Any Thai restaurant in Hong Kong can produce something more delicious than this.
The next-to-rotten Sea Bass ($240)
The strong sauce couldn't hide the unfreshness of the fish!
Mango with Sticky Rice and Ice Cream
I gave it a 'marginal pass'. One of my guests who was Thai Chinese didn't agree with me. She graded it 'failed'.
Perhaps this was the only strength of the restaurant. We oversaw the pool and the Bank of China while eating. As the restaurant was almost empty, I was free to borrow another table to take this photo. As the table we ate was in such a mess.
After all, my Thai Chinese friend said she never eat fishes in Thai restaurants as she's from Bangkok and she knows that Thai chefs are generally no good in cooking fishes. I thought she didn't tell me this out of courtesy while I picked the dishes.

Waterside Terrace

8/F Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong

HK$1,083 (incl. 10% service fee)(US$138.8)

Hong Kong Food Blog - Poor Hotel Food

Discounted Buffet in Hong Kong

Hong Kong restaurants are making excuses to offer discounts, such as early departure discount. I like the idea as I don't mind to go early if I pay less.

Over the Easter Monday, I went on a buffet which usually offers 25% discount before 12:50pm but I ended up had to pay regular price, becasue discounts won't apply on holidays.

Back to the buffet itself, many are attracted by big dishes of shushi, sashimi and the rows of salads and hot dishes. But I always pay attention to minatures. Not only because of the lovely cute utensils, but the little small size portion of food won't fill up my stomach quickly and I can enjoy plenty of these small dishes. Let me introduce a few of them.

What are there in these two 1" pans? On the left is Japanese Egg Tofu. Thought it has been deep fried and seasoned with some Japanese dry fishes and sauces. The other one is half an egg white plus some raisins and a small slice of salmon. Very healthy and delicious.

Here are my collection of dessert minatures
All 1 - 1.5" in diameter

Steam Egg (hot)
Caramel Egg Custard
Pomegranate Moussee with Cream Topping
Serradura (Macau/Portuguese dessert)
Pomelo in Mango Juice



Another 1.5" Serradura


Here is my 1.5" Hamburger. I'm the only guest who can enjoy this, because I made it myself. I'm a person who like to tailor something with ingredients from the buffet table. If they serve sausage, I'll make a hot dog. If they serve sliced bread with an oven, I'll make a club sandwitch. Today I collect a very thin slice of roast beef and made this mini hamburger. Isn't it cute?


Metropark Hotel Wanchai Hongkong
Address: 41-49 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2861 1166
Lunch buffet everyday from 11.45am to 2.30pm
HK$128 (US$16.4)/Adult + 10% service fee
25% early departure discount (before 12:50pm)
10% for one day advance booking
** No discount on Saturday, Sunday and holidays**

Hong Kong Food Blog - Discounted Buffet

Himalaya Restaurant in Hong Kong

Today is the Easter weekend, I've decided to do something special - Himalayan lunch. The Himalaya Restaurant has been around for some time. As it is nearby my home so I notice it. I've tried its buffet before. Today is Saturday, so I go there for a relaxed lunch.

The set lunch is only HK$70 (US$9) and looks attractive. I have no doubt in this restaurant's authenticity. I see all Indian, Nepaleese, Himalayan faces from the chef, waiter, cashier and boss.

If you love spicy food, this is a good place. Before lunch, I try the crunchy bread (I don't know the exact term) with some of the spicy sauce and had my tears running.

My Himalaya Lunch


Menu:
Tandoori Chicken 炭燒雞
Lamb Curry or
Chicken Makhani 咖哩羊肉或咖哩牛油雞
Stir Fried Mixed Vegetables 炒雜菜
Pullao Rice 印度黃飯
Garlic Kulcha 烤蒜蓉餅
One Soft Drink 汽水一杯


Wasn't the Tandoori Chicken a little over cooked? The burnt bits looked quite scary. I ended up had to remove them with my fingers. I liked the Chicken Makhani very much.

The Himalaya Restaurant is quite decently decorated


As usual in any Indian restaurant, my lunch was wrapped up with some sugar or candy. The other looked like some herbs but I didn't try it.



Lunch date: April 23, 2011
Set lunch only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
Buffet lunch on weekdays
Opening hours: 11.30am - 3pm / 5.30pm - 11pm
Set Lunch: HK$70 (US$9), plus 10% service charge, includes one free drink
Restaurant name: Himalaya Restaurant
Restaurant address: 1/F 22-30 Tai Wong Street East, Wanchai, Hong Kong.
Telephone: 852- 2527-5899

Hong Kong Food Blog - Himalaya Lunch

Green Risotto - Hong Kong Style

Meals of more vegetables and less meat are highly recommended nowadays. If you’ve been following my blog, you may know that I’m a health conscious individual who eats generally one meal a day. Green Risotto is how I blend in lots of vegetable and little meat into a very delicious dish. Let me share with you my Hong Kong Chinese style Green Risotto.

If you have the experience cooking risotto, I won’t repeat here. Unlike traditional Italian risotto, I used water instead of stock. I then chopped some green vegetables and Chinese Kam Wah Ham. Kam Wah Ham is a famous produce from Yunnan, China and is widely available in Hong Kong. You may use any other ham or bacon as you wish. As Kam Wah Ham is very rich in taste, I don’t have to use any other seasoning at all.

When you add the last round of water to the risotto, add the chopped ham and keep stirring. When the risotto is cooked, cover for 3 minutes before serving. Now, make use of these 3 minutes, get ready a hot saucepan and heat a little bit of EVO. Stir fry the sliced green vegetables. No need to add salt as the risotto is going to be very tasteful with the Kam Wah Ham. Add the green vegetables to the risotto, mix well and dish up.


Green Risotto

Chopped Vegetables

Chopped Kam Wah Ham

Message from Anna

Warning: Do NOT Use These Cooking Oils

Hong Kong Food Blog - Green Risotto

Cream Sauce Spaghetti

Bacon Chopped Onion Spaghetti in Cream Sauce
Price: HK$68 (US$8.72)
Surchage for soup and coffee: HK$18 (US$2.3)
Service charge: 10%
Restaurant: New Burgh Cafe at 113 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong

Does this dish look nice? It does. And does it taste delicious? It does. However I have a story to tell. This is my dinner for tonight: cream sauce spaghetti. Cream sauce?! Yes, that's what I order from the menu.

Size of the dish: 6 inches. Portion: even smaller than what I collect from a breakfast buffet chef. I finished eating in three bites and within a minute. That was the end of my $68. If you been following my blog, you know that I don't eat much. Even so, this was not enough to fill up half of my stomach.

I used to buy take-away from this restaurant which is usually of good value. Tonight I have some time and decided to sit down and enjoy a relax dinner. I ended up with this story to tell. What are you after, when you want to enjoy a good dinner, quality or quantity?

Hong Kong Food Blog - Cream Sauce Spaghetti

Mango Mille Feuille

Do you love Mille Feuille? I love Mille Feuille and mango. The chef therefore decided to tailor-make one for us with lots of mango. I have a cake coupon from Island Shangri-La so I ordered this birthday cake for my sister-in-law free of charge. Very crunchy but not too sweet.

Mango Mille Feuille
Apart from the traditional layers of puff pastries, the chef offered us more mango inside! Wow, yummy! Thanks for the creativity.

Hong Kong Food Blog - Mille Feuille


Super Delicious Handmade Ice Cream

Found a wonderful dessert shop in Hunghom. My friend took me there. Out of my expectation, this shop is new, beautiful, clean and tidy with friendly waiters. Most important of all, VERY DELICIOUS and VERY CHEAP.

My friend lives in Hunghom and got a promotion leaflet and took us there to try. Of course, we were offered opening special price with that leaflet. But even without it, the prices are surprisely low and the desserts are so delicious.
Coconut, Mango, Pomelo Dessert
How much does it cost?

It comes in a duo, together with
the Green Tea handmade ice cream,
red bean syrup and sticky dumplings.
Only HK$35 (US$4.48)

How about my Grass Jelly Dessert Set?
Only HK$15 (US$1.9)

Some more promotions for the new shop.

I must say, even if you go here by taxi, it will still be a good deal.

They have 10 other shops, but all in Kowloon and New Territories. The one here in Hunghom is the first one with seats, the others serve only take-away.


手作りアイスクリーム
Dessert House
Japanese Tezukuri Ice Cream
13 Ming On Street, Hunghom, Kowloon
Hong Kong Food Blog - Super Dessert


Super Value Tea Set

Hey, I can't wait to post this. It is such a good deal - only HK$28 (US$3.58), inclusive of a cup of tea or coffee. This tea set is only available between 3pm and 5.30pm at Boston Restaurant in Hong Kong, and it is for take away only. Look, its size is just like a regular dish and it is cooked to order. Extremely delicious. So I've decided to do lunch and dinner together. Mmmm, breakfast + lunch is called brunch, what about lunch + dinner? Can someone invent a term for it?

Baked Spinach Noodle with Ox Tongue and Tomato
焗鮮茄牛脷波菜面 HK$28 (US$3.58), including a drink
Boston Restaurant
3 Luard Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong 852-34211822

This is one of the oldest restaurants in Hong Kong serving western food. I particarly like their take away dishes as they are extremely delicious and of super value.


Hong Kong Food Blog - Fast Food

German Buffet in Hong Kong

Lunch buffet date: April 4, 2010
12.00 to 4.30pm – only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
Cost: HK$145 (US$18.6), plus 10% service charge, includes one free drink

Restaurant name: King Ludwig Beerhall, G/F Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen’s Road East, Hong Kong
Restaurant telephone: 852- 2861 0737


When I eat Chinese food overseas, I always sense a taste of west. Likewise when I eat western food in Hong Kong, I always sense a taste of Chinese. However at today’s Easter German buffet, I feel a 100% German taste.

Only my favourite Crisp Roast Pork Knuckle and the Sausages justified the whole fee. I must say this is the best pork knuckle I have ever tasted in Hong Kong – very crispy skin, very tender and delicious meat. There are not many types of sausages, but already good enough to please me.

Items that chefs make in front of guests include: toast with ham and cheese, stir fried spaghetti with your own choice of ingredients and waffles.

I am extremely happy with the wide range of desserts and ice creams – wow…extremely yummy. They kept refilling with variations, so if you have a big stomach, you can stay there and keep eating for four and a half hours. Finally our buffet finished with a cup of very nice coffee. Actually there were choices of beer, coffee, tea or soft drinks.



They will serve one dish of Crisp Roast Pork Knuckle to each table.
But you can collect additional portion from the buffet table.
Here is my additional knuckle.
Egg-shape Sausages and Ham
Onion Soup and my Easter Eggs Ham and Cheese Toast with Mushrooms
Very crispy and delicious
Plenty of Easter Eggs
Hot Desserts
More Desserts
Cold Desserts
King Ludwig Beerhall
Very German Feel
I like sitting at the bench facing the street.
King Ludwig has a branch at Murray House, Stanley, Hong Kong.
They serve buffet also on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
Lunch buffet: HK$168 (US$21.5) - 11am to 3pm
Tea buffet: HK$118 (US$15.1) - 3pm to 5pm

Hong Kong Food Blog - German Buffet

Museum Cafe - Ideal High Tea Venue

Museum Cafe - Podium Level, Hong Kong Art Museum, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon

Hong Kong musuems are free on Wednesdays. So I take a day's off, go to Tsimshatsui to have lunch at Peking Garden and spent some time exploring the nearby Space Museum, Art Museum and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

Though I eat one meal a day, but sometimes I'm naughty. It is a personal rule, not a law, so it doesn't matter. After my museum tour, I had a cup of tea at its cafe on the podium. I really like to recommend this place becasue it is never crowded and it has superb views of the Victoria Harbour. Make sure to sit outdoor and the whole podium is yours.

Most important of all, the 5-star views here won't cost 5-star price. My latte is only HK$28 and the garlic bread is only HK$25. The food here is really nice and not expensive at all.

Garlic Bread HK$25 (US$3.2)
Anna at the Museum Cafe
The Museum Cafe podium offers great views
of the Victoria Harbour


Hong Kong Food Blog - Museum Cafe

Sushi Dinner

We went to Tsimshatsui for Sushi dinner last night. There were several other sushi restaurants nearby at Granville Road with immediate seating. But the one we went Itamae-Sushi had a big crowd waiting. I was a little puzzled why my friend picked this particular restaurant. Until I started to eat, I knew why.

Scallops - our number One choice of the night. We can really taste the freshness and sweetness of fresh seafood - Ichiban !
Salmon - on special offer, I thought we ordered at least 10 for each of us.
Tuna - also our favourite
Peony Prawns - also Ichiban ! But slightly pricy.

Please focus on sushi only. Forget others. Sushi are the best. Everybody come here for sushi only.

Salmon and Scallop 三文魚, 帆立貝
Tuna Fish 端拿魚
Peony Prawns 牡丹蝦
Itamae-Suchi 板前夀司
14 Granville Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel: 852-31062846
Tsimshatsui MTR Exit B1
NOTE:
They don't take reservations. Average waiting time 30 minutes. They have a very professionally managed system. Just go there and pick a ticket, come back in 20-30 minutes and be seated. There are many shops around in that area, do some window shopping and you won't be bored while waiting.

We are all happy with the friendly waiters and efficient services and of course the excellent food.

Average expense per person HK$180 (US$23)

Hong Kong Food Blog - Japanese Sushi

Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival

Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival
West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade
Oct 30 - Nov 1, 2009

I am a voluntary worker today (Nov 1) at the Wine & Dine Festival and had a chance to take these photos and present to you a slideshow as well.

There are 150 local and international wine dealers showcasing their products here. Together with the international foods, I get so excited. Guests can buy a through ticket to taste various wines and pay individually to taste all the yummy local and international food. Wine school and cooking classes available.

Hairy Crabs
Autumn is the best season for eating hairy crabs
Saucisson Aldules (French Sausages)
Look at its appearance, I don't know what this is!!
Food Slideshow




There are plenty of such wine booths at the show.

Wine Video



Hong Kong Food Blog - Wine & Dine Festival 2009