Wednesday, December 26, 2007

My Boxing Day Chiu Chau Lunch

Lunch date: December 26, 2007
Occasion: Boxing Day lunch

Number of People: Two
Cost: HK$228 (US$29), including 10% service charge

Restaurant name: Pak Loh Chiu Chow Restaurant
Restaurant address: 23-25 Hysan Avenue, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong (has four other branches)
Restaurant telephone: 852-2576-8886
Anna's comment: Authentic Chiu Chau restaurant, at the heart of Causeway Bay shopping area. Good quality of food and services.


Pan Fried Oyster Pancake 煎豪洛
usually served with fish sauce
Can you see the oysters?

Pan Fried Sugar and Vinegar Noodle 糖醋面
Very crispy outside, and soft inside. Add vinegar and sugar before eating.
Kung Fu Tea 功夫茶 (cost inclusive). Very fragrant.

Kung Fu Tea (tie guan yin 鐵觀音) is usually served in authuthenic Chiu Chau restaurants, otherwise it is not authentic or the waiters are lazy.

Steamed Crystal Dumpling, dual style 鴛鴦水晶包
My most favourite Chiu Chau dessert.

Hong Kong Food Blog - Authentic Chiu Chau Food

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

My Christmas Dim Sum Lunch

Merry Christmas!
Here is a report of my Christmas lunch
at my favourite restaurant.
Lunch date: December 25, 2007
Occasion: Christmas lunch

Number of People: Two
Cost: HK$170 (US$22), including 10% service charge

Restaurant name: New Dynasty Scenic Restaurant
Restaurant address: 60/F Hopewell Centre, 181 Queen’s Road East, Hong Kong
Restaurant telephone: 852-2152-1282
Anna's comment: Authentic Cantonese dim sum restaurant, which also serves life seafood at dinner time. This restaurant has outstanding views of Hong Kong. Whenever my overseas friends visit Hong Kong, I must take them here.



Chicken Wing Preseved in Wine 醉香鷄翼
Fried Rice Served in Hot Pot 石頭飯
Pan Fried Rice Roll with Shrimps 煎蝦米腸
Dessert
Steamed Sesame Paste Bun - Inside 蓮蓉飽
Steamed Sesame Paste Bun - Outside

Hong Kong Food Blog - Cantonese Dim Sum

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Winter Solstice Festival Dinner

Dinner date: December 22, 2007
Occasion: Winter Solstice Festival Dinner

Number of People: 2
Cost: HK$660 (US$85), inclusive of 10% service charge

Restaurant name: Sportful Garden Restaurant
Restaurant address: 8 Fleming Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Restaurant telephone: 852-2258-7688
Anna's comment: Authentic Cantonese cuisine. Signature dish – Abalone, shark fin and fresh seafood. Because it is on the day of Winter Solstice which is an important Chinese festival, the restaurant is exceptionally full. Service level is lower than that of a regular day. Our shark fin has to be pre-ordered.

Bamboo Pith with Mushroom and Vegetable 竹生扖雙蔬
Pan Fried King Size Prawns 香煎老虎蝦
Shark Fin in Chicken Broth 鷄煲翅
Shark Fin is usually served with vinegar
Fruits (free of charge)

Hong Kong Food Blog - Cantonese Festival Dinner

Cantonese Festival Dinner

Dinner date: December 14, 2007
Occasion: Anna’s family gathering for Winter Solstice

Number of People: 15
Cost: HK$2,830 (US$363), all inclusive

Restaurant name: King Palace Chinese Restaurant
Restaurant address: 7/F Hopewell Centre, 181 Queen’s Road East, Hong Kong
Restaurant telephone: 852-2155-0868
Anna's comment: This is an authentic Cantonese festival dinner. The foods are usually more prestigious and not generally used on an everyday basis. It is a set menu, one price inclusive of drinks and service charge. Many restaurants in Hong Kong provide this kind of set menu at dinner time, in order for guests to have a better control of expenses.



Assorted Roasted Meat Platter 乳豬大拼盤
Assorted Seafood with Vegetables 翡翠海中寶

Deep Fried Minced Prawn Balls 黃金百花球 Crab Meat with Mushrooms and Vegetables 蟹肉扖雙蔬
Shark Fin with Seafood 紅燒海皇大生翅
Braised Abalone-shape Mushroom with Goose Web and Lettuce
蠔皇鮑菰扣玉掌

Roasted Chicken with Crispy Smashed Garlic 一品蒜香鷄
Steamed Garoupa 清蒸大海斑
Noodle and Fried Rice 燴伊面炒飯
Cantonese feast dinner is usually wrapped up with
noodle, rice, dessert and fruits

Dessert 甜品
Photo not taken: Red Bean Syrup and Fruit Platter

Hong Kong Food Blog - Cantonese Festival Dinner

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Cantonese Pot Rice 煲仔飯

Cantonese pot rice is a very popular Chinese cuisine in Hong Kong, especially during autumn and winter seasons. Even sometimes I do it at home. It is very easy to do. Get ready a handful of ingredients that I like. Put them altogether into the cooking pot when rice is 80% cooked. When rice is cooked, I just turn off heat and keep rice in the pot for about 10 minutes before dishing up.

When you order this dish from a restaurant, it is usually served directly with the cooking utensil, ie. the clay pot. I don't have a clay pot at home, so I use my Amway stainless steel pot but the effect is equally good. Even my neighbour can smell its fragrance. In winter, adults and children like pot rice very much.

Most popular pot rice dishes include:

  • chicken and mushroom
  • preserved Chinese sausages and assorted preserved meat
  • minced beef with egg
Use your own imagination and make pot rice of your style.
Anna's home made pot rice -
with Chinese preserved sausages, mushroom & dry shrimps
臘味煲仔飯


Hong Kong Food Blog - Home Made Cantonese Pot Rice
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Sunday, December 16, 2007

A Scenic Cantonese Dim Sum Lunch

Lunch date: December 15, 2007
Occasion: Casual lunch

Number of People: Two
Cost: HK$165 (US$21), including 10% service charge

Restaurant name: New Dynasty Scenic Restaurant
Restaurant address: 60/F Hopewell Centre, 181 Queen’s Road East, Hong Kong
Restaurant telephone: 852-2152-1282
Anna's comment: Authentic Cantonese dim sum restaurant, which also serves life seafood at dinner time. This restaurant has outstanding views of Hong Kong. Reasonable price and services. Whenever my overseas friends visit Hong Kong, I must take them here.



Pan Fried Vegetarian Roll 煎腐皮卷
Roasted Crispy Pork Belly 燒腩仔
Steamed Dace Fish Ball 鯪魚球
Pork Tummy with Black Pepper 黑椒爽肚
Pan Fried Rice Roll with Shrimps 煎蝦米腸
Dessert
Mango Pudding 芒果布甸
A view of Hong Kong from my table

Hong Kong Food Blog - Cantonese Dim Sum

Friday, December 14, 2007

Dim Sum - Chiu Chau & Cantonese

Lunch date: October 21, 2007
Occasion: Casual lunch

Number of People: Two
Cost: HK$180 (US$23), including 10% service charge

Restaurant name: The Grace Garden
Restaurant address: 12/F Times Square, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Restaurant telephone: 852-2506-3366
Anna's comment: Authentic Chiu Chau dishes, however combined with some Cantonese dim sum, in order to accommodate the taste of Cantonese population in Hong Kong. Nice restaurant.


Soyed Knuckles, Pork & Beancurd 卤水猪手猪腩肉
Typical Chiu Chau style

Mini Oyster Congee 蠔仔粥
Typical Chiu Chau style
Prawn & Vegetable Dumplings 鮮蝦菜苖餃
Mini Glutinous Chicken (outside) 珍珠鷄
There is no chicken in this dish,
no one knows the origination of the name Mini Glutinous Chicken (inside) 珍珠鷄
with minced meat inside (no chicken)

Dessert

Sweet Glutinous Dumplings with Thin Coating 擂沙湯丸


Hong Kong Food Blog - Dim Sum

Shanghainese 3-Course Dinner

Dinner date: November 14, 2007
Occasion: Casual dinner

Number of People: One
Cost: HK$125 (US$16), including 10% service charge

Restaurant name: Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao
Restaurant address: 3/F Tai Yau Arcade, 181 Johnston Road, Hong Kong (has other branches)
Restaurant telephone: 852-2573-8844
Anna's comment: Sells mainly dishes from Shanghai, Beijing and some Sichuan. Reasonable price, nice decoration.


Chilli & Sour Soup 酸辣湯
with sliced beadcurd, mushrooms & meat in a thick soup base
Fried Rice with Ham and Chicken 鷄火炒飯
Dessert
Sweet Glutinous Dumplings in Ginger Soup 薑汁湯丸
Hong Kong Food Blog - Shanghai, Beijing, Sichuan

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Hotel Food from Island Shangri-La

Lunch date: December 13, 2007
Occasion: Casual lunch
Number of People: One
Cost: HK$153 (US$19.5), including 15% member discount and 10% service charge
Restaurant name: Pool Deck
Restaurant address: 8/F Island Shangri-La, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong
Restaurant telephone: 852-2877-3838
Anna's comment: Not sure if this is a Cantonese cuisine, but it is widely available and popular in Hong Kong. This pool-side restaurant is opened to public. Foods from all restaurants within the hotel are available here. Extremely relaxing eating environment overseeing the most beautiful buildings in Central Hong Kong with five-star services. Club members enjoy 15% discount.

Hainanese Chicken Rice 海南鷄飯

Typical Hainanese chicken rice serves with
rice cooked with chicken broth, a bowl of soup,
the main dish and various choices of sauces.

Hong Kong Food Blog - Hainanese Chicken Rice

Monday, December 10, 2007

Home Made Cantonese Fried Rice

Fried rice is always my favourite. My home made Cantonese fried rice come with very simple ingredients namely ham, chicken, prawn and egg. Some people even add salty fish and sliced vegetable. Here is my favourite fried rice.

Fried Rice with Prawns and Ham 火腿蝦仁炒飯

Ingredients: plain rice from overnight, prawns, ham, egg and extra virgin olive oil
Seasoning: Cantonese dishes are light in seasoning. The only seasoning I use is a bit of salt and wine to the prawns. I usually add a few drops of Maggie Sauce when serving.

Hong Kong Food Blog - Home Made Cantonese Fried Rice

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Home Made Stir Fried Pea Sprout

Hong Kong food is dominated by Cantonese cuisine. Cantonese dishes are famous for its simple cooking and fresh ingredients. I am a Cantonese. Let me demonstrate how simple my cooking is. Home cooking is usually far more economic than eating out. Please see below.

Stir Fried Pea Sprout 清炒豆苗
Ingredient: pea sprout, extra virgin olive oil and salt
Cost: HK$5.6 (US$0.7)
good for two people

Hong Kong Food Blog - Home Made Dishes