Monday, December 28, 2009

Yan Can Cook - Anna's Cookbook Recommendation

Have my blog inspired you to learn cooking Chinese food? Actually there are quick, easy and healthy Chinese cooking methods that you can learn from professional Chinese chefs. Here are my most respected Chinese chefs and their cookbooks - Martin Yan and Nicholas Zhou.

Martin Yan started his culinary career in Hong Kong, so I am proud to present him first.

Before my introduction, you might have already known him from his TV Show “Yan Can Cook” – a show which has been seen in 70 countries and has won many awards. First time I saw him on TV, I was completely impressed by his professional cooking skills and great sense of humour.

Yan moved to North America and has worked in restaurants in Canada and the United States. He received a Master Chinese Chef Certification from the Ontario Restaurant Association and holds a Master’s in Food Science from the University of California Davis. Chef Yan has written numerous cookbooks and has consulted with restaurants and culinary schools throughout the country.


Among his cookbooks, the following being most popular: Martin Yan's Chinatown Cooking: 200 Traditional Recipes from 11 Chinatowns Around the World (intro by Julia Child), Martin Yan Quick and Easy, and his latest, Martin Yan's China (a cookbook that documents his travels throughout the far reaches of China, and his culinary discoveries).

Hong Kong Chinese Food - Cookbook Review

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Dim Sum Tea Time Special

My brother took me to a late lunch in Shatin last week. We arrived at the restaurant just after 2pm, so were entitled to special dim sum prices. You cannot imagine how low the prices were. Below are two examples. My favourite dessert Steamed Egg Custard costed even less than that from convenience stores.

Steamed Egg Custard
HK$3.8 (US$0.49)
Stir Fried Flat Noodle with Eggs and Prawns
HK$28.8 (US$3.7)
less than half price comparing to peak hour
Some readers asked me about the tea time in Hong Kong. Broadly speaking from 2pm to 6pm. However there are variations among restaurants. Dim sum restaurants usually start at 2pm. Food at this period is generally the cheapest in a day. Master your time and you can enjoy great food at greatly reduced price.

Hong Kong Chinese Food - Tea Time Dim Sum Special

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Chinese Wedding Banquet

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December 5, 2009
Wedding Banquet at Harbour Plaza Metropolis Hotel, Hong Kong. The host told me that hotel wedding package included one suite for one night plus a Mercedes with driver.

Following the wedding cakes, I was invited to the wedding banquet. A typical Chinese wedding banquet has 8 courses plus noodle/rice, dessert and fruits. All guests should go home with an over-feed stomach. Usually we are not able to finish the desserts/fruits and have to take them home.

Below is a report of a classic Chinese (Cantonese) wedding banquet. Most of the dishes are available in everyday dining, however in a smaller portion while crab meat usually required advance ordering. A standard banquet table has 12 guests.

The names of the dishes are usually designed for good luck.


BBQ Piglet 鴻運乳豬全體 Stir Fried Brocolli with Scallops 翡翠花枝玉帶
Deep Fried Crab Meat 百花炸釀蟹箝
Vegetable with Dual Mushrooms
瑤柱金菰鴛鴦蔬
Abalone with Lecttuce
蠔皇福祿鮮鮑片
Shark Fin Soup with Sliced Chicken
紅燒竹笙雞絲大生翅
Steamed Garoupe 清蒸大海班
(I have chosen to enjoy the giant fish head)
Deep Fried Chicken 當紅脆皮炸子雞
Noodle 幸福伊面
Dual Dessert 美點雙輝
Wolfberries Jelly Cake / Coconut Juice Cake
Hong Kong Chinese Food - Cantonese Wedding Banquet

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Chinese Wedding Cakes 中式嫁女餅

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In Chinese tradition, male has to give cakes to female has part of their engagement gifts. Female in turn distribute the cakes to her friends and relatives together with an invitation card to the wedding banquet. Hence treating friends and relatives with cakes is an official announcement of a female's wedding. So if someone ask a female 'when are you treating me cakes' implies 'when are you getting married?'

Chinese Wedding Cakes



Recently I received a dozen of Chinese Wedding Cakes. Actually the product range is quite limited. Below are some of them: top to bottom:

Millenium Egg Puff
Red Puff with Egg Yoke
Pineapple Puff
Hong Kong Chinese Food - Chinese Wedding Cakes

Saturday, November 7, 2009

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

Sunday, November 1, 2009

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

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Hong Kong Chinese Food Close Up

Dear Readers,

I have recently written a e-book about Hong Kong Chinese Food. I can’t wait to introduce this to you.

8 Major Hong Kong Chinese Food Categories
· Dim sum
· Rice & Noodle
· Seafood
· Main Courses
· Hot Pot
· Spicy
· Vegetarian
· Desserts


150 Full Colour Photos of the Most Classic Chinese Dishes
· Price indication
· Restaurant suggestions
· Chinese food culture

Only US$19.95
for immediate download
For further preview and testimonials, visit my other website China Travel Golden Route.

For immediate download, click the BUY NOW button on the left hand column of this blog.
NOTE: Once you've made payment,Paypal will take you to my website China Travel Golden Route to achieve the immediate download links.

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Keep Eating & Stay Lean !

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Unconventional Hong Kong Dessert - Crystal Jelly

I come across this new dessert recently and found it worth recommending. First I had it at Ashima Yunan Restaurant, and next at Tanyoto SiChuan Restaurant. But I never had such dessert when I was in Yunan or Sichuan. Thought it must be an invention of Hong Kong chefs. Anyway it is silky smooth and crystal clear. Its appearance and taste are really lovely. Secret is the soup base. Both restaurants used Cassia flower syrup which made it extremely fragrant. Try it out next time you find it on a menu.

Crystal Jelly - Cassia Flower Flavour 桂花水晶粉
Special price at Tanyoto: HK$9 (US$1.15)
Hong Kong Chinese Food - Crystal Jelly Dessert

Friday, September 25, 2009

Ice Cream Mooncake

Mid Autumn Festival is approaching. The cake shops in Hong Kong, either traditional Chinese or Western, are working hard to gain a market share of the giant mooncake business. Haagen Dazs is one among the competitors - see their ice cream mooncakes. My colleague gave me a coupon for a free box. I notice it worths HK$199 (US$25.5) for the four cakes.

Ice Cream Mooncake

HK$199 (US$25.5)/box of four

As for flavours, strawberry and vanilla only.

Hong Kong Chinese Food - Mooncake

Monday, September 7, 2009

Perfect for Fungi Lovers

My friend took us out for dinner to celebrate her securing a new job. At the heart of Mongkok on Kowloon side, The Ashima Yunnan Restaurant offered me quite a new dining experience in Hong Kong. Though I live here, I had never tried Yunnan food. Yunnan produces a huge range of fungi. So if you love fungi (mushrooms), this is a perfect place to come for a delicious and healthy meal. Let's browse our dinner menu.

Stir Fried Assorted Fungi, Lijiang Style 麗江炒雜菌
My top choice tonight!
Mapo Tofu & Fish 麻婆豆付魚
(it seems there is more fish than tofu!) - Yummy!
Sour Beef Soup 酸牛肉湯(下面有菜)
With vegetables underneath - very healthy!
Tofu Noodle 豆付米線
Very authentic Yunnan style, my friend's top choice!
Ashima Yunnan Restaurant
6/F Grand Tower Plaza, 639 Nathan Road, Kowloon
Tel: 852-3188 2555
Average expenses: HK$120 (US$15.5) per person

Hong Kong Chinese Food - Yunnan Food

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

The Magic of Ginger Tea and Glutinous Dumplings

Chinese do not use ginger only for cooking. Ginger tea, ginger soup, ginger milk, ginger milk tea…are very popular Chinese drinks. Apart from its medical function of warding off body cold and rheumatism, it also improves digestive system and relieving pains especially for soar throats.

I like the fragrance of ginger. Even at home, I add ginger juice to my milk tea and I really love it. Tonight the ginger dessert I have is really very delicious – Glutinous Dumplings in Ginger Tea – highly recommended.


薑茶湯丸, 甘香可口
Glutinous Dumplings in Ginger Tea
The dumplings has sesame paste stuffing
HK$24 (US$3)
My Shanghainese dinner also include this yummy
Stir Fried La Mian with Shedded Eel
蟮糊炒拉面 HK$56 (US$7.2)

Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao 翡翠拉面小笼包
3/F Tai Yau Arcade, 181 Johnston Road, Hong Kong.

Telephone: 852-2573-8844
This restaurant charges HK$3/px for tea and 10% service charge

Hong Kong Food Blog - Ginger Tea with Glutinous Dumplings

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Rare Vegetarian Dim Sum Lunch

At the Hong Kong Park, Lock Cha Tea Shop is a place where you can enjoy a peaceful lunch at the heart of a city. Our office is nearby, and we found it a good place to enjoy good tea and good food, along with good services.

This is a place dedicated for tea appreciation, so we can do the art of tea ourselves but the tea here is more expensive than other dim sum restaurants. Each of us can order our own choice of tea and play around with our tea set. Only the tea costs HK$20 (US$2.6) per person.

My choice of tea - Pu Er 我的至愛普洱茶 I am doing art of tea for myself 茶藝自助
All the vegetarian dim dum are very nicely done
滿枱點心最開心
Standard dish contains two pieces,
we paid extra to make three in each dish
每碟兩件, 但可按比例加費至所需件數
Vegetarian Buns 我們三人一齊, 所以每碟都有三件
Vegetarian Dessert - Glutinuous Dumplings with Custard Stuffing
這個類似湯丸的甜品很好吃
Hong Kong Food Blog - Vegetarian Dim Sum Lunch

Lock Cha Tea Shop
Ground Floor, The KS Lo Gallery, Admiralty, Hong Kong Park
Tel: 852-2801 7177
10am - 10pm, light Chinese music at dinner time

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Cotton Candy at Tea Buffet

Tea Buffet date: August 15, 2009
3.30pm to 5.30pm – only on Saturdays and Sundays
Cost: HK$218 (US$28) per person, plus 10% service charge

Restaurant name: Café Too, 7/F Island Shangri-La
Restaurant telephone: 852- 2877 3838

The old Hong Kong street side snack here reminds me of my childhood. In the past at least three decades, I haven’t seen this made-to-order cotton candy and yesterday I found it at the tea buffet at Island Shangri-La. Take a look at the follow video. Only a few seconds, a spoonful of white sugar was turned into a large lump of cotton candy.

The tea buffet here has a very wide selection of Cantonese dim sum as well as many delicious Chinese snacks, made-to-order noodles with ingredients of your choice. Japanese corner has sashimi, sushi and soba.

You must love the desserts here. The chef will do pancakes and cotton candies for you. Kids can create their own toppings on cakes. The wide selection of fruits and ice cream will certainly make dessert lovers excited.

懷舊綿花糖製作過程, 只需幾秒
Video - Cotton Candy Making

Chocolate Fountains Cookies Colourful Jellies My assorted desserts My sister's assorted desserts Woo, my Number One choice of today!
I give it a super distinction - Deep Fried Chicken WingsFlat Spring Rolls 付皮卷

Spring Rolls 春卷
Fish Fillets 炸魚柳
Potato Cakes with Mushrooms 薯餅 Hong Kong Food Blog - Tea Buffet