Remember... at all times

 

Temple Street, Jordan, HK, 2020

Haven't been to this place for many years and a bit surprised to see such a common Western China Town symbolic arch.  Made this place losing its original characteristics. 

 

&BTR restaurant, Tai Koo Shing

There have been quite many restaurants taking this location next to Ice Palace of Tai Koo Shing.  Quite nice to feel some chilling icy air streaming through and watching people skating.  I stopped visiting when it was Deli and Wine (a MX deli) and School Food. 

When I checked the menu, I recalled EXP that I used to visit 9-10 years ago.  The prices are the same and even lower.  The burger is just at HK$35, and the pasta about HK$55.  You can get a salad at an extra of $10 and a drink at $9.  So the burger set meal with salad and drink is just 54.  At first I thought the burger might be quite small if that's $35, but it wasn't.  So I ordered an appetizer platter (chicken wings, tortilla with yoghurt and salsa filling.  The platter at HK$75 seemed to be a bit high as compared to other items, but it's much worth it.  It's very ironic that the fries from this place is much cheaper but incomparably more delicious than the other meal we had at Dan Ryan's.  At least I could taste real fresh potato and the dried fries without much grease.  The tortilla was unexpectedly aromatic with fresh raw yoghurt (sugarless).  The pasta was cooked with pork/beef sausage - juicy and blended with meat flavour.  Not heavily seasoned either.  If the ingredients were fresh enough, no need to have too much seasoning.  

 

 

Dan Ryan's Chicago Grill, Tai Koo Shing, HK

It has been years I haven't been to this restaurant.  The ones in Ocean Terminal and Pacific Place have been quite popular for those who would like to get some steaks, spare ribs and cakes.   Got a burger but it wasn't too appealing.  The bun was a bit too soft and the beef patty was too dried out.  The fries were not aromatic either.  Supposed carrot cake shouldn't be a problem from this place, but it was very disappointing.  The cream wasn't fresh and the cake a bit too rough.  I was asked what Chicago was famous for, I pointed at their wet tissue "Windy City". 

 

Ice Palace, City Plaza, Tai Koo Shing, HK

Among all the shopping malls' management, Swire (Tai Koo) seems to be the best in keeping their malls updated and renovated from time to time.  The high light of this Ice Palace's rephrase is the big see-thru' video wall.

 

Two Taikoo Place, HK

15 years ago, I saw the blue print of the redevelopment of Taikoo Place.  This giant building was supposed to be the last one to arrive.  Another year to grow up.

 

王家沙(花樣年華), Bloom by Wang Jia Sha, City Plaza II, HK

Has been quite some years I haven't tried this place.  It wasn't too bad, nor too impressive for reminding me of regular visit.  The shop made a theme a few years ago.  I'd prefer the old name though.

Tried the pan fried buns, egg white fried rice,  Lion's head (stewed meat balls) casserole, Dan Dan noodle & crushed cucumber.  Only the fried rice, stewed meat balls and Dan Dan noodle were up to standard.  The pan fried buns were very oily and too mashy inside.  I could tell they use the same meat patty of siu lon bao for this bun, as that was supposed to be in more juicy texture.  The crushed cucumber was very disappointing.  Supposed the cucumber should be crushed in irregular small chunks and so it could absorb the crushed garlic, sesame oil, salt and vinegar.

 

Diffused and a break

 

Bangkok Canteen, Causeway Bay

After trying Siam Noodles (on the same street), I thought I should try this one as it looked busier.  I also ordered the pig's knuckle rice to make a comparison.  I'd say this one is not as good as the one I tried at Siam Noodles.  This one was however quite HK style flavour with a bit soy/oyster sauce and the pig's knuckle wasn't too soft.  The stir fried morning glory was a bit disappointing.  The chicken noodle soup was luke warm and the noodle wasn't vercemilli, nor Thai rice noodle.  It was a bit close to Yunan rice noodle.   Their dipping sauce was also quite HK style flavour (only sweet and sour).  

 

Dining with BTS Siam

 

Hysan Avenue, Causeway Bay

 

Sketching

 

泰濃麵 (Siam Noodles), Lan Fong Rd., Causeway Bay, HK

It's quite difficult to find an authentic Thai restaurant in HK.  There are some very nice but not that Thai local flavour, such as Thai Basil that I like the most but I don't agree that their food is very Thai style.  I passed by this street quite often and noticed there are more and more Asian restaurants.  I didn't have a high expectation for this shop.  It was a bit surprising that their pork knuckle rice was quite Thai style with the brown gravy and the sauce.  If they put some Kale and a boiled duck egg on the side, it could have been 100% Thai style.  Their chicken rice was good too and the sauce was quite impressive.  What's more, they used some very nice Thai jasmine rice.  When I left the shop, I heard some people speaking Thai inside the kitchen.  Such a warm cozy meal in Causeway Bay.  Next time I'll try their noodle soup.

 

Universal Serial Bus (USB)

So universal as its original full name now commonly found in bus.  The name comes true.

 

Vases

 

Pho Le, Causeway Bay

It's quite fortunate that in HK, we can have quite a wide variety of noodle soup, from Chinese, Japanese to Vietnamese.  I'd like the soup base of this one, quite clear and not too heavily seasoned.  I can taste it's been boiled for hours.