New Orient Kitchen

It was that weekend when my 高中 friends visited. After a day in the Summer Palace, we dropped by Sanlitun and entered the first open restaurant that seemed to have adequate heating.

New Orient Kitchen was a place I already tried out with a friend a couple of months back. They boast of contemporary Chinese dining and clean, healthy eats. I felt that their food was ordinary fare but I particularly like their rice variations.

Teriyaki chicken fillet with crab roe salad for RMB 35

天天餐厅- Everyday Restaurant

It was only a month ago when I joined a small Beijing debate tournament where I met fun and like-minded debaters who were interested in discussing global trends, social movements and management practices. From the pre-elimination rounds all the way to the tournament's Grand Final, I exchanged knowledge, humor and wit with the city's best.

Listomania

Since the Inquirer's SIM came out with the Blog issue, the Philippine blogosphere went aflurry with posts and discussions about it. A blog that they featured is 30before30project and it inspired me to publish my own list online.

It was May 2008 and a 13-hour ride to Amsterdam. The Bucket List was on the entertainment menu and it made me realise that I had to set tangible goals for myself.

Cities/countries to live in

Paris (1 year)

A communist country (1 year)

New York

London

Madrid

Sydney

Singapore

Hong Kong 

Honolulu Coffee Cake Shop

Since this was a Hong Kong trip where Macau and its egg tarts were not part of our itinerary, we instead headed to Honolulu Bakery, written by Time Out Hong Kong as having one of the best char siu bao and egg tarts. I missed the char siu bao by the time I arrived, they ran out by lunch time.

Egg tarts - HKD 5 each

Lei Garden

For our final evening together, my mom and I tried out Lei Garden, a one-Michelin star restaurant with around 4 branches in Hong Kong Island.

We went around Causeway Bay most of our time in Hong Kong, so we saw the Lei Garden poster a lot and decided to celebrate our last meal together there. We came as walk-in guests at around 8:20, but the place was too full that we were promised a table only at 9:30. My mom's insistence, however, granted us a table by 8:35. Thank you Mommy! 你知道到了我最想吃这儿.

Soup no. 6 for HKD 156. The 服务员 explained to us that it took 6 hours to make this soup! They steamed the herbs, fish bones and chicken to make the soup. For that method, I felt it was very much worth the price.

Dumpling Pro

This isn't part of our week-long Michelin hop but my mom and I tried Dumpling Pro in Wan Chai, to be consistent with our all-Chinese meal plan. I've read reviews that its 饺子's wrapper-to-filling ratio was spot on, allowing the subtle sweetness of the fresh pork to shine through in every bite, while its skin has a light floury fragrance and slight chewiness. I was sold.

Out of excitement for our dumplings, we over-ordered and had to stop mid-eating and go into a lengthy conversation to give our tummies time to digest.

Mixed Vegetarian Stuffing (Cabbage, Carrot and Water Chestnuts for HKD 32

Eva's home made orange cheesecake

Props to my very good friend Eva for a gastronomic innovation worthy of a spot on the Ritz Coffee Bar - cotton soft sweet tangerine goodness perfectly paired with a cup of black coffee. She shared that its perfection is attributed to the sour cream added along with cream cheese, and the zest of orange juiced into it. A few minutes after it came out of the oven, we all had ourselves a slice. Try it at home!



My lactose intolerant stomach taught me a lesson by late afternoon.

Hung's Delicacies

Our next Michelin stop for dinner was Hung's Delicacies in North Point area, along Wharf Road. The eatery was quite small, around 2 6-seater tabes, 5 2-seater tables, but there was a short line of hungry customers waiting for a seat outside. Its walls were adorned with articles and write-ups in praise of the restaurant.

According to the brief history printed on our placemats, Ah-Hung started his career in gastronomy at 17 when trained with Yung Kee as their cook specializing in won-ton noodles. He's had experience has Hong Kong's Maxim Group placed him in Beijing "to uphold food quality at top level". Later on he worked as manager of Hong Kong International Airport's 10+ restaurants.

Over time, Ah Hung developed his own special ways in making Chinese marinade-braised dishes and roasted meats which have been famous amongst visitors and received the much deserved one-Michelin star rating.

Free soup! Has pork, pork floss, peanuts, chest nuts.

Chuan Lam's Mix Noodle in Sauce - Lard, Soya Sauce, Ginger, Spring Onion, Beijing Spring Onion, Chinese ham soup) for HKD 38

Marinated Goose Slices - half for HKD 120

Hung's Delicacies
84 Wharf Road
Hong Kong, China

Desserts at Yung Kee

Took my mom to try out Yung Kee's roasted goose, since I loved it so much before, I thought I'd go delirious over it again. This time, however, it seemed that the love has died, or they just gave us below par tough duck meat. This entry, however, is in praise of the different versions of sweet sesame innovations.

Sesame balls in ginger soup for HKD 24 - Ginger, then a burst of sweetness, is always a good combination.

Crystal Jade (在香港机场)

My mom and I's first Michelin stop was Crystal Jade Restaurant in HKIA. Crystal Jade was awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand Category - the inspectors' food favourites in top quality restaurants.

My brother and I went to Crystal Jade Shanghai last November, so I knew what to expect, and went back to basics on this visit.

"La Mian" in Sichuan Style (四川坦麺) for HKD 36. 当然！

Tim Ho Wan

I finally made it to Tim Ho Wan! I've been looking forward to this one-star Michelin restaurant since it came out in the 2010 List. What makes this place more intriguing is that Chef Mak, previously from Four Seasons Hotel's Lung King Heen ( still something to look forward to when I return to HK) established Tim Ho Wan (means"add good luck") to offer affordable dimsum to everyone.

My friend and I were lucky enough to reach Tim Ho Wan with a short line. We waited for around ten minutes late on a weekday afternoon, when the normal waiting time is around 1 - 2 hours.

English titles of the food are my translations from our receipt. If they seem incorrect, they most likely are.

Crispy skin deep fried bun (酥皮 叉 焼包) - HKD 14

Simply Life in Citibank Tower

I remember when I used to work for UBS, on lunch time, I would usually head to Canteen, an upper middle restaurant that served lunch, cafeteria-style, for people working in the IFC. For my Hong Kong visit, my previous boss and I met up in the renovated and rebranded Canteen, now called Simply Life.


I prefer this set up. It makes it look less of a cafeteria and more of a deli-style presentation also seen in City Super. I suppose this rebranding justifies the price range.

Dai Wing Wah

I spent last week in Hong Kong to see old friends and mentors, and to celebrate 新年 with my mother. 香港的天气很舒服！A good break from the piercing cold of Beijing.

One evening, my friend and I chanced upon Dai Wing Wah is the one-starred Michelin starred restaurant my friend and I chanced upon after dinner, while walking along Wan Chai, so on the next evening, I went back for a quiet meal, to properly savour the flavour of their beef.

Beef braised noodle with soy sauce for HKD 48

新年快乐！ St Regis New Year Midnight Supper

新年快乐！我和我的同误区一个有名酒店过新年。我吃吃很多饭，听听一个上海 jazz band，跳跳舞。 给力事欢迎新年！

My friend Nik and I rang New Year in style - while the rest of the individuals in our age group (probably) froze in Yen's 798 New Year countdown, the old souls in us joined St Regis Hotel's Midnight Supper and welcomed the New Year with the soothing tunes of a Shanghai jazz band.

I loved how the hotel prepared for the New Year - the charming floral centerpieces, glittering masks, overflowing bubbly and wine, and a warm and lively ambiance that contrasts from the piercing cold outside. The food was arranged such that it looked to beautiful to eat. I refrained from taking photos from the buffet and instead snapped silently on me seat. See for yourself - 好吃啊！

This is Nik and I's first New Year away from home, and its been nothing short of sophisticated. I hope this forebodes of a glamorous year ahead. On to a new decade!

Props to the best flatmate anyone could ever ask for