Wednesday, April 03, 2013

FoFo by el Willy

FoFo by el Willy, Wellington Street, Hong Kong Central

Lunched at FoFo (20/F M88, 2-8 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong, tel : +852 2900 2009).

FoFo by el Willy, Wellington Street, Hong Kong Central

Located on the 20th floor of M88, the restaurant was positioned to provide a pleasant and tranquil view of the hills and the mid levels at the rear of the Central. Where one could dine shielded from the hustle and bustle.

FoFo by el Willy, amuse bouche crostini

We were served a platter of amuse bouche to munch on while perusing the menu. Think it was sardines on tomato and salmon mousse, both on crostini.

FoFo by el Willy, sexy sangria

Since we were out to have a nice lunch, why pass on the alcohol eh?  The jug of red from FoFo's sexy sangrias which contained a bunch of stuff that was lost in translation the mix. Like Cognac, tempranillo, cointreau and peach liqueur. Except for the cinnamon which really perfumed and mellowed the drink. I liked the red.

FoFo by el Willy, octopus potatoes teruel ham

We had cooked octopus with potatoes blanketed under Teruel ham. The slices of octopus were chewy and tender at the same time, salted by the ham and spiced by paprika.

FoFo by el Willy, jamon iberico shoulder

We ordered some jamón Ibérico shoulders to see what they were about. FoFo uses the ham from Iberselec which make them from 100% Iberian pig. The result was a healthy warm red hue in each slice laced by flecks of intramuscular fat. These ones were very very good. There was a lot of that buttery component of flavour in the fat than I had ever noticed. Those flavour were all nicely layered on top of the bodied nutty aroma that one is generally accustomed to from the ham.

FoFo by el Willy, tomato bread

The jamón Ibérico was accompanied by some Catalan styled tomato toast. A fresh, crispy and perky counter to the ham.

FoFo by el Willy, fried baby squids

We ordered up some fried baby squids that were accompanied by a smokey chilli lemon mayo which I thought was an excellent concoction. Rich, tart and spicy at the same time underneath that moderated smokiness.

FoFo by el Willy, montadito des foie gras with truffle and confit onions

We also had at Montadito des foie gras with truffle and confit onions. I've just found out that Montaditios for the Spanish refer to a bite sized open faced sandwich and can be used with various toppings. I guess this is a FoFo interpretation. And I liked them.

FoFo by el Willy, eggs in a nest
FoFo by el Willy, eggs in a nest

Then, there was a bowl of eggs in a nest. Organic eggs cooked at 63 degrees (omg, the precision they have to sell here!) in a nest made of crispy potatoes and onions. Topped with sliced truffles too. And more foie gras. I found that the best way for me to enjoy this was to let the eggs soak into the nest by tossing them a little before forking them out with bits of the foie.

FoFo by el Willy, suckling pig

The last of the small plates came in the form of FoFo's suckling pig served on top of a gratin of onion, potatoes and black truffle. These were amazing. The skin was moderately fat laced, crispy on top of a tender slice of flavourful pork. Underneath that sure fire combination of potatoes and onions. Good for return orders I say.

FoFo by el Willy, juicy rice with sea cucumber, scallops and Iberico pork

Next up were a duo of their juicy rice. This first was done with sea cucumber, scallops and Iberico pork. It was rich, creamy and dotted by freshly cooked green peas. This was very nice. The only thing that didn't settle with me was what they had claimed were sea cucumbers and had insisted so. It had definitely tasted and looked like razor clams.

FoFo by el Willy, juicy rice with boston lobster

The second was a Boston lobster juicy rice that was sadly not as flavourful as the previous. I had really been expecting a lobster bisque quality to the creamy stock infused grains but it wasn't as I had imagined.

FoFo by el Willy, white chocolate mousse

Desserts were a white chocolate mousse with mixed berries and churros. All were competently done with what I thought was well moderated sweetness that didn't make me feel like stopping after a single spoon. We were already quite stuffed at this point.

FoFo by el Willy, churros

I think FoFo is good for returns.

FoFo by el Willy, Wellington Street, Hong Kong Central

Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Small plates in Mongkok

Mongkok, stewed pig intestines

We headed down to one (G/F, 28 Mong Kok Road, tel : +852 2395 9867) of several squeeze sized shops where one can get seats and frills free snacks of the braised, pan fried and boiled variety in one stop.

The food turned out to be much better than I had expected. I liked that those unassuming delicious pot stickers huddling in the griddle which had vegetable fillings that were so fresh that one could taste the said freshness. And we've had the better pig's blood curd yet which was of a coarser texture almost akin to a firm silken tofu and filled with the flavors of the blood as I had remembered them. Coupled with tasty chewy intestines braised in a hot peppery broth which was just the thing to have for the cool evening.

It was basically straight forward stuff that was good for sharing and I think the place opens till late in the night.

I recommend trying the bean curd with evaporated milk.

Mongkok, guo tie on the pan

Mongkok, pan frying guo tie

Mongkok, pan fried tofu
pan fried tofu

Mongkok, pan fried guo tie
pan fried pot stickers

Mongkok, pan fried radish cake
pan fried radish cake

Mongkok, tarchy soup with wood ear fungus, paste of fish trimmings
starchy soup with wood ear fungus, paste of fish trimmings....that sounds just weird

Mongkok, braised pig intestines, pig's blood curd and chives in a peppery broth
braised pig intestines, pig's blood curd and chives in a peppery broth

Mongkok, mai fan
mai fan

Mongkok, thick noodles lardy broth
some thick udon like noodles in a clear lard filled broth

Mongkok, peanut porridge
peanut porridge

Mongkok, tou fu fa
tou fu fa (a.k.a. tau huey) with evaporated milk

Mongkok, yellow or brown sugar
yellow sugar for the bean curd

28 Mong Kok Road

Monday, April 01, 2013

Wai Kee Congee Shop(威記粥店), Stanley Street, Central, Hong Kong

We liked this place (G/F, 82 Stanley Street, Central, Hong Kong, tel : +852 2551 5564) enough that we were here twice for breakfast within the week.

For one, it's been quite a while that we've had good dough fritters that wasn't overfried, overfried to hard crispy death or too chewy. The ones done up at Wai Kee were dense, yet soft. The outstanding items from the shop included their creamy congee, their also creamy radish cake filled with shreds of radish and  their natural sweetness and deliciously smokey plates of bee hoon/mai fun.

Speaking of which, the mai fun seemed thicker while the regular noodles were thinner than what we were generally used to; which resulted in only slight differences in the textures of both. However a blind taste test could easily be passed simply because of the smokey aroma from the former which the latter doesn't seem to have.

The pig's blood curds in their porridge also appeared different from how I remember them. These ones were unusually smoother and had less flavour.

Wai Kee Congee Shop(威記粥店), congee pig's blood curds
congee with pig's blood curds

Wai Kee Congee Shop(威記粥店), zha leong
dough fritters draped in rice flour sheets (zha leong)

Wai Kee Congee Shop(威記粥店), mai fun
smokey mai fun

Wai Kee Congee Shop(威記粥店), dough fritters
dough fritters

Wai Kee Congee Shop(威記粥店), noodles
the thinner regular noodles

Wai Kee Congee Shop(威記粥店), rice dumplings with mung beans and pork fat
rice dumplings with mung beans and pork fat

Wai Kee Congee Shop(威記粥店), hum zhim pang
hum zhim bang

Wai Kee Congee Shop(威記粥店), steamed radish cake
steamed radish cake

Wai Kee Congee Shop(威記粥店), canton styled congee with cuttlefish, fish maw and minced beef
canton styled congee with cuttlefish, fish maw and minced beef

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Green Waffle Diner, Graham Street, Central, Hong Kong

Green Waffle Diner, chicken & waffles

Grabbed lunch at this cosy little shop (35-39 Graham Street, Central, Hong Kong, tel: +852 2887 9991) styled like an American diner located near the top of Graham Street just a little bit above the wet market. From what I know, they do fried chicken and waffles, which seem to be what they're better known for.

Their deep fried chicken drumsticks which were served piping hot were drained of residual grease were actually pretty good. The skin was lightly battered, thin and crispy with juicy meat on the inside.

Green Waffle Diner, steak & eggs

There was also a skillet of steak and eggs. In my mind, I had been imagining a larger skillet, but I guess US sized only happens in the US. It tasted pretty much like how it looked and was a little greasy. Could make a pretty decent after drinks comfort grub. Coffee was no good here.

Green Waffle Diner, Graham Street, Central, Hong Kong

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Lin Heung Tea House (蓮香樓), Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong

Lin Heung Tea House (蓮香樓), Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong

I read that this venerable institution (160 Wellington St  Central, Hong Kong, tel : +852 2544 4556) has been serving affordable trolley service dim sum since 1926. Eating here was akin to hopping into a time capsule back into a era when eating dim sum was.....well, a little different. Let's just leave things at fleetness of foot and thickness of skin helps some. Kinda like what's needed for a scrum in rugby.

The atmospheric din and crowd that one has to contend with and absorb are at the least, an experience that is better gone through than described by words. I meant that in a most positive way.

I managed to get most of the pictures of what we ate. The food was altogether hearty, comfortingly delicious and familiar. Special mention goes to their lotus seed paste buns which rocks! I'm thinking that I've just scratched the surface of what this tea house has to offer. Which gives me a very good excuse to come back again when I next return to Hong Kong

Lin Heung Tea House (蓮香樓), lotus seed paste bao
steamed lotus seed paste buns

Lin Heung Tea House (蓮香樓), lotus seed paste bao
it comes with salted egg yolk in the middle. good stuff!

Lin Heung Tea House (蓮香樓), pork and chive dumpling
steamed pork and chive dumplings I think

Lin Heung Tea House (蓮香樓), beef balls with orange peel
steamed beef balls with orange peel

Lin Heung Tea House (蓮香樓), cheung fun with shrimp stuffings
cheong fun with shrimp stuffings

Lin Heung Tea House (蓮香樓), steamed chicken and mushroom wrapped in bean curd skin
steamed chicken and mushroom wrapped in bean curd skin

Lin Heung Tea House (蓮香樓), steamed shrimp and mushroom wrapped in bean curd skin
steamed something else wrapped in bean curd skin, might have been shrimp and mushroom

Lin Heung Tea House (蓮香樓), siew mai
siew mai

Lin Heung Tea House (蓮香樓), dai bao
dai bao

Lin Heung Tea House (蓮香樓), dai bao
bao asundered!

Lin Heung Tea House (蓮香樓), pak tong ko
pak tong ko (white sugar cakes)

Lin Heung Tea House (蓮香樓), steamed chicken feet
steamed claws of the mascot bird of the secret order founded by Albus Dumbledore

Lin Heung Tea House (蓮香樓), char siew bao
char siew bao

Lin Heung Tea House (蓮香樓), Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong
the atmosphere

Friday, March 29, 2013

Mak's Noodles (麥奀雲吞麵世家), Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong

Mak's Noodles (麥奀雲吞麵世家), prawn/shrimp roe noodle 虾籽面

So finally, the famed Mak's Noodles (77 Wellington St, Central, Hong Kong, tel : +852 2854 3810). I was almost worried that I would be let down after the barrages of glowing reviews on their reputation as one of the best wanton noodles one could get in Hong Kong.

Mak's Noodles (麥奀雲吞麵世家), beef tendon noodle

Fortunately, the noodles themselves lived up to reputation. One could definitely taste the differences in the firm and wiry texture. To date these noodles have been my best experience so far. Was quite impressed.

There's the other part which casted some murk in this picture perfect.

The noodles beef tendons had a pretty strong taste of ammonia which was strangely not present in both the soup wanton noodles and the dry noodles with shrimp roe. The latter was really good by the way.

Mak's Noodles (麥奀雲吞麵世家), wanton mee

As much as I liked the noodles , I couldn't definitively say that this was the best wanton noodle shop. I haven't eaten at that many here yet. Even if I had, I wouldn't be able to do all to determine "best". What I noticed of Mak's noodles was that they were quite small. Some people have described them as snack sized portions.

If I had really been hungry and wanted a better bang for buck quantity, the more sensible thing would be to actually walk right across the road.

Mak's Noodles (麥奀雲吞麵世家), Wellington Street