Texas Burger

There's a lot of hustle and bustle along Electric Road at Tin Hau and a burger bar  has been opened up there, interpreting how a Texas burger should taste like in HK. 

With a menu Featuring a list of burgers with different sauce selection, served with#pickles and fries, milkshakes in addition to homemade dessert, that's a#reminiscent of Texas dining concept. 


We opted for Texas BBQ burger and a new selection with an extra two pieces of foie gras. Generous proportion; first few bites were awesome. Apple wood smoked beef patties and foie gras matched amazingly well. Such combination with barbecue sauce, bacon, and cheddar cheese gives a delightfully strong BBQ flavour.

The lettuce in between was drizzled with vinegar that was slightly bland ( maybe it's not sour enough). It's a bit sad that the overly baked bacon turns out to be crumbly more than crispy. The biggest let-down was the beef patties that failed to stay juicy when I got down to the remaining half. 
Better drink the freshly pressed tropical forest smoothies to help swallow it down you stomach. ( and I LOVE this milkshake! Feel like it's beneficial to my health in some way , which making the whole dining experience a less-guilty indulgence) 

Address: G/F, 109 Electric Road, Tin Hau,HK

A local eatery full of memories: Delicious Kitchen美味廚

Shanghai classic- Stramed rice with veggies, topped with deep fried honey pork chop($47) is a clear winner combo at Delicious Kitchen. Stands out all these years and nearly every table ordered one. The combination of pork chop and steamed rice with veggies just can't go wrong. Well marinated crispy skinned pork with a hint of lemon grass; and loads of veggies (白菜) inside the the comforting steamed rice😍nom for sure!

And there are wide-ranging varieties of soup and cold platters. Cold vermicelli and shredded chicken, served with not-so-sweet peanut butter sauce is perfect for summer. 

Or u can pick Wonton in soup which sounds healthier and lighter for lunch! If you are looking for sth shanghainese but not-too-expensive in causeway bay, it's definitely a choice for you! 

Address:Shop B, G/F, 9-11 Cleveland Street, Causeway Bay

Ina Hotpot by Inagiku 稻‧火鍋

Hotpot feast is no longer a seasonal ( winter) dining experience in Hong Kong. As one of the summer favourite in this city, people just love eating the hottest food you can imagine ( as long as they got air con)

Freshess of ingredients is the key; and Ina Hotpot knows this rule so well. Embracing simplicity with its spacious and modern setting, it really amazed us with its food quality, ranging from Angus beef to seafood like lobsters and scallops and as well as the price (you gotta spend around $500 per head to get enough for your night.)

As beef cravers, we ordered beef platter ($688) with flank steak, chuck #steak, U.S. strip Loin, local sliced #beef, Angus beef cubes and Japanese #Wagyu beef. 

Manager was so nice & introduced us which one we should begin with - started from leaner part. Fresh and succulent enough but honestly, hotpot isn't the best cooking method to present the evenly distributed fats at Wagyu beef. ( I prefer barbecue) 

Before you dip any food into the pot, better take a sip ( or a bowl) of the simmering #soup base, heavy on its ingredients. There are 10 broth to select; We've picked the Japanese #Kombu (昆布) broth, light and clear brown soup with pleasant dried fish and mushroom flavour with a hint of #collagen from the seaweed. A good choice without overpowering the freshness of seafood or beef.


Address:Shop A, G/F, Gold Union Commercial Building, 70-72 Connaught Road West, Sheung Wan

N1 Coffee & Co.

Vibe: A laid-back place off Tsim Sha Tsui East with high ceiling and decoratives in late 80’s style, like classic typer writer and books.Unpleasantly surprised by its pretentious #carousels#horse inside the cafe and the tiny outdoor dining area where you will enjoy the hot and humid weather in HK; and the infinite air pollution by the motor vehicles on the street without much privacy. Preferred indoor seats.
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Fortunately, the barista brewed #coffee ☕️(we’ve picked cappuccino, latte and flat white) was a good start; hot enough, and well executed foam. All day breakfast ($98) has a nice and colourful presentation with standard #Bacon, scramble eggs, #sausageand grilled tomatoes; #Salad is chilly and fresh but proportion was too small; the#beans didn’t actually taste as plump and rich as it look.😔 .

When my friend was digging into the bacon, she got an extra hair for free; which I guess is an occasion that happened very unlikely most of the time; but well, check before you eat.

Address:Shop G, 34 Mody Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui

18grams

A right choice not to keep my#Sunday brunch too heavy- Eggs Benedict from @18grams .
Cushioned on a soft #muffin with crunchy side, the poached eggs were stacked with fresh spinach and ham;and topped with an above average Hollandaise sauce.

There are 2 bunches of humble Spinach for the whole breakfast ( I want more ...) that got a very nice stir fried garlic flavour. The salad was just done so: the balsamic vinegar was not sour enough to raise my appetite. Other than that, this brunch has captured my heart when the oozing egg goodness is left gooey and runny.

.Apart from food, here host an award winning #barista in town! ( Hong Kong Barista Championship) With a comprehensive #coffee menu, highly recommend its house blend and ice drip ( it takes 8 hrs to make one!) .

Address:B04, 56 Dundas Street, Gala Place Basement, Mong Kok

波記燒臘粉麵店

A humble neighbourhood canteen that becomes one of the Michelin guide's favourites. Famous for its noodles with Roasted goose (燒鵝)Ball Kee has been making their signature Cantonese roasted meat (燒味)for 42 years with a very reasonable price. .
Drenched in a bowl of crystal clear hot broth 🍵, the roasted goose meat pair with crispy skin is heavenly tender; the noodles just absorb all the meat essence and the best thing is it's less oily than I think in general! .
The well marinated barbeque pork 🐷in Ball Kee is my favourite too! The fat-meat proportion is perfect that u won't get the rough and tough ones nor will u feel guilty in every bite of fat. .
A must-go local eatery that shows you the taste of Hong Kong. Better go earlier before the goose is sold out at around 4pm ( they only sell 8 gooses and 40 ducks each day!) .

Studio Caffeine

A tiny rectangular coffee shop. The use of #cementwall designs hanging with #chalkboard #menu and#pendant bulb, combined with wood furniture gives an industrial yet simple style in @studiocaffeine 

Having won the 1st runner up at Grand Barista championship in 2015, studio Cafeine has brought out the exquisite flavour of coffee without doubt☕️ but I just ordered sth different today: Hot Double #Chocolate, ($38)with 2 choco chip 🍫for those who want a more intense cocoa flavour. Very interesting latte art🐻 smooth and rich enough; but a bit too sweet for me. It would have given me the exact expectation of hot chocolate if there's any slightly bitter cocoa essence

But well, I like this place a lot. Maybe it's not 100% perfect but there are loads of potentials that keep you visiting again and again😁 . Coffee is def the soul at studiocaffeine.

He She Eat Cafe

Not exactly a typical lava cake. For years it's been a regular on dessert #menu with chocolate liquor*. And now you can see a dark green cake with Mocha#volcanic #eruption that never goes out of style.

 just can't stop digging into this #Mocha Molten lava cake. Once the spoon break into it , it bursts open with hot and #gooey lava that is so rich in authentic mocha flavour. And the story continues with a scoop of freezing cold #Tofu #icecream that gives a contrastingly hot/cold sensation to the palate; and surprisingly its delicately light tofu flavour stood out amid this dominating green tea lava, balancing the sweetness of this dessert.

Not exactly a typical lava cake. For years it's been a regular on dessert #menu with chocolate liquor*. And now you can see a dark green cake with🍵 Mocha #volcanic #eruption that never goes out of style

I just can't stop digging into this #Mocha Molten lava cake. 🍰Once the spoon break into it , it bursts open with hot and #gooey lava that is so rich in authentic mocha flavour. And the story continues with a scoop of freezing cold #Tofu #icecream🍨 that gives a contrastingly hot/cold sensation to the palate👅; and surprisingly its delicately light tofu flavour stood out amid this dominating green tea lava, balancing the sweetness of this dessert

He She Eat Cafe's address: Shop 201, 2/F, Causeway Bay, 2-10 Great George Street, Causeway Bay

The Butchers Club

Butchers Club seems to hit it stride, offering only one choice of burger and rough cut Duck fat fries - simple yet unbelievably good! (U can see a mountain of confidence right there) 

The burger starts off with the cheese that melted perfectly on the medium rare Angus beef patty, beacon, pickles and a huge slice of tomato, served with slightly toasted buns. All the ingredients are not new to us but @butchersclubhk got it right and keeps the patties juicy till the very last bite, speaking volumes of its beef quality. Get prepared with a bunch of tissue paper before you start destroying it!

And the meal isn't complete with the crispy golden duck fat fries that has a tender center with a hint of delicious duckiness. Butcher's club also offers at a variety of drinks, including cherry coke. As a friend of coca cola , I'd say it's worth a try, but only once* Not quite used to its cough syrup taste.

Butchers Club's address: Suite A, Sunwise Building, 112-114 Wellington St, Central

The French Table

Love the use of colour in the appetiser: vibrant reddish smoked salmon & Boston lobster, drizzled with Caviar passion fruit sauce🌸 With its smoky and buttery taste, the silky smooth smoked salmon matched surprisingly very well with fresh apples 🍎on top that give a contrasting texture to the dish; and it gives a savoury touch to the lobster. 

Yet the caviar passion fruit sauce is more like salad dressing for the greens than the garnish of the dish- A bit too timid and light . It would have given me the right expectation with a more intense sauce, adding a balanced finishing touch to the distinct ocean savoury.

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In general it's a perfect ambience to share laughters. The pumpkin tones of wall complement The French Table, adding a lovely warmth to this dining place😊

*4 courses-$568 per person

👉The French Table's address: 23/F, 239 Hennessy Road Wan Chai

Tai Tai Pie Pies

Comforting handmade treat that gives me a second to gasp n breathe this busy week: Sherperd's pie.

Combining nice and soft carrot cubes and green beans in every bite amid the sea of ground lamb filling, this handmade pie is amazing, not to mention generous😍. With a perfect proportion of meats n veggies, and the brown crunchy bits on top that contrasts well with seasoned filling, I just love everything I picked with my fingers! Let's get your pies on this Friday!

Tai Tai Pie Pies' address: Shop 1, G/F, Shun Feng International Ctr, 182 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

Follow the modern French muse

Hong Kong's first blend of FineDining and SocialEnterprise 社企餐廳-where proceeds are donated to Charity. What's better than enjoy delicacies and give a helping hand to others at the same time?

Interestingly named as "foie gras in many ways", this starter is uniquely developed around the same luxury ingredient. I started with the pan fried foie gras served with jam of #fig and pineapple( back); foie gras cream terrine cheese (middle) and then a slice of fig topped with foie gras terrine ball coated in black sesame( front) . In this sequence of eating, there is a gradual transformation- from soft and original form of foie gras to a relatively thicker texture, giving a modern touch to this traditional French twist. Every ingredient is able to stand out with its refined and characteristic taste without dominating others


The ribeyes was marvellous. Perfectly grilled to give a crispy charred outer and a succulent tender pink inner. The potato mash at the bottom was quite finely done and buttery.
Overall Service and food is in top quality but I expect to have a more extensive #wine list. Although the manager was so nice and matched wine for our mains, the recommended Saint Emillion 2006 is quite bland. Prefer bringing a bottle of personal favourite to match with the dish.

 

Personally the most impressive mains is definitely "the pan fried salmon and scallop with carrot for a sweetie harmony". Each bite just gives a burst of freshness and complexity of flavour, thanks to the perfect colourful pairing of garnish: a bunch of chopped beetroot and vinegar that highlights the succulent salmon ( surprisingly my mouth is drenched with the fish stock!) ; and complemented with mashed carrot paste and basil, successfully giving a sense of completeness and harmony to the dish.

A very exciting dining experience in such a high end French restaurant which is at the same time a social enterprise- all proceeds will be contributed to Benji's centre, serving speech delay children from low income families.

A lovely local hidden eatery

So it's James' kitchen, but not the fancy Jamie's Italian restaurant. that I would say is impressive in food quality with reasonable price. 

Pan Fried Foie Gras served with balsamic vinegar and diced canned peach. Don't underestimate these two complementary role that balance the richness pf the dish perfectly. What goes into my mouth is warm and buttery; slowly melting away and coating my tongue in a wash of flavour.

We also ordered oysters and French eel with Cesar salad as starter, steak, pork knuckle and Lamb rack as main course and dessert combo that set us at HKD 450 per person (x3); or you can pick set meal with three courses in HKD 200. Totally worth the price for such quality of food. 

(Smoked French Eel with Cesar Salad) (pork knuckle)

 (Spaghetti Aglio Olio Pasta -with black truffle and garlic)

It's quite hard not to love steak, especially when there are so many tastylicious ways to eat it. My  was grilled to charred perfection on the outside and juicy pink on the inside. Not much seasoning but freshness rules.


Ordered grilled lamb rack as well. Tender and fresh but left a little to be desired with its exotic marinates: cumin powder that turns out dominating the flavour of the meat. Other than that it's a satisfying meal and totally worth to spend hundreds to get such quality in a local eatery.