[Veggi Monster] Veggie burger paradise in Sheung Wan

I love modern vegetarian joints so naturally I was captivated by the burgers at Veggi Monster.
When I got there, I discovered that I had already tried the owners' two other Chinese style vegetarian restaurant in Kwuntong and Mongkok.

Most vegetarian joints just offer 1-2 burgers but here you have four to choose from as well as wraps and salads so decisions are tough!!!

As it was tough, I ended up coming here twice and here was what I had.
I loved the huge burger boxes!!

++++
Burger in Black:
A burger is not complete without cheese and there they use non diary cheese which tastes just as good and melts like real cheese.
The patty which is made of organic black beans tasted like thick and firm mashed Mexican refried beans with a touch of Chinese black beans and the black olives give it more flavour.

++++
Tofu Lover:
The tofu burger was more on the classic side because it had the normal burger sauces like ketchup and mustard but it was still tasty with beetroot and red lettuce.

++++
Avocado and Cashew wrap:
The wrap is a lighter option compared to the burgers, again there are three to choose from.
I had the avocado because there was an interesting combination of seaweed, pickled cucumber and cashew which gave it a complex taste.

++++
Pot of Nature:
I was really glad the boss recommended this to me because it was a whole bowl of peach tree gum flavoured by sweet olive.
It was like eating luxurious golden birds nest which is good for the skin.

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Located in Sheungwan, they offer a good selection of healthy drinks like taboocha, pressed juices and other items.
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As I have never tried Kombucha before I went for the beetroot taboocha which is made with Kombucha.
It was very fizzy and not too sweet.

+++++++++
I also recommend the mangosteen juice as well because you don't often see this drink in Hong Kong.
At the moment, they are doing a buy one get one free promotion for the burger in black until the 27th October.
+++++
VEGGI MONSTER:
https://www.facebook.com/veggimonsterhk/

Chinese flower plaque workshop with Wingkei, Choi 蔡榮基

I have always been fascinated with bamboo scaffolding because it is used instead of metal on skyscrapers..
Bamboo structures are also used in Chinese Flower plaques 花牌 which are bright red and made with bamboo frames, wire mesh, paper and plastic.

I discovered that there was a Chinese flower plaque workshop held for free at Caritas by Wingkei, Choi, the owner of Wing Kei Flower Shop 榮基花店 so I had to register for it because you don't often get to participate and it was a good experience to learn how the flower plaques are made.

Before I attended the workshop I initially thought the bamboo frames were already made so all we had to do was to decorate it with the bits and pieces.
It was really fun because everything was made from scratch, we got to saw the bamboo, split the bamboo into four pieces vertically and this big frame was made by tying it together with wires.
No glue is used hence bamboo splinters are made to hold things together, however staplers are used to staple the flowers onto the board.

The lessons were held on Saturday afternoons and the first lesson was sawing and splitting the bamboo, the second lesson involved making metallic flowers and building the bamboo frame, the third and fourth lesson was Chinese calligraphy and fixing the writings on to the frame.

Sawing and splitting the bamboo into four:

Making metallic flowers:

Making the Flower Plaque frames:

The main Flower plaque frame by Wingkei Choi:

Lining the Flower plaque frame with newspapers and stabilizing it with bamboo splints:

Stapling the flowers to the frames:

Painting the Chinese characters:

Attaching the sheets to the plaque:

I shall post an update again next year when they put these Flower Plaques up in early January 2018!!

English media on Wingkei Choi:
http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2020649/how-hong-kong-flower-plaque-maker-bringing-craft-west

Organizers of the Flower Plaque workshop:
一刻 社區設計館 Magic Lanes
https://www.facebook.com/magiclanesstudio/

明愛莫張瑞勤社區中心 (MCSKCC)
https://www.facebook.com/mcskcc

榮基花牌（香港）有限公司
https://www.facebook.com/wingkeiflowerstore

傳統花牌扎作班！[Quoted from 明愛莫張瑞勤社區中心 Caritas FB]:
非常榮幸 榮基花牌（香港）有限公司 蔡榮基師傅親自教授，我們一眾西區街坊一起落手落腳實實在在製作一個12呎闊、15呎高的大花牌！師傅話呢次同街坊一齊合作真係開創歷史先河！
我們會在這裡繼續分享花牌的製作的進展，並會完成後於 #西營盤 #常豐里 #一刻社區設計館 開幕典禮展覽！

#傳統花牌扎作班
#真正的花牌
#榮基花牌 #常豐里
#街坊參與
#社區
#花牌

Loyal to Loyal Dining

Loyal Dining used to be in Central but they have now moved to Wan Chai.

They pretty much serve everything because I would go there for the all you eat dimsum when it was on promotion and I would take my friends there for roast pigeon.

At this new location, we decided to make it a memorable dinner so we ordered the Giant Sizzling plate as it was on promo for $498.

Basically a huge plate of meats enough for six. There was Grilled Australian Sirloin Steak, Grilled Spring Chicken and British Tenderized Pork Loin. As well as that there were German sausages, bacon, sunny side up eggs, baked potato, broccoli, tomato and zucchini served with a choice of 3 different gravies (black pepper sauce, BBQ and garlic sauce).
The pork chop was really good because it was soft and tenderized.

On the side there was Waldorf Salad Served with Homemade Deep-fried Shrimp Balls.
The pairing was interesting but I like Waldorf salad because of the crisp apples and celery while the shrimp balls were springy and crispy.

Next was a favourite of famous Hong Kong actor Chow Yun Fat.
There were two different toasts, one was sweet and one was savoury.
The sweet one was peanut butter with condensed milk while the savory one was preserved bean curd and sugar.
I always spread preserved bean curd on my toast so clearly I loved it because it has a salty taste which you can think of it like Chinese marmite or blue cheese.

The Loyal Chicken Wings Simmered in Homemade Sweet Soya Sauce are a popular item.
Everyone orders that but I was quite full after having all that steak.

I was really looking forward to the dessert because they had the Loyal Soufflé (Ovaltine).
It had a lovely Ovaltine aroma to it and it was not too sweet.

Loyal Dining:
5 Tonnochy Road

Hong Kong's first mini karaoke booths

I went to Red MR 紅人派對 to experience HK's first new mini karaoke rooms which are now trending in Asia.

Each of the rooms are approx. 20 square feet with functions same as the rooms except music and vocal comes out from the headphones.

The price is 15mins for HKD30 and 30mins for HKD50. Currently there are 2 mini karaoke rooms in Causeway Bay and 1 in Tsim Sha Tsui outlet.

I really liked it because you can hear your own singing more directly through headphones which is good for singing practice.

There are curtains either side that give you privacy.

As well as these booths, they have different themed rooms.

My favourite was obviously the one with the Union Jack cushions and diva Microphone.

There is an area for games if singing isn't your thing!!