New shipping container style market at Kai Yip Estate

In London, there are Boxparks, where a bunch of shipping containers are made into shops and eateries.

Recently Kai Yip Estate market had a makeover where it was given an Industrial theme with a shipping container outlook so I decided to check it out.

The outside display window had realistic chops and meat hanging.

The location is not exactly convenient because it is a bit of a walk from choi hung MTR station or you can get a bus to Kai Yip Estate Terminal.

As well as checking it out, I was clearly there for food.

There were various stalls from dimsum, fried stuff, noodles etc but 食好啲 clearly was unique because they had these strange looking ricerolls, silver pin noodles which were filled and these items on the menu which I have not seen anywhere else.

It turns out to be Kaiping cuisine after asking the guy there.

I ordered the rolls and a rice, it was difficult deciding between the salted fish rice or dried dace fish but he recommended the salted fish because they salt and sun dry it themselves.

On the counter, there some mouth watering condiments like red and green chili sauce made by them as well.

The rolls were slightly sweet with a strong soybean taste filled with bits of minced meat in the middle but not too much and the chili sauce complimented it nicely.

The not so photogenic salted fish and pork belly rice was amazing because the salted dried fish texture was like fresh fish but slightly firmer like bacalhau, and there were no bones.

It was steamed with pork belly and ginger which releases some oils and goes perfectly with the rice.

Video of 食好啲:

After having some satisfying food, visited the market which was clean with dry floors.

Huge dried fish:

Toilets:

Video of the market:

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啟業市場
Kai Yip Estate, 18 Kai Yip Road, Kowloon Bay
Opening Hours: 

(Market) 8:00-20:00; 

(Food Terminal) 8:00-22:00
https://www.facebook.com/foodterminal.kaiyip

[PICADA] Bigger and exciting Latin American hangout

Visited Picada before when they were on Elgin road, it was a small bar but they had great drinks and food.
Now they are at LKF and the place is 10 times bigger with a huge bar, buffet area, music area and dining area.
On weekdays, they serve big lunches with a semi buffet included, the salad selection was good.

Started with two refreshing drinks.
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It was punchy with pineapple, lime, mint and passionfruit.

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The Ruby Rose was sweeter mixed with cranberry juice, lime, passionfruit and grapefruit.

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Chicha venezolana:
The drink tasted similar to Horchata but there was rice in it which makes it is quite filling.
I loved it because you could taste roasted rice and there were grains of rice that had a good chew to it while the drink was not too sweet or creamy.

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I got the Empanadas which are like mini pies.
There are lots of fillings to choose from like beef, chicken etc but I chose the three cheese because I just love cheese and it was cheesy and satisfying.

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The Peruvian Ceviche is a MUST ORDER because it is mixed in tangy Tigers milk and the whole dish is just appetizing and moreish.

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Carne:
This was juicy skewers of beef sirloin in Bettel sauce on top of soft and silky baby potatoes tossed in a tangy chimichurri and aji limo sauce.

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Bandeja paisa:
The portion was quite big and good for sharing.
If you like chili con carne and refried beans, this is the dish for you because there is fried egg, a thick slice of crispy pork belly, complimented by the meat sauce and refried beans.
There was also avocado, arepas and a piece of fried plantain.

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PICADA:
29 Wyndham Street

[Oriental House Arabic Halal Cuisine] Consistently good Arabic food

This restaurant has been here for years serving the best Arabic Halal food in Hong Kong.

I used to eat at Sham Fast Food which was owned by them before this restaurant popped up in 2004.

Went here for dinner because I haven't been here for years and nothing has changed except for the improved decor which gives it a stronger Middle Eastern appearance like Simurgh in London.

That guy who served me a few years ago was still there.

Dinner portions are quite big.

Started with lentil soup which was starchy and creamy with a hint of cumin.

Next was the silkiest hummous which I just wolfed down.

It is too good to be shared.

Also had the mutabal and babbaganoush. The babbaganoush tasted sweet and sour while the mutabal was more savoury, both delicious with their fluffy pita bread.

For mains had the Shawerma which was tasty chicken, lamb and beef.

All were nicely spiced.

The mixed kebab paired with Arabic salad was grilled minced meat drizzled with tahini, again with cumin paired with refreshing salad and tasty Arabic rice.

Finished with the Halawat Al Gibn which tasted like a chewy glutinous rice cheesecake that was not too sweet.

https://www.facebook.com/OHFoodArabic/

[The Spaghetti House] New Ocean Bounty menu

The Spaghetti House at Wanchai is a good place for dinner during the weekdays because all the people working in that area have deserted the place.

There was a new summery Ocean Bounty menu launched for summer.

They even had sea cucumber on the menu paired with salad but I was immediately attracted to the squid ink ravioli filled with spinach and scallops that are made freshly everyday.

It was a very hot day so had the macchiato with haagan dazs vanilla icecream topped with a square cube of frozen red bean puree recommended by the manager.

Definitely a photogenic drink with a strong matcha bitterness complimented by the red beans at the bottom.

The other drink Strawberry wonderland was just simply stunning with the sexy red strawberry floating on ice.

Started with the creamy asparagus soup with scallops which is a good pairing of asparagus and scallops because both are delicate in flavour.

The garlic bread was perfectly toasted and buttered, it was crispy with a slight soft centre saturated with garlic butter.

The mussels came in a rich tomato sauce which made every mussel tasty while the sauce was great for dipping the garlic bread.

Now to the star of the show, the squid ink ravioli filled with spinach and scallops were big while the ravioli pasta was soft and hung the lobster sauce well. 

www.thespaghettihouse.com

[Rustico] “Taste of Moments” Menu HK$880 available from 12 – 14th July

Rustico, helmed by chef Carlos Salvador Asensio is celebrating its 3rd Anniversary with a range of world class dining experiences.
“Taste of Moments” Menu HK$880 available from 12 – 14th July are highlights from Barcelona.

Here was what we had:

Gilt ceviche and tiger's milk, a refreshing start.

Coca “Vendimia” which was Whole Wheat Bread Topped with Garlic, Parmesan and Pine Nut Gelatine, and Dried Fruits', quite complex is taste when you burst the bubble in your mouth.

The Dried Fruits' seed Sticks with Japanese Miso was a fun teaser.

The “Ajo Blanco” Garlic-Hazelnut white Soup, Smoked Eel, figs was unique because you can really taste hazelnuts but there was a cheesy twist in taste.

The Manzanilla wine marinated raw Tiger Prawn served with Cherrie gelatine, mustard and Black Olive paste was too beautiful to eat.

I am personally not fond of sea cucumber because in Hong Kong, it is not the way how I like it but the Spanish sea Cucumber was fantastic because it was served on Potato puree with fresh Zucchini, Parsley-Pesto which tastes so much better.

The French Seabass, fresh lettuce, raisins and cashew nuts, Mango and Japanese curry Sauce was lovely with the touch of curry in the gravy.

For mains, I had the Stewed beef cheek served with red fruit and Daikon ravioli which was soft and gelatinous while the Daikon ravioli balanced the heaviness of the beef.

Dessert was Lemon cream topped with Curry foam and lemon sherbet, crispy coconut and crumble.

[RUSTICO]
D2 Place
Lai Chi Kok