Fooklore to be the new folklore of Wanchai

Wanchai is my love and roots where my journey for food in Hong Kong began.
I have had countless meals in this area but lacked Chinese restaurants I could recommend.

Fooklore is definitely recommendable, this is the place to take tourists or clients because of the reliable service and quality of the food. (at the time of this meal).
The restaurant is located at Empire Hotel on the corner of Lockhart Road so it is near Admiralty as well.

Judging by the menu, it was the usual suspects like dimsum but when the food arrives you get a surprise by the presentation and taste.

This is what we had [Steamed black truffle and wild fungus dumplings], [steamed minced beef balls], [Steamed rice-roll with minced beef], [Pan-fried diced chicken buns in Teriyaki sauce], [Pan-fried pork dumplings with rice paper net], [Pan-fried pancakes with dried scallop and dried shrimps], [Poached chicken with oil in peanut sauce], [Fried rice vermicelli with crab meat and dried shrimps], [Longevity buns with lotus paste and salty egg yolk].
(Quoted from the English Menu)
++++
[Steamed black truffle and wild fungus dumplings]:
The steamed dumplings were flawless and crystal clear, they were loaded with diced wild mushrooms infused with a black truffle taste.

++++
[steamed minced beef balls]:
Basically beef shaomai and I liked the way they were garnished with a slice of okra which makes it look healthy and appetizing.
The beef had a nice flavour with a soft but firm texture.

++++
[Steamed rice-roll with minced beef]:
These are rice rolls that are served everywhere but considerably different as there was delicious aged peel in it and the soy sauce they used excelled it to a different level as it was good quality soy sauce with a lovely sweetness.
The riceroll wrap was silky and smooth yet held together without breaking.

++++
[Pan-fried diced chicken buns in Teriyaki sauce]:

When the lid was taken off, there was a fragrant smell of wine, each bun was uniformly panfried.

It was filled with delicious pieces of chicken in light Teriyaki sauce so you could still taste the buns and chicken.
++++
[Pan-fried pork dumplings with rice paper net]:
The rice paper net showed how incredible their skills were.
You can see the way they drizzled the liquid rice mixture in a spirograph pattern quick enough before it got crispy.

As well as the appearance, the dumplings were tasty with juicy pork filling.
++++
[Pan-fried pancakes with dried scallop and dried shrimps]:
This was another one of my favourites because the pancake was thin and crispy yet there wasn't a drop of oil lingering on the plate or any excess oil on the pancake.
It was crispy with a lovely scallion aroma.

++++
[Poached chicken with chili oil and peanut sauce]
The poached chicken was lean and tender with a good amount of spiciness.
Despite the spiciness, you could still taste the freshness of the chicken which was really appreciated. Fooklore uses the finest ingredients for all dishes including fresh chicken for this dish.

++++
[Fried rice vermicelli with crab meat and dried shrimps]:
Another dish that must be ordered because it was wonderful.

Again, the dish is more stunning when it is served because you will find an abundance of shrimp roe in it and the vermicelli they have used is almost like silk.

There were bits of crab and fragrant egg in it that it reminded of 鳳凰炒長遠 which I do not know the English dish name but glass vermicelli is used instead.
++++
Finished with the [Longevity buns with lotus paste and salty egg yolk] as it was someones birthday.
They were super cute and size matters as less is more as it looks more appetizing!

++++
Overall, I was more and than impressed with the freshness of the ingredients and the taste of the food so I will definitely be coming back.

Fooklore 享福
LG2, Empire Hotel, 33 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Tel / Fax : 2861-2060 / 2861-2226
http://fooklammoon-grp.com/en#restaurants/fooklore

Opening Hours:
Lunch 11:30-15:00 (Last Order 14:30)
Dinner 18:00-23:00 (Last Order 22:30)

Christmas Menu at A.O.C Eat & Drink

A.O.C Eat & Drink is a cosy French bistro in Wanchai close to the MTR!!!

I have always wanted to try this place as it is well known in the French community and headed by Chef Stéphane from Brittany where he serves down to earth French food with a modern twist.

For Christmas, he has designed a Christmas dinner menu available from ​Thursday 20 to Sunday 23 December during dinner.
As with the regular menu, there is a wine sommelier to suggest some good wine pairings.
Here is the menu and for the price and portion I found it more than satisfactory.

Here are the actual dishes

Appetizer:
3 Oysters with yuzu granita
The oysters served on ice were refreshing and the yuzu granita had a nice citrus tartness which made these oysters extremely moreish.
They were paired with a sharp wine which was definitely a good pairing to begin as it makes you ready for the next courses.

***
Starter
Crab Ravioli, mushroom, herring roe, scampi sauce.
I love ravioli and they are more tasty than they look visually and from the description.
The scampi sauce had a little bit of heat in it and the raviolis were loaded with crabmeat and other goodies because you can taste something citrusy going on as well as some herbs.
The herring roe made it look glamorous while giving a hint of saltiness.

***
Main
Chicken Breast with foie gras, rice topped with Comté cheese and truffle sauce.
The main course was quite heavy but I loved the way you are served chicken in two ways, the bigger piece is white meat and the thing that looks like a big Brussel Sprout is actually diced chicken with some black pepper wrapped in cabbage leaf!
The rice beneath it was topped with evilicious melted Comté cheese and a rich creamy piece of foie gras.
I found it really comforting because it tasted like something I had when I was a kid served at my friends house.
To be honest, I was rather full after this but as a cheese lover I had to try the next cheese course.

***
Cheese
Brillat-Savarin cheese with truffle (+$80)
The portion of cheese was very satisfying but unfortunately I couldn't finish it all.
It tasted thick and creamy infused with truffle.
A must try as it is made with triple cream.
I really regretted not asking if I could take the rest home as I just couldn't finish it.

***
Dessert
Mandarin Tart, chestnut, meringue
Although I was full, I had to finish the dessert.
It was juicy mandarin slices topped with smooth and velvety chestnut puree complimented by the meringue pieces on the side.
The whole thing was just wonderful as everything was in harmony and the meringue pieces were crisp with a slight soft chew in the middle.

***
Price per person: HK$468
Available from ​Thursday 20 to Sunday 23 December for dinner

Definitely recommended for Christmas!

A.O.C Eat & Drink

15 McGregor Street, Wanchai

+852 2479 6833

Tues - Sun: 12noon - 2.30pm & 6pm - 11pm

Closed on Mondays

https://www.aoceatndrink.com/

Second Shake Shack opens at Pacific Place!!

The game is on with Shake Shack and Five guys opening a few days after each other.

This is the second branch of Shake Shack in Hong Kong with its first in Central.

I was pleased with my first experience in Central so I didn't mind coming again to Admiralty as it is more accessible being close to the MTR exit.

The festive milkshakes weren't ready yet but I definitely have to come back for it.

On this visit, had the ShackBurger, SmokeShack and Shroom Burger.

The SmokeShack HKD66 really hit the spot as the bacon was crispy and the chopped cherry pepper was punchy and tangy which complimented the beef.

The ShackBurger is more basic but you get to appreciate the beef more.

The Shroom Burger is a another experience because you get a crispy mushroom oozing with decent cheese in the middle.

Will definitely be back for the Holiday Shakes as I love hazelnut and Chocolate peppermint.

SHAKE SHACK Admiralty:

Shop 105A, 1/F Pacific Place

Admiralty

金鐘金鐘道88號太古廣場一期1樓105A號舖

Nostalgic Paradise dishes at Paradise Classic

Paradise Dynasty is a successful restaurant chain from Singapore serving the finest of northern and southern China cuisine and now they have a new restaurant under their wing called Paradise Classic which serves nostalgic dishes.
At Carnavon Plaza, they are right next to each other!!

I was more than excited to try because of the nostalgic dishes that are slowly fashioned out in the modern era.

Started with the floral elderflower and melon tea which was sweet and refreshing.

The first nostalgic dish was the crouching tiger available in a spicy and non spicy version.
You get to savour the sweetness of seafood in this inimitable pot of crabs, prawns, clams, squid and fish.
The seafood broths brings out the taste of freshest seafood while the thick vermicelli soaks up the flavours of the broth.

Next was the stewed silver pin noodles which came in a huge pot in thick delicious soup that is mixed with egg.

It was hearty and filling, great for the coming winter.
For light bites, had the mashed tofu with seafood which is a must try as they make the tofu in house.

Finished with my favourite spinach cooked with salted egg and preserved egg for a balanced meal with vegetables.

Paradise Classic 樂天經典:2/F, Carnarvon Plaza, 20 Carnarvon Road
Tsim Sha Tsui

Paradise Classic 樂天經典:
Shop UG09, UG/F,
Olympian City 2,
18 Hoi Ting Road
Tai Kok Tsui

My picks at Wine and Dine 2018

Wine and Dine is bigger and better this year that it now has different sections.
Hotel Delicious, Feedme Lane, Coffee Fiesta etc.

I was impressed with the creativity and variety this year.

First stop was salted egg chicken drumsticks with a Singaporean twist coated with oats from City Garden Hotel Hong Kong 城市花園酒店.

Second stop Appendix Coffee & Bar, the N2 Earl Grey really hit the spot as I was hot and bothered.
Lightly sweetened Earl Grey with a silky foam cap and last but not least was the Taiwanese messy bun inspired coffee.

In the bakery section, my fave bakery Say Hey Bakery 四喜麵包西餅was there with a unique beetroot quiche, La Mer Restaurant & Loungehad this interesting salted egg duck tart and Fast Gourmet had exclusive alcoholic lava croissants like pina colada.

For filling dishes Westwood Carvery had prime rib sandwiches and uni pasta.

The Drunken Pot 酒鍋 was also here, no hotpots there but they had cute skewers.
I had the spicy trio which had all my favourites: ducks blood, fish maw and stinky tofu.

Last but not least, I love Indian food so had the Kathi veggie roll from Gaylord.

Make sure you don't miss the drones display.

#香港美酒佳餚巡禮

HK Express Turns 5!

HK Express Turns 5 and the Hong Kong-based Airline Celebrates with HKD55* Up Birthday Fares and HKD5 Specials!!

Time flies when the guests are having fun! It’s hard to believe it’s already been five years since HK Express converted to an LCC in October 2013. The Hong Kong-based airline is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a special promotion that will make its guests travel dreams come true before other commitments – like marriage, kids or work – get in the way!

Over the past five years, the airline is proud to have flown more than 13 million people to various destinations across Asia, all while maintaining an incredible load factor of 87 per cent in average. Coming up in 2019, HK Express is excited to launch new inflight menu items on 1 November as well as a route to Nagasaki on 19 January. Nagasaki is the popular port city in Japan which is well known with its UNESCO listed heritage sites. The introduction of the new routes brings the airline’s route map to a total of 24 destinations.

To ring in the big birthday this October, HK Express is offering an amazing “Travel Best Before” Birthday Sale to its intrepid guests with 70,000 seats at fares from HKD55* to 23 destinations, including the newly-announced route Nagasaki in Japan. The flash sale will launch in three separate phases, beginning on 27 October (09:00), followed by 30 October (09:00) and 2 November (09:00), running until 4 November (23:59). No matter when guests book, each wave shares the same eligible travel period from 9 November 2018 to 28 September 2019.

Not only can guests snap up HKD55 fares, but they can also take advantage of special HKD5 birthday perks, such as upgraded checked baggage. From 27 October to 4 November 2018, guests can enjoy a special price of HKD5 for every additional 5kg starting from 20kg checked baggage allowance upon purchasing air tickets via HK Express website and mobile app. Better yet, the airline is serving up tasty inflight dishes, such as oriental barbecued pork puffs, pineapple Danishes, and Joe & Seph’s Classic Gourmet Popcorn – all for HKD5 from 27 to 31 October.

HK Express is also partnering iBakery (a social enterprise under Tung Wah Group of Hospitals) to sell handcrafted cookies on board HK Express flights between 27 October to 4 November 2018. All proceeds will be used on bakery training for people with disabilities as well as to ensure safe and quality bakery products.

Planning a trip before marriage, work or having children? Mark the calendar for Nagasaki following HK Express’ route debut this coming January. The historic Japanese city is an ideal winter or spring holiday. Come March, spring blossoms will blanket the city in soothing shades of pink. Travellers will also discover excellent street food, ancient temples, parks, and multiple WWII memorials to round out an enriching visit.

We have been honoured to share the past five years with our loyal and adventurous HK Express guests,” says Mr Jonathan Hutt, Commercial Director of HK Express. “We hope our birthday sales and specials motivate travellers to get out and explore Asia before life gets in the way.
HK Express will continue the celebration with a new “Travel Best Before” video series on social media, which promises even more special fares and travel perks. With these serious savings, guests can plan an unforgettable journey with friends, family - or take off on their own for some “me time”. Stay tuned for the series launch on HK Express social media channels from 26 October 2018 (www.facebook.com/HKExpress)!

Enjoy more birthday celebration offers with HK Express! Visit the airline’s official website www.hkexpress.com for further details.
https://www.hkexpress.com/en-hk/news/hk-express-turns-5-the-hong-kong-based-airline-celebrates-with-hkd55star-up-birthday-fares-and-hkd5-specials/