[Review] Yolkin Pandan Coconut Icecream

I have been meaning to try Yolkin because a while ago I saw a post for Pandan Coconut icecream but their Instagram does not welcome DMs so I just forgot about it.

Finally stumbled upon Yolkin as I was in the area and to my delight they had Pandan Coconnut icecream as well as Hong Kong flavours like White Rabbit Candy, Egg Tart and Hong Kong style milk tea.

To me Pandan is such a lovely flavour but it isn't that popular in Hong Kong but then it originates from the southeast so I was really chuffed that Yolkin had it.

At Yolkin, you can just get ice-cream or the ice-cream sandwich.

The decor at Yolkin is hip and trendy with bar seating at the front of the shop and some tables at the back end.

Self service water is also provided the counter which is appreciated when having desserts.

The pandan coconut icecream was far better than I expected, it was not too sweet with a strong pandan taste while the texture was thick and sticky or mastic should I say just like American Frozen custard which is made with eggs.

Overall I would recommend Yolkin be it for ice cream or Macaron ice-cream sandwiches.

According to timeout Yolkin was a street stall turned shop by founder Sammie Le who made ice cream from egg yolks not used from making macarons.

Yolkin
24 Rupert Street

[Review] Itsu Asian inspired food

itsu is a British chain of Asian inspired food that boomed in 2017 with over 90 branches in the UK with 50 in London.

It appealed to me recently because of the Asian inspired buns and the Christmas dumplings.

Went to three different branches.

The first branch I visited was in Camden where there were lots of customers.
Dumplings were selling like hot cakes and replaced quickly by the kitchen.

There were so many gyozas to choose from: prawns and spinach, chicken and spring onions etc as well as the Christmas Cracker.

The Christmas Cracker gyozas appealed to me as it was like a Christmas dinner inside a gyoza.
They are filled with cranberry and turkey in a red dumpling wrap.

Overall, the Christmas gyozas were quite nice but a little sweet because I was expecting the dumplings to be tart.

On another visit, I was at itsu, Westfield where I did not buy anything but observed the decor was nice.

Another time, I was in Farringdon where I went in for the hoisin duck steamed buns which is another creative pairing not seen in Hong Kong yet.

I liked the idea of duck and hoisin sauce in a bun but sadly I couldn't taste any hoisin sauce and it just tasted like a BBQ roast pork bun.

Although I was not wowed by their food, I love their creativity and probably will come back and try other new creations.

https://www.itsu.com/

[Review] China Town - Wan Chai Corner

Wan Chai corner has been around in Chinatown for quite a while.
They serve Chinese roasts and the usual fare.

In Hong Kong, Wanchai is a place on the Hong Kong island which is a mix of residential and offices.
It has changed so much over the last ten years with Lee Tung Avenue taking it to the next level bringing more hip restaurants to the scene.

As I like Wan Chai, I decided to try Wan Chai Corner for food.

I have always felt that Chinese food in UK is better than Hong Kong without needing much luck or connections.
For example tastings in Hong Kong, sometimes food is presented better but in reality when I return as a customer it is not the case.

Chinese roasts are much better in UK as the meat is fresh while most in Hong Kong stink.

Anyway, at Wan Chai corner, tried the stir fried beef with flat noodles, roast pork and crispy pork belly over rice and this tofu thing in gravy.

Overall, the Roast pork was my favourite, it was soft, moist and succulent.

The stir fried beef with flat noodles were also better than a good majority in Hong Kong, although there are a few good ones over there.

The tofu dish was not mine but just showing it here anyway.

Finished with fortune cookies which is such a China Town thing!

Ask any Hong Konger and they won't know what the hell they are but recently expat Chinese restaurants like Madame Ching are serving them.

The Menu:

Wan Chai Corner:
10 Wardour Street

[Review] Greggs Festive Mint Chocolate

As Greggs have launched some festive items, I was here for the mint chocolate drink.

Unfortunately I was a bit stuffed so just had the steak bake which is delicious tender beef in gravy inside a puff pastry.

The mint chocolate was rather sweet but then I expected it to be sweet because the hot chocolate base is sweet so adding mint syrup will make it sweeter.

Overall, the mint chocolate is worth trying as the hot chocolate they serve is not bad with a hint of mind.
On another visit, had the triple chocolate donut and the caramel custard donut.

[Review] Shades of Eastbourne

Eastbourne has changed so much over the past 30 years.

The town has seen so many changes with the loss of C&A, Littlewoods, BHS etc let alone restaurants.

There are not many places in the Arndale centre that serve English food except Shades which is understandably popular and busy during lunch times.

I love my traditionally home cooked old fashioned English food hence my regular visits to Shades.

As well as food, the tea is strong which compliments the food perfectly.

Here are the dishes I have had and the roast lamb was probably the best because it tastes like school dinners and the Marie rose prawns with baked potato.

The only drawback is the service, I wish they could be a bit more friendlier, not all of the staff but some.

The menu:

Decor and surroundings:

Shades:

52 Arndale Centre