Lovely Lunch at Bistecca - Lan Kwai Fong, Central, Hong Kong

Most bloggers post about their latest experiences in newly opened, hip and happening eateries.
But not me. I can hardly keep up with new places that are sprucing up in every corner of Hong Kong. I normally visited the place when it's no longer new, and I post about the experience even later than that.

I went to this place quite a while ago. When my belly was still huge, when SC's hair was still long...now my baby can already lift up his head and SC has changed his hair style numerous times. That's how late I am.

Call me the outdated blogger. Heheheh :p

We went to Bistecca for lunch, as I heard that the lunch include antipasto and dessert buffet.
I am a sucker for buffet. Tell me there's a buffet, I'll be there :)
Look at this beautiful spread.

Delicious looking antipasto...come to mama!

Hello, sweetnesses...

I'll be right back!

What did I get from the spread?

Anything and everything!

A few batches of them.

I can really eat. You can tell from my shape...or lack thereof :p
My favorite from the antipasto spread? The ham and melon combo, spicy salami, marinated mushrooms, eggplant and the chunks of bread. 

This place is a steak house, but I was not impressed by their hanger steak main course served during lunch time.

Despite how gorgeous it looked, it was not charred enough, tender enough, juicy enough or tasty enough. Hmmm, maybe I am not the type of person who appreciates subtle flavors?

Surprisingly, we were very pleased with the whole grilled seabass.
Utterly surprised, in the best way.

Perfectly cooked, very well seasoned, fresh, truly delightful!

SC hates everything that's served with bones. Especially fish. But this was so darn tasty, he was willing to deal with the bones.
Look into his eyes...

His eyes were saying what's on his mind.
"My whole life, I've never eaten one whole fish off its bones like this."
It was really that good.
Really.

Unhappy (or happy) with the way SC left some meat, I took over...

...and cleaned the fish up.

I tried everything from the dessert spread.

Love every single one.
I should've ordered a cup of hot tea or coffee to polish this plate off.
Yum!
Less than HK$200 per person, including antipasto and dessert buffet

Bistecca Italian Steakhouse
2/F, Grand Progress Building
15 Lan Kwai Fong, 
Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2525 1308

Lindt Dark Chocolate with A Touch of Sea Salt

Chocolate and sea salt...are they really the best of friends?
Judging from this pack of goodness...yes! The touch of sea salt brings out the best out of the chocolate.
Give it a try :)

Chicken & Corn in XO Sauce

Hong Kong is a place where most of us don't really have to buy stuff in bulk and keep them at home. In fact, most of us can't afford to buy in bulk. It's not the money...it's the space! Everything's tiny mini mini here, I barely have enough space for my ass :D

However, I try to always keep a few things at home for some days where I don't have time am too lazy to shop. Instant noodles, some random frozen snacks, frozen chicken thigh fillet, assorted sauces and some random canned food. This was one of those days. I was even too lazy to get outta my pjs and dine out.

Just grab something out of the kitchen cupboard, the fridge, and put them together.

Recipe
- 2 chicken thigh fillet, remove skin and excess fat, cut into bite sized chunks
- 1 can of corn kernels, drain
- XO sauce (can be purchased from most Asian grocery stores)
- soy sauce, white pepper, corn starch, sugar, vegetable oil

Mix 2 heaping tsp corn starch, soy sauce, a touch of sugar and white pepper with the chicken chunks. Heat up a bit of vegetable oil in a frying pan, add chicken pieces, let them caramelize a bit, add corn kernels, add XO sauce, cook until you see a bit of brownage on the corn kernels too, serve with rice.

What do you keep in your pantry for lazy days?

Sweet Treats - Cakes from Le Salon De Thé de Joël Robuchon

Because it's Friday...
Because it's been a while since I'd been out during lunch hour...
Because I wanted something sweet after lunch...
This happened :D

Heheh.

This pistachio cake...

It's nutty and creamy, with a tinge of exotic tang. Yum.


And this rose cake...

It's super fragrant, light, and creamy.
It's the rosiest cake I've ever had.
Triple yums!
This one's totally worth the HK$40 price tag.


...and because I forgot to bring my good camera, these were just shot using iPhone4.
Apologies for posting sub par pictures :p

Le Salon De Thé de Joël Robuchon
Shop 315, 3/F, The Landmark, 16 Des Voeux Road Central, Central
Hong Kong中環德輔道中12-16號置地廣場315號舖
Tel: +852 2166 9088

Chicken & Long Beans Stir Fry with Fermented Black Beans

Ingredient love.
Say hello to Chinese fermented black beans. I don't know why I didn't use this ingredient more often. A bag of it sat quietly at the corner of my fridge, so close to being forgotten.

How could I?

A savory girl like me. I should be ashamed.

It's an amazing ingredient.
It's very savory.
It's perfect with garlic.
And chilli.
It gives humble old dishes, just like my chicken and long beans stir fry, the extra oomph.
Use sparingly though, a little of this ingredient goes a long way.


Recipe
- 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
- 1-2 small red chilli, chopped, remove seeds to tame the heat if necessary
- a bunch of long beans, cut into about 5 cm long sections
- 2 chicken thigh fillet, remove skin, cut into bit sized chunks
- 1 tbsp fermented black beans
- olive oil, corn starch, sugar, fish sauce

"Marinate" chicken chunks with two heaping teaspoon of corn flour, a bit of oil, fish sauce and sugar. Saute garlic and chilli in hot oil, add chicken chunks, add the fermented black beans, cook until you get a bit of brownage, and the meat's cooked. Add long beans, cook until it softens a bit, adjust seasoning if necessary, cook until the long beans reach the level of softness you like, serve hot.

Perfect with lots and lots and lots of rice.

I introduced this ingredient to my helper and now she can't get enough of it ^_^'