Mochachocolata-Rita at Saveur and Serious Eats

Remember this sweet, sticky and yummy plate of Hong Kong french toast?


...and this spicy little bowl of Satay Beef Instant Noodles?

They're on Saveur.com and Serious Eats!

Yay!
I am so honored!
Nothing makes me happier than seeing humble ol' local treats from lil 'ol eateries being appreciated internationally. Well, between that, or having a good hair day, or bacon, or chocolate...oh well.

Hop and skip over to their sites to check out the posts:
- The one on Saveur
- The one on Serious Eats

Have a happy breakfast!

Nam Kee Spring Roll Noodles - The Most Delicious Mai Sin Noodle Soup Ever!

Sometimes sous chef and I asked ourselves, where should Tony Bourdain eat when he visits Hong Kong? None of those Fook Lam Moon or Michelin starred restaurants (no offense to them, they gotta be fabulous), but ordinary pleasures that the locals enjoy everyday.

We both thought of Nam Kee Spring Roll Noodles.
I hate thick rice noodles (mai sin = 米線), except the ones from Nam Kee. That's how good they are. Most mai sin noodles are too soft, mushy, breaks easily, and not elastic. Hate them as much as I hate overcooked, mushy spaghetti. Ew. But the ones from Nam Kee? Wonderfully chewy and stretchy (a weird word to describe noodles? Hehe), just the right size of thickness, they're simply the best!

When you have a chance to visit, order the one with tender pork and add spring rolls, with spicy soup base, but start with mild. Just in case you don't speak Chinese and the cashier doesn't speak English, print this out 小鍋豬腩肉米線加春腃. I can't risk you ordering anything second best due to language barrier ^_^.

I've been singing praises for the noodles, but everything else on the bowl makes the perfect dish. The soup base? Deliciously spicy with a bit of a tang, I normally slurped my bowl dry. The meat? Tasty, tender and juicy. The Chinese preserved vegetables and minced pork added extra flavors, the beansprouts are great for the extra crunch and texture, the beancurd sheets fooled me into thinking I am eating healthy food (haha!), and the spring rolls...they aren't ordinary spring rolls. They are gloriously chewy, echoing the elasticity of the noodles. Plus, they're totally affordable! HK$25 for a giant bowl, add HK$6 for the spring rolls.

In short, thatsoneheckofacheapandyummynoodles.

Go go go!

Nam Kee Spring Roll Noodles
They have quite a number of branches across HK islands.
I went to the one in Central (the night when I was broke from buying lenses and couldn't afford pricey food from Soho):
Stanley Street 66-72, Central, Hong Kong.
中環士丹利街66-72號地下
Tel: 2576 8007
Visit their website to find out more.

Hong Kong's Props Heaven - Shanghai Street, Yaumatei

This post is dedicated to all prop freaks everywhere ^_^
One of Hong Kong's prop heavens, Shanghai Street, Yaumatei.


The street's lined with restaurant supplies shops. Cute/elegant/beautiful/adorable/gorgeous stoneware, metals, wood, glass....they got 'em all!

They're available for retail purchases and they're reasonably priced.

It is so hard not to go overboard here...

Stick to:
- Things you need
- Things you need
- and things you need
...and I always failed, extravagantly.

Oh God, peel me off this wall...
If you're worried that you might go crazy, bring a person who will/can remind you that you have absolutely NO MORE space in your kitchen cupboard/home/flat. Bringing another prop freak is a bad idea.

Ohhh...but look at these...I must buy these.
I want them I need them!

Sous chef chanting *no space no space no space no space no space no space lalala~*

Go on, you know you want to...
Shanghai Street, Yaumatei, Kowloon, Hong Kong>

Yaumatei MTR station, exit B2.

Guest Blogging @Rasa Malaysia - Sate Ayam/Babi Kecap

Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod!
OH. MY. GOSH!
I am guest blogging for the first time!
What should I do?
What should I make?
...and most importantly....
What should I wear?

Thanks a million to Bee of Rasa Malaysia for being my first.
(Is it just me? or does it sound so wrong somehow? Heheh ^_^)

Finally, I made...something that's made me a hit in parties....
Sate Babi/Ayam Bumbu Kecap

Hop on over to Bee's wonderful blog full of gorgeousness and deliciousness to check out the full recipe and story.

So what did I finally wear?
Just be glad it was not nothing.

Maxim's Fast Food Shabu Shabu

When the mercury drops below 20C...as always...
- 2009 version of the 80s shoulder padded jackets dominated the streets
- boots sightings everywhere
- air con gets turned off, windows are opened wide...
- and eateries all around Hong Kong promote the heck outta their hot pot/steam boat/shabu-shabu menu

...and we all rushed to dip our chopsticks into various MSG laden hot pot broth and stuff ourselves with delicious morsels.

I am no exception.

It all started with an adorable little pot....

The menu offers a selection of food (vegetables, mushrooms, udon noodles, fish and prawn cakes with crab roe, a soup base), dipping sauces, a drink and a few selection of main protein: beef, pork or chicken.
Select one main for HK$42, two for HK$51 (USD6.5)...and sous chef and I, naturally, chose two mains, and still add an extra serving of dumplings (HK$15).
So much for dietary intentions and just sharing one pot...:p

The beef slices were not too fatty, but still tender, and the sliced pork was surprisingly tender, even after a few minutes of cooking.

The dumplings were a pleasant surprise! They stuffed the wonderfully chewy skin with pork and preserved meat. Tasty tasty tasty! Totally worth the HK$15 extra charge ^_^

We had the pork bone soup base, which turned sweeter and more delicious after it's infused with all the flavors from the meat and vegetables. Now, dip...


...and consume.

I go for fast food hot pot when...
- I had no mood to prepare my own at home
- I can't be bothered to book/queue for a table in proper hotpot restaurants
- Sous chef's mom isn't available to make a hotpot dinner
- sous chef insisted to

Visit Maxim's website for more info