Tastebuds and Thots

Teatime pursuits in HK – Agnes B Delices and La Loggia

tastebudsandthots — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:13:00 +0000

Wandering around IFC one weekend, I notice Agnes B and its very pretty outdoor cafe on the 3rd floor of the IFC Mall.

Its retail store known as ‘Agnes B La Loggia’ is apparently the largest flagship store in the world for French designer Agnes B.

It spans 15,000 sq feet and in true lifestyle fashion features its clothing (Femme, Homme, Sport and Bijoux) and travel store (La Maison sur l’eau set against a deli and chocolate boutique (Delices), florist (Fleuriste), and restaurant (Le Pain Grille) – all under one roof. The name ‘Loggia’ apparently derived from her Summer home in Southern France.

Made an immediate mental note to check the restaurant out so last Friday, together with Connie and Lois, we headed over for a rather decadent cup of coffee and cake.

The Delices Cafe itself is very charming. Located in a rather obscurely shaped passageway on the 3rd floor of IFC Mall, the owners turned the space that it occupies into a little roof top garden cafe inspired by a French style courtyard, which I thought was a clever way of interpreting a normally sterile outdoor walkway.

Rows of tables line the long left hand side of a narrow passage way leading into the main dining room. The price and menu for items at the Deli, even the cake and coffee, differ slightly from what’s served in the main room. You can also order at the Chocolate Bar which serves different chocolate desserts, dipping chocolate for fondue and chocolate for the weight-conscious (how is that even possible?)

Adjacent to the Deli area is the Flower shop (Fleuriste) with potted plants and different Summer blooms lining the corridor leading to the main dining room. Complete with even a garden bench, the whole look and feel is very country garden-charming and inviting!

I love hydrangers and they remind me of my wedding and lo and behold, there at the entrance to the main dining room were these lilac, blue and lavender pink lovelies in full bloom, for sale.

The entrance to the main dining room or restaurant where we decided to settle for tea is called Le Pain Grille. It has a different menu from the Deli. Plan to check it out for dinner one day.

This is the inside of the dining room. Spacious, bright with an airy feel, there is a lovely sun-drenched verandah outside that would be perfect outdoor retreat for when the weather turns cool.

The Cafe offers a set lunch for about HK$150 (S$30) onwards (basically a main course with an optional amount extra for an add-on glass of wine).

We opted for a cake or dessert (HK$60 to $98 each) with a coffee or tea (about HK$35 onwards).

I had a delicious Cappuccino with froth to the brim sprinkled with cinnamon and mocha.

My Chocolate Choux Pastry with chocolate sauce.

A Souffle for Connie.

Home-made chocolate ice cream for Lois!

Will go again!

Agnès b. LA LOGGIA Shop 3089-97 Telephone (852) 2805 0678 Web site www.agnesb.com
Opening hours 11:00 – 21:00 Mon-Sun & public holidays

Milky Shaved Ice Baobing (Chinese: 刨冰) Dessert – I discover a NEW dessert!

tastebudsandthots — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:51:00 +0000

Tired from shopping at Granville Road in TST, my girlfriend Lois and I were looking for a place to rest our tired feet and get a snack whilst we were at it so we nipped behind the main stretch of Granville Road (just before Granville Circuit) and came across this new and novel dessert store!

Store does not have an English name, but you can see the Chinese name here - Baobing (Chinese: 刨冰), called tsua bing (剉冰) in Taiwanese.

Its obviously had some good reviews and here are publicity clippings pasted on the store front of all the whose, who in HK who have eaten at the place and the specialities.

Apparently the dessert is popular in Taiwan in Summer to beat the heat. And in HK you get alot of what locals call ‘seasonal dessert’.

What attracted to me to the store and made me actually notice it was this PINK car with its purple faux fur dash board pasted with stand up plastic toys parked right outside. Must either belong to the owners or a very funky customer’s. The store was packed inside!

The dessert is made of milky shaved ice and a machine on the counter dispenses it. The machine looks like a cross between an ice kachang machine and the latest Kitchen Aid mixer.

You can choose a flavour for the ice and a fruit add on. Flavours include: lychee, milk, vanilla, coconut, chocolate, durian, strawberry, cappucino, tiramisu – the list is endless.

This one on the left is mine – I chose lychee with a side of banana and some pretty candy sprinkles.

Lois goes for the milk flavour with a side of mango and the same sprinkles.

Both delish and refreshing for a super hot day!

The ice is creamy tasting rather than plain, almost like having ice cream but with a slightly thinner consistency.

I liked the interesting clash of flavours and the fruit that goes with it. Not cheap though – about HK$35 (S$7) for this serve.

Seafood Weekends with Jaimie – Tuen Lei Moon

tastebudsandthots — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 08:29:00 +0000

Jaimie’s Dad, Joe came down to HK for the week and we met up to go on another seafood binge. This time at Tuen Lei Moon, a local’s alternative to Sai Kung.

This Pagoda archway is the landmark to the entrance to Tuen Lei Moon.

Super windy day so this is me (keeping the breeze from sweeping my hair away). Joe, Jaimie’s dad is giving Alexis a lift up.

Tuen Lei Moon is not as rowdy, crowded or expensive as Sai Kung. Interesting and quaint and more local is probably an apt description.

Has a bit of a sleepy, seaside town feel. Restaurant’s are just by the water’s edge.

Q and A walking past the pagoda structure into the small lanes where the many restaurants are housed.

Ok Jaimie is brave! I was not about to manhandle this lobster!

The lanes are filled with rows of restaurants like these with their seafood or fresh catch of the day all nicely laid out in tanks for owners to scoop out.

We are recommended to try these white clams!

We end up ordering some of these clams which are supposed to be as tasty as the Bamboo clams which I love. Joe’s recommendation.

The result – totally yummy and in fact much less chewy than the Bamboo clams. This is steamed in garlic, chinese parsley and chives, garnished with chilli etc.

Unusual hor d’oeuvres – check out these braised chicken wing tips, salted fried peanuts, leeks and deadly chilli sauce with garlic and some kind of dark oyster and soya sauce combination.

Still had to order my favourite Bamboo Clams but these were steamed differently in a garlic and black peppery sauce. Again Joe’s recommendation! Delish!!

Fresh, fresh, fresh steamed prawns.

Steamed fish – Q’s favourite – he eats the eye balls even! URGHS!!!

Lobster noodles in cheese sauce, I wonder if this was the same guy that Jaimie was holding on to! I did not dare ask.

Seafood Weekends with Jaimie – Taikoo and Sai Kung

tastebudsandthots — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 07:18:00 +0000

Our Singaporean friend Jaimie who lives in HK recently took us to two really good Seafood places in Tai Koo and Tuen Lei Moon in the few weekends just before our Oz holiday. Both are seafood joints that are familiar to locals because you usually need a car to get to these places.

I have been meaning to share these earlier but with our recent trips to Shanghai and Oz, I just have not found the time so I am going to catalogue a few more great eats that we have enjoyed in HK over the next two weeks till I am finally up to speed. Drool with us!

CYCLING AT TAI KOO

Jaime tells us that there is a great place to bike in the Summer where they rent something called ‘Family bikes’ so we go check it out together. There are also a few good BBQ seafood restaurants there where you can catch and cook your seafood or get the vendors to BBQ it for you.

We go to the bike vendors store and Alexis spots the perfect ‘Family Bike’ in baby pink (of course) with a red and white awning!

Why is it called a ‘Family Bike’ – think trishaw with the carriage in front. Its a 2 person pedal at the back of the bike with a small carriage for two children or one adult and one child in front.

Anyway all of us manage to squeeze into this one and off we go.

The girls decide to be magnanimous and cycle on the first leg with our heavyweight passenger in front and Alexis between his knees.

These are Alexis’ feet sticking out of the carriage! Pink Adidas shoes for a Barbie pink carriage.

The cycling path ahead filled with single cyclist. other Family bikes and people just walking along with their dogs.

Oops we get a little too close for comfort to the bike in front of us!! Ok now is a good time to find out “Where are the BRAKES!!!????”

These are what the locals call ‘country houses” basically they are 700 to 1000 over square foot, 2 to 3 storey houses that are usually located in the country, rural area or near the sea-side, bascially far from the city.

Not very expensive considering land prices in Hong Kong and some locals have made them into restaurants and retail stores like this one.

The girls surrender mid-point and let Q take over as he is HEAVY! Family pic! Me and Alexis in our Baby Milo tees. I like Baby Milo!

Bus stops in Tai Koo have their own charm – check out the mismatched chairs. You can see the coastline behind.

Jaime and Alexis on one of our stops, Behind them is the jetty and all the D.I.Y BBQ restaurants are a little further up. We decide not to fuss with BBQ as its getting late and looks a little makeshift, although delicious.

Jaimie suggests that we drive a short distance to Saikung and have a seafood dinner and some wine there instead. I am all for it!!

One last shot on our ‘Family Bike’ before we return it. I can’t recall how much we paid to rent it – I think we took it for about 3 hours and was something like S$20 an hour – something like that.

DINNER AT SAI KUNG

Look under my ‘Seafood’ category and you will see my post on Sai Kung sometime in 2008. We head back for dinner and a glass of wine today.

The Sai Kung Hoi Pong Square is where you will find the mass of seafood restaurants all lined up along the pier.

Look at the amazing array of seafood.

Close ups look a little creepy.

Giant aquariums next to the Seafood restaurants.

This Sou Mei awaits its fate – it is a very expensive fish. Looks like this one will be the main course at a wedding banquet or a company function.

The people at the restaurant get into boots, armed with nets – they fish out what you choose for your dinner.

Q decides which restaurant to order dinner from.

Jaimie translates in Cantonese.

Our dinner – Bamboo Clams (my favourite) steamed in garlic and vermicelli.

Below – to go with the clams we order a fish that looks like Pomfret – but am not too sure what it is. We opt for healthy and to taste the freshness of the meat, we ask for it to be steamed in wine, oyster sauce and ginger.

Drunken Prawns as a finale. All this with a delicious glass of Reisling! The perfect end to the day.

Adventures Down Under – The Hidden R Kitchen and Culinary Academy

tastebudsandthots — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:44:00 +0000

6 to 24 Aug 2009

For me, the salivating starts simply at the local supermarket. I love poking around Coles and Woolworths which has a great selection of local brands, confectionery items, dairy, meats and fresh produce etc and that is exactly why I decided to enrol at a special culinary school and restaurant that you won’t find on the map because it is ‘by invitation’ only and I am proud to say that I was specially invited!

The place is called.. The Hidden R located somewhere in the beautiful suburb of Success, nearby Thompson Lake. It is not opened daily as the Chef sometimes goes on strike (yeah, blame the Australian Union) but the food is consistently good and the customers are always hungry for more. A sign board stands as fair warning near the stove. It reads “There are two choices for Dinner – Take It or Leave It!”.

Here, I learnt to prepare so many simple and quick eats. It was well worth the investment when you look at the items that I learnt to make. Not that I can actually make them now but that’s another story….

Freshly baked bread just tastes so good when its first done!

Cut the first slice, and its like you release a bouquet of delicious goodness wafting into the air.

The perfect combination with white bread is Curry and this is the deadliest curry ever. No, not the watery sweet Chinese hawker stuff you get from the food court.

This is Nonya style Curry… add a few pieces of chicken and hard boiled eggs (which I ate just before this shot was snapped) and it is great for a cold day!

I also learnt how to do Stewed Pork Leg Bee Hoon - this is delicious. The braised pork and fish cake plus the thick pork meat gravy just soaks beautifully into the bee hoon and together with the veggies (choy sum) and bean sprouts – it all adds a delicious crunchiness to the entire taste.

Great when you are super hungry. Must eat with a small plate of cut chillies and soy sauce.

Also learnt how to do a yummy Spaghetti with Tomatoes and Tiger Prawns sprinkled with Italian herbs.

The Pies at The Hidden R are undoubtedly their house speciality. They really look professional and as good as Jespers or any pie shop you can name.

These were Beef Pies and I was too excited to take a photo of the ingredients inside. But trust me, they were GOO-O-OD!

I also perfected Apple Pie and Egg and Bacon Pie and learnt how to do Quiche and various Tarts etc. I am NOW ready to open a Pie Store.

Also learnt how to do Belgian Waffles which take a little more work than Pies (surprisingly) as you have to use the mixer to blend the mix that becomes the batter.

Chocolate Chip Muffins – heavenly and who could ask for a better tea snack on a cold Winter day?

As mentioned a space at the Chef’s Table at The Hidden R is strictly by invite only. To request a booking, leave a COMMENT under this post to share why you deserve a space at the Chef’s Table! All successful applicants will be personally contacted by the Chef!

Registration for their Summer Culinary programme is now open. Teaching menus change seasonally! ENJOY! I surely did!

Adventures Down Under – All Fish and Chipped Out

tastebudsandthots — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 01:10:00 +0000

6 to 24 August 2009

I never fail to pile on the kilos when I visit Australia and that is because there is an abundance of absolutely ‘cannot refuse’ good food here.

I had so much fun feasting together this trip that it took me some time to catalogue a list of my eating adventures, mainly with Monica and Mum — this is the first of them – Fish and Chips, something that I always associate with Australia, here goes:

KAILI’S AT FREO

Our first feed was at Kaili’s at Fremantle or Freo to the locals. I love Fremantle for its charming lazy sleepy sea-side atmosephere and also for Cicerello’s. I think Cicerello’s just rocks with the right kind of dressed-down laid back atmosphere and its ever reliable tasty fare of fish and chips.

It was pouring on the Saturday that we decided to go for lunch so we had to eat instead next door at Kaili’s. I have since changed my mind about Cicerello’s being the best ever since stepping into Kaili’s.

The food was awesome at Kaili’s and it was half the waiting time. We actually managed to get a seat outside the restaurant as it was a cold day and everyone wanted to huddle inside.

Another reason not to sit outside was the birds. One of them later ran off with a generous piece of fish from Elle’s (my niece’s) plate.

We ordered the Family Plate (I think) to share and a few side add-ons. I can say that on a cold day, the smell of fried fish and chips with vinegar and a plate of mussels is HEAVENLY!

Q did not make this trip with us and I was very sorry he was not there as both Alexis and I agreed that he would have ordered two platters as it was just so good!

Monica and I decided to be greedy and order the Crab! Absolutely NO regrets about that one. There were 3 crabs in that bowl and Mum, Mon and I licked the platter clean. I love the way Kaili’s does this dish! Its not like the Singapore Chilli Crab – more tomatoe-y (if there is such a word) but definitely for me, an acquired taste.

The kids were hungry so we ordered add-ons and Elle and I shared the pineapple ring and banana fritter! YUMMY to the MAX!

If you were looking at the first pic in this post and wondering why we brought along a hamper or chiller bag, it is because my dear sister always goes well prepared and stocked. All restaurants in Oz charge for sauces so what’s the point of paying when you have a whole fridge of sauce. Mon brought hers – cleva eh?

We did go to Cicerello’s (finally) when the crowd cleared for dessert.

The sign says “WA’s No.1 Fish ‘N’ Chips’ – move over Cici’s – Kaili is my new fav!

Here we are sitting outside the front of Cicerello’s – latte, capuccino, mud pie and ice cream in hand.

I ordered a sinful slice of warm Chocolate Mud Pie with whipped cream on the side! Yeah, yeah don’t remind me how many calories that is.

Mum’s cappuccino (below) – a ‘must have’ after each meal!

Ummmm… eating ice cream in the cold ..!

Saw this sign up above Cicerello’s! Hilarious – no guessing what the S.O.Y stands for.

Elle and Ryan (my niece and nephew) being silly!

Mum – “Mama” with her three darling grandchildren!

Look at Elle, she is taller than my Mum (and Me) now. She has shot up this year.

CICERELLO’S AT MANDURAH

Another sleepy (actually even sleepier than Freo, if I may say so) sea-side town is Mandurah.

And on one of the mornings, after Monica dropped the kids off to school, we headed for lunch via the local Train. Cost us about A$8 (I think!) for a Family Pass on a Friday – totally worth it for the fact that its a half hour journey there each way and you get to stop in the City all on the same day if you plan your day right – go on a day where there is late night shopping, which is what we did!

I did not want to leave Oz without going to Cicerello’s and there is one branch at Mandurah, so we took a bus after getting off the train to the foreshore area and had a great feed there! After that, I was officially all fish and chipped out!

This is Alexis at the Cicerello tank in the restaurant.

We walked around Mandurah’s main town area after lunch and this is about the only pedestrian mall there is. Just this one small stretch. Well so much for bright lights and big city but therein lies the charm of Mandurah. A bit like that TV series “Northern Exposure” where you really get away from it all.

Us clowning around, in and around the jetty area.

Look out for more Aussie eats in my next post!

Adventures Down Under – Shopping!

tastebudsandthots — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:55:00 +0000

6 to 24 August 2009

Besides the weekend markets, we also did our fair share of window shopping! Some of our favourites spots within Perth that we never fail to go back to include:

Harbour Town Outlet Malls

Harbour Town Mall is a pretty large and well-laid out 2 storey outlet mall. It is about five to ten minutes from the main Perth city and here you can find all the discounted clothes from last season or over-runs and unsold stock.

My favourite Aussie brands to check out whenever I come to Harbour Town are Jay Jay’s (my all time favourite for their well-priced casuals), Cotton On Kids, Adults and Body, Valley Girl and Tempt, Table 8, Sheridan, Pumpkin Patch, Gaz for Men and Jeans West. Look here for details on how to get here and the shop listings – http://www.harbourtownperth.com.au/about-the-centre/.

I actually always start with Harbour Town first before I hit the main stores because it kind of keeps my estimate of styles and prices in check before I look at the latest season’s stuff.

Hay Street Mall

Hay Street is a less a regular mall and more a pedestrian mall. It actually comprises Hay Street and Murray Street and carries all the city’s latest styles and brand name stores.

At least what’s nice to know is that I am not always an L size in Australia (the way I am in HK and in SG). I actually fit into a medium or a size 12 and sometimes a loose 10. Occasionally I can even get into a Size 16 in the Kid’s section so coming to shop here has done some good to my self esteem (laugh!).

This time I popped into David Jones which I seldom do to look at the Food Hall (which reminds me abit of London’s Harvey Nic’s) and the David Jone’s Kitchen Equipment Department which I love. My sister bought me a fabulous pie maker from here which I am over the moon about. Please note that everyone around me will get pies when I visit or for Christmas so be warned!

This is London Court – somewhere in Hay Street Mall. I love the whole look and feel of this little alley mall that sells bone china, Australian souvenirs, a digeridoo store (Australian aboriginal instruments) and a Rugby Jersey store that sells jerseys that Q likes, especially from the NZ ‘All Blacks’.

Alexis striking a pose in front of one of the churches along Haystreet. Yes, along one corner of the mall is a church!

Forrest Chase along Murray Street

Bird’s eye view from the second storey of one of the mall entrances, I love the old stone buildings. Reminds me abit of Covent Garden in London.

Carousel and Garden City Shopping Centre

Nearby Success, where Monica lives are two fabulous malls with practically every brand and all the major super markets and big department stores eg. Coles, Woolworth’s, Target, K-Mart, Best For Less, Big W which mean that you never actually need to go to Haystreet as these sub-urban malls actually have all the brands under one roof.

If you have not seen the inside of an Australian bus, then here it is. We took a bus to Garden City for fun. The buses are big, spacious, pretty clean and stroller friendly so that you can actually wheel on your stroller instead of folding it up.

I love how the bus drivers are polite, make change for you as you board and people tell, “Thank You” when they get off! This is something that Asians need to learn to make life a little more pleasant. I have to say that HK has the most “sour puss” grumpy bus drivers that I have ever met in my life. Especially the MINI Bus Drivers – its like for them, everyday is a bad day! If you have a child with you that takes an empty seat – they actually yell at you front in front to say that if you have paid for one, don’t expect to sit on a seat for 2!

Tea break with my Mum and Alexis at a coffee place on one of our trips down to Carousel Shopping Centre! Ok definitely not good for the waistline but oh so pleasing to the palette to eat dessert and drink a skim milk latte on a cold Winters day!

I really did not do much shopping this trip as it was Winter and I have already enough Winter gear in HK and I was really just there to enjoy just catching up with my sister, which I happily did.

Perth Getaway – 6 to 24 August 2009

tastebudsandthots — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 12:31:00 +0000

Have been on holiday in Perth, Western Australia from 6 to 24 August - so look out for our adventures in Perth, Fremantle and Mandura in the next few posts.

Also brilliant culinary adventures at a great new restaurant called “The Hidden R” where I signed up for a two week culinary course! In the spirit of philosopher Descarte, “I COOK and therefore I EAT!

Shanghai Revisited – My article in Straits Times

tastebudsandthots — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 12:27:00 +0000

Click to enlarge, it was published in March 2009

Shanghai Revisited – From Branded Goods to Barbie (Shopping in Shanghai)

tastebudsandthots — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:58:00 +0000

22 to 27 July 2009

BRANDED GOODS

After a great lunch of hairy crabs, we also decide to check out some shopping in malls nearby the Ritz Carlton.

There are many beautiful big (what I call) ‘glamour’ malls in Shanghai and apparently all over China. But they are pretty much empty even though its a busy weekend. I am wondering if this is a state of the economy at the moment?

This is the Plaza 66 - right next to the Ritz Carlton – alot of brand name stores but all empty. I wonder how they pay the rent!

Alexis standing with one of the Shanghai mascots in the lobby of one of the malls.

NON-AUTHENTIC TEES, BAGS AND STUFF

We head to the Science and Technology Museum of Shanghai just to browse the Yatai Xingyang Clothing and Gift Market in Pudong.

There are lots of shops inside this massive mall selling all manner of non-authentic goods from fake t-shirts. Think Ed Hardy, Abercrombie & Fitch, Polo Ralph Lauren to Ferrari etc

More shops all laid out in different avenues.

The Yatai Xinyang Gift and Clothing Market is in Pudong at the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum
Take Station Metro Line No. 2 to Pudong or a cab

EVERY LITTLE GIRL’S PARADISE – BARBIE SHANGHAI

Alexis’ dream store! We head to Huahai Da Lu (high street shopping in Shanghai)

She can’t wait to explore it – see the joy!

A huge atrium display of Barbie’s in all in different fuschia pink outfits links the six floors.

The Ultimate Barbie Party – look at that dream cake, gifts and party favours!

This six floor Barbie store has the works:

Design Center: where little girls can play fashion designer for a day and create their very own Barbie® doll.

Alexis gets a Barbie makeover and walks the catwalk! She gets her very own personal portfolio (aka modelling agency dossier) to take home

Fashion Runway: where little girls become catwalk models with a crash course on make up, costumes and how to walk and pose and experience a real runway show featuring fashions from world-renowned designers.

Photo Moment: where little girls can relive the magic of the day with an exclusive photo featuring themselves and Barbie®.

Barbie® SPA: a Spa for little girls, imagine that!

Everything Girl: little girl’s shopping haven – where pink is the colour of the day with pink girls’ clothing, pink shoes, pink accessories, and more in pink.

Barbie® Café: Finally where tired little girls enjoy a sophisticated and fun menu of sweets and snacks after exploring all 6 floors

The Barbie Store in Shanghai is at:
550 Central Huahai Road
See: http://www.barbieshanghai.com/en/