 |
| Seafood platter for two: grilled prawns, tuna, trout, side of fries |
 |
| Fish Casserole/Stew: shrimp, mussels, aioli, dillgremaoulata, parmesan, croutons |
 |
| Classic Steak Tartare: tartar sauce, egg yolk, Beetroots, cornichons, onion, ud's own mustard |
Omakase - $80/person
I had heard mixed reviews on Yasu, but I am pleased to say I thoroughly enjoyed the omakase experience. Sitting at the sushi bar watching the three chefs was a special and interesting experience. We started with shrimp head and enjoyed a variety of 18 pieces sushi from all around the world + black sesame ice cream. My favorites were the Stripe Jack (melt in your mouth! so interesting), Smoked Bonito (think that was the name?) and the tamago that tastes and looks like cake - super soft and fluffy; never had anything like it.
Having the time for breakfast is a luxury. We were so happy to start each day with a full breakfast. This time I stayed in Central, where the options are a plenty so we
got to eat something different each day.
1. Café de Coral
No trip to HK is complete without CDC. You may laugh but I just love to start my trip with their coffee, fish filet and scrambled eggs. The combinations are endless!
2. Honolulu Café 檀島 (and
any other 茶餐廳)
Another staple is the HK style cafe which I never put much thought into, but upon returning to CA, I realized even the most random place is better than here. Wanted something more filling before hiking so I opted for macaroni with shredded chicken (rare combo!), sunny side up eggs and a soft bun. We also shared the classic pineapple bun with butter.
3. Tomato Beef Macaroni 茄牛通 @ 勝香園
I’ve passed by this place the last few times I was in HK but never tried ‘cause of the long line and I’m not a big fan of macaroni. Thanks to my friend for bringing us here – pleasantly surprised!! The macaroni is different from the usual – thicker and slightly chewy, in a thick, flavorful tomato soup. Can even order half portion! The milk tea and condensed milk bun were good too.
 |
| Marinated Mackerel - Chips, Banana Pepper, Chimichurri |
Flank Steak Spiedini (skewers) Olive Oil, Mixed Herbs
Cremini Mushroom / Ontario Prosciutto & Arugula
Tiramisu
Finally had the chance to try the popular Pizzeria Libretto back in June (University Ave location). Honestly the pizza was disappointing but the appetizer was good - a steak & bread skewer.
Recently renovated Cafe Boulud inside the Four Seasons Hotel, Yorkville, Toronto. Love the retro/vintage decor. The dessert was the best part of the meal! (side note: they charge for hot water)
Cod Croquettes ~ hot and fresh with flaky fish filling
Half Rotisserie Chicken, pomme frites, watercress, sherry vinaigrette / Drink: Elderflower cocktail
Love the cute bread basket~ Chicken is ok (crispy skin and moist, a bit bland) but the star for me is the watercress - love the dressing and the crispy onions. The shoestring fries are highy addictive. Cocktail was berry-sweet and refreshing.
Cafe au Lait Chirashi ~ $38
Plum Wine Jelly w Grapes ~ I like this more than the tofu cheesecake
Cafe Michi was the first post on this blog. Now updating with higher quality photos seven years later. I came back last year and last month and it's funny that I had the same comments on this chirashi meal (full review on Yelp) - fresh and filling but overpriced.
* Long overdue post from my June 2015 NYC trip.
I love checking out the local markets when travelling. Chelsea market is an indoor market filled with food vendors and independent shops, similar to Toronto's distillery district/St. Lawrence Market. We enjoyed:
- Delicious corn tacos at Los Tacos No. 1* fav
- Lobster roll at The Lobster Place*
- Chili dog at Dickson's Farmstand Meats
- Brownies at Fat Witch Bakery
- Blue Bottle Coffee (outside of the market - honestly nothing out of this world)
If you like to eat and sample different foods, I recommend stopping by Chelsea Market!
Mentaiko Cream Sauce Udon
Seafood Yaki Udon
Spicy Seafood Soup - later added udon for +$1 or $2
I don't have a breadmaker but I've always wanted to make soft, fluffy Chinese buns at home. I came across Christine's Recipes for raisin buns and decided to give it a go. Breadmaking is a long ass process, taking about 3 hours total - a test of patience for someone who makes 30 minute meals. The first time I made it at 9pm and was too tired to go through all the proofing process. Luckily, it still turned out to be edible bread, but it had a hard crust and wasn't soft and fluffy like Chinese buns (more like dinner rolls you'd get at a Western restaurant). The second time around, my mom did most of the work. We gave the sufficient time for each proofing step and it was really an exciting moment to see the yeast successfully rise!!
Frita Batidos is a Cuban inspired fast-casual restaurant serving up Fritas (Cuban burgers) and Batidos (milkshakes), as well as sides (fries, rice, fried plantains) and alcoholic drinks. "Stark white walls and communal picnic table seating" give it a casual beach-side feel that reminds me of those fish and chip places in Sydney. There are dominoes at the table to play while waiting, as in Miami where the Cubans play dominoes.
This was my first time having Cuban food and it was delicious. The Chorizo Frita was so flavorful and juicy without being greasy, served with fries on a soft egg bun. We shared garlic cilantro fries which was packed with garlic and cilantro flavor along with a garlic aioli. This type of shoestring fries is chewy/tough to bite which is not my personal favorite, but my sister likes it. I had the Coconut Cream Batido and to my surprise it was full of coconut flavor and real coconut bits, not artificial tasting or overly sweet.
All in all a great itis-inducing meal that ended up to be ~$15/person.
[Coca] Flatbread ~ creamed mushrooms, crushed red pepper, soft egg, arugula salad
Decided to add this last minute and I'm glad we did cos it ended up being my fav second to the paella. Thin flatbread and strong cheese which overpowered the mushroom, but still good.
Paella ~ mussels, clams, shrimp, chicken, chorizo, peppadew peppers, potatoes, olives, sofrito
The lightest paella I've ever had - not salty like the others, probably because the absence of saffron. The chicken was in large pieces and very moist, while the shrimp had a nice grill flavor. I loved the sweetness and heat from the peppadew peppers, and just a little hit of salty from the olives. I usually like the seafood the best, but these ingredients really shined in this dish. As my sister said, each ingredient has its own unique flavor which the rice absorbs and complements.
Patatas Bravas ~ First time having patatas bravas in fries form rather than cubes. It didn't have any tomato sauce as I expected, but the aioli and egg were good.
 
Tried this new restaurant for Winterlicious lunch ($23). Very busy and packed; good food, small portions; room for improvement in the cleanliness of their dishes (sugar/cream set). I loved the Ginger Carrot Soup and I'm really into wine these days - Ruffino Pinot Grigio. The garlic shrimp on toast was good too.
Grilled Atlantic Salmon
Sweet Potato Puree, Caponata and Smoke Chipotle Aioli
Crackling Roasted Cornish Hen
Candied Apples, Root Vegetables, Spinach, Pan Jus
I never order chicken but this was the best/most special main - crispy outside, moist inside.
|
Wedge Salad (nice plate)
poached shrimp, fennel, orange, pickled onion, radish, buttermilk dressing
Roasted Trout (local)
celery, beans, legumes, lemon crème fraîche, cashew brown butter
Chèvre Noir
pear compote, gingerbread
I was so hesitant to return to Luma for Winterlicious because a) the first time wasn't that great and b) the gimmick is not really exciting for me anymore. But because our first choice Adega was full and it was time for a girls reunion, I booked Luma again for the $35 dinner - average food, but pretty good environment for small group dinner. And actually, I was pleasantly surprised by my choices. The poached shrimp looks plain, but it was pretty good in texture, very smooth (滑 &爽) and pretty big portion. Trout dish was pretty natural and healthy, not a fan of the white beans. And the dessert - a very strong cheese, toned down with the pairing of gingerbread crisp and sweet pear compote. Overall not the best menu on paper, but turned out to be a pretty good night with good company.
#tbt to the time I went down to Colette for brunch. Such a pretty French space, and food was good too (except the coffee). I enjoyed the Eggs Benedict with tomato & avocado and Quinoa Pudding - first time having quinoa in sweet form and first time having my fav eggs benny on croissant!