W's Korean Themed BBQ

Those who know me know that I am a sucker for BBQs. I am always trying to make my friends have BBQs and W definitely knows how to throw down. Last time she had flank steak with chimichurri sauce, baby back ribs, satay chicken drumsticks, and chicken wings. Since the weather is going to become deathly cold soon, we wanted to fit in a BBQ while it was still nice and sunny. W decided to make this a Korean themed BBQ but I subtly hinted that I loved those satay chicken drumsticks so she also added those in along with wings :D She marinated some delicious kalbi and also made her own cucumber pickles. Needless to say it was absolutely scrumptious and I stuffed my face. I also brought along a pumpkin pie that I got from Wright's Farm when I went apple picking last week. I loved how the box was hand drawn and the farm had a very warm and family focused atmosphere. I will make a post on my apple picking trip soon!

Eggplant Sesame Soba

This is one of my new favorite healthy and easy recipes! This takes less than 20 minutes and tastes so fresh and healthy! I got the eggplants from a farmer's market at school and they tasted so yummy! 

Ingredients: 

- 1 eggplant

- 2-3 stalks of spring onion

- Soba noodles 

- Japanese sesame dressing (to taste) 

Directions: 

1. Slice the eggplant into 3 x 1 inch strips

2. Chop the spring onion into small pieces as seen in the photo

3. Boil the soba noodles as instructed on the package. Drain and wash with cold water

4. While you are cooking the soba, cook the eggplant in a pan. Sauté it with a little bit of olive oil and then when it has browned a little add 1-2 tablespoons of water and cook until softened

5. Add the soba noodle with a bowl (you will want a deep bowl so you can mix it all together), top with the eggplant mixture, scallions, and drizzle the sesame dressing to taste 

Enjoy! :) 

Ho Lee Fook

Ho Lee Hook is one of Hong Kong hottest new restaurants and it's been on everyone's tongues (and instagrams) since it opened its doors! I tried to go on a Monday with Y and was greeted by a dark restaurant... apparently it is closed on Mondays. But luckily this proved to be a blessing in disguise because when I went back with a larger group I realized that this was definitely the way to go because the dishes were rather large and there were a lot that I wanted to try! Ho Lee Fook serves Chinese/Asian cuisine with a funky twist with fusion elements. I think it is a good spot to go to before a weekend night out but unfortunately I did not think the food lived up to the hype. It was good, but not so amazing that I would be rushing to go back.

Wagyu Steak Tartare - Yunnan Style, Hot and Sour, Herbs
I thought this was an interesting spin on a steak tartare and the flavors were harmonious and interesting. The prawn crackers were also a smart pairing with the tartare and the shallots at the top gave it a pop of flavor and crunch. I also enjoyed the cucumbers because the freshness was a nice contrast to the otherwise heavily flavored dish. 

Fried Spring Rolls - Taro, Black Fungus, Chili Ponzu
These were hearty and nicely fried, however, it was not very memorable or unique.

Fried Chicken Mid Wings with Shrimp Sambal
The chicken wings itself did not have any distinct flavor, but it was fried perfectly and had a lovely crisped and brown skin. This really allowed the shrimp sambal to shine though because that sambal was so full of flavor and was just so rich and bold. This dish was definitely a highlight of the night. 

Mom's "Mostly Cabbage a Little Bit of Pork" Dumplings, Sasha Soy Dressing
These dumplings were well made but was not particularly amazing. I did not like how the vegetables inside was a bit undercooked and too crunchy. Also, there was some type of coriander or other herb that I hate inside the dumplings (however this is a personal preference) 

Grilled Pork Belly, Red Cabbage Salad, Roasted Chili and Almond Salsa
The pork belly was nicely grilled, the fat was crisped and the meat was tender. The cabbage salad was alright but I felt that there was too much water/sauce at the bottom of the plate. The roasted chili and almond salsa was refreshing with a little kick but the almond part of the salsa was not too noticeable. 

Prawn Lo Mein with Shellfish Oil, Grilled Shallot, Crispy Garlic
This was a bit bland for me. Perhaps you will like this if you enjoy very subtle flavors but I would not order this again.

Roast Wagyu Short Ribs, Jalapeno Puree, Green Shallot Kimchi, Soy Glaze 
Finally.. the dish I've been waiting for. The meat was super tender and I loved the caramelized glaze on top. I also really enjoyed the scallion kimchi which was needed to cut through the sweetness and fattiness of the short ribs. However... while this dish was good, it was not AS amazing and I was expecting it to be. But if I were to return I would order this again! 

Granny Smith Apple Granita, Calpis Sorbet, Mochi, Koji Jelly
The granita had a artificial flavor and this dessert just was not decadent enough for me but also not fresh enough for a light dessert. 

Matcha Sponge Cake, Chocolate Ganache, Hazelnut Praline, Strawberries 
This was also alright. The strawberries were good and the ganache was what you would expect from a chocolate ganache. 

Passion Fruit Sorbet, Lime and Coconut Marshmallow, Pomelo, Roasted Rice
I think this would be my favorite out of the 3 desserts. This had a very refreshing flavor profile and a nice combination of textures. 

I liked how they gave you fortune cookies at the end of the meal! It was a cute detail :) 

Overall, I appreciate the creativity and passion that is put into the food, you can definitely tell that the chef has put a lot of thought into the creation of each dish. However, I would not say it is a MUST VISIT but it is worth a try if you are curious because some of the dishes were enjoyable and it also has a fun atmosphere. If my friends wanted, I would not object to going again to try other dishes.

Ho Lee Fook

5/F

1-5 Elgin Street

Central

Hong Kong

Lobster Place - Chelsea Market

Today was such a lovely day! I've decided that I need to only go out once a week and not waste away my weekend by going out too much and being hungover the next day. I realized that while going out with friends can be a lot of fun, the weekends that I've enjoyed the most while being back in New York (or even in Hong Kong) has been the ones with daytime activities where I can enjoy the weather. The weather today was absolutely perfection, a tad cold at times but just lovely under the sun since my favorite weather is sunny and brisk. Today I went to Soulcycle with F and then we went to Chelsea Market to enjoy some delicious seafood. I initially wanted to try out Mokbar as well but we were having such a good time at The Lobster Place that we ended up getting stuffed. The lobster was AMAZING as usually. I loveeee that butter and the lobster roe was divine. The oysters were also super sweet and fresh. The sushi bar was also on point (toro was a bitttt chewy but everything else was just bomb.com). It was absolute perfect meal after our great workout and I can't wait to come again.

The Lobster Place 

Chelsea Market 

75 9th Avenue 

Chelsea 

New York 

NY10011

Madison Square Eats

Madison Square Eats is part of the Urban Space initiative where city spaces are transformed with pop up markets and fairs to showcase popular eateries and other local makers. It only runs from September 5 to October 2 so I wanted to make sure I catch it before it goes away! It's a rather small space and I don't really think its a MUST visit but it was an enjoyable and lively lunch. The food that I had was yummy and I didn't try too much because I was not super hungry and W also had been here multiple times so she told me what was good or bad. I think it is definitely a good place to grab lunch if you work in the area but it does get quite busy. I also think this is great if you want to have a big selection of different types of food or if you are with a group of people who all want different things.

Calexico - Baja Fish: Beer Battered Fish, Spicy Slaw, Fresh Mango, Chipotle "Crack" Sauce
The fish was flakey and tender and the batter was very crispy. I really loved the fresh mango which elevated the entire taco. It got super messy so make sure you have tissues! 

Melt Bakery - Cinnamax: Snickledoodles + Cinnamon Ice Cream
Ohhhh my god this was heavenly. The ice cream had great cinnamon flavor without being overpowering and the snickerdoodles were perfectly soft and delicious. W kept making fun of me because I could not stop talking about how good it was while we were walking around. The cookie could be SLIGHTLY softer but it would be hard because these ice cream sandwiches are premade and stored in the freezer. But seriously that is a teeeeny complaint and I absolutely LOVED it. I will definitely be hitting up the actual bakery to try all their flavors. 

Madison Square Eats 

Madison Square Park

Flatiron

New York

NY10010

Fortune Room

Jockey Club is a place that many of my friends and I have grew up in. From swimming lessons, tennis lessons, to numerous family dinners and dimsum lunches, Jockey Club has definitely been a huge part of my childhood. Fortune Room is the more refined Chinese restaurant and my parents told me that they wanted me to try a tasting menu there. I have always just had regular Chinese meals there and was curious to see what the tasting menu would be like. Overall, the food was good but not particularly remarkable. The ingredients were all of high quality and plating was detailed and thoughtful. My parents said that they have had other tasting menus here and that this was not as good as usual. Regardless, it was still a nice dinner and service was very polite and professional as usual. I did appreciate how it tried to be creative with some elements of fusion in the dishes.

Char Siu (Cantonese Roast Pork)
Haha this was not part of the tasting menu but my mom's dish because she did not want to order the tasting menu. This was super juicy and tender. 

Roasted Suckling Pig with Crispy Bean Curd Sheet and Cucumber Scallop Salsa in Tomato
A classic cantonese dish. The skin was extremely crispy and not too fatty. The bean curd sheet was also not greasy and made well. The tomato was not my favorite but did provide a nice refreshing touch to the dish.

Poached U.K. Oyster. Lemon Leaf, and Ginger Foam paired with Poached Lobster Fillets with Grapes and Golden Garlic
The oyster was quite large and the flavors were not bad but I didn't like how it was strangely warm. I usually do prefer raw oysters but if oysters are cooked I would like it to be hot such as deep fried or baked. This lukewarm temperature was a bit off-putting. The grape and garlic was also a unusual combination. 

Pan-Fried Australian Wagyu Beef with Sea Salt and Dijon Mustard, Broad Bean Puree with Preserved Vegetables, Thyme Split Pea and Creaming Cauliflower Puree
The beef was super juicy and just melted in my mouth. I really liked the idea of the broad bean puree with the preserved vegetables but I would have liked more of the purees. This was a simple and well executed dish. 

Slow Cooked Salmon and Crab Roe Roulade in Rice Cracker and Seafood Sauce
This was another dish that was a tad strange. The salmon was actually very lovely and cooked to the perfect tenderness. The crab roe did not really add a lot of flavor but did have a nice textural contrast. The flavor of the salmon was also quite pronounced and fresh. The seafood sauce was the part that I did not really enjoy. It was a bit too gloopey and had a slightly sweet but indistinct flavor. 

Crispy Chicken Fillets with White Asparagus and Spring Onion Oil
Yummm this is another classic Cantonese dish. The chicken skin was perfectly crisp and the chicken was juicy. However, my parents always complain that Jockey Club's chickens do not have good "chicken taste" (雞味). The asparagus was a bit overcooked but was not a huge issue.

Braised Home-made Cat Ear Vegetable Noodles with Hairy Crab Roe
This was probably my favorite dish of the night. I really enjoyed this type of fusion and feel that it was a successful dish. Unfortunately the hairy crab roe was not super flavorful and rich but that is because it is not in season. It was still very delicious and the amount of crab meat was also very generous. The cat ear noodles went very well with the decadent crab roe sauce and was perfectly chewy. The addition of the scallions on top added a great crunch and kick of flavor.

Ginger Panna Cotta with Vanilla Ice Cream and Chocolate Strawberry Curls
I love panna cotta and this was done very well. I also loved the addition of chia seeds on top. However I did not like the chocolate curls as they were a bit out of place and also looked tacky. 

Although there were hits and misses during this meal, I did enjoy the meal overall and was very stuffed at the end of it. I will definitely be happy to try another tasting menu with my parents and a nice bottle of wine :) 

Fortune Room

2/F 

Jockey 

Club 

25 

Shan Kwong Road 

Happy Valley

Hong Kong

Pepper Lunch

After my Lunch Part 1 at Izumi Curry, C and I went to Pepper Lunch to finish off our lunch date. When I first ate Pepper Lunch a while ago... it did not leave much of an impression on me. But thank god I ate it again and realized how amazing it really is. Don't forget to get their sauces to mix into your rice!

Here is their menu! One thing that I would comment on is how long it took to get our food. Since it is located in the food court, you would expect that it would be a quick meal but it usually takes a substantial amount of time before our number is displayed on the screen indicating our food is ready to be picked up. I get that it is a popular choice but it also seems like a dish that can be assembled quite quickly! But since I was in no rush I did not mind this :)

Beef Pepper Rice with CheeseEeeeek this was absolutely indulgent and delicious. The fatty beef gets all crisped up and the oil also adds flavor to the rice. The corn and scallion add nice pops of flavor and texture and the cheese just makes it even more comforting and envelops everything in a ooey gooey blanket. 

Pepper Lunch

Food Stall #3

11th Floor

Hysan Place

500 Hennessy Road

Causeway Bay

Hong Kong