SHOP & EAT

Shopping in Hongkong is a big plus as the exchange rate is to our advantage (S$1 - HK$5).  Some popular snacks that we bought for friends.

Maxim in Hong Kong is to Bee Cheng Hsiang in Singapore with branches spread across the island.  The almond flakes are popular with promotion of buy 2 get 1 free.

SOGO (Causeway Bay) food section at the basement offers variety of interesting snacks you may find.

A traditional confectionary famous for their "wives" biscuits.

Pastry with stuffings : century egg & preserved ginger in lotus paste and salted egg in lotus paste.

Beautiful and interesting display of Japanese confection and snacks where they are sold at a fraction of the price.

Tempting displays of delicious cakes, pastries and puffs.

JAPANESE CHEESECAKE

I prefer Japanese cheesecake than American cheesecake as it is lighter and subtle.  I had been trying to bake cheesecake to resemble the Japanese type but without success so far until I come across Beach Lover recipe for soft-cotton cheesecake.

I was so happy that it was a success - light and fluffy.

ASPARAGUS

Asparagus is in season and smaller stalks are tender without much fibres.  It is a very easy to cook vegetable, either boil or stir-fry.

Boil asparagus in hot water for 5 mins.  Wrap a small bundle with a piece of fried bacon.  Pour in hot soya sauce with oil.

Stir fry with Chinese sausage, onions and fresh portobello mushrooms in oyster sauce over high heat.

DRIED SEAFOOD

To shop for dried seafood is a must whenever I am in Hong Kong.  It is a lot cheaper to shop there than here in Singapore and moreover the products are fresher.  Des Voeux Road West is lined with dried seafood shops.  You can find expensive and rare items here.

I advise that you patronise the shops in the alley as the prices are cheaper.  The common things that I buy are scallops, fish bladder, figs, mushrooms, fungus, sharkfin bones, cuttlefish which I use to boil soup.

This is the shop where I always patronize was recommended by my cousin.  The shop owner is friendly and their goods turnover is high.

The best time to go is on a Saturday as there are less traffic and most of the wholesale shops are closed for business.

DIM SUM

Dim sum is a daily life of the Hong Kong people, especially the old folks.  It is their routine to have dim sum at least twice a day, once in the morning and during lunch, sometimes in the afternoon at 3pm.

During the morning, with newspapers in hand, they would occupy the seats in restaurants with a
Lpot of tea and one or two plates of dim sum till noon and continue on with lunch.  Every restaurant is doing brisk business even at this economic downturn.

Fish cake mixed with glutinuous rice and peanuts, lightly fried

Soft and tasty pumpkin yam cake

Fragrant spareribs with chicken feet rice cook in small claypot.

Silken fish belly porridge with century eggs, with no fishy smell

Full of fish and century eggs

Sinful crackling roast pork

Crispy quail to dip in fine salt

CHERRY TEA CAKES

A delicious and easy cake to make :

250g butter
100g plain flour
100g almond meal
4 eggs
150g castor sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 packet dried cherries
(cut into small pieces and soak in brandy for 1 hr)

Sieve flour, almond meal and baking powder together
Beat butter and sugar till light and fluffy
Add in eggs slowly at a time and vanilla extract
Beat mixture till well blended
Fold in dry ingredients untill well incorporated
Scoop mixture into muffin tin till 3/4 full
Sprinkle cherries over mixture
Bake till cakes are springy to the touch and test skewer comes out clean
Drizzle hot cakes with cherry brandy

TAMPINES MALL

New place draws crowd and Tampines Mall is no exception.  As our family is celebrating a birthday we went to Tampines Mall to get a birthday cake as foodblogs have given good review about the place.  We took a bus to bus terminal instead of driving knowing that chances of getting a parking lot was slim.

Most restaurants and food items are located at the basement.

Display of delicious cakes

Selection of smaller cakes

Wide selections

 Undecided

Final choice - Green Tea Cake

After having bought the cake we had afternoon tea at Kimgary Restaurant - Hong Kong Cafe.  The setup gives a comfortable feel and tables are well spaced out.

Fresh Lemon Honey Drink - Soothing and sourish sweet

Boiled Coke with Ginger - Known for combating flu

Egg in Boiling Almond Tea - Strong almond flavor

Thick French toast smack with thick layer of peanut butter and condensed milk, top with thick dollop of butter.  A lady killer!

Should do away the peas, corn and carrots.  The noodles is tasty enough with cabbage, egg and ham.

HONG KONG HERITAGE

I last visited you was in 1984 and bypassed you whenever I visited Hong Kong every now and then.  After 24 years you have stood the test of time and recharged.   I was drawn by the magnetic sign "Honeymoon Dessert" outside the bus stop that I visited you once again.

The oldest surviving market building in the city.   It was renovated in 1991, featuring shops selling arts, crafts and fabrics

Western Market, situated at Sheung Wan (上 环), current 西 港 城, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong.  Take a MRT and get out from Sheung Wan MRT Station, Exit B or C.

Home to traditional handicraft stalls and number of cafes.   The top floor is home to the Grand Stage where you can enjoy a romantic dinner.

This is where the attraction is.  A cozy place to enjoy a quiet tea-time and yummy dessert and cakes.

Ordered varieties to share

Thick mango porridge with chunky mangoes and sago pearls.

Thick yam paste with almond milk.  Almond flavour overpowers the yam taste.

Thick luscious durian flesh with fresh cream revealed

Creamy and yummy!!