Nanciful’s Blog

It doesn’t matter where in the world I am, I am still a lover of breakfast. Hong Kong is no exception. I love going to “Tea Restaurants” for breakfast. Tea restaurants in Hong Kong offer an economical and eclectic menu consisting of both Asian dishes such as porridge and Western influenced dishes like pork chops. Garden or Baccali in Monterey Park are good examples of tea restaurants.

My breakfast of choice this time was the instant noodles with a fried egg and ham. Macaroni is also offered if you are not an instant noodles fan. Other toppings include Viennese wieners, canned meat, sausage, and Spam.  Okay, now that I’ve written them down in English, it sounds like something that they would serve in Alcatraz. But it’s actually very tasty and fills the stomach.

Pineapple bread is also popular in Hong Kong for breakfast and also for high tea. It does not contain any pineapple and does not have any sort of pineapple flavoring. It is called the pineapple bread because the top looks like a pineapple. The golden crust is flaky and sweet. The bread underneath is much softer than the white bread we get in the US. The Cantonese will usually put a pat of butter in between the pineapple bread. I decided to forgo the luscious pat. All of the Chinese/Taiwanese bakeries such as Nini’s Bakery and JJ’s carry pineapple bread.

One new breakfast item that I tried on this trip was the steamed sweet egg whites. I like to think that it’s healthy because it’s made of egg whites. The texture is extremely smooth, you can such the egg whites between your teeth smooth. The taste is slightly sweet and I detect a ever so slight ginger flavor. This dish is popular for breakfast and also good as a dessert.

Of course, what is a tea restaurant meal unless it’s accompanied by milk tea. The milk tea in Hong Kong is orange-ish in color and is flavored not with just milk but with evaporated milk and condensed milk. Al that dairy makes me a little nauseous so I usually will have a sip of someone else’s milk tea for taste and order myself a coffee. (Milk tea in background)

There are of course the usual dim sum items also available for breakfast such as congee and fried dough wrapped in rice roll. I’m surprised that there are no food on sticks offered for breakfast. Light bulb! If my day job doesn’t work out, maybe I’ll move to Hong Kong and open a breakfast joint that offers mini pineapple buns on sticks!

One of my favorite things about Hong Kong is the desserts. I never feel bad after having dessert in Hong Kong because it’s either a refreshing treat filled with fruit or an tasty herbal concoction that does good for your body.

One of my must go places is Lucky Dessert in Causeway Bay. They are famous for their mango sticky rice roll. Fresh mango wrapped with mochi like roll sprinkled with coconut shreds. I love the consistency of this dessert, chewy then juicy.

Another one of their house specialty is mango sago with fresh pomelo pulp. However, I always get this when I come Hong Kong so I decided to be different and  add some sweet silky tofu in the mix. I like to think that I got my fruit servings and also my protein intake with this dessert.

Another one of my must go dessert destination is Hui Lau Shan Dessert. These are almost as abundant as Starbucks use to be in the US.one of every other corner. This place is famous for having several variations of the fresh fruit slushee drinks with mango, aloe, coconut, kiwi, strawberry with mini boba balls, rice balls or herbal jelly.  Cantonese desserts of red bean soup, mango sago, fresh fruit with mango sago and the like are also popular at this restaurant.

Here is an example of one of their drinks, red bean soup with sticky rice balls with sago topped with coconut milk.

Here is their variation of their mango sago with pomelo pulp with fresh fruit. They added a scoop of mango ice and a nice dollop of coconut milk.

Next up is Honeymoon Dessert in Causeway Bay at the World Trade Centre. Again they offer traditional Cantonese dessert such as herbal jelly, red bean soup, sesame soup, walnut soup, sweet tofu, rice balls, sago, more mango and pomelo pulp and more. They have an extensive menu but from my keen observation, they are just different combinations of the above items with or without fruit, hot or cold. Either way, it’s delicious and good for you (from a Chinese medicine type of way).

Sweet tofu with freshly grounded sesame soup. Thick and silky texture.

Red bean soup with herbal jelly.

Last but not least is turtle herbal jelly from Hoi Ting Tong. It’s basically an herbal jello made with Chinese herbs and boiled turtle shells. Click here to see the making of this weird but good for you treat. I know I just lost some of you at “turtle herbal jelly” but I think it’s a great treat that is also good for you. The consistency is just like jello and the taste is slightly bitter with herbal aromas. You can add syrup or sugar to suit your taste. However, I like to have it straight up without any other condiments. This place boasts having the herbal jelly will cure many ailments such as constipation, acne, respiratory system problems and generally detoxifies your body.

There are just so many dessert places in every nook and cranny in Hong Kong. Just like Hong Kong, the desserts cover a wide range of tastes and styles.

I am all for trying new restaurants when I’m in Hong Kong but I always make sure to get some food on sticks. I get my fill by going to one of the many street stalls in Causeway Bay.  The stalls are a staple in Hong Kong and every time I pass by one, there is always someone buying something on a stick. They have everything from fish balls (my fave),octopus, shumai, fried intestines, fried tofu, chicken wings, chicken legs, sausages and so much more. The vendors will ask if you like it spicy and if so, they will dip your stick into a spicy curry sauce. Condiments such as chili oil, hoisin sauce and mustard are at your disposal as well.

My favorites are the fish balls dunked in spicy curry sauce. I’ve already 3-4 sticks in the past 4 days that I’ve been here.

My sister is a huge fan of the octopus. She likes her smothered with mustard. Look at those tentacles!

Our most recent obsession with the stall is the styrofoam bowl full of goodness with the likes of pig’s blood, intestines, pig skin, turnip and a few sprigs of chives in a broth. Of course we add spoonful of the spicy curry sauce to give the mixture a little kick.

Here’s the lady cutting the intestines.

Turnips

The masterpiece.

The cost of each stick is around $1 and each bowl of pig’s blood goodness is around $2.50. A good deal for a light dinner if you ask me. More versions of Hong  Kong comfort food to come.

I dug deep into the pre-blog picture archives and found pictures from a crazy girls’ weekend in Vegas. Let’s just say that my hopes of running for any political office just went down the drain. On the upside, there are also some pictures of food!

One of my favorite places to have brunch in Las Vegas is the Country Club at the Wynn. It’s nestled in the back of the Wynn, past the buffet. The 2-3 times that I’ve been, there was never a wait. People just never make it past the buffet. I love the food and decor here. Something about plaid and dark wood trim makes me very hungry.

I started out with the honeydew smoothie which was very refreshing and helped to clear my palate.

I guess the girls and I were feeling eggy that morning because we ordered regular omelette (I don’t remember what was inside.) and a scramble with slices of thick bacon.

My favorite dish of the bunch was the corn chowder. The chowder actually came in a metal coffee carafe sort of thing and was poured onto the soup bowl then garnished at the table. It had a slightly smoky flavor and not too thick. The corn niblets were still crunchy which I liked because I hate overcooked corn even if it’s in a chowder. Unfortunately, the Country Club does not have this item on their menu anymore. What, golfers don’t need corn chowder in their diet? Sadness.

I’m usually a eggs and waffle type brunch person but we were in Vegas after all so I felt adventurous and ordered some shrimp cocktail. It was fresh but I could have done without it.

For people who like a heartier meal in the morning or need to cure that awesome hangover from the night before, they also have meaty options. On another trip to Las Vegas, this time with to-be-Hubs, we had  burgers and sausages.

I’m a sucker for presentation and little details. Spot the pretzel breadsticks under the sausages! I believe their sausages are a specialty at the Country Club. They were tasty but what I really enjoyed was the 3 types of mustard that came along.

I recommend sitting out in the veranda if possible as you get a gorgeous view of the 18th hole and waterfall.

This restaurant is a must go in Vegas.I know it’s almost impossible but next time anyone is in Vegas,  try try try and resist the urge to buffet and give Country Club a try. The setting and food is fresh breath of air in Sin City.

Starbucks Breakfast Blend was my drug of choice in the mornings at least when my dealer from Costa Rica stopped supplying me with their local stash. However, my sister introduced me to Dunkin Donuts coffee – original blend and now I’m a die hard fan. Dunkin Donuts original blend has a heavier roasted taste and it doesn’t give me yucky coffee breath like Starbucks coffee did.

The price per bag is around $8.99 and you can find it at your local Target or grocery store. Get it free sample here!  Since you’re online already, go waste some  more time  here and create a donut!