Crystal Jade has become a Hong Kong institution with 10 outlets all over the city. Crystal Jade is first-and-foremost a restaurant that serves Xiaolongbao 小籠包. Some might say they serve the best Xiaolongbao this world has to offer, I would say that if there are better Xiaolongbao, I would like to be eating them.
The origins of Crystal Jade are slightly incongruous. Crystal Jade serves Shanghai cuisine, but was originally established in Singapore.
Shop B221A, Times Square,
Causeway Bay
Tel: 2506 0080
Shop 2018-2020, Level 2, IFC Mall,
Central
Tel: 2295 3811
Shop 310, Tai Yau Plaza,
181 Johnston Road,
Wanchai
Tel: 2573 8844
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Resto Review - The Food of Lamma in Happy Valley
So if you are craving the food of Lamma Island, but can't be bothered to hop on the ferry there is always Happy Valley Market. Get in the lift to the 3rd Floor and there is a choice of two restaurants, both serving garlic prawns, black pepper prawns, ... your usual Lamma fare.
Price: $100-200 per head, $40 Tsingtao bottle
3rd Floor, Happy Valley Market
Junction of Sing Woo Road and King Kwong Street
Happy Valley
Price: $100-200 per head, $40 Tsingtao bottle
3rd Floor, Happy Valley Market
Junction of Sing Woo Road and King Kwong Street
Happy Valley
Good, Mature French Wines - Les Q
Let's face it, when it comes to selling wine it is very hard to break the triopoly of ParkNShop (owned by Hutchison Whampoa), Wellcome (owned by Dairy Farm), and Watson's Wine Cellars (owned by Swire). In my view, to sell wine cheaply you really need to have a high turnover to keep your margins low. Of course, Berry Brother's & Rudd, the established British wine merchants, have found their own niche by catering to the consumer who is willing to pay more than $500 a bottle. This means you can afford to have a shop in Lee Gardens the middle of Causeway Bay.
However, when it comes to supermarket wines or those slightly above in the $100-$500 price range, it is hard to escape ParkNShop, Wellcome, and Watson's Wine Cellars. So I was really very glad to find Les Q, a wine shop near Star Street in Wanchai run by four Koreans. Les Q specialise in French wines, and I am a sucker for a French wine, and have very reasonable prices. I also really appreciate the more mature wines they have on offer: 1992 Du Tertre (Margaux), 1997 Belgrave (Haut-Medoc). It is rare in Hong Kong to buy a wine that is more than 10 years old and not have to pay more than $500.
I have got to know the Korean owners of the shop and they are genuinely helpful and the nicest of people. Tastings are run every Thursday or Friday night and have included such highlights as 1989 Chateau Latour.
Les Q - French Wine
Saint Francis Street
Wanchai
Berry Brothers & Rudd
307-308 3rd Floor
The Lee Gardens
33 Hysan Avenue
Causeway Bay
However, when it comes to supermarket wines or those slightly above in the $100-$500 price range, it is hard to escape ParkNShop, Wellcome, and Watson's Wine Cellars. So I was really very glad to find Les Q, a wine shop near Star Street in Wanchai run by four Koreans. Les Q specialise in French wines, and I am a sucker for a French wine, and have very reasonable prices. I also really appreciate the more mature wines they have on offer: 1992 Du Tertre (Margaux), 1997 Belgrave (Haut-Medoc). It is rare in Hong Kong to buy a wine that is more than 10 years old and not have to pay more than $500.
I have got to know the Korean owners of the shop and they are genuinely helpful and the nicest of people. Tastings are run every Thursday or Friday night and have included such highlights as 1989 Chateau Latour.
Les Q - French Wine
Saint Francis Street
Wanchai
Berry Brothers & Rudd
307-308 3rd Floor
The Lee Gardens
33 Hysan Avenue
Causeway Bay
Resto Review - Uno Mas
You have to hand it to these guys. When the restaurants beside you are Ebeneezers Kebabs, Outback Steakhouse, Spaghetti House ... you need big, swinging nuts to attempt to bring high-quality Spanish Tapas to Lockhart Road, Wanchai.
So the PR pitch goes: "Uno Mas (Spanish for One More) is the most authentic Spanish tapas bar in HK, with husband and wife chefs from Valencia". And I have to admit I am sold on the food. I enjoyed the bread with tomatoes, the tortilla de patatas. The tortilla was covered with aioli, which made it a lovely, hearty mixture of garlic, olive oil, and potatoes. Very filling and substantial for a $48 side dish. I usually find the garlic prawns at tapas to be a little off the mark, these were no different. The best tapas prawns I have ever had were at the Argentinian restaurant Azul in New York. Very simple, unshelled prawns brought to the table almost barbequed on a hot steel plate and smothered in garlic, olive oil.
One thing that must be said is that a little more work could be done on the wine list. I mean a tapas bar with only one sherry. I know nobody but me likes sherry, least of all the people of Hong Kong, but: a tapas bar that only serves one sherry, that we be like a Chinese cha chaan teng 茶餐廳 that only serves one type of fried rice.
To be fair to Uno Mas, it is not the only place that serves good food on Lockhart Road, the Chilli Club does also serves very good Thai Food.
Uno Mas
1st Floor, Lockhart Road (opposite Carnegie's, above Heat)
Wanchai
Chilli Club
1st Floor, Lockhart Road (opposite The Bridge)
Wanchai
So the PR pitch goes: "Uno Mas (Spanish for One More) is the most authentic Spanish tapas bar in HK, with husband and wife chefs from Valencia". And I have to admit I am sold on the food. I enjoyed the bread with tomatoes, the tortilla de patatas. The tortilla was covered with aioli, which made it a lovely, hearty mixture of garlic, olive oil, and potatoes. Very filling and substantial for a $48 side dish. I usually find the garlic prawns at tapas to be a little off the mark, these were no different. The best tapas prawns I have ever had were at the Argentinian restaurant Azul in New York. Very simple, unshelled prawns brought to the table almost barbequed on a hot steel plate and smothered in garlic, olive oil.
One thing that must be said is that a little more work could be done on the wine list. I mean a tapas bar with only one sherry. I know nobody but me likes sherry, least of all the people of Hong Kong, but: a tapas bar that only serves one sherry, that we be like a Chinese cha chaan teng 茶餐廳 that only serves one type of fried rice.
To be fair to Uno Mas, it is not the only place that serves good food on Lockhart Road, the Chilli Club does also serves very good Thai Food.
Uno Mas
1st Floor, Lockhart Road (opposite Carnegie's, above Heat)
Wanchai
Chilli Club
1st Floor, Lockhart Road (opposite The Bridge)
Wanchai
Bar Review - Ben's Bar in Shek O
As far away from Hong Kong as you can get, but still on the island itself. I think that in many ways the charm of Shek O lies in the fact that it is furthest beach away from Central. You could've gone to Deep Bay, Repulse Bay, South Bay, Chung Hum Kok, Stanley, Tai Tam, but no, you wanted to leave it all behind. And arriving in Shek O there is the sense of achievement that you have done your utmost to leave the thronging crowds, only to realise that everyone else has had the same idea. There truly is no escape.
Except that it is all relative. Ben's Bar is the quietest beach bar you might find on Hong Kong Island. So quiet in fact, that you can hear the waves crashing on the beach. Try this at another beach bar and you can not actually hear the waves crashing. They do have good beers, especially those from the Brooklyn Brewery.
The map shows that Ben's Bar lies right by the Shek O Health Centre on the back beach of Shek O. If it people you want, then head to Paradiso Beach Bar on the main beach of Shek O.
Ben's Bar
273 Shek O Village
Tel: 2809 2268
Resto/Bar Review - The Chapel
The Chapel is a Happy Valley pub that has been around for at least 15 years. Steeped in a history that its fellow Happy Valley upstarts: The Stables and The Jockey, could but dream of.
The question is: Why go to The Chapel, when there is better scenery and a better view at The Stables and The Jockey? Well, I suppose it is the friendly bar staff, the friendly landlord, the quality Indian food, and above all the friendly community of expats that The Chapel supports.
The beers are very reasonably priced and always properly chilled. There is nothing worse than being served a lukewarm lager on a Friday night after work. They also serve London Pride. One of the finest ales that England has to offer, better than 6X, Tetley's (of course), Boddington's (but you knew that), to name but a few. London Pride has considerably more complexity than other English ales. After 6 pints of Pride, I can taste mushrooms, caramel, all sorts.
The North Indian curries are also distinctly above average. For starters, I am always a sucker for a Masala Poppadom. The greasiness of a poppadom cut by sprinkled tomatoes, fresh onions, and paprika. The chicken pakora and vegetable pakora are heartily spiced with caraway seeds. The curries are not as greasy as others, Jo Jo Mess in Wanchai for instance.
And as an added bonus there is a quiz night on Thursdays.
Price: $100 for a curry, $40-$50 for a beer
Ground Floor, Yik Yam Street
Happy Valley
The question is: Why go to The Chapel, when there is better scenery and a better view at The Stables and The Jockey? Well, I suppose it is the friendly bar staff, the friendly landlord, the quality Indian food, and above all the friendly community of expats that The Chapel supports.
The beers are very reasonably priced and always properly chilled. There is nothing worse than being served a lukewarm lager on a Friday night after work. They also serve London Pride. One of the finest ales that England has to offer, better than 6X, Tetley's (of course), Boddington's (but you knew that), to name but a few. London Pride has considerably more complexity than other English ales. After 6 pints of Pride, I can taste mushrooms, caramel, all sorts.
The North Indian curries are also distinctly above average. For starters, I am always a sucker for a Masala Poppadom. The greasiness of a poppadom cut by sprinkled tomatoes, fresh onions, and paprika. The chicken pakora and vegetable pakora are heartily spiced with caraway seeds. The curries are not as greasy as others, Jo Jo Mess in Wanchai for instance.
And as an added bonus there is a quiz night on Thursdays.
Price: $100 for a curry, $40-$50 for a beer
Ground Floor, Yik Yam Street
Happy Valley
Resto/Bar Review - Innside Out
This is the Causeway Bay outlet of the Hong Kong Brew House chain. Time Out Hong Kong have attributed the popularity of this bar to three things:
1) A huge selection of beers;
2) Three screens showing a range of sports;
3) An outdoor piazza where you can catch a slice of sunshine through the buildings of Causeway Bay;
in their words, "Everything a man could want".
The name escapes explanation. Innside Out? I mean, Inn-Side Out? What does it mean? Perhaps it's easier to call it by it's more affectionate name: Peanut Bar. Peanut Bar owing to the peanut shells that are strewn on the floor from the countless baskets of all-you-can-eat peanuts.
One thing the establishment does very well are drinks. The Ice Lemon Tea is one of the best in Hong Kong. You are given your own corn syrup so you can decide your own sweetness. There is a plentiful amount of ice. The lemons are placed on top of this ice, to allow for easier crushing of the lemon slices with your straw. The tea is strong enough to give you that caffeine kick. And best of all, if you order food, you can have free refills on the Ice Lemon Tea.
The selection of beers is very commendable. They have American Ales: Sierra Nevada, Samuel Adams, Brooklyn Brewery; and English beers from Fuller's: Black Sheep Ale. The food is an above-average selection your usual Tex-Mex / American fare of fajitas, burritos, quesidillas, burgers, chicken sandwiches.
Price: $100-$150 for mains, $40-$60 for drinks.
Innside Out
G/F, Sunning Tower
Hoi Ping Road
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong Brew House
LG/F, Lan Kwai Fong Tower
33 Wyndham Street
Central
1) A huge selection of beers;
2) Three screens showing a range of sports;
3) An outdoor piazza where you can catch a slice of sunshine through the buildings of Causeway Bay;
in their words, "Everything a man could want".
The name escapes explanation. Innside Out? I mean, Inn-Side Out? What does it mean? Perhaps it's easier to call it by it's more affectionate name: Peanut Bar. Peanut Bar owing to the peanut shells that are strewn on the floor from the countless baskets of all-you-can-eat peanuts.
One thing the establishment does very well are drinks. The Ice Lemon Tea is one of the best in Hong Kong. You are given your own corn syrup so you can decide your own sweetness. There is a plentiful amount of ice. The lemons are placed on top of this ice, to allow for easier crushing of the lemon slices with your straw. The tea is strong enough to give you that caffeine kick. And best of all, if you order food, you can have free refills on the Ice Lemon Tea.
The selection of beers is very commendable. They have American Ales: Sierra Nevada, Samuel Adams, Brooklyn Brewery; and English beers from Fuller's: Black Sheep Ale. The food is an above-average selection your usual Tex-Mex / American fare of fajitas, burritos, quesidillas, burgers, chicken sandwiches.
Price: $100-$150 for mains, $40-$60 for drinks.
Innside Out
G/F, Sunning Tower
Hoi Ping Road
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong Brew House
LG/F, Lan Kwai Fong Tower
33 Wyndham Street
Central
Resto Review - The American and Cheung Kee
The American Restaurant and Cheung Kee are two Wanchai stalwarts that serve Northern Chines food. Both on Lockhart Road, I have to say that Cheung Kee is far superior in almost every single way: on price, on the food, and in terms of service.
Cheung Kee is reached by ascending the staircase to the left of Club The Silver. Club The Silver, being one of the many strip clubs of Wanchai, where scantily-clad ladies invite every passing foreigner into. So I guess, The American Restaurant may, in the eyes of some, have it on Cheung Kee in terms of location.
Cheung Kee serves very reasonably priced Northern Chinese fare. For starters, there are the drunken chicken and mock goose. For mains, try the Peking duck, Kung Po prawns, Beef with Leeks on a Steel Plate, and the "Four Season Beans". For dessert, there are the Candied Apples and Bananas, Red Bean Pancakes, and Red Bean Poofs.
Price per person: $100-$200
Cheung Kee
1st Floor, Lockhart Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Cheung Kee is reached by ascending the staircase to the left of Club The Silver. Club The Silver, being one of the many strip clubs of Wanchai, where scantily-clad ladies invite every passing foreigner into. So I guess, The American Restaurant may, in the eyes of some, have it on Cheung Kee in terms of location.
Cheung Kee serves very reasonably priced Northern Chinese fare. For starters, there are the drunken chicken and mock goose. For mains, try the Peking duck, Kung Po prawns, Beef with Leeks on a Steel Plate, and the "Four Season Beans". For dessert, there are the Candied Apples and Bananas, Red Bean Pancakes, and Red Bean Poofs.
Price per person: $100-$200
Cheung Kee
1st Floor, Lockhart Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Resto Review - Shake 'Em Buns
A quiet rainy Sunday and popped in to try the burgers at Shake 'Em Buns. They've been open for over a year, but have yet to pop in to try one.
Ordered a "Red On the Neck", basically a burger topped with a kidney-bean chilli on a bed of coleslaw. I have to commend them on a very juicy burger, and I haven't eaten coleslaw, by choice, since a holiday in deepest-darkest Ireland ten years ago, but the mixture of coleslaw and chilli was surprisingly pleasant. I guess when you're having something as greasy as a burger, greens, even in the form of coleslaw, do serve to absorb that grease.
Other burgers include the "Debbie Does Dallas", "Hawaiian Pineapple Girl", "Blue Cheeseburger". Drinks on offer were a selection of Arizona Ice Teas, your usual beers (Heineken, Tsingtao, Woodpecker Cider), and soft drinks.
Price: $45-70 for burgers, $30-$60 for sides, and $30-$50 for a drink.
Shake 'Em Buns
Ground Floor, Ship Street
Wanchai
Shake 'Em Buns
Ground Floor, Hoi Ping Road
Causeway Bay
Ordered a "Red On the Neck", basically a burger topped with a kidney-bean chilli on a bed of coleslaw. I have to commend them on a very juicy burger, and I haven't eaten coleslaw, by choice, since a holiday in deepest-darkest Ireland ten years ago, but the mixture of coleslaw and chilli was surprisingly pleasant. I guess when you're having something as greasy as a burger, greens, even in the form of coleslaw, do serve to absorb that grease.
Other burgers include the "Debbie Does Dallas", "Hawaiian Pineapple Girl", "Blue Cheeseburger". Drinks on offer were a selection of Arizona Ice Teas, your usual beers (Heineken, Tsingtao, Woodpecker Cider), and soft drinks.
Price: $45-70 for burgers, $30-$60 for sides, and $30-$50 for a drink.
Shake 'Em Buns
Ground Floor, Ship Street
Wanchai
Shake 'Em Buns
Ground Floor, Hoi Ping Road
Causeway Bay
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
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