(Left - Maple Bacon Cake with Maple Glaze, includes actual bacon bits inside and in the glazing. Right - Red Velvet Cake with a Cream Cheese Frosting)
KISS MY BUNDT - "Whatever You Need, We've Got Your BUNDT Covered" - We received a special coupon from KISS MY BUNDT Bakery , half a dozen mini bundts for US$7. What a deal! These little ones go for $2.50 each regular price. There are three sizes to choose from - Mini Bundt Cupcakes (about a 2 1/2 inch diameter) at $2.50 each, Baby Bundt Cakes (about a 4 inch diameter) at $4.50 each, and the Big ´Ol Bundts (a 10-inch diameter) which are $32 each.
How the owner came up with the name of the business? Apparently, her previous work background has been primarily in government and the non-profit sector. After having had a long work week and still having to be in the office during the weekend, she threw her hands up and said "This job can kiss my bundt!" Voila! The name of her new bakery! Another interesting tidbit is that their bundt cakes are Southern-style and what they meant is that while traditional Southern bundt cakes are very sweet, they did not want to use that same sensibility for their cakes. In fact, I felt the cakes had just the right amount of sweetness to satisfy one's sweet tooth craving without making you feel that you just ate a cup of sugar in cake form.
On the right - Carrot Cake with a Cream Cheese Frosting, a cake that was carrot-sweet and nutty.
Left - Strawberry Short Cake, full of pureed strawberries, delicious and is not short on taste!
Center - Callebaut® Chocolate Bundt Cake with a Chocolate Glaze, the cake itself was dark chocolate with the glaze being more milk chocolate. This one is the most moist and I loved its chocolate richness. Have a glass of milk to go with this particular cake.
Center - Lemon cake, tart cake due to the multiple layers of lemon flavor. Homemade lemon syrup is added to warm lemon cake, and when cooled, it is finished with a lemon glaze.
For Valentine's Day, we had chocolates from Jin Patesserie and Compartes! Compartes Chocolatier with their tiny shop, has been a Los Angeles tradition for over 50 years. Founded in 1950, their delicious confections are handmade, using the freshest and best ingredients made from scratch, with no artificial additives or preservatives. As for Jin, it is one of my favourite places and I had covered it in numerous of my entries.
The entire box is made from dark chocolate.....SWEET!
Inside, tiny pieces of different flavours - Earl Grey, Sea Salt Caramel, Dark Chocolate, Green Tea, Hanami, Toupet de Legumes, Hazelnut, Expresso, Tea, Cinnamon.....
The Year of the Tiger is finally upon us! The dinner before the first day of the Chinese New Year is a very special one. This is where everyone in the immediate family gathers around and have a sumptious meal. While growing up in Hong Kong, we prepared at least nine different dishes, which included every two/four legged farm animal we could consume in a legal manner. The dinner table is filled with traditional dishes such as steamed fish, soy sauce chicken, barbeque pork with honey sauce, stewed pork with chestnuts, roasted squab, pan fried vegetables with meaty mushrooms, roasted pig with crispy skin, etc. Well, this was then. Here in Los Angeles, to celebrate the New Year's arrival, we decided to prepare a hot pot dinner, together with special dumplings. Let's call these "W's Dumplings". Because of my inability to tolerate the usual spicy additive - kimchi, W had to redo the ingredients and take out the kimchi. As you will all see, the final ingredients utillized are all very 'inert' and fit for every palate. Hot sauce is optional.
These are the basic contents to making the dumplings - tofu, glass noodles, bean sprouts, top grade ground pork, cabbage.....
First up, wash the cabbage and then cut into small pieces.....
For the bean sprouts, take out the 'root', that's where the 'rusty' colored part is.....
Then boil cabbage pieces and bean sprouts.....
Cut up tofu and put a few into cheese cloth, then wrap them up and squeeze out any excess water / Then, into a large mixing bowl.....
Now, boil one bundle of glass noodles, then drain out all the water.....
Chop up the noodles, cabbages, bean sprouts, and then mix with the tofu and ground pork into the large mixing bowl.....
Add hints of garlic, egg, salt and pepper; and then mix them up.....
The batch of ingredients all happily mixed up together.....
A spoonful of mix onto wonton wrap, then seal the edges with egg white.....
Voilà! We made a handful of W's Dumplings.....
Hot Pot dinner.....
Plateful of mushrooms, tofu, glass noodles, cabbages, dumplings, Kobe beef, 'Blue shrimp', squid and fish balls.....
The dumplings turned out quite meaty afterall.....DELICIOUS!
February 1, 2010
Song of the Day
Lately, W has been humming this tune - "Catbus" (고양이 버스). I guess this song was inspired by the character 'Catbus' in the Japanese anime film "My Neighbor Totoro". What a cute music video!
It's that time of year again! dineLA Restaurant Week is here. This time with over 200 Southern California restaurants participating, and affordably priced three course-meals ranging from $16 - $28 for lunch and $26 - $44 for dinner. Therefore, seizing the moment, we booked a table for two at Chaya Venice . This place has established itself in the Venice beach community for almost 18 years, and has earned the right to be called an institution. It specializes in contemporary French and Japanese cuisine with an emphasis on international seafood selection. There is a full sushi bar and its sushi has always been among the best on the Westside. If you are budget-conscious, the happy hour sushi bar will certainly delight your wallet, which lasts daily from 5 pm. to 7 pm.
The night is still young, with only a couple of patrons sitting by the sushi bar.....
Entree - Grilled Salmom, with Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Asparagus, Yukon Potato; topped with Dried Plum Balsalmic Reduction.....
Entree - Pinoit Noir Braised Short Rib, with Spinach Yukon Potato Puree.....
Dessert - Chocolate Pots de Creme.....
Dessert - Red Velvet Cupcake
The entire dinner costs US$34 per person, plus service charge. The quality of food is quite good and the portions are very satisfactory indeed. But I'd not probably go there for a quiet and romantic dinner, since the bar section occupied almost half of the building, the bar scene is quite vibrant and loud at times.
HONG KONG (part 3) - "Tidbits" December 2009 - No matter when and where you are in the city, there is always a way of getting a bite to eat. We landed late at night at the beginning of our trip and looking for a quick snack to ease our empty stomach. No problem. There are a host of small restaurants near our hotel, and Ho Hung Kee Congee and Wonton Shop is amongst them. Without studying the menu, we ordered - wonton noodle, stewed beef n' wonton noodle, 'Thousand Year Old' Egg, and boiled Chinese broccoli. We also had congee, but someone devoured a good portion of the congee before the photo was snapped.
The broth was very flavorful (made of powdered dried flounder, dried shrimp roe and pork bones) and without the ‘alkaline water’ flavor at all. The wontons were satisfactory in size. I have to say they are indeed very tasty, fresh and got great textur. I really appreciate the lighter Cantonese flavor after a 16-hour long flight and airplane food!
Man Fai, King of Cuttlefish Balls- are the exact words on their neon-lited banner. It was almost nine o'clock at night and we were longing for a quick night snack. This joint is located along Jardine's Bazaar, where a host of small popular local restaurants are. We had the Cuttlefish Ball with Thick Rice Noodle. The cuttlefish balls are AMAZING! They’re so springy and soft, fresh and extremely delicious. The broth was light and flavorful with preserved dried mustard greens added in. You have the option of adding seaweed. For me this is not only heaven in a bowl, it’s also the authentic taste of Hong Kong tidbits.
I had the Cuttlefish balls with noodles, while W had the same dish but with extra cuttlefish meat. Every seat in the restaurant was filled and we had to share the table with ten other patrons.
Someone seated across from me was having this dish of "Stewed egg-noodles with Roasted Goose Meat", it looked really delicious as well.....
Caffe Habitu/The Table- Most Western style eateries near the Times Square open late in the morning, this place is an exception. The Table is a relatively new restaurant that actually opens for business early and serves western style breakfast There is a huge open space floorplan and the decor reminds me of the yuppie coffee joints in Los Angeles. It is located on the second floor, inside of G.O.D., a quirky Hong Kong lifestyle brand rooted in retro HK aesthetics. There is also a very cool bookstore on the ground floor as well.
Good Morning Brekkie, with double fried eggs, Chipolata Sausages, Mushrooms and Grilled Tomato served with VERY THICK TOAST.....
Macadamia Nut Latte (rear), Rose Latte (teddy bear face).....
The meal costs HK$84 per person, which is less than US$11 per person; then we added on some service charges which came out to HK$95. Reasonably priced for a comfortable setting.
People's Recreation Community- This is one of the first "upstair cafe" + bookstores in Hong Kong that started the trend. Using Mao & Communist propaganda as theme, PRC is more known as a bookstore that sells political books about Mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong and the touchy subjects between the three. They have special sections on banned-in-China books. They also carry design, lifestyle and indie comic books too.
The interior space is small but they managed to fit in 3 tables. The vibe was cozy and quiet. And you may also "check-out" and browse any book while sipping drinks.....
The menu was pasted inside an old communist propaganda clip art book, with lots of cool clip art inside, I wish I could take this home for souvenir / The table top also has a few communist art clippings.....
The dessert is homemade and drinks are of high quality, and there are so many interesting books and magazines to browse through. Definitely a cool place to hang out. If you find yourself around the Times Square area in Causeway Bay and need a coffee/tea break, skip Starbuck and come here instead.....
Le Salon de Thé de Joël Robuchon -at The Landmark; thanks to agmhkg , who visits HK very frequently and knows almost every popular spots for high tea. We met here for a sample of pastries. This high tea has the quality over quantity kind, the food is presented in such an artistic manner that I almost did not want to consume it because it was so fancy! Raspberries, bits of lavender, gold leaves...were all used to further accentuate the aesthetically pleasing display. The pastry is somewhat displayed in a more minimalist style and the food itself is made with fresh ingredients and is prepared meticulously.
Agnes b Delices Cafe - at the IFC Mall. The cafe is very charming and is located in a rather obscurely shaped passageway on the 3rd floor of IFC Mall, Agnes b converted the space that it occupies into a little roof top garden cafe inspired by a French style courtyard, which I thought was a clever way of interpreting a normally sterile outdoor walkway. Rows of tables line the long left hand side of a narrow passage way leading into the main dining room. The price and menu for items at the Deli, even the cake and coffee, differ slightly from what's served in the main room. You can also order at the Chocolate Bar which serves different chocolate desserts, dipping chocolate for fondue and chocolate for the weight-conscious patrons.
MY *heartfelt* THANKS to W for a few of the above fabulous and very well focused photos!!
HONG KONG (part 2) - one of the numerous "tasks" which I would like to accomplish during this trip is to take a leisure morning walk in Central District. As some may well know, it is quite difficult to avoid being "pushed" around while treking around this chaotic city, especially during the peak business hours. Strolling along Wellington Street during one early weekday morning, I was almost the only pedestrian in this concrete jungle. My destination was this hole-in-the-wall place, "Lan Fong Yuen" (蘭芳園). While I was attending high school here, we frequent these small eateries dotted around the smaller streets in Central District. As for breakfast, I longed for their "French Toast" and milk tea. Lan Fong Yuen place is also located very close the the famous "flat stone steps" streets.
There was scarcely a soul along these flat stone steps, continue up will bring you to the Mid-levels. My destination was down these steps.....
The restaurant is behind this original facade, with the mini stools.....
First order of business was a glass of hot milk tea...
Pork Bun - Pork chop in a bun with mayo, the ultimate artery-clogging morning snack.....
Apply a layer of butter to the French Toast....
The sweet jam in-between the bread made the toast super delicious....
Street scene outside, filled with small mom and pop stores.....
My next stop for more morning snack, a couple of blocks away is Tsui Wah (翠華餐廳), another popular but larger scale Hong Kong style cafe....
With its colorful menu right on the table, we felt like having a glass of hot lemon tea.....
The toasted 'pineapple glazed' bun is popular.....Then came a large bowl of hot oatmeal, which was great for rounding up the morning.....
Lung King Heen (龍景軒) - the best Chinese restaurant in Hong Kong (or in the world)? This is the only restaurant in Hong Kong to get three stars from the 2009 Michelin guide (as well as the 2010 guide), and the locals were not at all pleased. Sample comment: “These French [Michelin] people, what do they understand? They only care about the view. So many better restaurants in Hong Kong, but not so fancy.” Well, it is true, you cannot beat the view from atop the Four Seasons Hotel, the meditative arrangements of wood and glass dipping into the harbor. Still, the food is phenomenal. Many locals (including my parents) say that there are other Chinese restaurants that are of the same level or even better than Lung King Heen.(I've even heard such gossips that the team of Michelin guide was staying in the Four Seasons Hotel and some have been speculating that this is the reason why two of the hotel's restaurants got Michelin stars. Besides Lung King Heen, another Four Seasons restaurant, Caprice, got 3.)
You have to live in the city for many months or even years to be able to judge whether this is the best Chinese restaurant, but for me, Lung King Heen is by far one of the best Chinese restaurant I have ever been to. They have very fresh products and fine preparation of Cantonese classics.
Like...dim sum.....
The table arrangements is impeccable.....Menu choices are limited, with only 10 dim sum dishes (plus a few daily specials) to choose from.....
First course is Soup of the Day, 老火湯, which is a standard local soup consisting of herbal ingredients. This tastes like home cook soup, so delicious.....
Baked barbeque pork buns with pine nuts.....
Baked whole abalone puffs with diced chicken.....
Steamed lobster and scallop dumplings.....
Steamed shrimp with pork dumplings and dried scallops.....
Steamed sticky rice in lotus leaf.....
Assortment of pastries.....
Chilled mango juice/pudding with tapioca.....
Coming back to the ratings discussion, it is true that most of the dim sum dishes in Lung King Heen are classical Cantonese fare and despite of fresh products and perfect execution, there was little creativity or invention. I did go to another non Michelin rated restaurant (West Villa) for dim sum, and I basically had the same kind of delicious food starting from barbecued suckling pig finishing with baked barbeque pork buns. To be honest, the only difference i felt between these two restaurants was that Lung King Heen has an amazing view of the Victoria Bay and West Villa does not. So I can say, that Lung King Heen is not the only place that is worth very high ratings. On the other hand, I think it is great that the Michelin guide has acknowledged Hong Hong as one of the world's greatest culinary destinations. People eat very well here and the world should know that.
December 24, 2009
Song of the Day
回去走走熟悉的路… 呼吸屬於自己的空氣... 走走自己一起長大的海邊... 渡過燭光下的聖誕晚餐…
I'm writing from Hong Kong now. It's been a long long time since my last entry. I apologize for not updating anything, having been occupied with finishing up my project at work, as well as planning for a visit to Hong Kong with W. During the past few days, I had been playing the part of tour guide, carrying on a whirlwind tour of the island. Since W only had five full days here, with me having to abandon him for two days due to family obligations. All in all, the resulting three days were spent on W's to-do list. Since we are short on time on his last day of visit, we had to choose between either spending the day in HK Disneyland; or luncheon at a Michelin One-Star restaurant plus high tea at the Peninsula Hotel. Both itineraries are on the top of the list, but knowing W's passion for food....a visit to the Mouse House can wait. Sorry, Mickey!
Tim Ho Won (添好運) - as the name implies "add good luck"; this hole-in-the-wall restaurant was recently anointed a Michelin one-star, instantly becoming the CHEAPEST Michelin starred restaurant of the world! Compared with other Michelin-ranked restaurants where a meal can cost more than $400, Tim Ho Won is an excellent value. Tim Ho Wan is headed by a former dim sum chef at Hong Kong's Four Seasons Hotel, where he worked at its three-starred restaurant Lung King Heen (Hopefully, I'll get a spot for dim sum at this place next week). During the economic crisis the chef branched out on his own to offer his dishes at bargain prices. His most expensive dish, a plate of noodles, costs the equivalent of about $5.40, and he sells about 750 of his signature crispy pork buns each day.
A glimpse inside the kitchen and the narrow eating area which can only accommodate twenty patrons...
We started to queue up before opening time, and it was a long queue...
The menu is simple with limited choices; our table is very small...
First up is the crispy baos with barbeque pork fillings. Once I bite through the crispy outer crust, the savory bbq sauce just oozed out...
Steamed Shrimp Dumplings "Har Gaow" - the trick to distinguish the good "Har Gaow" from the bad is when it does not stick to the paper, and the size is just right; the wrapping is so thin with the fillings clearly visible...Steamed Shrimp 'shiu-mai' - the texture is similar to a meatball, spongy and juicy...
Egg rolls with shrimp...Pan fried Daichon cake...
Steamed chicken nuggets and mushroom sponges... Steamed beef meatballs with Chinese "orange peel" inside...
Shrimp wrapped in steamed rice rolls....Steamed chicken feet in black bean sauce...
Dessert - Jello with sweet Osmanthus pedals...
The entire meal costs approximately US$20. The appearance and presentation of the dishes was quite shabby, and did not do justice to the calibre of the taste at all. It would help with a few garnishes and dressings here and there. But considering how quickly the dishes are flying off the shelves, nobody were complaining about the sloppy presentation. Why fix it ? Even so, I'd definitely return for future bites!
Afternoon tea at the Peninsula Hotel is an experience not to pass up, especially during Christmas. Thus, a sip of English tea and a bite of scones was on our agenda.
Three tiered set - with the sweets occupying the top level; sandwiches and pies in the mid-level; scones are at the bottom...
Sweets - Chestnut & Blackberry Yule Log, Champagne Mango Passion Fruit Mousse Cake, Honey Anise Truffle, Christmas Cookies, Spice Pear Financier, Rose Berry Marmalade Mascarpone tart, Spiced Pear financier...
Finger Sandwiches - Balik Salmon on Buckwheat pancake, Smoked Turkey and truffled cream in sun-dried tomato bread, Marinated cucumber and bell pepper in white bread...
Savoury Jalousie, strawberry jam, Goose liver and candied walnut quiche, Raisin and plain scones, Devonshire clotted cream...
Decorative hanging balls were handed out to us...
Everyone has a special wish on the tree...
Girls choir from a local high school singing inside the hotel lobby...
Outside of the Peninsula Hotel...
Later on, we strolled along the Kowloon harbour front, catching a glimpse of Hong Kong Island...
Last Thursday, we made dinner (almost) from scratch. The following photos represented the various shots I took while W prepared the Thanksgiving Dinner. The photos will tell the whole story....
First, we began with the pumpkin pie. We found this precious can of pumpkin mix at the FOURTH grocery store, the first three places were all sold out!
Then, the pie dough was prepared and prepped onto the pie pan, and then baked....
Pumpkin Pie - The ingredients for the pie mix, all added into the mixing bowl, stirred until the texture and color were even...
The stirred mixture will be poured into the crust, and then baked for 50 minutes...
Cranberry sauce - Wash the fresh cranberries, and then boil in water, adding a cup of orange juice and sugar. Stir and heat until pasty.
Mashed Potatoes - boil the chopped potatoes until soft, then add butter and milk. Mash the potatoes until the texture is smooth....
We have fresh Brussels sprout, and they are still buds on the stalk...
After washing, boil the sprouts for a few minutes. Also, saute the Pancetta...
Mix the sprouts with the Pancetta, cook for a couple of minutes and then add chicken broth...
Ingredients for turkey stuffing...
Saute the chopped celery and onions....
And then, mix them with croutons. Add mix with chicken stock and walnuts until the croutons are soft but not soggy. Then bake for 60 minutes at 425F...
This is ready to be stuffed...
We cooked Cornish hens instead of a turkey. Stuff the little hens with the stuffing mix, and then tied up with strings. Bake in the oven for 60 minutes at 425F....
Cornish hens ready to eat....
Dinner is ready on the table....
Voilà! The finished product...
Usually, I would pair the meal with a white varietal, but really want to finish this bottle of Chateau St. Jean because it had been in storage for almost ten years. The pumpkin has a good texture and goes well with the vanilla ice cream....
The entire course took almost seven hours to prepare, excluding numerous trips to the grocery stores. The total cost was reasonable at approximately US$90, considering how much leftovers we had. The Brussels sprouts only cost us $3 even with such an enormous package! It was a delicious meal after all and we'd not hesitate to do it again (with a larger bird) on the next festival!
November 21, 2009
Song of the Day
時光隧道... 是否穿越了這裡.....就能夠回到過往的美好時光呢?
It was a hectic week, the auditors are doing an annual review of my company, therefore, I have been spending a good part of last week stuck in the office. During the weekend, I dragged W out of the house and we drove thirty miles west of Los Angeles to Simi Valley , where the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library is located. The main purpose of the visit is to view the Presidential airplane Air Force One, which was used by six other presidents from 1973–2001. I was under the impression that the plane is quite spacious, after watching the Harrison Ford movie with the same name. But the actual aircraft is a much smaller Boeing 707 and certain features of the film's plane do not reflect the actual Air Force One. Well, it's all Hollywood glamour, I suppose.
The plane was retired in 2001. Boeing, the plane's original manufacturer, disassembled the plane and transported it to the library in pieces. After the construction of the foundation of the hanger/pavilion itself, the plane was reassembled and restored to museum quality, as well as raised onto pedestals twenty-five feet above ground. As you can see, there's also a gift shop and a small restaurant on the ground level...
No cameras are allowed inside the plane. It was like a walk through time, with 1980's era furnishings...
A large piece of the Berlin Wall on display...
Inside the museum, there are thousands of items on exhibit, I'll spare my readers those dull presidential campaign and Republican propaganda photos. Instead, here is President Reagan's childhood kitchen which I found interesting. Life was simple back then...
The final resting place...
Have not blogged about food for a while, but that doesn't imply I am on hunger strike. As a matter of fact, there is a whole clout of foodie porn to be posted in the near future. I just need to take an extended holiday from work to accomplish this task. W and I have tried this eatery, Animal, a couple of times. The food here is quite interesting because the menu items keep on changing based on the seasonal availability of the ingredients. The location of this restaurant is nondescript to say the least. There is no signage, the eatery is tucked neatly between Canter's and Schwartz's on one of LA's busiest kosher districts, up the way from the Farmers Market. Inside the restaurant, décor is minimal and boasts not much more than warm white walls, exposed lightbulb fixtures, simple wooden tables (with lining) on both sides of the room and a little bar area at the back. Oh, the menu, is just simplicity in practice...
First course is a simple tossed salad with lettuce, beets, avocado, pita, feta, and creamy sumac...
You really have to try the "pig's ear", thinly sliced and lightly fried to a crisp, served tossed with some chilis and topped with a fried egg making for the perfect balance of texture and flavor, savory and sweet.
Duck confit, dressed with dates, pecan, arugula, apple slices in a sherry vinaigrette...
Flat iron steak with artichoke hash and truffle parmesan fondue...
Tres leches, dulce de leche - sweet condensed milk sponge cake...
We did not order any alcoholic drinks, the final tab was about $40 per person, including service charge. It was certainly not a bargain meal but was very delicious. The food is on the exotic side, although this is not the first time I have tried pig's ears. The tres leches cake for dessert was perfect, not overly sweet, the creamy topping was an icing on the cake. Our service was quick. Since we shared everything, I was impressed with how fast they changed out our plates and silverware. The staff was pleasant, very knowledgeable about the menu and had excellent recommendations. Next time, we've got to try the 'Foie Gras Loco Moco' which comes with quail egg and spam.
It was a pleasant November day. I finished "work at home" earlier than expected, a hike to the Hollywood Sign would be a good way to shed a few pounds. The trail/road leading to the hill top is up the street nearby, I just need to walk out of my front door and start the walk uphill. I brought along a bottle of water, house keys and camera. That's all!!
From a distance looking up towards the hill top, the Sign painted in catchy white color; with communication antennas next to it.....
It's a long and winding trail going up and up, just follow the white picket fence....
At this point, not even halfway to destination yet, just have to keep on walking up the hill...
Along the way, catching a glimpse of the Griffith Park Observatory (white structure on the left) and Downtown Los Angeles....and yes, it was a smoggy day, the city covered in a shroud of haze....
Hawks circling above...
I finally reached the top (15 minutes later)....
The sign says...
Went up on a small ridge situated behind the road, the view is better up here...
Looking westbound, the tall buildings in Century City and Beverly Hills (right) are almost covered in a shroud of smog...
About time to head back...
(The weblog below is inspired by this entry by agmhkg "Hong Kong Phenomenon" - spoiled HK 'children') My childhood friend K paid me a visit from London. Wait! Not so fast, is he suppose to be flying from Hong Kong?
K: "I have a flat in London, where I spend a couple of months every year, mostly during the Summer."
Me: "Okay, that's nice. What brings you to L.A.?"
K: "Oh, my place is being painted and I need to get away from the remodeling. I also have to take care of some business matters here in LA. Will be leaving in a couple of days."
We were having this conversation in Musha , sipping tea and munching over Tofu Salad, Edamame, Scallop Shumai, Ponzu Duck and their famous dish, Torched Saba. Before the dishes arrived at our table, K has already summoned the waiter a number of times for...."Get me a glass of water, without any ice cubes please." and also..."Get us two extra pairs of chopsticks please."...and more of...."Can we have an extra plate please."...and also..."Get us some more napkins please."
Gee....I have never asked for so many favors at this place.
K: "Hope you don't mind about getting spare chopsticks, Hong Kong style is very sanitary, we each need an extra pair of chopsticks for sharing food."
Me (thinking): "That's alright. You must think I'm not 'clean' enough to dine with you."
At some point during the meal, he said,"As you know, my dad passed away earlier this year, and (short pause)…he's lucky to have me and mom to take care of him. Now, I'm starting to realize what will happen to me when I die. I'd like to have someone (like a son or daughter) to take care of my 'business' when I passed on. I want to get married, have a wife and kids, so that when I kick the bucket, I'll have a family around my death bed."
Me: "That's quite forward thinking, K. But are you saying you want to start a family just for that?"
K: "Yeah, maybe I can do so with a surrogate mom. I just need a son to take good care of my burial."
K: "Oh, by the way, if you're not too busy tomorrow, would you drive me to the shops on Rodeo Drive? I'd like to check the place out."
Me: (thinking): "I think I'll be busy tomorrow. And I suppose there are other better reasons to start a family."
Torched Saba.
October 28, 2009
Song of the Day
好久沒有回去走熟悉的路… 那些逝去的淡去的曾經… 我想要有平靜的…簡單的…單純的日子…
我永遠都記得...為你寫下這些字句…
When I was a little kid, I love to tag along with my grandpa for Sunday afternoon tea. (You see, Hong Kong was a British Colony back then, and the British got to have their afternoon tea every so often, no matter what.) It was one of my highlights of the day. The other highlight was grandma offering me pocket money to buy toys. I remember when three o'clock came along, grandpa would dress up in his crisp shirt and khaki pants, sometimes adorning himself with a jacket and a wool fedora hat. Grandma would tease,"Are you going out on a date with a Shanghainese woman, huh?" There were so many wonderful memories of visiting my grandparents during the weekends. My grandma had six kids...SIX...she brought them up with her hair set and outfits pressed and WITHOUT going crazy. (Well, I suspect she may have some help from her live-in maids.)
And there were so many wonderful places for afternoon tea too. But the Holy Grail of them all was 'The Peninsula Hotel' , I would feel like I was in pastry heaven whenever we ate there. Usually, grandpa would just order black coffee. Then, he would ask me to pick any items from the menu. After all the food arrived at our table, grandpa would light up his cigar and puff it away. As for me, I would just dig into my ice-cream float or pastry and worked at it until nothing was left. And those were the days!
I will never regret spending time with my grandparents when I was younger. Mahjong ....then eating out with my all uncles, aunts and cousins....that's what I used to do when I went to visit them. I love grandma's cooking too(which I'll elaborate later). She would always cooked up the best "Lion's Head" (pork meatball) and many other dishes, until none of us could finish. My mom and her sisters would then pack up the leftovers, while the men just sat around the dinner table sipping nasty tasting black tea.
Well, that was then. Both of my grandparents have passed on, but the fond memories are still within me. Here in LA, I always seek out the eateries most similar to my childhood experiences. As I was at Scarlett's Tea Room in Old Town Pasadena, the decor and atmosphere reminded me of a certain restaurant back in Hong Kong, with their neatly placed table settings, crystal chandeliers and chinaware. W and I shared the "Scarlett's Tea Ceremony", which is a five course meal consisting of: 1.Signature Sorbet / 2.Homemade Scones / 3.Assorted Tea Sandwiches / 4.Assorted Petit Desserts / 5.Stawberries Romanoff. A small pot of tea is included as well.
The tea pot, cup and saucer, kind of traditional in style and not too fancy...
First up is the Sorbet, refreshes and cleanses the palate...
We ordered an extra dish - Scones with three sides of toppings: Lemon Curd, Scarlet Cream and Berry Preserves...
Sandwiches: Salmon and Chive Spread (left), Cucumber and Water Cress (right), Egg Salad & Fresh Tarragone (back right)...
French Ham and Provolone (left), Salmon and Chive Spread (right),
Petit Dessert: Scone, Sponge Cake and a small Chocolate...
The whole afternoon tea set...
Sipping English tea in a cozy place costs us (two persons) $43.95 plus service charge, which is by no means a bargain. Nevertheless, the experience brought back pleasant memories of lazy Sunday afternoons with grandpa. Except that this time around, it brought some minor pain to my wallet as well. (Many thanks to W for the lovely photography.)
When I strolled into 'Dean Sin World' restaurant , their appetizer dish, peanuts with fried nori (苔蓧), a Shanghainese delicacy, really made an impression on me. I thought it was my grandma doing the cooking, except her portions of nori would be much more generous. Fried potstickers, siao-lone-bao, "Lion's Head"(stewed pork meatballs), all cooked with that wholesome goodness which few other restaurants could achieve. The dishes have no fancy nor gourmet garnishes, just plain simple, like a home-cooked meal. The restaurant has a special 'open' corner where the cook prepare wontons and other dumplings from scratch. While we were halfway through our meal, Mrs.Lu (the woman who runs the joint) was stuffing meat into wonton wrappings, one by one, just like in a home kitchen. No doubt the food was prepared with TLC.
peanuts with nori (苔蓧). Similar to salted peanuts with crispy nori.
Fried pot stickers, filled with sumptuous meat and soupy juices...
Siao-lone-bao, kind of dry but tastier than Ding Tai Fung...
Sizes of the meatballs are literally as big as the lion's head, hence the dish "Stewed Lion's Head"...
The dish always comes with Chinese vermicelli and vegetables...
Dessert - fried sesame buns with red bean stuffing...
The dinner costs US$9 per person, which is reasonable by all means. It was a nostalgic meal with remnants of childhood Sundays, in each bite of roasted peanut. I will be paying another visit to grandma's kitchen pretty soon!
October 23, 2009
Song of the Day
牽著別人的手… 或者被別人牽著手...都沒關係… 只需要…有愛情的存在...
Last weekend, we were lazy to go out for breakfast. Since W bought a box of "Pumpkin Pancake & Waffle Mix" from Trader Joe's , he was very eager to try out the new recipe. Hence, I played the part of sous chef (plus photographer) and quickly brought out the frying pan and other utensils, prepping up the kitchen for the executive chef.
We followed the instructions printed on the box...pour the pancake mix into a large bowl...
Whisking together three eggs and 1.5 cups of milk. Add to the pancake mix and stir until smooth. Also, don't forget to mix in 2 teaspoons of melted butter...
If the batter seems too thick to pour, add a little more milk. I think we've got the right amount of thickness here...
Cook on a hot, greased griddle or frying pan, using about 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake. Cook until bubbly, a little dry around the edges, and lightly browned on the bottom...
Now turn and brown the other side...
W also made bacon and scrambled eggs...
Voilà...quickie breakfast is being served...
Oops...don't forget to add Maple Syrup and a cup of coffee...
Traces of cinnamon and pumpkin are very well mixed...
Growing up in Hong Kong, it's almost next to impossible to find a well-stocked zoo near where I live. The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens was the closest thing, with a good collection of birds, primates and reptiles; but the larger species such as giraffes and elephants were missing. Most of my zoo outing days were spent playing hide n' seek with my cousins within the zoo's gardens. After moving to LA, I was amazed by the wide varieties of animals which are being kept in the local zoos, especially here at the Los Angeles Zoo in Griffith Park. Lately, I have become a 'member', the zoo was offering a one year membership for two persons at US$50; with unlimited entries and no black-out dates. The regular fee for single entry is US$13 per person. Sounds like a fair deal! For the next twelve months, I can go any day I like, checking out the signature attraction - the huge Gorilla Reserve. And of course, how could I resist the baby giraffes?
Smiley baby giraffe...
Adria...almost two stories tall...
Mr. Gorilla openly pleasuring himself, I need a video camera....
Caught this rather plump squirrel stealing food...
KISS MY BUNDT - "Whatever You Need, We've Got Your BUNDT Covered" - We received a special coupon from KISS MY BUNDT Bakery , half a dozen mini bundts for US$7. What a deal! These little ones go for $2.50 each regular price. There are three sizes to choose from - Mini Bundt Cupcakes (about a 2 1/2 inch diameter) at $2.50 each, Baby Bundt Cakes (about a 4 inch diameter) at $4.50 each, and the Big ´Ol Bundts (a 10-inch diameter) which are $32 each. 
HAPPY 2010 !!!! 
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