Do you ever have a Filipino food cravings? I recently do. The repercussion of living away from home far surpasses my imagination, when one of these seemingly insignificant moments, like stealing food from my helper's Sunday church Filipino feast actually made an imprint in my mind. Somehow, that imprint got me wandering off to World Wide House a few days ago, (the Filipino helper's shopping paradise in Central) searching for a HK$20 box of Filipino comfort food. Here are my findings.
Beef Mechado - a Spanish influenced tomato based stew with a decadent sauce filled with chunks of beef, garlic, onions and carrots, bell pepper and potatoes. My ultimate crave.
Chicken a la King - Knobs of chicken in a thick creamy white sauce, usually floating with carrots, potatoes, onions and pepper
Pinakbet - a vegetable staple of pumpkin, string beans, eggplant, okra, (and bitter melon, which I usually push aside) accentuated by the electric pink and sometimes very smelly bagooong (shrimp paste)
Pancit - Thin rice noodles with an assortment of shrimp, pepper, carrots, onions, usually topped with a few slices of hard-boiled eggs
Banana Springrolls - Crispy lustworthy springroll sheets wrapped bananas with a generous drizzle of syrup
Tupig - glutinous rice with shredded coconut wrapped in grilled banana leaves
And my all time favourite Filipino hot spot, a stone throw away from my Thai mani-pedi spot (oh how I love HK)
Mang Ambo's Filipino Restaurant
120 Jaffe Rd
Tel: 2143 6877
When it comes to food, the adventurous side of me springs up from within and steers me away from the familiar, no spaghetti bolognese, caesar salad and chocolate cake, bring on the weird and the unidentifiable! Innards, not your typical animal meat, strangely shaped fruits and vegetables, bring them on! Dessert today is visually fascinating. "Black pearl" eyeballs slapped into a tub of icy vanilla milk, gobs of mango and banana bobbing alongside chewy transparent bits and a handful of dried fruit. Ugly, delicious and only HK$26! I salute to the peculiar world of Asian dessert.
Many eyes staring from Honeymoon Dessert @ IFC
I used to dread dragonboat fest. Gweilos in all shirtless glory in the humid months of May/June, boat hopping carrying pints of beer ,drunken slur amidst the rhythmic beats of the dragon boat drums. In all honestly, we've convulated the story of a traditional holiday into Rugby 7s on water. Disastrous.
This year, I've decided to celebrate the Tuen Ng in a more respectable manner. A handsome spread of dimsum with a particular order of Guo Jing Zong. Those delightful bamboo leaved pyramids of glutinous rice and little meat bits, dipping knobs of it with soya sauce and white sugar. Now that's how you commemorate by eating these bits of triangles, meant to feed fish in the river to stop them from destroying the body of poor Qu Yuan, who plunged himself into the river out of despair of his conquered soil, Chu.
Eyespy was in the deep South just a few weeks ago and remnants of Georgia still tingles on my tongue. Baby back ribs, grits, corn bread y'all. Found a remedy! Dining Concept's brand spanking new American venture Blue Smoke BBQ stops the cravings from pounding.
Neon Blue sign, shine oh shine
Jukebox streaming country/easy listening, relaxed seating in an open space
The best/most addictive sweet potato fries paired with a somewhat underwhelming slab of ribs. Beer bottled bbq sauce saved the day
A bit on the heavy, the Blue Smoke appetizer platter packs some calories
Pulled pork sandwich was flavourful and surprisingly sweet
A little touch of Southern hospitality with complimentary paper towels and an 80s arcade machine to entertain
3 girls with small stomachs comes to a total of HK$150 per person! Awesome. Awaiting a new and improved baby back ribs when I return for another feast
Blue Smoke Bar-B-Que
3/F, Grand Progress Building,
15-16 Lan Kwai Fong
Tel : 2816 9018
208 Duecento Otto by JIA opened its doors on May 11! Since eyespy resides a stone throw away from this mystery Italian spot, I've been patiently waiting for its grand opening and when instinct beckons, eyespy and the bf turned up on its debut day by chance, and we were so thrilled! Genuinely, the first guests there!
The opulent downstairs bar with upstairs floor for a full a la carte (opening in late May)
Chinoise tiles of blue and white
Wonderful underlit marble top bar with a well stocked alcohol library
Soft Foccacia, on the house
Colourful concoctions of yellow and pink
Amazing Antipasti Platter for 2 for HK$250. Beautiful
Bar food was fantabulous, and 1st day service was surprisingly top notch, (the Filipino host was exceptionally well prepared). Will be back for the real deal!
208 Duecento Otto by JIA
208 Hollywood Road,
Sheung Wan,
Hong Kong
Tel: 2549 0208
info@208.com.hk
Creator of the very delectable el Willy in Shanghai, Barcelona native Guillermo's latest venture, FoFo is here to impress the ladies! 2 lunches and a dinner at FoFo and I was blown away.
First impression via openrice - a march of proud penguins, adorable
Light and white, top floor with plentiful sunlight. Indoor sun basking
Tugging a women's heart - Piglet motif, a wall of small animals and penguin chandeliers
The well-stocked bar with a skyscraper view of Central
Stamp of quality, Fofo plates
And of course, the lovely tapas... those bite size seared foie grois, scallop, beetroot, kumquat and popcorn powder melts puddles in your mouth,white anchovies were a beautiful balance of salt and vinegar, chorizo fills the biggest potato nut, those soft wild snapper warm citrus sauce and a surprise bed of sweet corn vanilla ravioli were absolutely lip smacking, large spoonfuls of porcini mushroom, Iberian ham and hazelnut juicy rice ending with a wonderful trio of flan, ice-cream and all things yummy happy sweet.
FoFo, you've stolen my heart and my stomach. Can't wait to come back, with a gaggle of gossipy girls this time!
FoFo by El Willy
20/F M88
2-8 Wellington St
Central
Tel: 2900 2009
Princes Building's Alfred Dunhill goes lifestyle and will drown you in all things British, the store boasts fine Dunhill threads, wine cellar Berry Bros Wine Reserve and a dedicated restaurant/pub called Alfies by KEE. See launch parties snaps here
More for the +40 set reminiscing stuffy English hotel bars, Alfies has yet to prove worthy with fierce competition around town.
I spot shrooms. Random.
They do stock an unusual favourite of mine - Hendrick's Gin. Ask for a few slices of cucumber to bring out the taste. Opening party this Thursday, stay tuned...
Alfie's by KEE
Shop G05, Prince's Building
10 Chater Road
Central
Tel: 2530 4422
Pawn is doing a Sunday Rooftop All-You-Can-Eat Barbeque in April - Wagyu Rump, Pork and Lamb Chops, Bangers, Chicken and Mackeral for HK$388! 11:30am to 4:30pm, free flow house pours, wine and fruit juices included. Count me in!
Click Click Click
The Pawn
For Reservations, please call: 2866 3444
