Clouds #2

I love staring at clouds.  Especially when flying.  This was on my way back from Bangkok.  Clouds make me happy...

My pretty perfect day

Started out the day meeting Tiff and Wesley at Hung's delicacies (blog post).  Have been looking forward to this for a while.

The chili sauce was To.Die.For.  I can probably have just noodles and this sauce for a meal.  Tiff said the server lady kept looking at us...hahaha.  Oh well.

(Yes, that's how much I looooooved the sauce)

We then walked over to this random looking shop for stuffed eggplant and deep-fried wonton skin.  Oily, but so good. 

Then on to dessert.  Tong yuen--glutinous rice balls with sesame or peanut filling.  Best ones I've had in HK (and I've had a lot).  Thin outer layer that gives just enough chewiness to the tong yuen but you're not just eating dough.  Then you get the generous filling that is warm and not too sweet.



I was so full after.  SO full.  They asked if I wanted tofu flower!  Crazy people.

We walked around the wet market in North Point looking for rainboots.  We think it's going to be rainy in Taiwan and should be prepared.  I had sent mine home with Lauren so now I'm debating on whether to buy a nicer pair (I've been in love with this purple pair from Aigle since last September...) or a cheap pair that I won't even take back with me.

HKD $79 - 179

HKD $1,680 (yes, that is a comma)

We parted ways at around 4.  I left to meet Hale in Central.  We met up at TWG for tea.  It wasn't all that (blog post), but it was so nice to sit and chat with Hale.  Then we walked around the mall and into random shops.  We both fell in love with this piece of luggage...

You can create your own design with the dots.  Tell me that is not cool.

Then we walked to Fusion Gourmet in Sheung Wan for dinner.  Out of nowhere, Hale said," Let's take a picture because I'm feeling happy right now."  She's so cute.  And she was right.  It was nice to be walking without a care in the world.  We've both been stressed out about life.  Spending that afternoon together was like a timeout from our troubles.  It was really nice.

Dinner was fun.  We shared mussels, short ribs, pasta, and bread.  My kind of dinner to end a pretty perfect day.

Bucket list: Hung's Delicacies

Hung's Delicacies in North Point.  Marinated meats and "stuff".  Haha.  Yum.

The owner and chef

Proves that you don't need table cloths or good service to be awarded a Michelin star

Chicken's leg tendon with mustard flavor

House special duck chin

From left to right: marinated pork belly, marinated pork chuck, layered pig's intestine in aspic (marinated bean curd underneath)

The famous chili sauce

Bucket list: Yat Lok roast goose

Near the Tai Po Market.

Looks like roast duck.  But oilier.  It is definitely not an everyday kind of dish...

Roasted goose is traditionally eaten with a special kind of noodles.  It is a bit chewier than regular egg or rice noodles.  It's round, which means it can easily slip between your chopsticks and make you do the slurpy sound to catch the noodles from falling back into your bowl.

Deep fried pork intestine.  I know, that sounds awful.  And it looks awful.  But it was pure deliciousness.  The fat melts in your mouth and contrasted with the chewy inside.  Okay, it's an acquired taste.

High tea: the Peninsula

You don't come to the Peninsula for the food.  You come for the "experience."  The experience of lining up in this insane line that starts a little before 2pm every day.  Yes, every day.  The experience of sitting in the lobby of a fancy hotel--right next to the grand entrance.  The experience of getting to say you had high tea at the Peninsula.

I really should be nicer because Lauren and I had a nice time.  Half the time there was a live quartet, which was a nice touch.  But sometimes you barely noticed it because it was so noisy in the lobby.  I have to commend the staff, though, because we were well taken care of.  The hot water refill kept coming.  We were not rushed to give them the table.  I really appreciated that. Well...we paid enough to sit there, so... lol. 

I guess if you've never been to the Peninsula for high tea and walk in with proper expectations, you could enjoy the experience for what it is.  

HK style waffle

My favorite combo: Chocolate and original

High tea: TWG

I had the French Earl Grey tea.  Amazing.  Bought some to take home afterwards.  That was about all the good I have to say about the high tea at TWG.

For about $300, you get either 2 scones OR 1 pastry item (yes, OR) and 3 slightly-larger-than-a-canape sandwiches. Whipped cream and tea jelly accompanied the scones.  Maybe I'm a traditionalist, but I want clotted cream and jam with my scones.  The scones were basically baked tasteless dough passed off as scones.  The sandwiches were okay--steak, salmon, foie gras.  I can make the steak and salmon ones with ingredients from parknshop.  The foie gras was overcooked.

The AC was blasting, which meant my tea was cold seconds after being poured into my cup.  The servers kept walking behind Hale's chair and either knocking off her coat or slightly grazing her hair.  NOT relaxing at all.  There was no hot water refill.  Okay, maybe it is to ensure quality of the tea to remove tea leaves after steeping, but seriously?  $75 for a 3/4 full pot of tea and no refill of hot water?!?!?

Yeah, I realize this is a bit harsh.  For $300, I had expected a lot more from TWG.  Next time, I will just stop by to buy tea leaves.

Hong Kong Sevens

The Hong Kong Sevens is an experience.  Rugby teams from around the world participate in the Sevens World Series and compete in Australia, Dubai, South Africa, New Zealand, USA, Japan, Scotland, England, and Hong Kong.  Yeah, Hong Kong.

Glad I was able to go.  But once is enough.  lol

1.  People (read: ex-pats and foreigners) go for the drinking and drinking and drinking.  The rules are different so that the actual games are shorter and less people play on each team.  The tournament is basically for spectator "entertainment."

2.  People show up in costumes for the festivities.

3.  People, people, everywhere!  I didn't bother looking for my seat.  You kind of just walk around to find an empty seat and make friends with people around you.  (This is the south side, notorious for the cool costumes and very "happy" spectators.)

4.  What do I know about rugby anyway?

If not for these guys from Leeds, I wouldn't have been able to follow along AT ALL.

Or have the great spot to take photos.

5.  It is REALLY REALLY REALLY difficult to score tickets.  You have to register to be in the pool of people eligible to buy tickets ahead of time.  And it cost both arms and legs for the weekend pass.  I wasn't about to pay for something I was only half interested in checking out (see #1-4).

I had just about given up when a friend's fiancee had ONE ticket.  She works for a hedge fund and one of the traders gave her the free ticket.  Lucky me!  Even though I was going to have to go alone, I decided it was now or never.  Hahaha.

I did enjoy the halftime show--the Beach Boys!