Showing posts with label Noodle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Noodle. Show all posts

Friday, July 31, 2009

Adventures in Asia - Part III



2nd night in Hong Kong
With limited nights to spare, I set out for the world famous award winning Taiwanese dumpling house, Din Tai Fung, in Tsim Sha Tsui. A must stop dining venue, as the only one in the U.S. is in Los Angeles. As usual, the wait to be seated is a minimum half hour. However it's well worth it, as the food does not disappoint! Wetting your palate to start is a refreshing, moist and tender, perfectly deboned Drunken Chicken, served cold. Hints of Chinese wine tickle the taste buds and alter the senses of those with lesser tolerances. Then moving onward, the main star of the evening makes it's entrance in a hot bamboo basket, the treasured crab-filled steamed pork soup dumplings. Each one, bursting with a rich essence of the sea uniquely of the crab, and pockets of a soupy broth explode into your mouth, as the delicate thin skin attempts to cradle the balance of goodness remaining from the bun. Then there was a Chinese meat sauce with noodles dish, which would be most similar to a pasta with Bolognese sauce. Always interesting to see how each restaurant individualizes their version based on ingredients, spiciness and heat, and noodle type. The edamame beans were an added plus, and again, well balanced and proportioned for a delicious savory treat.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Adventures in Asia - Part II

Day 2 in Hong Kong
After a morning of apparel shopping in the incessant wind-swept rains, I took refuge in yet another gigantic 14 story shopping complex, Langham Place. For lunch, I stumbled upon a prominent, and well-regarded noodle shop on the food court level, Chee Kei. Famous for wonton noodles, and congee, I had to follow suit. Their braised beef belly noodle soup was divine. The broth, ultra-rich and flavorful, a level unlike that of any found back in NY. The meat and ligament ever so tender, even the toothless could gobble it up. An added bonus was the chinese turnip, which lended an extra sweetness to the picture, also carefully braised at length. Their crab congee is also a well known dish, as well as a best seller. There is a fresh, whole crab within each order. The aroma and sweetness that the crab and it's roe lends to the congee only enhanced the perfect consistency of porridge. Hot and steaming, thick but just viscous enough to be smooth, a hearty, somewhat salty and fragrant rice "soup", melded with hints of poignant yet complementary flavors from the julienned scallions and ginger dispersed throughout. A rewarding dish for those with patience.