Monday, February 16, 2009

Hong Kong & Macau Fare!

On to the next location of my overseas makan trip, Hong Kong! I have visited HK almost once a year since 2006, and the one thing that never ceases to amaze me is the quality of the wontons in HK.

One of the first stops I made was to the Lantau Island Big Buddha. I had to take the cable car up the hill from the Ngong Ping Cable Car Station. After a 20 minute ride to the top, which was predominantly blanketed by thick fog during that time of the year, I finally reached the little tourist village at the top of the mountain.

The village is surprisingly bustling with activity, and made out to be more of a tourist location of some sorts. There are shops of all kinds found there, ranging from the souvenir shops to our main topic, the food! You can find an interestingly wide range of food there - pizzas, pastas, steaks, and also the standard HK Cha Chan Teng fare.

After a year of depravation from HK's wonderful wontons, I naturally chose the HK style Cha Chan Teng for my choice of lunch.

The soupy wonton noodles set me back about HKD$38 per bowl (about S$9), and there was quite a big range of food found there, and they were priced at aroud HKD$30 - HKD$60. Quite reasonable for a food establishment found at a tourist location.

The thing about wontons in HK, even at this place I found from nowhere, contained no less than THREE prawns. Yes, I jest you not. In the rest of my days in HK (only 3 days) I ate wonton noodles another 2 more times and there were also no less than THREE prawns in each wonton. I always tell my friends, "If u can find ONE prawn in a wonton in Singapore, YOU'RE VERY LUCKY!!"


HK's famous Ice Ying Yong (Tea + Coffee), served in a cute mug! =P


Check out the size and texture of these wontons... Note: 3 PRAWNS!! The noodles tasted nicer than most places in Singapore. MUST TRY!


This is the dry version of the wonton noodles. If you're ordering this, better not forget the chilli oil that goes VERY well with the noodles!


Century Egg & Lean Meat Porridge (皮蛋瘦肉粥)Another delicacy in HK, the texture of the porridge here is almost perfect, and is also another MUST TRY!

Macau

The first thing I noticed when I stepped out of the Macau Ferry Terminal, was that it was MUCH colder than Taiwan & Hong Kong because of the strong winds! Could also partly be the problem that we were right next to the sea.

The ride to the hotel took less than 5 mins, and after checking in and settling my luggage, I went out hunting for Macanese delicacies! Oh, and also for some nice casinos =).


Macau's famous Portugese Egg Tarts! These babies don't cost much, and each one can be finished in one gulp, but the nothing really comes close to the taste of warm, freshly baked egg tarts burstin in your mouth...


A sample of Macanese food in a restaurant... This one's Fried Tomato Rice or something like that. Can't really remember the name, but this dish was quite ok with me, though I don't take tomato-based food very often.


The curry here was okay too, but nothing like the powerful stuff we have back home in Singapore.

Macanese cuisine, although generally attuned to the taste of Hong Kongers because of the abundance of Cha Chan Tengs (茶餐厅s), do have some distinction because they offer some authentic Portugese dishes. Just ask the locals for directions to the restaurants that offer Portugese cuisine, and you'll be directed to these places! (Macau's not very big, so the good ones will usually be full if you don't make reservations beforehand!)

Next destination: Vietnam! (hopefully in June)