Saturday, March 16, 2024

Heartwarming 暖心芝作 (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

I have walked past this place called Heartwarming (暖心芝作) a few times in Sham Shui Po on my way to Ten Noodle Shop (十大碗粥麵專家).

Heartwarming 暖心芝作 (Hong Kong, CHINA) - Freshly grinded delicious black sesame dessert soup pudding Sham Shui Po

They specialize in all kinds black sesame desserts including their black sesame soy milk, ice-cream, pudding and of course, sweet soup. They even have this special sesame spread which I thought could be used for buns.

Heartwarming 暖心芝作 (Hong Kong, CHINA) - Freshly grinded delicious black sesame dessert soup pudding Sham Shui Po

The secret to their super rich black sesame dessert is the fact that the black sesame seeds are all freshly grinded on the spot with this stone mill.

     

I was going to get myself some black sesame pudding but they were all sold out already. Going home empty-handed? No way! I guess I couldn't go wrong with the black sesame sweet soup (芝麻糊).

Heartwarming 暖心芝作 (Hong Kong, CHINA) - Freshly grinded delicious black sesame dessert soup pudding Sham Shui Po

I thought this was really nice. The texture of the dessert soup was really thick and grainy. There was a nutty aroma that came with it, and just enough sweetness to back it up.

Next time, I got to try the pudding.




Food Rating: 5.5/10
Price: $$$
Address: Shop B, G/F, 23 Yu Chau Street, Prince Edward, Hong Kong
Closest Metro Station: Prince Edward
Tel: +852 6935-5856
Opening Hours: 10:00am - 10:00pm daily



Friday, March 15, 2024

Ease Link CentralWalk 榕意川味之美 领展中心城店 (Shenzhen, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

We have another business trip to Shenzhen this afternoon and while my colleagues fled the scene as quickly as they possibly could, I decided to take my time and explore the city for a few extra hours. My plan was simple, venture back to Futian which I grew to know a little better in the past few months and find my dinner spot for tonight.


My first stop was Link CentralWalk (领展中心城店), which was where I started my exploration of SZ in the first place. I went looking for my dinner venue before I got a ping from Master Shifu. Obviously, he got my "SOS" message asking for his help on a restaurant recommendation for tonight and told me to check out Ease (榕意·川味之美), a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant originated from Guangzhou. And guess what? There was a branch of Ease right here at CentralWalk. Sometimes, it's funny how things work out.

Ease Link CentralWalk 榕意川味之美 领展中心城店 [Shenzhen, CHINA] - Michelin Bib Gourmand Sichuanese restaurant originated from Guangzhou signature poached fish with peppercorns on the vine (榕意藤椒魚),

Ease's menu consists of simple dishes with Sichuanese touches, including the signature poached fish with peppercorns on the vine (榕意藤椒魚). I was very much locked in on a certain fish dish but it wasn't going to be their most popular one.

Ease Link CentralWalk 榕意川味之美 领展中心城店 [Shenzhen, CHINA] - Michelin Bib Gourmand Sichuanese restaurant originated from Guangzhou signature poached fish with peppercorns on the vine (榕意藤椒魚),

Stir-fried vegetables (清炒時菜) (¥29) – For 29 bucks, I thought the portion was more than generous. And I love the crunch from the choy sum.

Ease Link CentralWalk 榕意川味之美 领展中心城店 [Shenzhen, CHINA] - Michelin Bib Gourmand Sichuanese restaurant originated from Guangzhou signature poached fish with peppercorns on the vine (榕意藤椒魚),

Squirrel fish (松鼠魚) (¥99) – This was huge to say the least. I wasn't sure if it's in the shape of a squirrel (thus the name) not that I really care.

Ease Link CentralWalk 榕意川味之美 领展中心城店 [Shenzhen, CHINA] - Michelin Bib Gourmand Sichuanese restaurant originated from Guangzhou signature poached fish with peppercorns on the vine (榕意藤椒魚),

I like the crispy batter and the fact that they used melon instead of pineapple for the sweet and sour sauce made this dish a lot sweeter than I first anticipated. I'd like to see a little more flavors from the fish but for the most part, not bad.

Ease Link CentralWalk 榕意川味之美 领展中心城店 [Shenzhen, CHINA] - Michelin Bib Gourmand Sichuanese restaurant originated from Guangzhou signature poached fish with peppercorns on the vine (榕意藤椒魚),

"Ease's frozen noodles" (榕意冰粉) (¥12) – The star of the night for me.

I was looking for a refreshing dessert and they delivered exactly that. In the middle of the dessert bowl, I have slices of tea jelly (the "frozen noodles" here), assorted beans and mini glutinous rice balls, finished off nicely with chilled jasmine tea and evaporated milk. There were a lot of different textures in the mix coming from the crunchy beans, chewy rice balls and velvety jelly; and they were tied up together beautifully by the fragrant jasmine milk tea. Call it a drink, a dessert whatever you like to call it but it was a well-balanced dessert soup with everything I was hoping for. The mouthfeel was nice, it was refreshing and just the sweet ending I needed to wrap up the meal.

Ease Link CentralWalk 榕意川味之美 领展中心城店 [Shenzhen, CHINA] - Michelin Bib Gourmand Sichuanese restaurant originated from Guangzhou signature poached fish with peppercorns on the vine (榕意藤椒魚),

Just when I was still sitting around enjoying some quiet time (without little one yelling at me), I suddenly remembered that I have yet to purchase my return ticket back home. So, I quickly signaled for the bill and fired up my mobile app for the train schedule. It looks like I won't have time for a second destination after all.




Food Rating: 5/10
Price: ¥¥
Address: Shop FL1008-1010 L/F, 3 Fuhua Road 1st, Futian, Shenzhen, China
福华一路领展中心城L层1008-1010铺
Closest Metro Station: Convention & Exhibition Center station (會展中心)
Opening Hours: 11:00am - 3:30pm, 5:00pm - 10:00pm (Mon - Fri), 11:00am - 10:30pm (Sat - Sun)



Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Baker by LUBUDS (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

LUBUDS, the local F&B giant behind culinary delights such as Mián (紅棉) at The Murray and Pano at West Kowloon Art Park is the latest to join the artisan bakery party with its latest venture Baker by LUBUDS.

Baker by LUBUDS Citywalk Taikoo Shing (Hong Kong, CHINA) - Amazing bakery Sourdough egg tart, doughnut, cruffin, croissant
Baker by LUBUDS Citywalk Taikoo Shing (Hong Kong, CHINA) - Amazing bakery Sourdough egg tart, doughnut, cruffin, croissant

The first Baker by LUBUDS soft-opened in CityPlaza (太古城中心) a few weeks ago and I was on hand to check out their boutique which specializes in premium Western-style pastries and baked goods with a Japanese twist. The elevated classics including croissants, egg tarts and brioche buns to trendy New York Rolls and cruffins provide us with a great alternative to the local favorites in the light of Bakehouse and Beans Bakery Cafe.

Baker by LUBUDS Citywalk Taikoo Shing (Hong Kong, CHINA) - Amazing bakery Sourdough egg tart, doughnut, cruffin, croissant
Baker by LUBUDS Citywalk Taikoo Shing (Hong Kong, CHINA) - Amazing bakery Sourdough egg tart, doughnut, cruffin, croissant

I ended up taking four of these sourdough egg tarts ($12 each) home.

Baker by LUBUDS Citywalk Taikoo Shing (Hong Kong, CHINA) - Amazing bakery Sourdough egg tart, doughnut, cruffin, croissant

This was seriously tasty. I thought the crust was less flaky than the one from Bakehouse but the egg custard was equally eggy and custardy. A real classic in the making. I won’t mind having another one next time I visit CityPlaza.

Baker by LUBUDS Citywalk Taikoo Shing (Hong Kong, CHINA) - Amazing bakery Sourdough egg tart, doughnut, cruffin, croissant




Food Rating: 6/10
Price: $$$
Address: Shop 307, 3/F, Cityplaza, 18 Taikoo Shing Road, Tai Koo, Hong Kong
Closest Metro Station: Tai Koo
Tel: +852 2326-8832
Opening Hours: 8:00am - 8:30pm daily