The Fragrant Harbour with No Smell - Hong Kong

    We're travelling once again. This time it's with the entire family, Mum, Dad, and the Bro thrown in. The destination - Hong Kong. I was anticipating the glorious shopping and the abundant variety of delicious food, or so I was told. The wifey, ever the diligent travel planner (thanks Dear) even included historical sights and famous gastronomic venues. Check out the pics...

Marco Polo's special Cheesecake to celebrate Mum's Birthday

Our first meal at a simple "Macau Cafe"

The queue outside Australia Dairy Company"

The food wasn't fantastic. I don't see why there should be such a long queue. The service was brusque and rushed.

It's only saving grace was the egg pudding. YUM! Go for the ones with yolk if you like a more full-bodied flavour

Avenue of Comic Stars

Chilling at Agnes B Cafe

At "Mak's Wanton Noodles"

The famous "Mak's" noodles. Don't mistake it for the noodle shop next to it. One of the best around. 

Mango, Coconut, Glutinous rice, what more can you ask for? A few shops from Mak's Noodles. 

I bet you've never been to Noah's Ark.

The famous roasted meats of "Yung Kee Restaurant" in the heart of the business district. The "char siew" can rock your socks off! A must try

The famous Yung Kee roasted goose

Pierre Herme's world famous macarons, way way better than even Laduree's.

    Besides Hong Kong, we took a day trip out the nearby island of Macau. Here are the highlights...

"Ou Mun Cafe" - a classic example of where to get an almost perfect Macau breakfast

Along the historic district you'll find a thousand and one shops hawking their almond cookies and "bak kwa". Hand-made in this case.

Next we were off to the Macau Tower. Even I was petrified when I looked down (and to think I did heli-rappelling in the army)

45min bus-ride to some goodness-knows-where village just for the taste of Lord Stow's Portuguese Egg Tarts. The irony is that Stow wasn't a nobleman. He wasn't even Portuguese. Stow was an Englishman (Hail Great Britannia!) who came up with his own version and popularized this sweet snack. 

My only regret of the trip - not having more of these babies.

What trip to Macau would be complete without a visit to the Venetian?

And finally, the now famous-in-Singapore Tin Ho Wan dim sum. Go there around 11am and you'll miss the crowd. It sure is deserving of its Michelin star. Avoid the chicken claws though. Must haves: char siew bun, glutinous rice chicken (lo mai gai) and the osmanthus cakes/jelly thingy.

Wonderful wonderful bo lo bun masquerading as a char siew bun. One's simply not enough. Had to go back for more.

    We rounded off our trip with a slow day to The Peak. It was a pretty hazy day but the view coupled with the cool air was simply stupendous.

Look a little more closely and you'll see it's all an optical illusion.

What day would be complete without some grub. At "The Peak Lookout" cafe.

Chocolate Fondant with real honey comb

    It's been a while since the whole family has gone on a holiday together, so Hong Kong was a good opportunity to bond. The weather was cool as it is the end of the year. The variety of delicious food was mind-blowing. The only disappointment was the shopping. Prices here are not what was expected. Even without tax, prices here are comparable to those back in Singapore (even with out 7% GST!). In conclusion, come to Hong Kong if you want a gastronomic experience; come to Singapore (especially during the Great Singapore Sale) if you are looking for good deals.

L'ATELIER de Joel Robuchon

   This post is way overdue. We had the privilege of dining at the Atelier in Sentosa. This is to be differentiated from the restaurant itself. Joel Robuchon is supposed the most decorated Michelin Chef in the world and the restaurant made it to a list of 50 places to dine at in Singapore. I totally disagree with that list but that's another story. 

   The atelier is a simpler, more down-to-earth version of the restaurant. My initial impression put it as not much different from any other lounge or high-end cafe. The quality of food, while excellent, was not much better than other high-end eateries. What made it stand out though, was the impeccable service. Hats off to the service staff.

 

   To me, the bread basket of any restaurant says a lot about how serious the establishment is about even the minute details of its cuisine. As you can see, presentation A+. The croissant-like pastry was simply irresistable. I had a go at it a couple of times (then again, it wasn't just "a" go).

   Let's just describe the food as we go along...

foie gras mousse with parmesan foam

 

Ribs

The Bro had Boeuf Tartare (raw beef)

Wifey's cod

   And for dessert...

 

 

    What's missing from the array above is their Mashed Potatoes which they claim is the best in the world. It is "hand-mashed" for I-can't-remember-how-many-ungodly-hours. It does live up to its reputation. One of the best I've ever tasted. However, it is advisable not to have too many helpings because the amount of butter that goes into it would probably be a recipe to burst a heart valve or two.

   No doubt the food is excellent, but what I appreciate the most is the level of service found here. Every waiting staff that served us were brimming with enthusiasm, from the explanation of each dish to their attempts to make us feel comfortable. Moreover, it wasn't simply banal banter. The staff knew their stuff (pun intended). They were knowledgeable about the process of food preparation and even the taste. Of course, the complimentary desserts did play their part to add to the positive impression.

   In conclusion, it was a pleasant experience. Even without the presence of the renown chef, we will try the restaurant another day.