Victoria Harbour at night, HK

In the very old days, taking night scene photo on the boat wouldn't be any easier.  The full frame censor and a fast engine made it.  This photo was taken a shutter speed of 1/160 second at F4 on ISO6,400.  

麥兆記雲吞麵 Mak Siu Kee Wonton Noodle shop, Wanchai HK

 Read the article in the shop about its origin - quite a long article but strange that I still couldn't figure out on how it claimed to be related to Mak Um Kee on a some sort of son-in-law with this and that relationship.  Anyway, the noodle is pretty nice - very evenly thin and al-dente.  The wonton is not bad, but the worst part is the soup.  It was quite bitter (probably from the over-burnt of the dai di fish).  The veggie wasn't too fresh.  So half and half, I'd prefer to go back to Mak Um Kee.

Corner Kick 角球

Passion by Gerard Dubois, Cafe and Deli, Johnston Rd. Wanchai HK

Finally I find a right place for some real salad, sandwich and pizza at reasonable prices in Wanchai.  The others I had in Wanchai (Star Street) were a bit disappointing.   Salad is at around HK$40-60 depending on the size.  On the photo shown here is the largest.  Pizza at around HK$70-90.  Nice coffee too. The cakes and pastry are pretty nice though not the best.  However, there aren't enough seats in the shop.  Most of the time, I couldn't find a seat, except the first visit, I could take a photo of empty seats.

Italian Tomato Cafe Jr., Wanchai, HK

Half year ago, on a bus ride back home from Admiralty and passed by the beginning of Hennessy Road, something very bright and red with a lovely tomato sign was so sharp. Italian Tomato cafe was once a regular place my friends and I used to visit. Without any hesitation, I came to this new branch for some good old memory. Turned out a horrible time. First the pumpkin soup was a yellow colour cornstarch seasoned water. The Caesar salad was with some cheap lousy dressing and the bruised chicken with months of fridge smell. The honey ham was so so and the pizza was made of some heavy cheap cheeze. At last, I thought the green tea cake can be something to make up for a lousy meal. Forget it. Never tasted such a tough and dry green tea cake. The whole meal for one person is about HK$110. Better go to UCC or Pokka cafe instead.

La Cucina Italiana, QRE Plaza, Wanchai, HK

QRE Plaza (opposite to Hopewell Center on Queen's Rd. East, Wanchai) has a no. of western dining places, but in general I am not impressed with any of those including this one, though they are not the best, nor the worst. Neither would I appreciate that those shops often try to make their names sound like they are natives, but the fact is often on the opposite. First the bread basket isn't appealing and pizza bread (to go with the antipasti) reminds me of a famous Chinese classic novel figure 鍾無艷 (a lady with half face white and beautiful and the other half face in dark and spotty). So is the parma ham pizza that the parma ham was put on one side. The photo 6 - guess what? It's a tuna tartar with rocket leaves salad. At last, folks, don't get tricked it's very local when you see a bottle of Pelligrino was shown in this way (photo 8).

鳳城美食, 灣仔汕頭街 Fung Shing restaurant, Shantou Street, Wanchai HK

This shop is one my regular visited shop for a big full meal for a bowl of soup, a big bowl of rice and a drink. 12 years ago, this set big meal set was about HK$32. Last week when I tried it, it is surprisingly kept at HK$37. Their signature fish patty slices soup is still pretty good. Then the pork chop with over-easy egg on rice with sweet soy sauce is highly recommended. They only pan fry the pork chop and egg to the order. My top priority is still their stewed beef brisket with turnip. They often put 3 big chunks of sweet soft turnip in it with lots of brisket cuts. Their house brisket sauce is excellent too. See the dry grown morning glory (photo 4). The preserved bean curd sauce is very nice. It's at a right balance of sweet and salty flavour with a bit chili in it.

常餐, 特餐, 快餐, 全餐, ABC 餐, 金鳳茶餐廳 Various meal sets with Kam Fung restaurant, Wanchai HK

某一個下午，路過金鳳，撲鼻而來蛋撻，雞批，菠蘿包熱烘烘香氣，這刻完全背棄什麼高纖低脂低納。傳統菠蘿包再加片鮮油，火腿蛋奄烈加沙爹牛米，腸仔意，凍啡，華田，雞批加蛋撻。感謝還有像金鳳這些茶餐廳，帶給我們最回味的這些。金鳳的咖啡甚有當年茶餐廳的檀島咖啡的神韻﹣用煲煮的，焦香無澀味，菠蘿包非常有麵粉香，最讚嘆的還是他們的雞批，酥香惹味!
Passed by Kam Fung on one afternoon. There came the hot aroma from the freshly baked egg tart, chicken pie and "pineapple" bun. Decided to put aside all those high fiber, low fat, low sodium. Got a "pineapple" bun with a slice of fresh butter, ham omelette, satay beef noodle, sausage noodle, iced coffee, ovaltine, chicken pie and egg tart. Thanks to such local classic tea rooms as Kam Fung for bringing back all those flavours. The coffee of Kam Fung still keeps the classic making of the old time so-called "Honolulu" coffee (a name to be referred to a western coffee) - boiling to be with roasted aroma without the bitter taste. The "pineapple" bun has a nice flour flavour. The best is their chicken pie, so buttered aromatic.

Cheung Kee (Club the Silver) 祥記 (銀盧會所), Lockhart Rd, Wanchai HK

Came here several times but always full. This time it was almost 10pm I got here and glad that I made it. The place serves a very wide variety of Northern Chinese cuisine. I took the chilled goose web with celery (photo 2) HK$50. The celery was nicely boiled and quickly chilled in icy water. So crunchy and refreshing. The goose web was tossed with some light touch of sesame oil and soy sauce. The mustard sauce was also nicely mixed - not too bitter or sour. Photo 4: Veggie mixed casserole 砂碢雜錦 HK$68. Very good chicken/pork stock with some salty pork and chicken meat. Together with the sweet Northern cabbage, the soup is very sweet. It's in a very big portion - good for 8 rice bowls. Photo 5: Dried fried diced chicken with dry chili 大千雞丁 HK$68. When it was served on the table, the burnt aroma with garlic and chili was so strong. Don't think it's a very hot dish. Dry chili isn't that hot but delivers a very nice aroma. Photo 6: pan fried dumpling HK$50. Finished it all. Very good pan frying. Crispy outside and juicy filling inside. Not oily at all. As all the dishes are so nice that I had to try a dessert I seldom order - deep fried caramelized banana 拔絲香蕉 HK$58. I like the way they made the wrap not so thick (check photo 9). The caramelized is with some sesame. So it tastes like some sesame candy. Highly recommended!