I mentioned jetsetting on a whim and that included a trip to Hong Kong with a fabulous girlie friend. It was all a bit spare of the moment but somehow felt just right and I was pumped and ready for four days of strictly nothing else but food and shopping. Perfect! As my girlie friend is a travel agent extraordinaire all the details (boring ones from my perspective!) were taken care of, so all I had to do was pop out to the airport and get on board!
Arriving in Honkers (or Honkers Konkers as it became affectionately known to us) it was humid, bustling and alive. Whilst there are people every which way it is entirely organised and sensible and everything just seems to work. An easy trip from the airport on the fast train to the centre of Kowloon and a quick shuttle bus had us in our hotel lobby less than an hour after touch down. Impressive! It was still only 8am but we were ready to fill out bellies and empty our purses (and then our bank accounts!)
We went underground to the subway at Tsim Sha Tsui, right under our hotel and wooshed one stop to Hung Hom where we swapped trains and headed into China to the shopper's paradise of Shen Zhen. Alighting at Lo Wu station we crossed through immigration, passports and visas at the ready thanks again to the travel agent extraordinaire, and headed into the Lo Wu shopping centre. Our first job was to negotiate the incredible maze of tailors on the top floor, weaving our way through cubicles full of fabrics. We knew we wanted to get some clothes made and if it was going to be done before the end of the day we had to get cracking. After showing some photos and some samples of garments we picked out fabrics, had our measurements taken and were free to go and explore while someone took all of our vital statistics to a factory and magically created our wishlist.
Ravenous by this stage we went in search of sustinance and found a traditional Chinese restaurant right outside the tailors' maze and acosted the hostess for a number. For those playing at home it was called Arcadia and was really reasonably priced. We waited in line for a table listening as the numbers were called in Chinese of course. I wasn't sure exactly how we would know when it was our turn but fortunately the hostess signalled to us when we were up and we obediently followed her passed the live fish tank and through a mass of tables covered in gold cloths. One foodie and one travel agent were seated and ready for eating. Ravenous at this point I could happily have ordered one of everything on the menu but was talked down by my travel partner and we settled on a serve of shou mai (steamed dumplings with pork and prawn), egg fried rice, bbq pork buns, pork belly and some steamed vegetables. Needless to say it was all gorgeous. I couldn't get enough of the sticky, rich and crispy pork belly. The fat had been rendered leaving the meat tender and juicy with skin that crunched like breaking glass. I have to admit that I'm not always a big fan of bbq pork buns as often the coating is glutenous and stodgy but these were light and fluffy and almost melted in your mouth, filled with a warm, rich pile of sauced up pork. The shou mai were flavoursome and firm and just the way they should be. So good I almost didn't need soy sauce! After it was all devoured we clinked our glasses to a great start to our Honkers Konkers mini break.
On an excursion to Stanley to explore the markets and continue the credit card damage we once again found ourselves....starving! It seems that all that opening and closing of your purse can really work up an appetite. As we walked along the glistening waterfront we happened across a little place called The Boathouse which looked like just what we needed. Once we entered there were definitely bonus points for the view and the airconditioning. We were greeted by a gorgeous woman whose service and manner was so lovely. Our refreshing and delicious fresh lime and sodas were on the table before we could blink...just the way a sweaty shopper likes them! Having indulged in almost as many dumpling as even I could handle, we evidently both had a hankering for something a little more Western. I ordered a burger with everything and my girlie pal went for the steak sandwich. When it arrived I couldn't have been happier and when I tasted it I realised I actually was! I think in between mouthfuls I even uttered the phrase "best burger I've ever had....I think it's the bun!" And I still think it was, a gorgeous brioche type arrangement but I do have to say that the fillings and the side of wedges were fabulous as well. It was definitely a "do yourself a favour" situation!
Having reinvigorated our desire for dumplings after a good dose of red meat in bread, the next day we headed back to what had become our favourite dumpling haunt. Fortunately it was just a hop, skip and jump from our hotel, at the top of the Silvercord Building in Tsim Sha Tsui. The resturant is called Din Tai Fung, and though it is not so traditional and does have a modern Coles caffeteria kind of thing going on, the dumplings were to die for. I guess that's expected when you have been awarded a little ole Michelin Star!! I've since discovered that "Dins", as we liked to call it, are popping up all over the place including Australia's very own in Sydney. We chowed down on prawn spring rolls, crumbed pork cutlet with egg fried rice and their signature xiao long bao (traditional chinese dumplings). The complimentary tea is beautiful and frangrant and the perfect accompaniement. And two little tips are to go and check out the chefs working their magic and love into the hundreds of perfect little dumplings through the viewing window and to read the information on how best to enjoy your dumplings using the combination of vinegar and soy. Delicious, relaxed, fun and did I say delicious? If I was in charge of dishing out the Michelin stars I would have given them one too! Oh, and for the record, The Silvercord building is also home to some great shops including a quirky little homewares spot in the basement where I once again cranked out the credit card! There is also a food court style eating area downstairs that has a whole range of Asian style food from Japanese & Korean to dumplings.
Before our tummies knew it, it was time to leave this paradise of eating and retail therapy. Before I did though I made sure that I checked out a local supermarket and picked up a few fabulous asian ingredients so that I can attempt to recreate some of these morsels as home. The best one I found was the Park N Shop at the Plaza Hollywood mall in East Kowloon (catch the underground to Diamond Hill) but there are heaps of little places dotted all around Hong Kong where you can pick up foodie bits and bobs...just keep your eyes peeled and remember to take into account customs and immigration rules on for your return.
Finally on our way out, when too much eating was clearly still not enough, we found ourselves having a flashback to our time living in London. Up in lights before our very eyes was a Pizza Express. For those of you not familiar, it's an English pizza restaurant chain that falls into the cheap and cheerful category and at this point the "cheap" part was especially relevant. We indulged in a great thin crust pizza, relaxed in their comfy lounge chairs and enjoyed the free Wi Fii access to help bring us back into the real world. It really was the perfect topping to a great shopping and eating experience.
Til next time...
Chin chin xx
No comments:
Post a Comment