HK report --- Malaysian and vegan eats and shopping

I spent last weekend in HK, and wow. Amazing food.

Some highlights:

For dinner the first night, we went to "Sabah", a Malaysian restaurant in Wan Chai. A little homey sort of local-frequented place, but it was packed at night, and we were lucky to get a table. The chicken satay with peanut dipping sauce was exquisitely tender and the sliced cucumbers very very sweet. A roti (indian flaky bread) lover, I ordered roti canai and also roti stuffed with onions, along with the chicken coconut curry. The portion sizes were huge!! It was way too much for me, but it was delicious....and the curry was so complex: I tasted cinnamon first, with fruity overtones----a very "deep" sort of taste, my Japanese friends would say. Great little place, and cheap!

The second night, we went to "Life" a vegan/vegetarian restaurant in Soho. Soho is so cute at night, you walk up the hillside, and there are all these little restaurants lit up like lanterns in the night.....
Walking into "Life" reminded me of going into my yoga studio in NY-----soft lighting, candles, incense, and jazz on the turntable. Nice. We sat on the rooftop----it was beautiful, tables softly lit with lanterns, and a view of the buildings nearby.
I ordered the hummus with whole wheat pitas......gosh, it was to die for hummus, no kidding. I don't know what their secret ingredient was, but it was great. The sweet potato fries were light and crispy and paired really well with the tofu dip. For the main, the genmai (brown rice) risotto was fabulous. Texture was soft but retained a little bite, rice mingled with cashew cream and truffle oil. I felt a bit like royalty. I will be going back there again, next time I'm in HK.

Lastly, gourmet shopping in HK: I loved the basement grocery store in Pacific Place shopping center in Admirality. I found things that I didn't even know I was looking for: kaffir lime leaves, wild rice, bulgur wheat, lemongrass, and best of all, my favorite Fusilli lunghi bucati pasta. Love it.
Another must for vegetarian/vegan foodies: Three Sixty in the Landmark Building---all organic, international foods, simply an amazing store. Whole Foods, eat your heart out.

disneychu in China & Southeast Asia

Meyer Lemons

Has anyone found Meyer lemons or any meyer lemon products (juice, etc) in Japan? I really would like to track some down if I can.

disneychu in Japan

Ryokan with onsen and great food?

This is an unusual option, and perhaps not on your way----however, the absolute best experience I've had at a ryokan food and onsen wise was in Koyasan (Wakayama Prefecture, but you can get there from Kyoto/Osaka). This is actually a temple lodging (shukubo), and when I went there, I thought it would be more severe, since it's a temple after all----but it turned out to be the most relaxing, peaceful, and non-commercial place I've ever stayed. The food was insane, like 3 courses, everything is vegetarian, but you're tasting tastes you've never tasted before, and there's so much to taste. I could barely finish the first course, and when more came, I was amazed. There's a very nice bath there, and other baths around koyasan, so everyone walks around at night with their yukatas on outside.
Here's the website of where we stayed:
http://www.muryokoin.org/
(ps the early morning participation is optional---and I must warn you, the futons are the most comfortable I've ever tried----I could not wake up.)

disneychu in Japan

Osaka (Shinsaibashi area) unique recommendations?

Thanks!! Those both sound great. I've been wanting to try a tofu restaurant in Kansai, so I'll have to check Umenohana out.

disneychu in Japan

Osaka (Shinsaibashi area) unique recommendations?

I'll be in Osaka for a couple days, and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for the Shinsaibashi area. I've been to Osaka before and have tried the touristy things, so I'm sort of looking for offbeat or specialty recommendations, if anyone has any input? Restaurants, cafes, speciality food stores, anything's welcome! : )

disneychu in Japan

Fukuoka Trip Report

Glad you had a good time in Fukuoka. Daruma is good, but if you go to Fukuoka next time, you have to try Hide-chan ramen. It is just amazing. It feels completely homemade and down home style compared to the other big name tonkotsu ramen shops!
http://www.ramenkyushu.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?no=117

disneychu in Japan

Dominique Doucet (French bakery in Suzuka City, Mie)

I just have to rave about this place----it's won a lot of awards apparently, and if you happen to wander by and try any of the bread or pastries, you will know why! It's a French baker who opened up his own shop in Japan, and I just have to say, especially as a conossieur of bread, this is the real deal, on par with any Paris bakery. If you are in the Mie area or nearby Nagoya, stop by Suzuka City and gotta check it out!
here's the website:
http://www.dominique.co.jp/

disneychu in Japan