Hopping Clouds

We had passed this shop many times during our walks back after dinner in spring. Usually, we would be either too tired, too cold or plain full from dinner to think about dessert. It's name also reminded us of a place back home where we wondered about the colouring content in the food. *shudder*

It was a particularly windy spring night when we, armed with shopping, decided to make a pit stop to warm ourselves up. The wait for an empty table wasn't too long. We stood on the steps chatting away for 10 minutes before the waitress came and showed us to our seat.

Almost every table had a similar tall dessert. We were curious. The shop smelled of fresh waffles. But where were they? We decided to go with the crowd choice and selected a unassuming chocolate waffle listed on the menu. When it came, we were thankful for not ordering more than one. Look at the size of the thing! By the way, that's the true deal maple syrup. The banana was slightly baked, along with toasted nuts. The balls are those chocolate cereal balls that you can find in the supermarket. The chef must be pretty good at stacking. The waffles were placed on our table nary a wobble.

There is not way to eat this creation without destroying it. We lifted off each layer, split the ice cream, cut the banana into portions and munched away. I think the best combination with chocolate is always the banana. The fruit tempers the sweetness. Add on the chocolate ice-cream and the tastes meld in your mouth. However, if the chocolate ice cream could be changed to rum raisin...*rum raisin happy dance*

Winds picked up when we were inside. A chill set in as we sat near the door. I ordered something else interesting on the menu - ginger soufflé. If you don't like ginger, don't order this. I'm quite partial to ginger as it keeps me warm whenever the weather cools. Ginger actually has many medicinal properties and if you like Chinese home remedies, ginger usually finds its way into your diet.

The ginger soufflé takes 20 minutes to prepare. Soufflé can't be pre-made as the air will escape the dessert and the middle will deflate almost immediately if not served straight from the oven. I have eaten soufflés at hotels which claim that its alright to eat deflated heavy soufflés. Perhaps they can hoodwink those who aren't familiar with pastries and desserts.Sweet Tooth makes soufflé the correct way. It's meant to be airy and light because of the whipped egg whites. With a little pot of flavoured cream, it was awesome.

See it all puffed up

Osmanthus tea, Roselle and Chrsyentenum Tea to wash down the sweet snacks.

Sweet Tooth
Address: G/F, 46 Carnarvon Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Telephone: +852.2721.1121
Opening Hours: 12pm-10pm
Price: $

You know that feeling of getting a bite during a long shopping trip, yet it can't be too heavy because you don't want to spoil your dinner.There is a place like that in Causeway Bay where you can grab a snack and yet be healthy about it.

Yan Wo Soya Bean Curd (人和豆品廠) lies tucked away unassumingly in between boutiques and you may actually walk past it but for the steady stream of people entering and leaving the place. People come here for 2 things - soy bean curd and beancurd tofu. In a nutshell, soya bean products. You can give everything else a miss on the menu.

Great for those who are health concious. By the way, you can get full from eating too much tofu as its almost pure protein. For those who sneer at soy bean stuff, wait 'til you try the house speciality. There is frying station at the front of the shop where the tofu chef takes his time to carefully fry rows of tofu stuffed with fish paste.

The constant frying also means that you are guaranteed fresh tofu. Every table we saw had a plate of these even though you could choose the fish-less version. It was so good that AF and I went back for seconds!

The shopkeeper, seeing that we were first timers, volunteered that most patrons asked for either the original or ginger flavoured soy bean curd. As AF already had her cup of hot soymilk, we went with almond flavoured bean curd and original beancurd with red beans. I lovveedd my almond beancurd.

I don't eat almond flavoured food except for soy bean curd or almond jelly. A particular trait of mine I guess. The almond bean curd here was silky smooth and the soy taste balanced well with the almond taste. I would say it's 80% almond taste. I could do a almond bean curd commercial with what I was having. Imaginary flowers popping about me as I take a gulp and birds doing the cha-cha. La di da di da...

If you ever feel hungry after SOGO or Island Centre shopping, come by for some wholesome snacks.

Walking directions (cr Google Maps)

Yan Wo Soy Bean Shop (人和豆品廠)
Address: 38 Jardine’s Bazaar, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.
Opening Hours: 11am-11pm
Price: $
Getting there: Causeway Bay MTR Station Exit F ►walk along Jardine’s Bazaar

When in Hong Kong, I avoid touristy places and head for areas that the locals venture to. As with any culture, old establishments with horrible service yet with repeated customers tend to signal "there be good food to be found!"

When my HK friends found out that I was staying somewhere on Kimberly Road, they told me that there is a secret place where locals go to for their fix of tomato gong zai mein. Hmm, interest piqued... Armed with the address, MG, AF and I went to search for the "bing sut" that locals love.

Ok I have to make an explanation Not every small local eatery serving Western-Canto food in HK is a char chaan teng. There is a char chaan teng (茶餐厅) and there is another category called bing sut (冰室). The difference between the 2 is that bing sut traditionally serves only snack food and drinks. No rice dishes are served. Think of it as a "fast food" version of the char chaan teng. However with the increasing need to earn money, some rice dishes are added to the bing sut menu.

I realized that you were to rely purely on the address, you would probably take ages to find this place. It's pretty hard to find especially when you can't believe that it's located in some run down building and down a flight of dim stairs.

Instructions from Tsim Sha Tsui station Exit B2. Cr. Google map

You will see these landmarks if you are walking based on the map above.

Google Street view

Once you turn the corner, you will see this.

Look for Champagne Court B

When you enter Champagne Court B, you will see a surly uncle guard at his station next to lift. The stairs downwards are directly across from him. Otherwise, there is this yellow archway with these words over it "大都酒店" and stairs heading up. Don't take the stairs up to poshness. Take the stairs down to slightly dodgy, grimy downstairs.

Once you reach the bottom of the stairs and turn the corner, you will see Star Cafe! I'm not kidding.This is actually how it looks like.

As we were there after lunch hour, there were minimal people tucking away at their bowls. The great thing about this place which sets it apart from the other char chaan teng is that real tomatoes are used in the soup instead of processed canned tomato. The egg is whisked into boiling soup that gives it that flotsam sorta feeling. It's thick, gooey and definitely a comfort food in its own right.

Most of the menu is dedicated to various tomato egg noodle variation so you can take a stab at anything. I would say that if you are a first timer, go with the house favourite - tomato beef noodle, add egg "fan keh ngau yuk mien, kaah daan" (蕃茄牛肉麵, 加蛋). Addition of egg sets you back by HKD3. Order a ice lemon tea or "tong ling cha" to make the bing sut experience complete.

Don't expect 5 star treatment or hygiene here. You will be lucky if the waiter didn't nag at you for taking such a long time to decide on your order. Just soak in the 1960's ambiance in a dank alleyway warmed by one of a kind tomato noodles.

Star Cafe (星座冰室)

Address:Shop No. 36, Champagne Court, 16-20 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui , Hong Kong[尖沙咀金巴利道16-20號香檳大廈地庫36號舖]

Tel: +852 2721 2908
Opening Hours: 8am-9.30pm

Price: $
Getting there: Refer to pictures above
Tip: Champagne Court sells lots of cameras. You can check out the prices.