Hong Kong & Thailand
Just returned from three weeks in Hong Kong and Thailand and we had a number of very solid meals. If any of you are planning a visit in the near future, here are the few standouts from our trip. My mouth is watering just thinking about the soft shell crab at Hutong. Happy New Year to all and I can't wait to get started with our group's first recipe of 2007!
Hutong Restaurant28th floor of 1 Peking Place, Kowloon side
Had an amazing spicy soft shell crab dish at Hutong. So spicy cooked with all those peppers but so delicious and memorable. The view, however, from this very cool restaurant is what makes it so special. Go just before 8pm so you can watch the Hong Kong light show from your dinner table.
Victoria Harbour Seafood5th floor of the Citic Tower, Hong Kong side
It was hairy crab season so the crab and pork soup dumplings (like those found at Joe's Shanghai) were delicious and even a little spicy. All the other dim sum was extremely solid and the view of Victoria Harbour was wonderful. Pete couldn't get enough of their pork and shrimp fried rice.
The Cake ShopMandarin Oriental Hotel, Hong Kong side
The most beautiful collection of cakes and chocolate treats. Come for an afternoon snack.
Tea at the Peninsula Hotel, Kowloon side
They have a lovely tea service in this classic hotel which is perfect after a visit to the fine art museum just across the street or an afternoon of shopping at the ladies market for great faux luxury bags and other goodies.
Thailand
CeladonSukhothai Hotel, Bangkok
Absolutely delicious and beautiful setting. The best thai food of the trip.
Baan Klang Naam
288 Rama II Soi 14, Bangkok
Seafood restaurant in an old house on the river. Cheap, delicious and order the prawns.
Le Grand Lanna
Mandarin Oriental, Chiang Mai
Extremely flavorful northern Thai food and our best meal in Chiang Mai.
The Good Earth
Downtown Chiang Mai
Wonderful, cheap and the perfect jumping off point to check out the night bazaar which begins just around the corner and where fabulous bags and wallets can be found.
posted by Jer @ 2:08 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Jer,
As usual, your pics are fantastic. Looks like you had some great eats! Can't wait to hear more about the adventures!!!
Nels took me to my first soup dumplings this weekend (at Chin's)-- oh my goodness, they are little bites of heaven, SO gooooood... I can only imagine how amazing the truely authentic ones you had in HK were!
Welcome home!!!
Julie
I love that Nelson took you to Chin's in San Diego (I also love the secret Chinese menu there). Its so good and only at the Chin's near Miramar do they serve these wonderful gems.
I am addicted to soup dumplings. Since you travel to NYC frequently you'll need to go to Joe's Shanghai (9 Pell St in Chinatown or 24 W 56th which is obviously easier to get to). In my humble opinion, theirs are the best and even better than what I found in HK if you can believe it. Order the crab and pork dumplings called xiao long bao (literally "little basket bun"). When in Los Angeles I think the best can be found at Din Tai Fung in Arcadia (1108 S Baldwin). What's more fun there is you can watch them make the dumplings in the glass window while waiting for your table.
I don't know of a place in San Francisco that does them well but we'll need to go in search of one!
XLB are truly the best & Joe's in Manhattan really knows how to do them well. Definitely go the next time you're in New York!!!
Do either of you know how they get the soup inside?!?!
The "soup" is actually in a solid form when the dumplings are being made and then it melts during the steaming process into liquid. When you watch them make them at Din Tai Fung (you can watch through the big window while you're in line as there ie s always a line) the filling looks like regular siao mai filling so its really easy for them to make the dumplings. I've read that they thicken the "soup" with gelatin and mix that thickened gelatin into the filling. When its steamed, the gelatin melts and you have soup inside the buns.
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