Pepper Lunch in Hong Kong

Mentioning about 'Pepper Lunch', ones would consider it as another fast food food chain from Japan. We would call it 'a fast steak restaurant' which has more than 200 branches available in South East Asia including USA. See also 'Pepper Lunch in Singapore' where I consider it as one of Japanese Food Bombarding ...


Anyway, to make the history short, Pepper Lunch was created in 1994 by chef and inventor Kunio Ichinose, who wanted to serve quality fast food without hiring a chef. His advice was to use a hot metal plates (heated to 500 degrees Fahrenheit or 260 Celsius) where he put raw meat with vegetables and/or rice on. The strategy was to make it cook in front of the customer by customer with a rare or well done according to customer's preference.





And that's it another successful fast food chain ... which is now also in Hong Kong ... The culinary capital of Asia !!! I, myself had my first experience at 'Food Republic' -- a food court of Silver Court Building, Canton Road, Kowloon. It happened when I was so hungry around 11pm ... then I turned to be local to enjoy foreign food chain !!!


By the way, it's the 'Food Republic' -- the mega food court ... same as in Singapore ... please see reference at : food republic a mega food court in Singapore




The order were placed as : Unagi Pepper Rice (HK$38) ... a real unagi (Japanese Eel) ... not unagi-don but it's so smokey grilly when burning on hot plate

Cheese Chicken Pepper Rice (HK$39) -- a cooked chicken pieces topped with shreded of Cheese ... sticky of melted cheese burnt on the hot plate was the perfect combination

Peper Lunch Meal is planned to mix with a choice of either the special honey brown sauce (Amakuchi) or garlic soy sauce (Karakuchi). Actually it depends on one's taste since I personally feel that some dish don't require any sauce on while some require the one different from Peper Lunch's suggestion.

For more information about Pepper Lunch : http://www.pepperlunch.com/

Remark : There are now 4 branches available also in Thailand (which I have not had experience on yet) ... The setting is different from what I mentioned earlier since it's stand alone outlet (not as food court)

La Maison du Chocolat in Hong Kong

La Maison du Chocolat is one of the finest Parisian chocolate brands in the world ... it is also known as a world-renowned collection of delicious and fresh handmade chocolates, truffles and pastries !!!

La Maison du Chocolat has a major presence in Paris, London, New York, Toyko, Cannes, and most recently Hong Kong ... this is what we experienced in Price Building, Central District, Hong Kong ...

At this shop, there's also seating for customers to experience their chocolate drinks and pastries ...







We ordered hot chocolate (HK$50) which was available in two as :




Guayaquil -- smooth dark chocolate lightly infused with vanilla ... the colour is darker but the texture is lighter (more watery).













Caracas -- blend of full bodied cocoa beans ... the texture is thicker than the other one.













Belle Chocolate Tart (HK$50) -- Crunchy sweet crust filled with dark chocolate ganache and topped with pear compote -- crispy and real crunchy crust plus a real full of chocolate ... the perfect part is on pear which has a thin layer of sugary sticky on !!!


LA MAISON DU CHOCOLAT
PARIS
www.lamaisonduchocolat.com
Pacific Place, Shop 246, Admiralty Tel : +852 2522 2010
Elements, Shop 2040A, Kowloon Tel : +852 2196 8333
IFC Mall, Shop 1050, Central Tel : +852 2801 4880
Prince's Building, Shop 109, Central Tel : +852 2801 4122

Tai Ping Koon Restaurant (again) - the fusion of East & West

I came here the first time at Tai Ping Koon Restaurant (on Granville Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon) once in February 2009. I impressed a lot with the restaurant itself ... since the restaurant decoration was set as being back in 20 years ago ... together with the waiters and captain ... see detail story at : Tai Ping Koon one of the oldest dining establishments.

This time again I came here for more food exploring ... however, it's still a lot to show ...

Back to Tai Ping Koon Story -- This place has been around since 1860 and offers a mix of Western and Chinese flavours. It's the place where Hong Kong people called 'soy sauce restaurants' in pre-fusion days. It was called also 'Hong Kong-Style Western Restaurant' ... Originally this type of restaurant was established during the old British Colonial Times in the territory. The cuisine is special because it represents the fusion of Chinese and Western Culinary Cultures. By futher adding local flavours, it shows a miniature version of Hong Kong's history and culture ... amazing !!!

Continuing the order from their recommended list (signature dishes) with TPK Style Fried Rice Noodles with Sliced Beef in Swiss Sauce (HK$78) ... This dish has a history of its own about the 'swiss sauce' ... Once upon a time, a foreigner went to Tai Ping Koon in Guangzhou and ordered 'Sweet Marinade Chicken Wings'. After eating, he exclaimed, "Sweet! Sweet! Good!" The waiter mistook the word 'sweet' as 'Swiss' and told his boss about it. Since then, 'Sweet Marinade Chicken Wings' was renamed 'Swiss Chicken Wings' by Tai Ping Koon ... Until now (after a hundred years of TPK's operation), it still spends five hours a day cooking the 'Swiss' sauce with premium light soy sauce, chicken bones, carrots, onions, spices and a sauce with essences accumulated over the last few decades ...

About the taste ... so irresistible ... a mixed blend of lots of things in sauce ... now I adore this 'swiss sauce' myself a lot !!!

And again since last time I liked the Fried Vegetable with Garlic Sauce (HK$50) ... so ordered again why not ?!?! but this time changed to be broccoli ... so garlicy ... a little bit too salty when comparing to young spinach last time.

and also the creme soup ... another one to try Seafood Bisque (HK$88) ... even though it looked so plain with orangy creamy soup ... underneath there're a lot of sea animals sinking ... shrimp, fish, squid,

Also last dish ... Mixed Grills ... a big dish consists of several kinds of grilled meats (in this case - beef, chicken, ox tounge, pork, ham) served with grilled tomatoes and french fried plus gravy !!!














Tai Pink Koon Restaurant :
Website : www.taipingkoon.com/home.html
Location : Map is availabe at : www.taipingkoon.com/emap.html
Branch 1 : 40, Granville Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon Reserved table Call: (852) 2721 3559
Branch 2 : 19-21, Mau Lam Street, Yaumati, Kowloon Reserved table Call: (852) 2384 1703
Branch 3 : 6, Pak Sha Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Reserved table Call: (852) 2576 9161
Opening Hour : 11:00am - midnight 12:00 (Close at Chinese New Year)