My Pho craving landed me at Cafe Annam

Being still relatively new to Hong Kong and the Central district, I decided to take a walk around SoHo one afternoon to look for something new to eat. More often than not, I end up in a Vietnamese bistro, always searching for that pefect bowl of Pho, the aromatic flavor of Vietnamese spices and beef wafting from a steaming bowl of broth cooked for endless hours and served over rice noodles and fresh herbs.

Ah, that's paradise, but today, I've settled for 2 Vietnamese appetizers and a Vietnamese drip coffee. Besides Pho, I also have a thing for steamed rice paper rolls that are delicately filled with minced pork, mushroom and glass noodle. The Cafe Annam version didn't disappoint at all, the paper thin rolls filled were served with a generous sprinkling of fried shallots and went down so well with spicy fish sauce. I also ordered fresh rolls with prawn, another Vietnamese staple that's available in every Vietnamese restaurant anywhere. These were quite good, but tasted a little dry, and was a little too heavy on the vegetables and not enough prawn meat. I wasn't too hungry (just greedy) that afternoon, so it was best to call it a day.

Cecconi's in SoHo

Been to this modern Italian bistro along Elgin St a number of times, and it's still consistently one of the better ones in the SoHo area. The first time was for lunch. I remember ordering the set lunch that consisted of a roasted garlic soup followed by spagetti bolognese.


Normally, I'd steer clear of bolognese (reminds me too much of Chef Boyardee's microwaved verson), but I'm glad I decided to give it a try. It used to be a favorite childhood meal of mine, and Cecconi's version is definitely one of my new favorites - flavorful yet tender, with a rich, aromatic tomato flavor balanced with the right amount of Italian herbs. All in all, a good deal at HK$108.


The second time I was there I tried the tasting menu which consisted of four courses, at HK$498. I didn't have time to take notes of each of the individual courses as it was a business dinner, but I did recall there was foie gras, scallops, Chilean bass and risotto, and I was very full by the end of the fourth course. The experience was most enjoyable and the fact that my company picked up the tab made it more than memorable. :)

Isola, Modern Italian With A Stunning View

The moment I walked into Isola I was mesmerized by the stark white tapestry pattern of the wallpaper in this modern minimalist restaurant at the International Financial Center in Hong Kong. Perched on top of the 4th floor of the IFC, diners are treated to the spectacular view of the Hong Kong skyline and harbor while dining alfresco on the patio.

My friend had reserved a table a week in advance fortunately, and we managed to secure a waterfront view by the window in a quiet corner of this very busy restaurant. It was Monday, and yet the restaurant was filled to capacity. Big, bold and beautiful, I was told this was still the place to see and be seen in Hong Kong.


Lately, I've been on a gastronomic quest to find the best squid ink pasta dish around, and so tonight I was pleasantly surprised to find a squid ink linguine vongole accompanied by baby asparagus. Naturally, that was my selection for the main course, and I also ordered an arugula and mushroom salad with grapes and shaved Parmigiano.

I have to say both dishes were executed with perfection, it was clear the scenic waterfront views were not just the main attractions at this popular Hong Kong restaurant, the food certainly stands up to a lot of accolades as well. Not to mention the excellent, top-notch service fitting for such a dining experience.

This entry marked the start of a 30 day, 4 country culinary journey that included Hong Kong, Mexico, San Francisco and Melbourne. Stay tuned for more delicious photos to come.

Canteen, possibly the best brunch spot in the city

There's nothing like a good brunch to start the weekend, and today, I discovered how amazing Canteen's food really was. The location is interesting to say the least, the tiny diner is right next to a youth hostel downtown, and so tiny that you might actually miss it if you were in a hurry. The breakfast menu is the main attraction, and the waiting line is usually 30 minutes long. You'll find your standard fare on the menu, but with some fresh touches thrown in. Like the eggs benedict I had - the Hollandaise sauce was light yet fragrant, the eggs very fresh, and the English muffins were so well toasted they stayed crunchy until the very last bite.

I was still hungry after wolfing down the eggs, so I ordered a french toast with berry compote that was probably one of the thickest and best toasts I've had in a while (since Barracks at House, at least). I came away from this dining experience a little delighted (that I found a new place to eat on weekends), amused (by the decor and book selections on the shelf) and slightly puzzled (by the fact that they food tasted very high-end for such a low-end affordable joint).

After some digging around, I found out that chef Dennis Leary was formerly the head chef of Rubicon, one of the city's finest dining establishments. The diner has also been receiving a steady stream of favorable reviews since opening several years ago. Well, needless to say, I'm won over by the food, and Canteen's made its way to the top of my list of favorite places for brunch. I hear the dinner menu's just as amazing, so that's good enough reason for a second visit very soon.

Lunch at 35,000 ft

Yes, I hear you people groaning "That's not a real blog entry!", but I just thought I should follow up my "Breakfast at 35,000 ft" entry with a lunch review as well. This time, it's the Omasake set on an ANA flight from San Francisco to Narita. The seasonal menu featured fresh local ingredients that was surprisingly good for an airline prepared meal. In fact, it was better than a similar Japanese set I had on a United First Class flight last year traveling alone the same route.

Limon - A Modern Peruvian Hit

I was very pleased to find a rave review of this Mission restaurant in the latest issue of San Francisco magazine. It had been on my To-Do list for the longest time, but something always came up at the last minute to scuttle dinner plans at this very popular Peruvian restaurant. But tonight, we were determined to keep our dinner reservations, enough though the only table they could offer us was at 10pm.



If you judge a Peruvian restaurant's quality by their signature cerviche, then Limon's shrimp and pacific corvina cerviche will bowl you over with its freshness and the tart flavor of fresh lime dressing over the ingredients.





My favorite way to sample cuisine is to do the small plates and tapas only, and skip the entrees unless they're absolutely irresistable judging from the menu descriptions.

Zachary's in Santa Cruz

Zachary's is another legendary institution in Santa Cruz that locals converge on every weekend for breakfast or brunch. The restaurant has been serving up healthy, lip-smacking breakfast favorites for over 20 years in this rustic, century old building along downtown Pacific Ave.

Here's a place where locals - students, families, new-agers, surfer dudes come together to have a meal, to sample the fresh mixed fruit bowl, or the sourdough pancakes and the ever popular Mike's Mess, which comprises of a wicked combination of eggs, cheddar cheese, sour cream, potatoes, avocado, tomato, onions and mushrooms all scrambled into a glorious mess and served piping hot with a choice of breads. I'm not the neatest person in the world (neatness doesn't run in the family), but my breakfast meal has to have all the ingredients demarcated clearly on the plate - eggs must not mix with bacon, or the any of the sides, but today I went with the exception and chowed down on a full serving of the Mess.



Needless to say, Mike's Mess lives up to its messy but yummy reputation. Not only did it taste delicious, it was the only meal I had for the rest of the day. I think there was at least 1200 calories or more in that heap. I'd say it ranks right up there with the "Breakfast of Champions" item on the menu at Southern Kitchen in Los Gatos. I loved the warm chatty atmosphere, the communal setting and the simple but perfectly prepared food. You just can't ask for a better way to start a Sunday. The only caveat is that you should get there as early as possible, preferably before 9AM, otherwise be prepared for the wait, because Zachary's takes no reservations. They also don't have an espresso machine, keeping true to the old school breakfast diner experience.