06.26.11
Posted in Food, Hong Kong and Macau, KFC in China at 21:59 by Mul
I’ve had numerous discussions with Nator, ODB and Uncle Ronald on the unique offerings in Asia by the jewels of the American fast food crown – McDonald’s and KFC. From time to time, I’ve been tempted to sample a green tea- or taro-tinged dessert or a Peking duck flavored burger. Recently, an offering from our dear Colonel (HK branch of the Kentucky Colonels) has both inspired my taste buds and a new report. Behold – The Extra Cheesy Pizza Pocket.
When I first encountered the Pocket, I was walking by a KFC in Kowloon, saw a banner advertisement and thought it was a brand new offering. But Youtube tells me different – here is a puzzling (and slightly disturbing commercial) from April 2010. So, the Pocket has clearly been popular enough to stick around for over a year on the KFC menu. In fact, when I went to KFC to try it, about a third of the other customers had one. This is clearly a popular item. Does it succeed? Let’s consider.
The Pocket is a pretty simple composition – fried chicken, tomato sauce, “mozzarella” cheese, some extra nacho cheese-esque sauce. And pineapple. Wrapped in a tortilla. On paper, this is an exciting concept. On paper. In real life, it’s about as successful as you would expect marrying fried chicken to pizza. Have a look at the picture below. Not exactly bursting with fried chicken goodness. Sadly, I won’t be recommending the Pocket to friends. The fried chicken in a tortilla concept works, that’s almost impossible to ruin. But the tomato sauce is about a hair removed from ketchup and combined with the terrible runny cheese and canned pineapple (I know the commercial says fresh), it is almost inedible. Sorry, KFC, as much as it breaks my heart to say it – this one’s not for me.
Not a failure pile in a sadness wrap, but not so great...
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04.22.11
Posted in Hong Kong and Macau, Manners, Traffic and Infrastructure at 13:22 by Mul
And then when we finally got to the hotel…had a bit of an episode. We booked two rooms for one night at a Hanting – booked online on Hanting’s snazzy website and got a reservation number. The idea was to stay at a quick and easy place not far from GZ East so we could check in right after arriving, drop off our bags and grab a late dinner. We finally get to the hotel. Tired, very hungry. As we walk in, we see two guys trying to get a room get turned down as the hotel has no vacancies. Nothing at all available. I get a bad feeling. We show our reservation number to the front desk lady.
Sorry, we have cancelled your reservations because you didn’t show up by 9 and when we called you there was no answer and you didn’t re-confirm. And sorry, we are completely out of rooms.
Mind you, this is 11 pm and we are tired and haven’t yet had dinner. This is not going to be a good situation for anybody. When we protested and said they definitely didn’t call the number we gave when making the on-line reservation – a HK number – they kept insisting up and down they had tried us multiple times but we didn’t pick up.
Where’s the duty manager?
Not here.
You know, the lady who’s picture is on the wall right there? She’s supposed to be “on duty” right? The thing on the wall says she is working tonight and responsible. So where is she – we want to speak to her immediately.
Sorry. No more rooms.
Yes, right, we know. But this problem needs to be fixed and perhaps the manager can solve it.
(Nervous laughter) Sorry, what problem is that?
What problem? WHAT PROBLEM?!?!? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? You are joking. Ha ha. Very funny. Are you trying to be funny? Because you are making us very upset. We are tired. We booked rooms. You gave someone our rooms. Why? We have no idea. When you book rooms you expect them to be booked. Let’s start over and I will speak clearly – YOU KNOW WHAT OUR PROBLEM IS AND WE ARE NOT LEAVING UNTIL YOU FIGURE OUT HOW TO SOLVE IT.
Very sorry about this. But we called you and you didn’t answer.
That’s a lie. You’re a liar. We were on the train for the past few hours. Not a plane. A train. No missed calls. You didn’t call. You are clearly lying. Admit it and fix the problem.
Well, we can’t dial out to Hong Kong so we couldn’t call you.
Sorry – say again? Ok. Good. We are making progress. You just admitted your mistake. You lied. You acknowledge you didn’t call, yes? We can agree you lied. And, fine, you gave away our rooms and there are no rooms. So fix it.
Now. Now. Now.
Sorry. We couldn’t call a Hong Kong number.
(Staring blankly. Not blinking. Dumbfounded.)
Ok, please wait a moment. Very sorry about this. (Nervous laughter)
Eventually she found us two rooms at a Hanting about 10 mins away. She kept mentioning how this other Hanting was much better for us because of the free breakfast. That made me nuts. It was a real exercise in self-control not to just go absolutely Mike Tyson crazy as we wasted over an hour plus and this lady was going on about the great free breakfast we had in store for us the next day.
They agreed to a discount for our trouble (the new Hanting turned out to be 186/night rather than 279/night), which was nice though I would have eaten the 100 RMB to have been able to check in without hassle. We had her order a cab and take us to the other Hanting, pay for the cab, and then check us in. I wasn’t about to leave to the other Hanting, get there past midnight and roll the dice if they had a room. Wouldn’t it have just been easier to turn away the people that wanted our rooms rather than argue with us for 45 minutes, have to frantically arrange new rooms at another branch, escort us to the new hotel and have to pay for a round trip taxi?
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03.20.11
Posted in Hong Kong and Macau, Music at 23:02 by Mul
I’ve missed you TFF! We need to get re-aquainted after a long break.
I’ve been inspired to add a new series to TFF – shopping for vinyl records in Hong Kong. I’m not going to get into the why of records – if you collect vinyl, if you’ve found this post, if you’re interested in music, you probably already know.
I recently acquired a new turntable after several years without one and needed to get my hands on some records to re-build my collection. If this was 2001, or even better, 1991, I would have had a wealth of record stores to choose from in Hong Kong (music selection maybe not so great, but at least the stores would be easy to find). Sad to say it, but in 2011, records stores are not so easy to come by. Not only have independent music stores started to disappear but the ones that remain mostly limit their focus to CDs. The big chains – HMV and Hong Kong Records – carry a few records to cater to audiophiles, but have a limited selection focused on classical, jazz and some recent releases. Every once in a while you can find a gem, but it’s likely to be overpriced and, hey, it’s always better to buy a record at an independent shop rather than HMV.
This post, and the ones that follow, are intended to compile a somewhat up-to-date list of where to buy new and used records in Hong Kong. I’m going to focus on stores that carry what interests me – rock, folk and country from the 60s, 70s and 80s or more recent releases. If you have any suggestions or want to add to the list, please comment.
The first place to mention is Paul’s in Sham Shui Po. More after the break… Read the rest of this entry »
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09.13.10
Posted in Beijing, Hong Kong and Macau, Laowai, Law and Order at 14:25 by Nator
I was sorting through some old papers over the weekend and came across the card for Grand Profit International Travel Agency.
I used their services several times, back when it was difficult and expensive to get an F visa in Beijing. The same visa bought in Hong Kong was cheap and easy to get, and I am always up for a trip down to HK. Here’s the price list on the back of the card (from around 2005):
Beijing has become the better option in recent years, as the HK places got more expensive and less reliable. Trader’s Link is probably the best-known agency in Beijing; it’s still expensive, but generally reliable. The only trick now is to time your visa renewal with a China entry, due to the policy of making all F visa holders leave the country once every year, regardless of how much time is left on one’s visa.
I talked to the new manager at Traders Link on my last visit; he said the place is run by the Public Security Bureau. A bit surprising, but it does explain the ever-growing number of meaningless gestures required in the application. (My favorite part of that procedure is having to stand in front of the reception desk as they photograph me with the company logo behind me to prove that I actually came into the office.)
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01.01.09
Posted in Food, Health, Hong Kong and Macau at 21:19 by ODB
The Shanghaiist reports about a KFC outlet in Hong Kong serving food out of the trash. Apparently the staff, eager to to get home early, would stop kitchen operations, throw away all leftover food, and start cleaning up before the restaurant closes. Unfortunately, if an unlucky customer would enter the establishment at that time then he would be served food right out of the can. For a short video and some pictures check out the above link.
This gives a whole new meaning to the words Junk Food.
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12.28.08
Posted in Food, Hong Kong and Macau at 21:12 by Mul
Ever since Michelin announced they were adding Hong Kong and Macau (as a unit) to their expanding list of restaurant-reviewed cities, the burning question was “what will the Frenchies make of Cantonese food?” The answer? Quite mixed. They have a lot of homework to do before the next edition. From the day the guide was published, they definitely got mouths flapping debating the guide. But they also seriously undermined their credibility by doling out stars to several question mark eateries. Here’s the complete list of starred restaurants:
Three Stars:
- Lung King Heen
- Robuchon a Galera
Two Stars:
- Amber
- Bo Innovation
- Caprice
- L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon
- Shang Palace
- Summer Palace
- T’ang Court
- Tim’s Kitchen
One Star:
- Fook Lam Moon (Wan Chai)
- Forum
- Hutong (What the F? Seriously. What the F.)
- Lei Garden (IFC) (Again, what the F?)
- Lei Garden (TST) (Ditto)
- Ming Court
- Petrus
- Pierre
- Regal Palace
- Shanghai Garden (I’m not going to pull punches. Flat out bribe.)
- The Golden Leaf
- The Square (I’m in between either “What the F” or “Flat out bribe.”)
- Tim’s Kitchen
- Yung Kee
- Imperial Court
- The Eight
- Tung Yee Heen
- Ying
Points for:
- Bilingual – Nice to see them at least make the effort of having the guide in both English and Chinese.
- No stars for Nobu and Spoon. They avoided giving recognition to two of the most over-hyped places (both basically high-end chains) that serve very mediocre food. Good on Michelin.
Points against:
- One star each for Hutong and The Square. Are they mad? Did money change hands?
- Not enough Japanese restaurants. Sushi Hiro doesn’t even get mentioned?
- Serious mis-steps with the Bib Gourmand. This was where the Michelin Guide should have really shined in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a veritable treasure trove of cheap no-frills places that serve outstanding eats. And they flag up Cafe Siam? Lian at IFC? That place is gar-bage. Crystal Jade? 1/5 Nuevo on Star Street? I’m sorry, but not even close. This is where the criticism of no (or not enough) Chinese judges is truly vindicated. Chinese judges would’ve been much more on-the-ball with finding better spots to highlight with the Bib Gourmand than the chain restaurants at high end malls that got their plaudits. Where’s Lan Fong Yuen for milk tea and other Cantonese diner specialities? No place serves Bib Gourmand worthy roast meats? No hidden treasures at any of the da pai dangs at the wet markets?
If the point of a guide like Michelin is to get people talking and debating where to eat and who serves the best this and that, then mission accomplished. If the point was to become a guide locals use and respect, well, try again next year.
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11.01.08
Posted in Food, Hong Kong and Macau at 20:08 by Mul
I stuck my head into the not-yet-opened Hong Kong Fatburger this afternoon and had a brief chat with some obvious non-locals with an authoritative look who informed that the shop should open by Saturday November 8th. The inside of the shop has really filled out and it looks basically finished.
Calendar circled, fasting begun.
UPDATE: Given that the shop is now open, the Drudge-style siren has been removed.
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10.28.08
Posted in Food, Hong Kong and Macau at 21:00 by Mul
First Bear Stearns going out of business. Then Lehman Brothers going bankrupt. AIG is teetering. Even Iceland is in trouble. I’m not going to lie to you – those hurt. But this news from today is end-of-days-book-of-Revelations hurt.
Hong Kong’s Krispy Kreme franchisee announced plans to enter liquidation and immediately close five of their seven stores. The two remaining locations at the airport will remain open for the time being, at least until creditors meet on November 12. After that, it’s not looking good.
Does this situation not scream for government intervention?
I know that Nator and I will hold close the memories of eating several Original Glazed while sipping some surprisingly decent coffee at the Mong Kok location.
It’s not all bleak for Krispy Kreme in Greater China. Earlier this month, the mothership in America announced plans to open 35 stores in mainland China over the next five years. Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin are first with, hopefully, others cities to follow (Wuhan?). Fortunately, Krispy Kreme awarded the franchise to Korea’s Lotte Group (the franchisee in Korea and Japan), rather than the bozos that ran Krispy Kreme Hong Kong into the ground.
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10.26.08
Posted in Food, Hong Kong and Macau at 19:14 by Mul
Two new exciting developments at the hopefully soon-to-be-opened Wan Chai Fatburger. As shown above, they are finally trying to hire staff. This being their first Hong Kong shop, who knows how far in advance they are hiring employees, but it can’t be long. The second equally encouraging sign is they are finally taking the front facade off the building. See the action shot below and before you complain about the bluriness please stop to consider the madd photo skillz it took to get a semi-focused picture as my cab flew by on Queen’s Road East. It won’t be long now.
UPDATE: Here’s another photo at night showing the front street-facing side of the restaurant and demonstrating just how tantalizingly close we are to the end of Fatwatch™.
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09.29.08
Posted in Food, Hong Kong and Macau at 21:36 by Mul
Here we are, less than two days from the start of October and still no Hong Kong Fatburger. Good thing Omega didn’t put together a Fatburger Countdown Clock à la the Olympic Clock in Tiananmen Square. As previously reported, the sign still says “opening in this summer” but summer is officially over and still no Fatburger. Can we continue to wait patiently for America’s Best Burger (according to the trusted readers of the Aurora Sentinel and Highlands Ranch Herald)?
Yes, we can. At least a little while longer. Especially with a slightly-more-than-spitting-distance Fatburger located in Macau able to tide us over for a few more months.
I visited said Macau Fatburger slightly more than a month ago and, let me tell you something: it delivered. And how. The burgers (pictured below) were terrific. A delicate balance of meat, bun, lettuce, tomato and grease. Nothing lost in translation here. The fries were another story. Give the fat fries a miss. The skinny fries are a solid B, but not worth a special trip. The atmosphere? C, C+ at best. The shop is neither free-standing or self-enclosed. It’s part of a large food court in The Venetian Casino and easy to miss. Most of the staff were unable to provide directions and had never heard of the Fatburger. I know – completely F’d up.
As for an update on the Hong Kong Fatburger progress? Here’s a small one. Despite the prevalent view that nothing is happening behind the construction facade, I can personally confirm that progress is being made. Slow progress. Last weekend I ventured over to the site on Queen’s Road East and peeked behind the facade and saw about ten construction workers busy inside. It was hard to tell exactly how far from finished they are, but they have a long way to go. The inside is completely unfinished with nothing resembling a kitchen, grill, counter or seats. Still, a sign outside indicates they are hiring, which can only be positive.
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