Chiu Gee Chinese Dessert Wongtee Plaza 趙記傳承中式甜品 皇庭廣場店 (Shenzhen, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

While I was at the arcade centre, I got a ping from Jelloman requesting the delivery of her favorite Peking duck from Jingwei Zhang Roast Duck Restaurant (京味張烤鴨店). I was of course more than happy to meet her demand. Since my order of Peking duck won't be ready in an hour, I decided to use my spare time to enjoy a Chinese dessert at Chiu Gee Chinese Dessert (趙記傳承中式甜品).

Chiu Gee is really famous for its double skin milk (雙皮奶) and beyond this location at Wongtee Plaza (皇庭廣場), they have numerous outposts throughout Shenzhen and Guangzhou. You can find their dessert menu right here. 👇👇

Mixed double skin milk (鳳凰雙皮奶) (¥20) – "鳳凰" here seems to refer to the mix of milk (white) and egg (yellow).

For a dessert typically cherished for its silky texture, subtle sweetness and rich milky aroma, this fell well short of expectation. I thought the main issue was the overly custardy texture of the two layers each made with fresh milk and eggs, which resembled more of a pudding than a soft and creamy double skin milk.

And just when I was enjoying my dessert, a server was seen serving up a ginger milk curd (姜汁撞奶) to a customer by pouring fresh milk onto his bowl.

    

Food Rating: 5.1/10

Price: ¥¥¥

Address: Shop G-5A, Level 1 Wongtee Plaza, 118 Fuhua Road, Futian, Guangzhou, China

深圳市福田区福华三路118号皇庭广场 G-5A铺

Closest Metro Station: Convention & Exhibition Centre (會展中心)

Opening Hours: 10:00am - 10:00pm daily

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/0a/6gck

Tao Tao Ju One Avenue 陶陶居 卓悦中心店 (Shenzhen, CHINA) ★★★★☆

I am trying to avoid the crowd traveling north of the border on the weekend so I'm taking off for Futian via the rapid train on a Friday afternoon. Not surprisingly, the station was almost empty without a soul.

As soon as I steered clear of the immigration counter, I immediately raced towards One Avenue Shopping Complex (卓悦中心).

At 2:10pm, I wasn't expecting a lineup in front of Tao Tao Ju (陶陶居), my go-to dim sum restaurant in Shenzhen.

It didn't take long for the hostess to find me a table.

Signature Hong Kong style milk tea (招牌港式奶茶) (¥22) – A thirst-quenching milk tea to start things off as usual.

Tao Tao Ju jumbo prawn dumpling (陶陶居大蝦餃) (¥36) – If I can only indulge in one dim sum here, this is the one to choose. The prawn dumplings were once again very tasty. The minced prawns and diced bamboo shoots both meshed well with the delicate wrapper. 

Stir-fried choy sum with lard (豬油渣爆炒菜心) (¥39) – Something green to stay healthy. And who would say no to lard!

I'm saving some room for my early dinner so just two dishes would do the trick for me.

Food Rating: 6.7/10

Price: ¥¥¥

Address:  Shop L233, East Zone, Level 2 One Avenue, Fuhua Road, Futian, Guangzhou, China

深圳市福田区福华路卓悦中心商场东区L233

Closest Metro Station: Gangxia (岗厦)

Tel: +86 (755) 8299-8870

Opening Hours: 10:00am - 9:30pm daily

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/39/WOi

Liz & Tori (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

Chef Vicky Cheng of VEA fame has opened not one but two new concepts across the street from the iconic Lin Heung Tea House (蓮香樓) late last year. While Medora is a western restaurant that explores European and American flavors, Liz & Tori gelato shop offers up to 10 different gelato flavors alongside their seasonal specials.

Situated at the entrance of Medora, Liz & Tori is a playful journey through the world of gelato, just as the Michelin starred chef described it.

Salted duck egg milk jam ($58) – As a fan of Chef Cheng for years, of course I had to check out some of these unique flavors myself.

All 10 flavors were priced at $58, each served with two generous scoops. I ultimately chose the salted duck egg milk jam flavor for its irresistible savory-sweet combination.

I loved the creamy, velvety texture of my gelato and much to my delight, there were chunks of salted duck eggs hidden in the middle!

Food Rating: 6.6/10

Price: $$

Address: G/F, 111 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: Central

Opening Hours: 12:00pm - 11:00pm daily

Sister Wah Beef Brisket 華姐清湯腩 (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

Little nugget’s school assessment officially begins next week, so this weekend he will be buried in his studies unlikely to see any daylight until he completes his preparation. His old man; however, has all the time in the world to spare and he decides to spend it wisely on some really tasty food.

Sister Wah Beef Brisket (華姐清湯腩) is a popular eatery in Tin Hau, famous for its delicious beef brisket simmered in a flavorful clear broth (清湯).

Thanks to the glowing reviews on Xiaohongshu and other social media platforms, Sister Wah has seen a surge in its clientele in recent years. Today, I was lucky enough to wait only 10 minutes for a table. Check that, one fourth of a table (as I'm sharing it with three other strangers).

Braised beef brisket in clear broth (清湯牛腩) ($75) – Very nice portion. 

I have specifically asked for some fatty skirt steak (崩沙腩) and these are the cartilage and tendons between the brisket and short plate I think. In terms of texture, it doesn't get any better than this. Each bite offers a delightful combination of rich flavor and unique texture showcasing a wonderful blend of crunchiness, fattiness, and richness.

Hidden underneath the beef brisket were two big slices of turnip which had absorbed the delicious flavors of the clear broth.

For a restaurant primarily known for its beef brisket, the iced milk tea was more than just serviceable as it struck a perfect balance between the robust flavors of rich tea and the creamy texture of milk.

This place deserves an encore for sure!

Food Rating: 6.8/10

Price: $$$

Address: 13 Electric Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: Tin Hau

Tel: +852 2807-0181

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 10:45pm (Tue - Sun)

Kai Kai Dessert 佳佳甜品 (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

Kai Kai Dessert (佳佳甜品) is another spot I hadn’t visited in a long time, but I finally made it back this month, just like I did with Gelato Messina and Kopitiam Bagus.Bagus.

The famed Chinese dessert shop in Jordan has now turned into a popular tourist spot, from what I've seen. 😁😁

Black sesame sweet soup (芝麻糊) – The black sesame sweet soup was silky smooth, just the way it should be—but I wouldn’t mind a slightly more intense, roasted black sesame aroma.

Tong yuan (湯圓) – A lot of time, I came here just for their tong yuan cuz they have some of the best in town.

The wrapper is probably the thinnest you could ever find in Hong Kong. 👍👍 It was soft and chewy with a slightly elastic bite. Absolutely loved the burst of rich, nutty flavor from the black sesame paste as it oozed out from the delicate wrapper.

Food Rating: 6/10
Price: $$$
Address: 29 Ning Po Street, Jordan, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Closest Metro Station: Jordan
Tel: +852 2384-3862
Opening Hours: 12:00pm - 1:00am daily

Bakehouse Wanchai (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

Bakehouse has been a reliable source for Hongkongers for sourdough egg tarts and doughnuts for years. Whenever I crave these treats, I would make my way to their Wanchai location to satisfy my cravings. Tonight was no exception.

Sourdough egg tarts ($12.5) – As usual, the tart features a buttery, flaky crust made from sourdough, providing a unique tanginess that complements the creamy custard filling nicely.

Chocolate hazelnut doughnut ($40) – This indulgent doughnut filled with a luscious chocolate hazelnut cream, offers a rich and decadent experience thanks to its light and airy texture.

The glossy chocolate glaze and crushed hazelnuts on top provides some lovely crunch.

Food Rating: 7/10
Price: $$$$
Address: G14 Tai Wong Street East, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Closest Metro Station: Wanchai
Website: https://bakehouse.hk/

Opening Hours: 8:00am - 9:00pm daily

Gelato Messina (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

It's been a while since I last stopped by Gelato Messina for something sweet, and since my lunch spot was just a few blocks away, I figured it was the perfect chance to swing by for a treat.

Surprisingly, the usually bustling ice cream parlor was unusually quiet at this hour.

I usually go for the two-scoop option ($85) which represents the best bang for my buck.

Hong Kong Milk Tea, and Sweet Potato and Chestnut Fudge. Picking two of their Hong Kong exclusive flavors felt like the right thing to do, but with their similar sweetness levels and overlapping flavor profiles, it turned out to be a disappointing choice for me.

After satisfying my sweet craving, I spent some time walking around the cobbled steps of Pottinger Road. This time, there was no sign of our beloved movie star Mr. Chow Yun-fat (who I saw here a couple of months ago). 

Food Rating: 6.6/10

Price: $$$

Address: G/F 37-43 Pottinger Street, Central, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: Central

Website: www.gelatomessina.com.hk

Opening Hours: 3:00pm - 10:00pm (Tue - Thu), 3:00pm - 11:00apm (Fri - Sun)

Jervois Cafe Sheung Wan 蘇杭冰室 上環店 (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

Jervois Cafe Sheung Wan (蘇杭冰室 上環店) has quietly become one of my favorite cha chaan tengs in town thanks to their delicious scrambled eggs made with Japanese eggs, a dish that keeps drawing me back time and again.

My late lunch got off to a quick start with this iced pantyhose milk tea. The tea is usually very strong here and that's the case again this afternoon.

They serve their scrambled eggs with a variety of toppings including barbecued pork, beef or luncheon meat but today, I was craving for something different – a deep-fried chicken leg! This was a really really good match. I can't say enough about it~!

Food Rating: 5.6/10

Price: $$$

Address: G/F, 3 Jervois Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: Sheung Wan

Tel: +852 2352-7778

Working Hours: 7:30am - 9:00pm daily

Sha Tin 18 (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

Little nugget has another outing in Wu Kai Sha early this morning and I got the memo late last night to escort him over to the venue. That wasn't fun. Dragging myself out of bed and then drag him out of bed.

Looking on the bright side, I do have something to look forward to after this outing. Sha Tin 18 at the Hyatt Regency has been on my to-go list for a while, and since it’s fairly close to our Wu Kai Sha venue, I figured it was the perfect time to finally give it the green light, especially with mom joining us as our partner in crime.

I made the booking fairly late so we were seated next to the open kitchen rather than in the main dining area.

Steamed shrimp dumpling (傳統筍尖蝦餃皇) ($88) – This was pretty good partially thanks to the diced bamboo shoot. 

A little smaller than the one at Tao Tao Ju but I could live with that.

Steamed shrimp and pork dumpling with crab roes (蟹籽鮮蝦燒賣) ($88) – Not bad.

Steamed vegetable dumpling with porcini mushroom and black truffle (黑松露牛肝菌素粿) ($78) – Mom and little one are both suckers with anything with black truffle so this was a no-brainer. These came with lovely crunch with the assorted vegetables.

Steamed rice rolls with conpoy, fried dough and spring onion (蔥花瑤柱炸兩) ($98) – The culprit here was the youtiao (油条) which wasn't nearly crispy and fluffy enough. Instead it tasted more like it's been sitting there overnight.

Barbecued pork (明爐烤蜜汁叉燒) ($298) – This was why I came here in the first place! 

Sha Tin 18 has always been touted for their barbecued pork so I had pretty high expectation coming in but sadly, I found these to be a bit too lean. It simply lacked the perfect balance of juicy fat and tender meat.

Baked black sesame dumpling pie (焗黑芝麻湯圓酥皮批) ($88) – When it comes to desserts, we have some great options here with their Chinese preserved bean curd cheesecake (腐乳芝士蛋糕) and preserved plum with Hua Diao sherbet (花雕話梅雪葩) standing out as the top picks. But somehow we decided to go with these baked black sesame dumpling pies.

These were essentially black sesame tong yuan (湯圓) wrapped inside a pineapple bun-like pastry. Very interesting texture and flavor profile all around. I am glad we have this rather than the cheesecake or sherbet.

Our trip to Sha Tin 18 was motivated by the promise of their delicious barbecued pork, touted as one of the best in town. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to expectations, at least not for me.

Food Rating: 6.1/10

Price: $$$$

Address: 4/F Hyatt Regency Shatin, 18 Chak Cheung Street, Ma Liu Shui, NT, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: University

Tel: +852 3723-7932

Opening Hours: 11:30am - 3:00pm (Mon - Fri), 10:30am - 3:00pm (Sat - Sun), 5:30pm - 10:00pm daily