Although I’m still a newbie in town, I knew enough to show them the good eats.  I had to prove to them that the Windy City is more than just deep dish pizza and hot dogs.  Their time in the city was short, and the food time line was downright ambitious and aggressive.  Would we be able to hit up all the places that was on the agenda…or were our eyes bigger than our stomachs?

The Agenda
Friday started out a tad slow.  Kurtis and Stu starved themselves before arriving Friday afternoon and I think it worked against them.  The first meal was deep dish pizza at Lou Malnati’s and it might have been too much.  By the end of the meal I think I saw Kurtis have trouble breathing and Stu’s eating pace slowed down to a crawl.  So far, this food fest wasn’t looking too promising.  Despite the slow start, Saturday was going to be redemption day, and I think any foodie would approve of our Saturday eating schedule.  Soon after we finished a meal, we were on our way to the next.  We had to hit up 6 destinations on Saturday and had to logistically spread out our meals so that we would have room for steak at Gibsons by 10pm.  Rest and relaxation wasn’t on the agenda, but we did manage to sneak in a power nap around 6:30pm.

Tragedy Strikes!
There was an unforeseen event that took place.  Kurtis developed a full blown case of plantar fasciitis on Saturday afternoon and ended up limping around for the rest of the trip.  I think he wanted to request a wheelchair when he arrived at the airport.  Rather than help a friend in need, we kicked him while he was down and gave him the nickname of “The Broken One,” which by the end of the day, he had earned the new title of “The Gimp.”  Still, he was a trooper and continued on the food expedition despite the pain.  Ah, Advil does wonders.

The Timeline

Friday 5:22PM – Deep Dish Pizza at Lou Malnati’s

Stuffed Spinach Bread

The “Lou” with Sausage

Look at all that beautiful cheese!

Friday 11:28PM – Late Night Dinging at  the Silver Palm

Louisville & Nashville Onion Rings

Canadien Pacific´s Smoked Meat Sandwich - Hickory smoked corned beef brisket with grilled onions and gruyere cheese on pumpernickel.

Dan Palm’s Three Little Piggy Sandwich – Double Smoked Ham, Pork Tenderloin, Bacon, Gruyere Cheese, Onion Rings  & a Fried Egg.  As seen on Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations!

Three Little Piggy Cross Section Goodness

Saturday 11:41AM – Breakfast at The Original Pancake House

Buttermilk Pancakes

Corn Beef Hash

Eggs Benedict with Potato Pancakes

Vegetarian Baked Egg White Omelet w/ Cheddar Cheese

Saturday 12:41PM – Asian Buns at Wow Bao

BBQ Pork and Thai Curry Chicken Baos

Saturday 3:38PM – Gourmet Hot Dogs at Hot Doug’s (After 1.5 hours of waiting)

The Dog – Chicago-Style Hot Dog with all the trimmings: ’nuff said.

Sweet and Savory Rattlesnake Sausage with Berry-Rum Sauce and Serendipity Cheese

Antelope Sausage with Roasted Garlic Mustard and Goat Cheese

Foie Gras and Sauternes Duck Sausage with Truffle Aioli, Foie Gras Mousse and Sel Gris. Also seen on No Reservations!  It was worth the wait.

Duck Fat Fries

Saturday 5:45PM – Ribs, Baked Beans, and Chili at Twin Anchors.

Chili

Rack of Ribs w/ Zesty BBQ Sauce and Baked Beans

Saturday 9:09PM – Japanese Sake Bar and Eats at Murasake

The Sake Bar Display

Wasabi Raw Octopus – We should have ordered more than one.  We were fighting over this!

Fugu (Blowfish) Fin Used For Flavoring the Warm Sake. It’s lit on fire a number of times and dipped in the sake.  Then it soaks in the sake for a minute. Remove the fin and drink the sake.  Your tongue might go numb.

Takoyaki!  Octopus Dumplings!

Cheesy and Crunchy Chicken Yakitori

Spicy and Crunchy Chicken Yakitori

Saturday 10:30PM – Steak at Gibson’s

The Night’s Selections – Look at that Australian Lobster Tail in the back!

Gumbo - Good on it’s own, but even better with bread.

The Chicago Cut – Prime 20 oz Bone-In Ribeye

Sunday 11:00AM -  Breakfast at Fox & Obel Cafe

More Pancakes!

Keeping it Simple w/ Bagel and Chive Cream Cheese

More Eggs Benedict!  How’s the heart doing?

Weight Gain Imminent
I can’t even begin to comprehend how much weight we gained over the course of 2 days.  By Saturday night, every one looked like they were 5 months pregnant, and by Sunday morning, we were so sick of food.  We definitely took a toll on our bodies, but this was probably the best food weekend I have ever had.  I’m still feeling pretty bloated.  Great food and great friends, is there anything better?

~ Kin

I arrived around 10:15AM and there was a line.  If there was a line on a Thursday morning, imagine what craziness the weekend brings.  Don’t be fooled by the name of the establishment as it serves omelets, crepes, waffles, and other breakfast items.  The omelets are oven-baked and these things are ginormous.  Just picture three regular moleskin notebooks stacked together, or maybe a baby manatee.  In any case, it’s a meal in itself.  As tempting as it was to order the omelet, I was there for the pancakes.

I ordered the buttermilk bacon pancakes and the southern-style hash browns.  The hash browns weren’t anything special, so let’s just move on to the pancakes.  I was expecting a big, fluffy stack of pancakes, but it wasn’t so.

Don’t let the picture fool you, these pancakes were small, thin, flat, and lifeless.  Did the cook sit on the pancakes?  And do you know what happens to thin pancakes?  They get cold really fast!  And nobody likes cold pancakes.  The savory-ness of the bacon and the sweetness of the syrup went together very well, but I think I would’ve enjoyed them much more if I wasn’t in a race against time.  The last bite of pancake was on the cool side, and the whipped butter no longer melted into the porous surface.

After battling the wind and rain on Michigan Ave, I knew I had enough because my shoes and socks were starting to get a bit moist (from the rain).  Walking around N. State St. and Rush Street, I decided to have lunch at Tavern on Rush.

I was led to a table by a very pretty hostess where I was glad to be finally taking off my heavy  and overstuffed backpack.  The lunch menu contained so much deliciousness that it was hard to decide on a choice, but I settled on the Rib Eye Steak Sandwich.  8 ounces of meat sandwiched between fancy bread?  It’s a good start.  I’ve had good rib-eye sandwiches in my day, was I going to be in for a treat or disappointment?

The sandwich came with chipotle mayonnaise, sautéed onions, lettuce, cremini mushrooms and was served in a toasted onion ciabatta roll, which gave the occasional crunch.  I held out on the tomatoes and the fontina cheese.  My cooking preference for the meat was medium, and do you know what I got?  Medium.  That’s right, the people in the kitchen got it right.  Extra points are rewarded just for that.  The meat was tender, well-marbled and full-flavored.  It got a little messy with the sauce dripping, onions and mushrooms creeping out, but that’s how a good sandwich should be.  The meat and bread ratio was also right on.  As far as rib-eye sandwiches go, Tavern on Rush’s version is my new favorite.  Man, the things you discover when you step out of the NJ/NYC area.

Today was my third and final day of getting to know Chicago.  The city didn’t leave me with a great impression with the rain, cold and strong wind gusts.  Despite the gloomy weather, I had a really great time there.  I thought I was going to be bored out of my mind, but the people I met really made it worthwhile.  Having lived, studied, and worked in New Jersey pretty much all of my life, I wonder if I’m really ready to leave it all behind and start fresh in a big and unfamiliar city.  I guess there’s no better way to get acquainted but to dive in head first.

Thanks to Bruno and Jennifer from Apartment People for being so accommodating.  Thanks to Gene from the Talbott Hotel for being so helpful.  Thanks to Ardena for the conversation at Lao Shanghai, that place was way too quiet and boring after the lunch crowd left.  Thanks to Vanessa for showing me that apartment with the amazing view of the lake.

The Original Pancake House
22 E Bellevue Pl
(between Rush St & State St)
Chicago, IL 60611

Tavern on Rush
1031 Rush Street
Chicago, IL 60611

Majesty Restaurant
3/F Prudential Ctr 216 – 228A Nathan Rd
Jordan Station, Exit E

Chicken Bundles, these things were ginormous!

The inner workings of the cha siu bao (roast pork bun).

Looks a lot like a jeen dui (fried gluttony sesame ball), but it’s something else

It’s deep fried bread with red bean paste and banana paste filling.  It was so good, I can still taste it.

The Fishing Villages

Hong Kong is synonymous with seafood.  The selection is plentiful, fresh, and affordable.  One of the perks of seafood dining in Hong Kong is that you can pick what you want to eat right from the tanks, and it will be cooked to your preference in no time at all.  How’s that for fresh?

The Fishing Village of Sai Kung

The seafood tanks in front of one of the restaurants in Sai Kung

Upon stepping off the bus at the central terminal, the senses are treated to the wavering scent of seawater and the scene of the locals selling their daily catch.

Fried Fish Skin

Fatty Beef Brisket

The Fishing Village of Lei Yu Mun

Lei Yu Mun is one of the older fishing villages.  In the past, the only way of getting there was by car or boat, but now it can also be accessed after a 15 minute walk from the Yau Tong MTR stop.  Walk east up and down a small hill and you will see a large gate.  There are many seafood vendors to choose from, and you get to pick out your own seafood as well.  Once you’ve selected the seafood you want, the vendors will bring it to one of the local restaurants to cook to your liking.  We went to the Dynasty Restaurant for our seafood dinner.  It’s a little further back, but it’s worth the small hike.

Clockwise from top left:  Clams, Lobster, Cuttlefish, Mantis Shrimp (Peeing Shrimp)

Giant Razor Clams

Salt Baked Mantis Shrimp (Peeing Shrimp)

Garlic Steamed Scallops

Fresh Steamed Fish

Jumbo Prawns

Ginger and Scallion Crab

Clams in Black Bean Sauce

Hong Kong Eats:  Tea Time, Fast Fixes, and Street Eats – Part One

Hong Kong Eats:  Tea Time, Fast Fixes, and Street Eats – Part Two

Hong Kong Eats:  Dinner Time

The first day I arrived at Hong Kong, I met up with my relatives for dinner and for a special birthday celebration (not mine).  It had been 16 years since I’ve seen my aunt and uncle, and I saw other relatives for the first time.  The food was impressive, but  I was so busy catching up with relatives and stuffing my face that I didn’t get a chance to take pictures of every dish.

Chinese Cold Cut Platter – Pork, Chicken, Seaweed, and Tofu

Sauteed Lobster

Roasted Dried Oysters Wrapped In Fried Rice Noodles

Dried Scallops Stuffed in Squash

Abalone and Duck’s Foot

Chinese Fried Chicken

Four Season Pot Rice
Arthur Street near Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei

Claypot Rice with Chicken and Preserved Dried Meat (Chinese sausage, pork, duck)

This claypot rice (bo jai fan) joint was featured on Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations, so we had to see what the hype was about. We went around 10pm and the place was packed.  The food was great and cheap, in fact, we came here twice for dinner.  Aside from the claypot rice, the fried oyster dipped in batter was top notch.

Look at those prices!  And that’s HKD by the way.  So that’s $2.32USD for a basic order of pot rice, and $2.71USD for the specialty pot rice.

Deep Fried Battered Oyster and Scallion Pancake w/ Hot Sauce

Claypot Rice with Chicken and Salted Fish

Claypot Rice with Chicken and Northern Mushrooms

Victoria Harbour Roasted Goose and Seafood Restaurant
1/F, Golden Era Plaza, 39 Sai Yee Street, Mongkok

I’m pretty sure this is the place where my cousin, Yolanda, and I went for dinner on Wednesday night.  You can have a family style dinner here, or go the Chinese Hot Pot (Shabu Shabu) route.  There are tables made specifically for hot pot as there is a heating element attached to each table in the center.

The roast goose was mighty tasty.  The sauce was a bit too salty though.

Sweet and Sour Pork done right.  This is the real stuff, cooked with peaches, strawberries, and pineapples.

Sucking Roast Pig and Jelly Fish

Just your typical baby bok choi sauteed with oil and garlic.

Hong Kong Eats: Tea Time, Fast Fixes, and Street Eats – Part One

Hong Kong Eats: Tea Time, Fast Fixes, and Street Eats – Part Two

Hong Kong Eats:  Dim Sum and Seafood

Lan Fong Yuen
G/F Gage Street, Central (near the escalator)

Lan Fong Yuen is home of the famous pork chop sandwich and ramen platters.  The pork chop sandwich was simple and well made.  It’s a piece of fried pork chop sandwiched between a buttered sesame seed bun, tomato, and mayonnaise.  Simply beautiful.  We also ordered the French toast with coconut and cream filling, French toast with condensed milk and peanut butter, silky milk tea, and red bean ice (one of my favorite drinks).

Tai Cheong Bakery
35 Lyndhurst Terrace near Hollywood Road in the SoHo area, Central

On our way back from walking Hollywood Road, we stopped by Tai Cheung Bakery for its famous egg tarts.   The crust is light and brittle, and the texture of the egg tart is extremely smooth and silky, which makes it delicate to handle.  One of the best egg tarts I’ve had in a long time.

Mido Cafe
63 Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei,
Yau Ma Tei Station, Exit B2

We went to Mido Cafe on Thursday night for dinner, only to find that it was closed for the night.  No worries, we went back Friday morning.  We had to wait for a table, and it was only 10:15AM.  This place is known for their baked sparerib with rice and red bean ice.  Of the places I went to for red bean ice, Mido’s was the best.

The baked sparerib with rice dish takes fifteen minutes to cook, and it’s worth the wait.  The sauce is light and creamy, the spareribs are crispy and tender, and the rice is laced with pieces of scrambled egg.

The pineapple bun with butter is a popular staple in Hong Kong.  It’s just a pineapple bun (bor lor bao) cut in half, with a pad of butter shoved inside.  So bad for the arteries, yet so good on the palette.

Red Bean Ice, Done right!

French Toast Topped with Butter and Honey

Take note, it closes at 9:30PM

Leitaria I Son – Macau
7 Largo Senado (In Senado Square)

A trip to Hong Kong also warrants a visit to the nearby region of Macau.  Just a 45 minute boat ride on the turbojet, the location is perfect for a day trip.  The first order of business upon arrival was to get some steamed milk (sern pei lai).  So we headed to Leitaria I Son In Senado Square.

I usually don’t eat dairy, but steamed milk is too good to pass up.

Pork Chop Sandwich.  It was a bit on the dry side.  I liked Lan Fong Yuen’s version better.

There’s always time for a pineapple bun with butter

Pasteleria Koi Kei – Macau
8 Locations in Macau

Koi Kei is the place where most tourist buy food souvenirs to bring back home.  There are quite a few on the road  that leads up to the St. Paul ruins. There we had the famous Portuguese Egg Tarts, or Po-Taht for short.  It’s like a Chinese egg tart (dan tat) except the crust is light and flaky, and the top of the egg is lightly burnt.  Simply delicious and rich in flavor and texture.

Cafe E.S Kimo – Macau
Some where in Macau, didn’t take note of the address

Soy-Sauce Beef

Baked Pork Chop Rice

Curry Pork

A Random Dumpling Shop in Mongkok

Street Eats – Stinky Tofu
On the streets of Mongkok

No trip to Hong Kong is complete without eating street-side stinky tofu.  I had stinky tofu for the first time and it was difficult to get over the smell at first.  Boon, on the other hand, has acquired a tasted for them.  It’s like eating fried tofu that’s dipped in sewer water.  I had one from one of the street-side vendors in Mongkok.

Hong Kong Eats:  Tea Time, Fast Fixes, and Street Eats – Part One

Hong Kong Eats:  Dinner Time

Hong Kong Eats:  Dim Sum and Seafood

Cafe de Coral
Locations throughout Hong Kong

Right after I checked into my hotel in Mongkok, I went to the Cafe de Coral in the Grand Tower building for breakfast. The honey-baked chicken was sold out, so  I ordered the New Zealand Hoki Fish Filet w/ hotdogs, toast, and  Horlicks.   It’s like the Hong Kong equivalent of McDonald’s.

My last meal before heading back to the states was once again at Cafe de Coral.  I figured that it was appropriate to do so. I ordered the Haianese Chicken Rice Set.

MaximMX (Mei Sum MX)
Locations throughout HK

Another joint similar to Cafe de Coral that can be found all over Hong Kong.  It’s part of the Maxim restaurant group that operates different restaurant brands, such as Maxim Bakery (Mei Sum Sei Bang) and M.A.X. Concepts.  Compared to Cafe de Coral, the MX’s style is more trendy and modern, and the food is slightly different.  The food still falls in the same genre though.  I went to the one in Mongkok located by the primary Mongkok subway entrance.  Pictured is the Swiss Style Soy Sauce Chicken with French Toast

Mak Mun Kee Noodle House
Parkes Street in Jordan

A trip to Hong Kong should always include a visit to one of the local noodle shops.  Mak Mun Kee’s wonton noodles are well known, and so are the beef brisket noodles and braised pork feet.  They even make their own noodles!  The wonton only contains shrimp and the beef brisket is so tender that it falls apart in your mouth.

Cart Noodles
Wan Chai

Cart Noodles or Che Jai Mien can be found all over Hong Kong as well.  We went to one in Wan Chai.  The address is shown in the picture, but it’s in Chinese.  The anticipation of eating noodles took priority of writing down the address.  What made this dining experience unique is that it’s not a sit down place to eat.  You can eat by the wall on a small table ledge standing up, or do what me and my friends did, eat outside in the alley.  Che jai mien became popular in Hong Kong in the 1950s where many street vendors would sell noodles and numerous toppings out of their carts.  I ordered the thin noodles, with brisket, pork skin, fish balls, and greens.

Street Eats:  Fish Balls and Squid
Streets of Mongkok

Curry fish balls and squid are amongst some of the most popular items to eat from the street food vendors.  Some also sell stinky tofu.  You’ll know you’re near stinky tofu when the aroma of sweet rotting salty fish makes its way up your nose and overwhelms your olfactory senses.

Hong Kong Eats:  Tea Time, Fast Fixes, and Street Eats – Part 2

Hong Kong Eats:  Dinner Time

Hong Kong Eats:  Dim Sum and Seafood

Salmon from the belly portion of the fish, it’s very fatty and very flavorful.  It’s very good!

The first course of many.

Sushi roll topped with avocado and black tobiko

~Kin

I’m going to Vermont this weekend with a group of friends and a group of people I never met before for some snowboarding and much needed relaxation. We’ll be staying in a three story lodge that looks to have a kick-ass kitchen. While I’m not in charge of the menu, I realize how difficult it is to plan meals for a large group of people these days, especially with different people following different meal regiments and requirements. While I don’t have any particular gripe on the proposed menu, one of my foodie friends looked over the menu and she pretty much had a whole list of suggestions, such as purchasing extra fruit and veggies, getting plain yogurt instead of flavored yogurt, and getting bread without any high fructose corn syrup. I had some preferences such as to make sure to go with whole grain bread instead on white bread, but since I don’t even know the person in charge of the food, I don’t want to come out too pushy, or as my friend puts it, too anal.  I hope there’s going to be whole wheat bread.