Hong Kong Dining

There are many reasons why I wanted to visit Hong Kong - one of which is the food. During my first visit to Asia, I was ready for great Asian food in Asia itself.

Good food I had. From amazing Portuguese food in Macao to perfect dumplings on Hong Kong island, I was content.

• Nepalese Cuisine. I have a -- travel -- bucket list, and Nepal is in the top 10. (Maybe even in the top 5, depending on the day.) While eating Nepalese cuisine isn't the first thing that comes to mind when dining in Hong Kong, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to have a taste. My sister and I were pleasantly surprised. I reminded me of Bangladesh and India food that I would eat back home. I enjoyed the Nepal Ice beer (and look forward to drinking it when I finally make it to the Himalayas). The restaurant was packed with an eclectic, global crowd. In fact, some ended up being served at another location down the street! We let the waiter guide our selections, and we were pleased. We had khasi gorkhali (lamb sauteed with onion, tomato, capsicum, ginger and coriander), vegetable rana khandani (mixed vegetables with home-made cottage cheese cooked in a royal gravy), naan, a chilled yogurt desert, and more
• Din Tai Fung. This is a must. Hong Kong boasts two locations of this dumpling house Asian chain (which just opened in Seattle). The dumplings are perfect, the vegetables are refreshing, and the rice is amazing. I can't wait to eat here again.
• Lily & Bloom. We didn't have the opportunity to eat here, but I would definitely give it a try. My drink was spot on -- an interesting interpretation of my drink of choice, the mojito. Made with sparkling wine, this libation wet my appetite for the fantastic Chinese restaurant that we enjoyed in SoHo.
• Shelley's Yard. If you need a break from Asian cuisine, this is a good standby. We had a lovely brunch here.
• Red. This is the IFC expat hotspot for a happy hour drink with a view. They have the ordering system down to a science, so that you can grab your bucket of beer and join your friends, i.e., the masters of the universe.
• Alorcha. Wow. This place was amazing. I want to go back. Now. We had fresh clams served with garlic and herbs, seafood rice, grilled prawns with garlic, perfect bread and red wine, and a chocolate mousse cream dessert. (Located on Macao)
• Fernando's. This was another hit on Macao. Once again we had clams (this time with a tomato garlic broth), barbecue chicken, and garlic cod -- all washed down with a great sangria. The quaint restaurant is near the sea and lacks a/c making for a sultry evening.
• The Peninsula. Apparently this is the place for high tea, however, I was disappointed with the service and food. I expected perfect service (which it was not). From spilling hot water on the table to being off pace, I was left was the feeling that my favorite tea place in Fla. spoiled me all those years.
• The Boathouse. Given the turn of events of our trip, we ate here twice. However, this was my least favorite restaurant. While the views were great and there were attempts at great service, the food left me wanting to quickly return to Din Tai Fung. Next time, I'll know better.
• Serenade Chinese Restaurant. The writer of my guidebook referred to this Kowloon dim sum restaurant as her favorite. I can see why. The menu was expansive and the views were spectacular. Overlooking the harbor onto the sights of the HKI sky scrappers made for a nice afternoon snack.

We ate at many more places, some worth revisiting, others worth forgetting. All-in-all, my taste buds were pleased by the exotic experience....if only I knew what I was eating I could order it next time ;)