Thursday, March 30, 2017

Dimdimsum: Home of the Best Dimsum in Hongkong

Named as one of the best dim sum by global guide Timeout, Dimdimsum is one restaurant you should not want to miss when in Hongkong. In fact, it took us about an hour and a half from PMQ to get to their Jordan branch and yet, neither CS nor I complain a single word. I thought that coming here mid-afternoon was a good idea but we still waited for another hour, guess this is really one of the best because when there are local customers, the food must be superb.



The place was packed with no single seat left unoccupied. Unlike in the Philippines, it is considered rude not to share your table to strangers and linger too long if you're done eating.


What we ordered

Iced Milk Tea - Hkd10.00

A perfect mix of bitter and sweet flavors, their Iced Milk Tea may be heavy on the tummy but somehow cleanses my palate for the next basket of dim sum to arrive.


Beef Meatball with Sun-dried Tangerine Peel - Hkd17.00

The meatballs were tasty but could be better if it were firmer.

Steamed Shrimp Dumplings - Hkd27.00

One of the best hakaw I have ever tasted! Each dumpling is full of fresh succulent shrimp with no extenders so you'll never feel robbed at just Hkd27.00 for 4 dumplings per basket.

Chicken Feet with Soya Sauce - Hkd19.00

I usually prefer my chicken feet really soft to the point that the meat separates itself off the bone but Dimdimsum's take on the popular side dish made me love a tender but still gelatinous version.

Shanghai Soup Dumplings with Black Truffle - Hkd22.00

The soup was the best part of the dish but I'd probably skip this next time as there are more items I'd love to try here. Besides, Din Tai Fung still tops my list of the best Xiao Long Bao on the planet!

Steamed Glutinous Rice in Lotus Leaf Wrap - Hkd23.00

I like my Machang as a complete meal with more ulam. I remember eating a better version from a Chinese lady in one of the weekend night markets here in Manila with egg yolk and loads of mushrooms so another item scrapped of the list of my must-try's in Dimdimsum.


Apart from Tim Ho Wan, Dimdimsum is one of the highly recommended dim sum places in Hongkong from foodie friends, locals and tourists alike. With its reasonably priced dishes, I don't mind the long walk, the long wait and the cramped space - all for the love of good food!


~o~o~o~

Dimdimsum Specialty Store
26-28 Man Wui St., Jordan
Kowloon, Hongkong
Tel.: (852) 2771-776
Website: www.dimdimsum.hk

Thursday, March 23, 2017

Beauty Collagen Hotpot at Bijin Nabe by Tsukada Nojo

A hotpot that promises good skin? Yeah, of course I'm in!

As much as I was looking forward to finally trying out Tsukada Nojo's famous hotpot, we were this close to walking out with the restaurant's slow and amateur service. From the unmanned reception to having no visible manager around to guide the clueless staff, its surprising that a franchise can be this disorganized, a far cry from how the Japanese does it - flawless and close to perfection.



We were actually surprised that there were unoccupied tables while the staff made us wait outside for about 10 minutes for no apparent reason. We also had to ask several times for the menu then the utensils, tissue, and condiments because what we had was a bare table with no set-up.


The utensils and tissue placed in a single container for easier and faster distribution. Finally!


What we ordered

Smoked Salmon Spring Roll - Php210.00

I rate this at 8/10 with the refreshing combination of fresh vegetables and smoked salmon. Could be a 10/10 if it had more salmon with extra smokey flavor. Best enjoyed with sweet chili sauce.



Star of the table - the broth made from melted collagen!

Collagen is the protein that aids in rebuilding dead cells for a youthful and glowing skin. From the highly-prized Jidori chicken, its protein is extracted and made into pudding form for easier transport as this precious soup is sourced directly from Japan to maintain its quality.



Bijin Nabe - Php750.00 per portion


A wide array of fresh and organic ingredients are included in the hotpot such as prawns, lettuce, red radish, sunflower sprout, enoki mushrooms, baby sweet potato leaves, baby corn, lady's finger, deep fried tofu, zucchini, fresh black fungus, tori tsukune (chicken meatball), and chicken.




Patience is a virtue because good things come to those who wait.



The staff gave us a shot of the collagen soup before she added the ingredients and we were blown away! The soup was ultra rich and so tasty, definitely a game changer for hotpot enthusiasts.



The entire process of cooking Bijin Nabe is orderly and meticulous, takes time from putting the ingredients one by one, but trust me when I say that you wouldn't want it any other way. So if you're looking for a premium and extraordinary meal, a trip to Tsukada Nojo is worth venturing out. Besides, the promise of a younger looking skin is something anyone won't be able to resist, ladies especially. Just hope the service would improve and the staff be more attentive and accommodating because bad service could ruin the collagen's natural healing process!


~o~o~o~

Bijin Nabe by Tsukada Nojo
2/F S Maison (below Conrad Manila)
Seaside Blvd. corner Coral Way
Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City
Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel.: (632) 809-1268

Monday, March 20, 2017

Hotel 101: Pasay's Best Mid-Range Accommodation

One of the newest mid-priced hotel in Pasay City, Hotel 101 offers an alternative accommodation from the high-end casino hotels in the area. The lobby was spacious but there's not enough seating area near the counter for guests waiting for their check-in/check-out turn.

CS and I stayed around Christmas time, hence the decor.



Remember to ask for a room on the high floors as the streets below can get very busy. Hotel 101 offers a single type of accommodation called the Happy Room. All 518 rooms feature:

  • Two beds - a single and a queen size bed
  • 21-square meter floor
  • Kitchen sink with microwave and mini bar
  • 48-inch LED cable television
  • Writing table and telephone
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi internet access 
  • Toilet and bath with generic toiletries





Aside from Microtel MOA with 2 double beds, its quite hard to find a hotel in the area that can accommodate more than 2 adults comfortably. Same price is charged regardless of the number of occupants but if you reserve thru Agoda, you can lower the price if you opt to book a room without breakfast in case you prefer waking up late or eating at nearby fast food chains.










Pros: Complimentary parking, has several mini pools on the 2nd floor, airport service and free shuttle to the Mall of Asia, room can sleep up to 3 adults, and reasonably priced room rates

Cons: Slow service at the lobby, lacks warmth and hospitality, and dirty pools

~o~o~o~

Hotel 101 Manila
EDSA Extension, Mall of Asia Complex
Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel.: (632) 553-1111
Website: www.hotel101.com.ph 

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

My Travel Essential: Bose SoundTrue On-Ear Headphones

Passport
Airline ticket 
Hotel voucher 
Pocket money 
Bose headphones 

I usually listen to music to entertain myself while en route to my destination or until I doze off to sleep. Oftentimes, I just use my iPhone headset because its lightweight and easy to carry. Sound quality was not really a big deal as long as it plays okay and does what it's supposed to do - bring good music to my ears. Well, that seemed true until I discovered Bose SoundTrue Headphones.



Why I love it:
  • It features an advanced acoustic design to deliver clear and natural audio
  • Its extremely lightweight and comfortable to use
  • It folds up to fit in a compact case perfect for traveling
  • It has softly padded headband and memory foam cushion 
  • Comes in usual white and black but there's also a mint and purple/mint version
  • Its affordable for a Bose entry-level headphone (got mine on sale for less than Php5000)
  • A head-turner because of its stylish design!



Music and travel go together like the Boracay sunset and a tall glass of Choco Banana shake from Jonah's, you simply cannot enjoy the first without the other or vice versa. And while there is a plethora of headphones available in the market, Bose is still and will always be my trusted brand to play my favorite songs especially during those dreaded long-haul flights.
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