Aroi Me By Amanda Jiang

Thursday, 12 January 2012

Snacks from HongKong - A JI ICHIBAN

What souvernier should you buy when you visit HongKong?

A JI ICHIBAN's franchise is everywhere in Hongkong, even in the airport duty free sections.

So if you forgot to buy them on the way back, you still have your last chance to grab it in the airport.

Thanks to EJ brought back so many snacks this time to share.

Usually you can buy or custom made a mix pack like this one.

Yummy Preserved Olives

Nice Japanese Salted Plum

Premium Ted Tea Plum - NO comments on this one.

Seedless plum - my favorite!

Biscuit looks like donuts, but it's biscuit.

Wasabi beans - Best present for your muscly colleagues.

Pineapple Soft Candy <3<3

Orange candy

Sour plum - quite a strange taste, more like pickle plums.

Don't you just love the sour lemon and sour cherry!

Durian candy

If you not sure what Durian is, give this one to your boss to try. I guarantee they will love it!

I think we can still find this one at the candy store in cinema here.

Salted plum coasted with toffee

Marshmallows

3 different flavors, they're not too sweet, I personally prefer the pudding one.

Waqu Japanese - Crows Nest

Guess where I am today? Yes, that's right WAQU!

WAQU located in the heart of Crows Nest and offers a fine dinning experience.

Currently they offer Early bird special for January 2012

Don't forget to book before your visit, they're very busy at moment. This is a great place to have your anniversary dinner or take you girlfriend out for a nice dinning. Good valentines day choices!
Come to WAQU and order before 6.30pm and receive one complimentary entree course. (Booking Essential) You can enjoy 6 course menu for $60pp (normally $75pp) with 6 course matching wine for $100pp (normally $123pp more info on: http://www.waqu.com.au They dinning experience was rather hilarious to us. I didn't mean to be negative here. We couldn't understand their waiter's explanation when the food was served, even thought they all dressed and sound professional :P. In fact, we were so confused which dish we were having and constantly checking our menu to confirm. Part of the fun I guess....

Complimentary for the night

White wine daikon sauce with diced cabbage on prosciutto

They offer nice selection of beer too

Sake Mojito - Yummo!

First Entree

Three layered chicken and vegetable terrine, served with roll cake

This terrine is very well thought through. We enjoyed each layer of it!

Second Entree

Scallop Tartare Creme Vichyssoise

We love the tomato water jelly with diced fresh scallop served with creme soup mixed with touch of wasabi and red capsicum mousse on the side.

This dish is one of the highlight of the night!

Third Entree
Ocean Trout Three way
Slow cooked, cured and brandade ocean trout, smoked egg yolk flake
Do not miss the slow cooked trout, simply superb!

You can make your selection of 2nd entree (actually 4th entree) and main.

Pork Belly (choice one)

This dish show case the two different way of cooking pork belly by Japanese - modern kitchen crispy skin pork belly and melt in your mouth kakuni style (Japanese braised pork)

Garnishing with asa-zuke salad and hollandaise sauce

Grilled scampi, cauliflower flan served with prawn ricotta ravioli (choice two)

If you love cauliflower, you will solely enjoy their cauliflower mouse.

Main

Roasted Veal Loin

Pan Fried Barramundi

Orange Cheesecake Souffle

I must admit I love their blood orange sorbet, very refreshing after such a big meal.

Here is the detail set menu

Where is it?

WAQU

Address: 308 Pacific Highway, Crows Nest NSW 2065

Tel: 02 9906 7736

Website: http://www.waqu.com.au/

Authentic Japanese Yakitori 焼き鳥 Bar - Toriciya @ Cammerary

Toriciya is the first authentic yakitori (Japanese bamboo skewer) bar in Sydney and it's been nourish Cammerary neighborhood for more than a decade.

Toriciya takes Sake and Shochu very seriously, they store the most brands I have ever seen in Sydney. nearly half of their wall in the store is decorate by numerous wine bottles. We thought cold Sake was suitable for this festival occasion. Small bottle of 180ml Sake is around $18. The waiter in the store will describe different type of Japanese wine, you can just decide on your visiting day.

Today's special menu

Wasabi Leaf

This was an interesting experience. We have all heard of Wasabi but never knew what wasabi leaf looks like and have never saw the real deal. We truly enjoyed its unique taste, not as strong as normal Wasabi paste and very crunch.

Edamame - Soybean boiled in hot water and served with sea salt

This is a typical starter dish when you go to Japanese restaurant.

Simmered OX tongue with Nagoya miso paste 名古屋味噌 (special menu)

OX tongue taste a bit like stewed beef chunk, very tender and soft served with shredded onion and shallots which goes very well with nagoya miso paste (slightly sweeter in taste) Yummo!

Tempura cattle fish

Tempura king prawn

Chicken Wing Skewers and Chicken mince ball

My highlight is their chicken mince ball. First of all, it doesn't look any shape of a ball (that's a surprise! ^^). They marinate chicken mince with ginger and onion and brushed with Teriyaki sauce, very tasty and juicy.

Chicken Skewers

Wagyu Sirloin steak (special menu)

This is a MUST try dish, superbly grilled and full of flavor and juicy.

Assorted Sashimi Sushi

I must say, we love every single one of this sushi plate. They all delicately selected, prepared and delivered to our table. No doubt of the high quality fresh ingredient their used and the mastermind behind combining all palate into one plate - makes quite a pleasant experience for us.

Avocado with pickles

My friend loves avocado and decided to order this dish, not sure if it's on the menu or specially made for him. Taste a bit raw, not as well blended as other dishes.