Spicy and Shoes (This week's Photo Hunt themes)

Before I moved to the Big Lychee, I watched the Hong Kong episode of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations -- and salivated over some of the food he ate on that show. So it should come as no surprise that after I moved to Hong Kong, I determined to track down some of the eateries featured on that food and travel program, and eat at them myself!

Of these, two of them have become favorite eating spots that I've returned to over and over again -- in contrast to another that I doubt that I'll be returning to any time soon because I found the food there to only be so-so and the atmosphere way too raucous for my liking. But although there are people who might find the vibe at Tung Po Seafood Restaurant, located in Java Road's no frills Cooked Food Centre (or Market), too boisterous as well as casual for my liking, this particular eatery suits me fine -- and enough to do such as have a birthday dinner there!

Seeing as it serves up largely Cantonese food (along with a smattering of "original" and/or fusion dishes), most of what I eat at Tung Po isn't all that spicy. As it so happens, however, my favorite dish there -- which I almost always order whenever I go eat there -- is the spiciest of the ones I've ever eaten at that location!

Depending on the evening, the bamboo or razor clams in black bean and chili sauce can either be "regular" bamboo or razor clams (which, frankly, are pretty good already -- and a step up in quality from "regular" -- smaller and more circular shaped -- clams) or the extra large bamboo or razor clams (which are way longer, better at absorbing the sauce and absolutely superb!). (See the first and second photos at the top of this entry for both Sandi's and Gattina's Photo Hunts to visually compare them.)

Pretty much every evening there however, owner-maitre d'-general everything Robby Cheung will be in attendance -- and wearing his customised white rubber wellies to boot! A dynamic extrovert, so much of Robby, including his trademark coif as well as those statement-making rubber shoes, screams "personality". All the same, it did come as a bit of a surprise for me to learn that he's a former actor (whose role in Little Cheung got him a Hong Kong Film Awards Best Supporting Actor nomination). But, well, that's just one of those fun parts of living in the Movie Mecca that Hong Kong really still can be to me! :)