Saturday, March 24, 2012

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! :)

19 comments:

Kim, USA said...

That is yummy!


Spicy

eastcoastlife said...

Thanks for this recommendation. I will visit Robby when I go to HK next. Probably we can meet up and have a meal together.

Jama said...

I love spicy food and you can find lots of good food here in Singapore!

Trekcapri said...

Hi YTSL, oh my the dishes in your photos looks so delicious. I like a little kick in my food. Love the white boots of the chef. :) How fun to learn that he is also a former actor.

Great take on the two themes! Have a wonderful weekend.

YTSL said...

Hi Kim --

Yummy indeed! :)

Hi EastCoastLife --

As it so happens, I just had dinner with a visiting Singaporean friend (the blogger behind A Nutshell Review) two evenings ago. Didn't go to Tung Po though I'm sure he'd have enjoyed the place too. :b

Hi Jama --

Ummm... being Malaysian, I am biased into thinking there's lots more good food to be found in Malaysia than Singapore... ;b

Hi Trekcapri --

Those dishes *are* delicous... and happy weekend to you too. ;b

magiceye said...

oh wow! you sure having a yummy time!

MaR said...

Another interesting post of yours for the themes. I am so hungry now!!

spicy

YTSL said...

Hi magiceye --

Yes, well... foddie that I am, I do try to do that! ;b

Hi Mar --

Believe you me, preparing this post made me hungry too! ;b

Annie said...

I love the way you combined the themes. I saw that episode of No Reservations and it's interesting to hear (and see) more. I love spicy food!

Carver said...

Great post for the themes. The food looks delicious and those rubber boots are great for the shoe theme.

To answer your question, I almost never buy shoes but I have two older sisters who wear the same size shoe as me but my feet a tiny bit smaller than there's. They will buy shoes that they discover don't fit quite right and invariably they will fit me. I have a zillion shoes because they send them to me and what was pictured is just the tip of the iceberg. Some of the ones pictured were my daughters but she never took them when she grew up and left home and she also wears the same size as me.

Susan Demeter said...

Sounds very yummy!

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

That food looks amazing~ Although some places that Anthony Bourdain goes to can be weird!
Thanks for Spicing up The Saturday PhotoHunt.
Sandi

Gattina said...

The white zigzagged wellies are too funny !

YTSL said...

Hi Annie --

Thanks -- have to say that the themes this week really had me thinking doubly hard re how to combine them! And am glad you saw that Hong Kong episode of "No Reservations" too. It painted Hong Kong in a pretty good light, I felt. :)

Hi Carver --

Oh wow re your getting all those shoes from your sisters and also daughter! :)

Hi Sue --

It truly IS yummy! :)

Hi Sandi --

Did you see the Romanian "No Reservations" episode? I think that's the place Anthony Bourdain seemed least happy to be in... and the weirdest (the Dracula-themed restaurant especially!)! :b

Hi Gattina --

They're pretty amusing, huh? ;b

Photo Cache said...

yummy. we do the same thing here. we visit where tony went and not just tony, we also check out where rachel ray and other celebrity chefs come to eat here in san francisco.

http://ewok1993.wordpress.com

Emilie said...

the guy's customised chef/wet market boots are priceless! That's just the kind of thing I'd try and photograph. Well spotted.

YTSL said...

Hi Photo Cache --

Glad to hear I'm not the only one who makes a point to check out where Anthony Bourdain went. Am not familiar though with Rachel Ray. Do you also check out restaurants based on other bloggers' reviews/comments? I do! :b

Hi Emilie --

The funny thing is that I actually didn't notice his boots were different when I took a shot of Robby -- only after I looked at the photo did I realize! ;O

CherryPie said...

That looks so very tasty :-)

YTSL said...

Hi CherryPie --

I personally find it delicious! :b