Motormouth From Ipoh – Asian Food & Travel Blog

Could this be the epitome of good breakfasts in Hong Kong? The perennial classic named Polo Bun with a slab of cold butter wedged in-between (also named Bo Lo Yau in Cantonese). Crisp on the outside; moist, fluffy and warm on the inside, this was an instant win the very first moment we sank our teeth into one at Kam Wah back in 2008.

Almost there in completing the 2013 Hong Kong/Macau chapters, today we revisit some of the classic breakfast and snacking spots around Mong Kok; a whirlwind of street eats experience in the heart of Hong Kong. Mong Kok is of course, famed for the many shopping streets; namely Women’s Street, Sneakers Street, Gold Fish Street, etc. But then again, for really good shopping, Sogo Departmental Stores or the few selected outlet stores (Tsim Sha Tsui’s China Hong Kong City and Tung Chung’s Citygate Outlets being fine examples) are your better bets.

Nonetheless, Merry Christmas dear readers and pardon for the lapse in reviews. The holiday season has definitely eaten into Motormouth’s schedule (eating, shopping, traveling, working), but more Ipoh food posts to come this weekend.

Read the rest of this entry »

A bowl of chilled and crunchy collagen-fuelled fresh skin from the fish (read from somewhere that this was a species of grass carp or something) lightly dipped in a mixture of soy sauce, sesame oil, and shallot oil with julienned ginger and fresh scallions. (HKD16/RM6.40)

Essentially, the body runs out of steam. Or the mind. Or the passion/spirit/whatever.

Anyway, this week has not been easy for me. Thus, the slightly disparaging thoughts that went into the posts. Lacklustre words with no substance? Nah …. I would have imagined a more bitter, sharp tang to the edges of my articulation, but then again … maybe not. It’s THURSDAY anyway, and damn I desperately pray and hope for the week to end on an immediate basis.

With that, let’s talk about congee. AGAIN.

Read the rest of this entry »

Today’s a Saturday gone wrong. Somewhat. The incessant travelling and crazy weather started to take its toll on me. Not to mention this viral bug roaming around the office. So let’s do a pictorial, shorter post (finally?) on one of the BEST ‘char chaan teng’ (Hong Kong style of cafe) in Mong Kok in Hong Kong.

Polo Bao (Pineapple Bun; literally) contains NO pineapple, but the resemblance comes from the sugar-crusted top with a significant crunch. At Kam Wah Cafe; they do them BEST.

Since I wrote extensively about them in my 2008 post; from not one but TWO breakfast sessions at the buzzing, quintessentially-Hong Kong, yet friendly cafe on Bute Street in Mong Kok, I guess I don’t have to go all out and sing praises for their famous Polo Bao.

But read on for the various types of Polo Bao they offer, and how the staff here are generally more pleasant, attentive and minus the usual attitude anticipated in busy eateries in Hong Kong …..

Read the rest of this entry »

For all the posts on this Hong Kong/Macau food fest, click HERE.

Extremely thin strands of egg noodles with a prominent aroma of lye water (alkaline water, or ‘kan sui’) made up bowls after bowls of noodle in soup with either dumplings, beef brisket, pig’s parts, etc.

At the time of posting this, you must be scratching your head wondering what the heck has gotten into Motormouth lately. DAILY posts?!! Almost unheard of, since … erm, aeons ago when I was back in Ipoh and leisure time exceeded working hours by a far margin. After all, stuck in traffic jams after office hours was almost unheard of back then …..

Before this passion to put my thoughts into words fizzles out, I’d better keep this momentum going. After all, this trip was more food hunt and shopping than sight-seeing, as opposed to the last trip back in 2008. So there will be more posts on FOOD (hurray?) than anything else.

Still in a daze, I started this week by waking up in Hong Kong, then journeyed to Macau for 2 nights, before coming back to Malaysia for a subsequent night, and finally travelled down south to Singapore last night. I am back in PJ now, but this weekend will be spent in Ipoh (double hurray?!!).

Since it’s Friday (that darn Rebecca Black’s tune kept playing in my head, for some incomprehensible reason!), let’s keep today’s post short, shall we?

Read the rest of this entry »