minalism travel

Some friends invited me over to their new abode for a house warming slash Chinese New Year dinner. Delighted, off course I accepted the invite to an evening of Chinese culinary perfection which surpassed any of my expectations, and left me at the end of the night wishing that I had asked for a doggy bag to take home. All the ingredients were bursting with fresh flavours. And most importantly, all ingredients were traditionally Chinese. Having a home cooked Chinese meal was a new experience for me and definitely something I would not pass up if I ever get the chance to have it again! Simply... the Menu (my interpretation of the menu at least. Apologies for any mistakes!) A variety of mushrooms including oyster, enokitake, dried shitake. Oysters. Sea cucumber. Freshly steamed chicken. Steamed fish. Sweet and sour pork with peppers and onions. Fish ball strips with green leaves sautéed in garlic. Grilled king prawns in a sweet soy sauce. Plain white rice.

Beef Potted Rice with Egg cooked with love at the Wing Hap Shing Restaurant in Hong Kong – Photograph from openrice.com My meeting with Alia went well. We were meeting to share ideas about teaching techniques and how we can improve on our current lesson plans. Since I had rushed out of the flat to make the meeting in time, I hadn't had a chance to eat so I was pretty darn starving by the end of it. Bingo, I pass a Yoshinoya on the way home.... simple, easy and fast to be plated food. Just what I was looking for. I've eaten at Yoshinoya a few times and have enjoyed most of their dishes. It is Hong Kong's answer to Japanese fast-food. What you see is what you get. It's not exactly  Japanese culinary finesse  so I can manage my expectations and still enjoy the experience. That said, today while savouring my Chicken Demae Ramen & Japanese Tea Set my worst restaurant nightmare unfolded before my eyes... literally. While fishing my chopsticks about in my ramen