Roaming Hong Kong – Lei Yue Mun for seafood

Walking to the restaurants

On the Kowloon side of Hong Kong is Lei Yue Mun, a small fishing village that is home to many seafood restaurants.  One never gets the impression that one is in Hong Kong when visiting Lei Yue Mun for it has kept its small village ambiance within the urban environment that surrounds it.  And its not very far from Central on Hong Kong Island or Nathan Road on the Kowloon.  We’re talking less than 20 minutes by taxi.

Variety of live seafood

And the sheer variety of “live” seafood is unmatched.  As you walk through Lei Yue Mun, you will pass numerous tanks of seafood.  You pick what you want to eat.  It’s carried to one of the restaurants.  You will then be asked how you want it cooked.  Simple as that.  No sweat.

Typical selection

The biggest problem is, “what to eat?” as the selection is huge.   So the best solution is to bring plenty of friends. And your appetite.

And by the way, the view from Lei Yue Mun can be breathtaking.

Photos taken with Nikon D700 and AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 IF ED G zoom lens.

One or two?

Lone fisherman

Yup. More fish.

View at night

Update Roaming Bangkok – True Coffee on Thonglor now closed

Don’t waste your time looking for this outlet.  It is now closed.  However, directly across the street is a Starbucks and down the street two blocks at J Avenue is Au Bon Pain.

At the corner of Thonglor and Soi 10 is True Coffee.  It is across the street from Starbucks.  It is modern in design and as far from the Starbucks “model” as you can imagine.  As True Coffee is affiliated with True Corporation, many media events take place on it’s premises.  The coffeehouse has two floors and I would recommend the second floor for a quiet cup of espresso to while away a few hours.  Food is also available.

See Platial map in right sidebar for location.

True in its modernity

Cool ambience

Zico’s Brazilian Bar and Grill, Koh Samui Thailand

Look for the sign

I first ate at Zico’s Brazilian Grill & Bar three years ago.  By happenstance, we wandered in for a drink from the Centara Hotel across the street in Chaweng Beach.  Zico’s is known for its substantial buffet, priced now at 750 baht.  Aside from its good selection of salads, the hit of the evening is the large skewers of meat that the waiters parade by your table, seemingly non-stop.  The meats are barbeque style and Zico’s does an excellent job cooking the meats.  All cuts were succulent and tasty.

We found ourselves at Chaweng Beach last week and I convinced my friends to give Zico’s a  try.

We were met at the entrance and escorted to a large table for the seven of us.  The professional staff explained the menu and the “all you can eat concept” and away we went over to the salad bar.

The salad bar offers numerous choices from pasta salad to couscous to half a dozen or so other prepared salads.   Or you can elect to prepare a do-it-yourself green salad with freshly made salad dressings.  They also offer you a good selection of side orders before the main event.

And as we began to finish our salads, the staff began bringing over large skewers of meat.  First the chorizo sausage came and then the beef and on and on.  Until we cried out “no mas” (no more).

Below are two menus from their website.  (Apparently they rotate the menus.)   As you can see,  the menu is quite extensive and can satisfy anyone’s appetite.  Both times I have been there, they offered Menu Two.  I sampled all the meats and found myself asking for more chorizo (sausage), the beef and pork neck.  Because the selection is wide, your friends can eat something completely different, like barracuda, prawns and chicken.

Bon appetit!

Menu one

• Beef top side
• Beef tenderloin
• Lamb leg
• Lamb sausage
• Pork neck
• Smoked bacon
• Pork spare ribs
• Chicken drum stick
• Duck breast
• Black Bass filet
• Pork loin
• Salmon
• Barracuda
• Mackerel
• Tiger prawns

• French Fries
• Jacket potato
• Balsamic baked tomato
• Steamed rice
• Curry green peas couscous
• Grilled vegetable
• Vegetable Ratatouille
• Potato croquet

Menu two

• Beef strip loin
• Beef tenderloin
• Lamb leg
• Chorizo sausage
• Veal sausage
• Pork loin
• Pork neck
• Smoked ham
• Chicken breast
• Mince lamb
• Duck breast
• Black tiger prawns
• Tasmanian salmon
• Barracuda
• Shark

• French Fries
• Potatoes au gratin
• Stir fried vegetables
• Steamed rice
• Black beans corn fried rice
• Grilled vegetables
• Broccoli butter casserole
• Mashed potatoes

750 Baht
Only Salad Bar 340 Baht

Roaming Samui – Via Vai – great Italian food on Chaweng Beach

Don't miss this restaurant

I had the pleasure of eating at the Via Vai Italian restaurant a few days ago while spending a few well-earned days of stress reducing rest.  For starters, we almost passed this restaurant without a second look if not for one of my friends spotting the bricklined pizza oven.  The next night we were at a quandry as to where to eat and he suggested the Via Vai.

This turned out to be a great find.  We ordered two pizzas, the ham and cheese and the mushroom and cheese.  Both turned out to be some of the best pizza I’ve ever eaten.  The key was the crust which was thin and “crusty” with the slightly firm chewiness that makes for great pizza.  We also ordered the seafood spaghetti which was raved about by those that tasted it.  The stereotypical mozzarella and tomato salad was good but fairly average.   To top it off, the prices are quite reasonable, that is, it won’t make a dent in your wallet.

Via Vai is located on Chaweng Beach and is easy to find.  The address is 167/43 Chaweng Beach Road,  the telephone number is 077-413431.  There is also a Via Vai in Bangkok on Sukhumvit Soi 8.

Red House Restaurant – East Coast Seafood Center in Singapore

Friends sharing good food

I’ve been eating at the Red House Seafood restaurant for a decade, having been first taken there by a Singaporean friend of mine.  It is famous for two crab dishes, Black Pepper Crab and Chili Crab.  I’m partial to the Black Pepper Crab as I enjoy their interpretation of the dish.  In essence, black pepper crab calls for the Sri Lankan crab to be stir-fried with black pepper.  The amount of seasoning depends on the kitchen.  And the taste differs from restaurant to restaurant.  The spiciness of the black pepper spices infuses the meaty crab meat with an intensity that borders on perfection.  The Chili Crab is spicy hot and is also a favorite but give me Black Pepper any time.

These two crab dishes are just the start.  I also like their steamed fish with scallions, wok-fried crayfish, drunken prawns, and their combination seafood (scallop, squid, shrimp and fish) stir fry.

Very relaxed

The Red House is located at the  East Coast Seafood Center,  East Coast Pkwy , Block 1204, #01-05, Singapore 449882. Telephone number +65 6442 3112.

Boat Quay in Singapore – food, drink and fun

Many places to eat

Boat Quay along the Singapore River is one of the top destinations to eat and drink in Singapore.  The cuisine offered by the restaurants range from Chinese  with chili and black pepper crab to Western and everything in between.  I’ve eaten at several different restaurants there including a rooftop Arab restaurant to a couple of Indian.  I have never had a bad meal there.  If you are uncertain where to eat, just roam the dozens of restaurants and you will find something that pleases you.  I guarantee it.

My favorite place to start is the Penny Black, an English-style pub at one end of Boat Quay.  It is very popular with the expat and business crowd in Singapore.  They have a large selection of beer and other spirits.  A drink or two there will get you in the mood for dinner.

A crowd awaits

My favorite restaurant is the Sizzling Rock.  The cuisine is Western with an emphasis on beef although they also offer fish and chicken.  I usually order the tenderloin steak which you cook at your table on a superheated slab of granite.  The beef sears quickly,  sealing the juices, making for a very good steak.  As an appetizer I usually order the prawn and mango salad.  The blending of the slightly tart mango and shrimp with somewhat sweet salad dressing  taste actually works.  It sounds strange but they actually pull it off.  Its quite good.

Along the river

Around the corner

Roaming Bangkok – Zen Japanese Restaurant, Soi Thonglor at Soi 2

One of my favorite Japanese restaurants on Thonglor is Zen.  Although the restaurant is not a high-end, I find the food quite good.  The menu is extensive, one of the largest I’ve seen.  The offerings run the gamut from the stereotypical sushi, tempura and teriyaki to other dishes that definitely have a local slant.  Like the  spicy seafood salad, a dish I consider one of their best.  And the prices are some of the lowest in Thailand.

The restaurant is located in the 55th Building which also houses several other Japanese restaurants, a Sizzler and a See Fah Chinese Restaurant.

Please come in

Have a seat

Roaming Thonglor – Le Notre restaurant

In the corner

In the same complex as the House Of Beers is a branch of  the Le Notre  restaurant.  They have great pastries and other goodies on the first floor.  But the highlight is upstairs dining room.  It is very airy with a great view of the area.  There is both indoor and outdoor seating.  The cuisine is continental with some variety.  The pricing is a bit above the norm but not unreasonable, given the quality of the food and the environs.  It’s worth a try.

Roaming Bangkok – Log Home Restaurant, Thonglor at Soi 18

Lincoln logs

I’ve been coming to this giant log cabin for ten years.  Back then I used to live on Soi Lang Suan and thought Thonglor was far away.  It really is a restaurant complex with several restaurants and themes.  Besides a pub with a mix of Thai and Japanese food, there is also an “all you can eat” grill, a Japanese Teppanyaki, and a steak restaurant.  I like the “all you can eat” grill as the variety of meats is good.  From NZ beef to salmon to shrimp, on and on.  And right now, there is a special 350 baht per person promotion.  That’s right, 350 baht for all you can eat.  This restaurant is worth your time. And don’t forget to stop for a drink or two and listen to the live music in the pub.

Where's the beef?

Walking to the pub

Roaming Thonglor – S&P, Baskin-Robbins, and Pizzanotti

Sign of the time

At the corner of Thonglor Soi 13 and Sukhumvit Soi 49 is a small restaurant complex with a S&P, Baskin-Robbins and Pizzanoti.  This location is across the street from Samitevej Hospital.  Well, everyone knows S&P and Baskin-Robbins.  Pizzanotti is a takeaway and delivery restaurant affiliated with S&P.  Their pizzas are excellent and if you order one, you can also eat it in S&P.  Same with Baskin-Robbins ice cream. And of course, S&P has a great Thai menu with some Western dishes.

Pizza

with nam pla prik