Hakata Ippudo Differences - (Hong Kong)

 I have to admit I have been to Ippudo HK outlets more than 10 times by now and even within this month along I am paying my 4th visit already. I think Ippudo in HK is slightly confusing even for a regular customer myself - did you know that the Tsim Sha Tsui outlet is the flagship store and carries the most variety of items? But in the 3 Hong Kong outlets at Causeway Bay, Central and Admiralty, also serve ramens which are not available on the Kowloon side of town? 

At Tsim Sha Tsui’s Store in Kowloon -
  - Much more snacks than on Hong Kong Island's 3 outlets.
  - Unique Kasane (かさね) Ramen. Chicken x Pork broth. This is very good and fragrant.
  - New 博多醬油拉麵 (中華そば) is a new item and quite good with a clear soy broth.
  - 辣肉味噌拉面 (からか麺) - The chili miso pork mince noodles. Only available on the Kowloon side and served with a unique thin curly noodles.

The below items are offered on the HK Island side outlets and the Spicy Tsukemen is a seasonal variation and quite enjoyable.  I personally think this set up is slightly confusing customers but I guess the Kowloon store’s kitchen is bigger.  Yet other shops have their own unique flavours.

 

Fried Chicken with Vinegar -
This is surprisingly very good! 






Akamaru Shinaji 赤丸新味 -
This is available at all shops and was the famous 2nd flavour invented at Ippudo.  It has more kick from spicy miso, garlic oil and more fatty bits 背脂 which is quite Japanese like.  I love eating this version the lot but it’s fatty and I just don’t drink much soup then.   And remember to special order the noodles Super Hard  *thumbs up!*






Fried Pork Skewers 一口豚カツ
Very lovely marbles and great flavour.  It’s actually surprising again.






Stir Fried Vegetables -






Chicken Gyoza Dumplings -
In general,  Gyozas served in HK are terrible,  just like Kushiyaki shops here.
Don’t ask me why.  But these ones were by HK Standards,  still edible.

Fried Calamari -  with Salt & Pepper
A little oily,  but still quite nice.






Shoyu Tonkosu Ramen -
I used to like this a lot, as it has shoyu and fish powder in it and the noodles are more Yokohama style, thick and straight. But sometimes, it can be too overwhelmed by the Bonito powder.

Miso Tonkotsu -
Quite decent if you like Miso.  I prefer the Hokkaido or Shishu 信州 versions of Miso Ramens though.

Onsen Egg on Hamburg -

Spicy Tsukemen with Cashew Nuts and Minced Meat -  Fish x Tonkotsu Broth
This is like a spicy Spaghetti Bolognaised actually and we all liked it,  but it probably ate better without the dipping broth.   It’s quite HOT !!  Beware..

 

Address and Opening Hour details for the 3 Hong Kong Outlets and 1 Kowloon Main Shop details, visit:   http://www.ippudo.com.hk

Zeughaus Keller - (Zurich, Switzerland)

 This restaurant is famously found alongside the famous shopping strip at Zurich’s bahnhofstrasse,  it’s definitely not for the budget minded.  The food was generally good but it was actually the worst meal that we ate on this trip.  Let’s just say this is probably why I am doubly upset lately as it is all relative?   Despite being the most lowly rated meal we ate on this trip - this was still quite decent and as I say again execution really is the key and it was spot on here.  I would still come back to this ‘worst’ restaurant of all the meals again but it was expensive in comparison!  It’s just that the other places performed so immaculately and were taken for granted.   If this was the worst meal we had in the one week,  you can imagine how good the rest of the meals were.   I can’t even begin to tell you but I honestly can’t fault most foods.. 

 

Touristy yet menu was diversified, with so many regional local dishes..
Zurich-Swiss food has a slightly German and Austrian accent,
but also had many Switzerland regional dishes.   One can’t explore them all at once.

 

Live Artillery -
Good sense of humour!

 

 

Baked Bread -
This very Zurich Bread style is found everywhere.   Swiss Airline used the same butter on the way back too. No surprises.   ~ 7/10

 

 

Air Dried Mountain Ham,  Beef and Sbrinz Cheese – CHF 23.50
Kind of big on portions.  Not cheap but it was substantially portioned for a small eater like me.. ~  8/10

 

Sausage Vaudois,  from Canton of Vaud – CHF 27,80
This regional sausage was amazing with cabbage inside and quite thick in girth.  I didn’t know to order this until the staff suggested it as a regional specialty from French-Swiss border side, but there are so many more different sausages available indeed.   Absolutely adored it for the garlicky note with sauerkraut.   Still a novice when it comes to Swiss sausage offerings   ~  10/10

 

Jugged Venison Hirschpfeffer – CHF 30,50
Venison deer meat is garnished with Croutons,  Bacon Bits,  Pearl onions, Egg and Button Mushrooms.   With Red Cabbage,  Glazed Chestnuts and a grilled home made Spaetzle pasta.  This is just so rich and gamey yet carrying components so representative of Switzerland,  but is also kind of a German dish as well.  It was expensive but you wouldn’t regret ordering it it was addictive.  ~  9/10

 

 

Roesti.  Or is it Rosti -
It’s kind of like a fried hashed potato.  Do u remember the ones from Denny’s during breakfast?  I used to eat that a lot in HK and Japan and also in Australia but now there is none in HK and Aust left!    This is a Swiss side dish also recently found throughout cafes in Australia.   Seems trendy.   But eating without one in Swiss is treated as weird,  it is a must order item here.  This is good rather than great as it was Just a little too wet ~  6.5/10

 

 

A couple of Beers and Wines -
As is the norm

 

 

 

It was Cozy but Touristy -
Service was Cocky rather than Patchy.   You need to learn how to talk and manipulate your way through here.  One particular server was exceptionally rude at the beginning but got better later on when I gave her back the attitude..

 

 

The whole mustard thing seemed a bit German.  I guess they eat a lot of Sausages…
Subtle differences that you need a microscopic view to see the details to tell them apart?

 

 

Price:  CHF $35 Per Person
Ease of Access:  5/5  (Take Tram and stops Infront.  Opposite Confiserie Sprungli.)
Food:  ♕♕♕♕♕

Opening Hours -
Mon to Sun:  11.30am - 23.00pm

Address: Bahnhofstrasse 28a 8001 Zürich
Ph:: 044 211 26 90

The Pawn - (Hong Kong)

  The Pawn is part of the Classified Cheese Group,  they have a few places in town with a Cheese Room,  Mozzarella Bars,  and over at SML in Times Square they offer different sized portions of Western Food.   My favourite is at The Pawn,  as the food is more serious and has a British Accent.  I am probably a bit biased towards here because of the British emphasis,  please pardon me !   I like Britain stuff too much

Savoury Section of the Low Tea Set -
I liked the Rhug Estate sausage roll but think the pastry could be baked a bit more browned! There is also a J Forman smoked salmon sandwich. The Stilton Quiche and Walnuts tart was pretty good, except the pastry base was a little hard. But overall enjoyable. Thought the sandwiches had too thin a filling - apparently the restaurant will be improving on these.. 

 

Sausage Roll -
Needs to be baked more and served with real Ketchup

Stilton Blue Cheese and Walnut Quiche -
Loved the flavour of this,  the crust could be more softened but it was buttery enough : )







English Breakfast Tea -
2nd Flush was much better.  1st flush a little too weak.







Sweet Layer of the Low Tea -
- Burnt Cambridge Cream Tart - one of my favourites on the day
- Strawberries filled with Champagne Cheesecake - didn't like the very sour and tart balance of this, especially when the Strawberry is not sweet enough.
- Sticky Toffee Pudding & Toffee Jelly - The shortening filled texture of this was quite accurate, but the toffee wasn't burnt enough and made it more too sugary. I think it also needed a real toffee sauce.
- Malted Chocolate Cup Cake - the texture was perfect but it was kind of too sweet.

Sticky Toffee Pudding & Toffee Jelly -






Strawberries filled with Champagne Cheesecake -
Missing balance in flavours…  ummmm.
Too alcoholic and too sour.  Not helped by the sour Strawberry itself, 
which tasted totally Australian sour..

 

Scones with Raspberry Jam and Clotted Cream -
I liked the clotted cream. The scones on my side were deemed decent but other tables thought it was a little too compressed dense to cut through. If I had one complaint, it was that the Raspberry Jam wasn't cooked enough to release it's deeper dark forest flavours

Chef who is in charge of The Pawn overall,  including downstairs The Living Room -







Fried Pigs Ears and Sardines -
No longer on the menu at The Living Room downstairs. Can they please bring it back? I used to adore it.

 

 

Scotched Egg -
Their Scotched egg here used to have too little meat, but now it has improved. Loving it !







Welsh Rarebit -
Didn’t have much Stout Taste,  but served with some corned beef.
Thought it was quite cheesy but needed more stout !






.
Devils on Horse Back -
Pitted dates wrapped in Bacon.  So British ..
Also no longer on the Menu downstairs.  What happened?

Radish Salad -
Quite mustard like and fresh…  refreshingly good








Fish Bites and Chips,  with real Malted Vinegar and Ketchup -
This was done pretty well indeed… one of the best ones in town

 

Draft British Beer -






More Beer -






Even More Beer LOL -







More Cocktail -







More Cocktails doesn’t hurt  !








The Pawn is one of my favourites restaurants amongst the Group -
Apart from The Globe and The Chinnery







Let’s have another Cocktail then..

 

 

 

Price:  HKD $150 Per Person
Ease of Access:  4/5  (Near Wanchai MTR Station)
Food:  ♕♕♕♕ to ♕♕♕♕ 1/2   (Been here many times but the Afternoon Tea bit was by Invitation)

Opening Hours -
Mon to Sat  11:00am - 02:00am
Sunday 11:00am - 23:00pm
Restaurant Side, Mon to Sunday 12:00am - 15:00pm, 18:00pm - 00:00am
Address: 灣仔莊士敦道62號2-3樓
2-3/F, 62 Johnston Road, Wan Chai
Ph: 2866 3444