Vegetarian Fish and Chips at Chip In

Recently Chip In a local social conscious fish and chip chain sent bc an invite to try their new vegetarian fish and chips. Intrigued, a Saturday afternoon visit to their branch in The Vantage at Hung Hom was arranged.

In all honesty, we weren’t expecting much, if you want to eat fish (or meat) then, at the moment, nothing matches the real thing for flavour or texture.
And the same is true with ‘vegetarian’ fish, in a direct comparison – really there is no comparison – to cod the beautiful flaky white pieces of cod are delicious. And ‘fish and chips’ is really cod and chips, nothing else is better battered and deep-fried to a golden hue.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2022/20220514-Vegetarian-Fish-Chips-Chip-In/i-TGRrx9D

That said if you don’t try to compare it to the real thing, the vegetarian soy product is not that bad. It has a reasonable texture and flavour, if a little salty, and it holds the batter well.

And for dessert, there are Chip In’s unique deep-fried Oreo cookies, sweet chewy and delicious!

If your vegetarian friends have been keeping you away from your local fish and chip shop, then invite them along to Chip In in Sai Kung or Hung Hom and everyone will be happy.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2022/20220514-Vegetarian-Fish-Chips-Chip-In/i-FfZLKf5

Chip In:  Sai Kung
Shop 11, G/F, 9 King Man Street,
Sai Kung, Hong Kong.
Tel: 6418 6575
Opening Hours: 11am – 7:30pm

Chip In: Hung Hom
Unit 28, G/F The Vantage, 63 Ma Tau Wai Road,
Hung Hom, Hong Kong.
Tel: 9452 3373
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm

Feasts ’n Treats Dining Offers

The Hong Kong Tourism Board is launching its “Feasts ’n Treats” discount dining promotion today (2 June). 20,000 sets of half-price cash vouchers, valid at 800 restaurants, will be offered for six consecutive weeks.

Feasts ’n Treats cash vouchers worth HK$200 or $400 will be sold at half price (HK$100 and $200, respectively) for use at participating outlets. At the promotion website, https://feastsntreats.openrice.com pick the restaurant and buy the voucher. New voucher quotas go on sale every Thursday at 10am.Feasts ’n Treats 2022

Carbon Brews Opens on Wyndham Street

Local craft brewery Carbon Brews new outlet soft-opened this week on Wyndham Street. It would be slightly misleading to call it a ‘taproom’ or ‘gastropub’ because (as you can see from the photo) it has a far more clubby/ lounge vibe.

With thirty taps, there’s likely to be a beer for everyone – flavour profiles range from the traditional to a pina colada flavoured Kokomo – and they are served in small, medium and large sizes. As well as Carbon Brew beers, other local craft beers and collaborations will rotate across the taps. There’s also an option to buy a keg and have your own ‘tap’!

Chef Sean Yuen’s menu features a selection of tasty starters and mains that the knowledgeable staff can pair with a beer to enhance your meal or snack.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2022/20220427-Carbon-Brews-Central/i-9j3nNpm

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2022/20220427-Carbon-Brews-Central/i-jMckxV5

Carbon Brews Central
Shop 1, G/F, The Centrium, 60 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong

Duck & Waffle in IFC Closes

Duck & Waffle in IFC has closed its doors this month, another victim of the government’s dining restrictions where restaurants have hours and capacity limits – but landlords are still allowed to charge full rent.

It was tasty while it lasted…

Duck & Waffle
Shop 1081, 1/F, ifc mall, 8 Finance Street, Central – CLOSED
Tel: 2267 6338

Image: Duck & Waffle

Say No to Shark Fin Endorsing Michelin Stars

The 2022 edition of the Michelin Guide for Hong Kong and Macau was launched yesterday.

Sadly the Michelin Guide continues to award ‘stars’ and endorse and promote restaurants that sell sharks fin.

bc magazine refuses to knowingly support any restaurant or organisation that sells or promotes eating sharks fin!

Say NO to Sharks Fin!

LeaveHomeSafe App Required for Restaurants and Bars

From 9 December usage of the ‘LeaveHomeSafe‘ mobile app will be strictly enforced for entering all restaurants.

The Government has announced the updated arrangements for using the “LeaveHomeSafe” (LHS) mobile application that will take effect on 9 December 2021.

Scanning of the venue QR code will be required for entry to all premises regulated under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F). The modes of operation of catering business will also be adjusted accordingly…

Cap 599F covers all catering business premises that offer dine-in services, bars or pubs, bathhouses, party rooms, clubs or nightclubs, karaoke establishments, mahjong-tin kau premises, cruise ships, amusement game centres, fitness centres, places of amusement, places of public entertainment, beauty parlours and massage establishments, clubhouses, sports premises, swimming pools, hotel and guesthouses, and event premises.

If you are not sure there is more information www.coronavirus.gov.hk

Adiós Coyote

After almost 23 years and too many frozen margaritas and shots of tequila to count Coyote Wanchai shut its doors last night for the final time.

Another ‘victim’ of greedy landlords who have destroyed so many businesses in Hong Kong. Sadly, there are now more empty/closed former bars/restaurants on Wanchai’s Lockhart Road than open ones.

Surely in the middle of a global pandemic, with no tourists likely for at least another six months – as a landlord it’s better to have some money coming in than to have your place sit empty for months…

Anyway, Coyote is gone like so many others over the years. There were a surprising number of people having a last drink who were also there on opening night…

A final few bcene photos…

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2021/20211111-Coyote-Wanchai-Adios/i-MVZ85j7

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https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2021/20211111-Coyote-Wanchai-Adios/i-mSFHHKP

Ruby Tuesday Tuen Mun Review

Ruby Tuesday are on a tear with the opening of a third new restaurant in less than a year. The success of the new style restaurant in K11 Art Mall saw the opening of a first Ruby Tuesday in what could be considered a very local market: Po Lam – Tseung Kwan O. The new outlet in Tuen Mun builds on those successes while incorporating new Covid protections and innovations to ensure the safety of customers and staff.

The Tuen Mun branch, located on the ground floor of Trend Plaza, is smaller than the other new outlets but incorporates the outdoor seating which has proven very popular among customers. While it may be a little hot (or wet), there are no fans, to sit outside in summer. The outdoor tables will surely be in high demand as the weather cools.

The feel of the new branch is a little darker than the bright openness of K11, the more notable difference though is Ruby Tuesday’s first open kitchen in Hong Kong. It’s not fully open, but offers diners the chance to see the kitchen crew in action and also a chance to see that Covid protocols are being observed in the kitchen and that the staff member tasked with keeping the broad swathes of stainless steel shining clean is on task.

As for the food, a new Express set lunch (available only at TKO, Po Lam and Tuen Mun) offers meals at prices similar to local chain outlets. And the staff were working hard to ensure that diners could enjoy their meal during a lunch hour.

It was steaming hot the day bc visited Ruby’s in Tuen Mun so we sampled Ruby’s range of (delicious) smoothies and iced drinks – the highlight being Ruby’s Passion a mango smoothie topped with passion fruit puree, the tartness of passion fruit reigning in the sweetness of the mango. The coffee frappuccino with ice cream was basically flavourless liquid and a disappointment compared to the rather nice one we enjoyed previously at K11.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2021/20210625-11pro-Ruby-Tuesday-Tuen-Mun-/i-7ZdJJw2

On a personal note, I don’t really see the point of trying to create ‘fake’ meat and have always found the results disappointing. Discussing this recently, a friend offered a suggestion, don’t think of Impossible as fake meat, think of it as something like tofu which can be prepared and enjoyed in many different ways. Seen and eaten in that way, it’s an enjoyable and textured alternative to meat. Ruby’s Impossible quesadilla was tasty and filling, while the newly added Butcher’s Steak offered a meaty and flavourful reminder that there really is nothing like meat.

bc hadn’t noticed it on the menus in previous visits, so we can’t say if it’s new, but several menu items had a Keto symbol to help those on that food plan.

One of the many small changes in recent years that have re-energised the brand locally and made it an enjoyable place for lunch and dinner where the food tastes as good as it looks.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2021/20210625-11pro-Ruby-Tuesday-Tuen-Mun-/i-7qGnSjF

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2021/20210625-11pro-Ruby-Tuesday-Tuen-Mun-/i-JSJJ2cn

Ruby Tuesday Tuen Mun

Location: Shop 39-40, Level 1, North Wing, Trend Plaza, Tuen Mun
Tel: 3598 3098