Lunch - drink tea (飲茶), Dim Sum (點心)

This week we went to Asian Pearl (順峰漁村) in Richmond, CA for lunch;

Dim Sum (點心), and drink tea (飲荼).

Rice noodle roll with fried dough (炸两), this dish is available in one form of another in many restaurants. Depends on the cooks' preferences some would make the rice noodle roll with dried shrimp and scallion, and some just make the rice noodle without one or both. Top with semi-sweet soy sauce, hoysin sauce and/or seasame sauce. Best to have it when the fried dough still warm and crispy. This order sells for $3.80

TIP: arrive and order at the restaurant soon after it opens. WHY? the cooks have more time to prepare your order when they are not yet super busy.

Dumpling with soup (灌湯餃) is a must for me if the menu has it available. Like many other food items it is served in one form or another. This version has a bit of shark's fin showing in the soup already (it's real but not high quality, what do you expect the order just under $5?) the dumpling fillings are diced pork (not minced), mushroom, shrimps, and vegetable. The piece of Bok Choy (白菜) or chinese cabbage came as a surprise an unusual addition. Brooth is a bit dull. It didn't have the clarity or kick like the one I had in Hong Kong Lounge.

BBQ Pork Cheek (豬脛肉) - just like BBQ Pork, BUT the similarity ends there. The restaurant use the meat from the cheek and neck of the pig instead of the loin (regular BBQ Pork uses loin)of the pig. The meat is a bit more crisp when compared with regular BBQ Pork. The order sells for $6.50.

Vietnamese Chicken Rice Noodle (越南雞粉)

I had Chicken rice noodle soup for lunch in Turtle Tower a vietnamese restaurant on Geary Blvd, between 22nd and 21st Ave, that's No. 9 on the menu. $6.95 for a small bowl, and $7.95 for a large bowl. It has a sister restaurant on Larkin Street, the shop on Geary Blvd is less chaotic, and more organized. The shop on Larkin Street is so busy during lunch hour you might find yourself sharing a table with strangers, and the place is a bit cramped.

Dumpling with soup (灌湯餃)

Dumpling with soup (灌湯餃) basically a dumpling with pork, shrimp, lobster, shark's fin, depends on the chefs' preferences. Double boiled in chicken brooth. This one was ordered in Hong Kong Lounge on Geary between 17th and 18th Ave. The restaurant opens at 11am during fall and winter, and 10:30am during spring and summer.

Farewell Dinner

Do I need to say more? House of Prime Rib, picture shown, King cut with cream spinach, place can be quite expensive you can spend as much as $100 to $120 per person if cocktails, desserts, and wine are factored in. BUT well worth it.

Farewell dinner took place at House of Prime Rib

More pictures can be viewed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/wtang20155/

Farewell

June 1st, 2010 was the last day at work for Aldo, our night manager. He decided to go back to France after 4 years working at the Mark Hopkins Hotel. Rest of the pictures can be viewed here http://www.flickr.com/photos/wtang20155/

Ferrari 212 Export

A Classic 1951 Ferrari 212 Export, spotted outside of Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco just before the start of California Mille 2010 event.

Salt 'n Pepper

Balancing with the salt and pepper shakers is my favorite while waiting for food to be served

Sachima (馬仔, 沙琪瑪)

A sweet pantry made with flour, sugar, and butter. Served in one form or another with a thin glaze of syrup or sprinkled with dried coconut and/or sesame, most chinese restaurants and can be bought in most chinese bakeries.

Rice noodle roll with fried dough (炸两)

Rice noodle roll can be stuffed with dried shrimp, BBQ pork, ground beef, large prawns, and fried dough. Rice noodle roll (腸粉) with fried dough (油條), or in chinese "ZhaLiang" (炸两) is my absolute favorite. It usually come wtih sweet soy sauce, sesame paste, and hoisin sauce as dipping sauce.

Won Ton Noodle

Many of you have tried wonton noodle (雲吞麵)in restaurants already. Did you know traditional wonton noodle use yellow chives (韮王) instead of scallion (葱)? There is no vegetable in the noodle soup. A boiled vegetable side order is recommended.