Cali Burger

The burger hunt is on again!  This time Monique drove to the Scout area, and we took a chance with Cali Burger, right along Timog Avenue, in front of the studios of GMA7.  We have heard that this chain claims to exceed the taste and style of In and Out Burgers, which Vicky is so fond of.

The interiors of the place is designed like a typical clubhouse in beachfront properties.  Sturdy park tables come in bright colors, you have pebble washout flooring; the informal appearance still comes across as sleek but the overall feel is not crowded.  Orders are served in about 10 minutes, the counter girl gives you a plastic saucer that flashes and beeps when your order is ready for pick-up.

Burgers were served fresh off the grill in pouch-pockets, and we could smell the aroma from a distance.  I was happy that they had mustard, but surprised when they couldn't provide me with extra mayonnaise.  French fries were made with real potatoes.  The patty was meaty, but a bit under-salted for my taste.  Veggies were fresh (the iceberg lettuce was crunchy, not soggy,).

I'd say the place is geared for the younger set, but the pricing isn't exactly cheap.  Burgers start at P195 without cheese, and the double patty burger set (with cheese toppings, french fries and a milkshake) can go up to around P450.  Pleasant dining experience, though; the crew know their job and are quite friendly.

I Scream

I Scream for Ice Cream... There is an old pre-war song that has these lyrics, if I recall right. Just before we rode on the train to Chek Lap Kok, we passed by the I Scream store at the IFC mall and indulged ourselves!  Great flavors, especially the ginger sorbet and the sesame ice cream, which I ordered.  Vicky had her usual chocolate cum berry combination, and if I remember correctly, Andie had fruit flavors (mango and lychee) while Monique ordered a nutty combo (pistachio and hazelnut).  Love it!

Greyhound

The Greyhound Cafe at the IFC Mall was a new experience for us.  The IFC Mall is a people magnet by itself because of the number of high-end shops.  Furthermore, the mall houses a bustling transportation hub, and you can find a lot of people walking around at high speed. We found time to ease up at our favorite view deck right across from the Star Ferry Terminal, and we spent a lot of leisure time there with both Monique and Andie, taking pictures, admiring the view, and simply doing nothing.  By mid-afternoon, our tummies started to show weary signs, and we looked around for a nice restaurant to have good chow. The Greyhound Cafe was the logical choice.

From the escalator, the restaurant looked inviting, and luckily, there was a corner table just right for the 5 of us.  We quickly learned that this restaurant began in Thailand, and the food would have a Thai twist!  You can see above the soft-shell crab atop the bed of calamari pasta that we ordered; we thought that this was just superb.

The cheese penne wasn't that imaginative though, and our attention quickly shifted to the Pad Thai, which was nicely presented.  This was a must-order, the waiter told us.  The Alfredo pasta was tasty, not bad at all.

The samosa came in hot from the frying pan.  It wasn't too spicy, and we downed the 4-piece dish in around 10 minutes.  The burger lived up to the waiter's recommendation, the big juicy patty was a delight (supposed to be Wagyu).  All in all, we spent something like HK$120 per person.  By the time we had to leave for the airport train, we were really full!

Lane Crawford

As we walked around Times Square, the conversation shifted to our previous trips to Hong Kong.  We decided to enter Lane Crawford, the department store that seems to epitomize the Hong Kong shopping-spree experience.  It was one of Kong Kong's and Gwammy's favorites in the sixties, and they would tell me that the store was kind enough to deliver shopping packages straight to their hotel room.  It wasn't necessary to lug your shopping bags around town; that delivery service made the customers feel special.  I don't think they offer this service anymore, and if ever, only to the regular quantity buyers.  Nowadays, the store specializes in luxury items that cost an arm and a leg.  No doubt, however--the shopping experience is always a pleasure, as you can find the very best quality goods.  Of course, the pleasure is especially doubled if you come at the right time to catch the very rare cut-price sale!

Litchi Cakes

We usually see a lot of Taiwanese style pineapple cakes in Hong Kong but this time, Mikhail found some lychee cakes in the grocery store.  While the taste is distinct, in my book, the sweetness level is way off the charts!

Zsiska

We decided to go back to one of Vicky's favorite trinket shops at the World Trade Center. Zsiska makes fashion accessories from resin, and the designs come in bold colors and chunky sizes.  We spent almost an hour choosing gifts, and while admit I was a bit bored, Vicky was very happy!

Yo Mama!

I wanted to have dinner at Hysan Place.  The fast food area had inviting interiors, and I felt I had a connection to the place.  After taking the escalator up all the way to the 12th floor, I realized my mistake as the whole floor was jam-packed!  My alternative dinner spot was the second mistake that night--Windsor House, which was around half a kilometer away.  I knew there were a lot of eating places there, but when we arrived, all restaurants were crowded too. One particular restaurant had seating space, but the menu was Japanese-Italian fusion, and I knew Andrea wouldn't be able to eat any of these new wave dishes.  I pitied Andrea and Monique, fatigue was written all over their faces!  Vicky was hanging on her sanity by mere thread.  She was super-stressed, the poor woman.  We finally sat at the nearby Yo Mama! store and took some yogurt; at least we had a 20-minute rest for our weary feet and some fuel for our tummies!