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Hong Kong Christmas 2017
Kenny holding Roxy and me holding Carissa on Christmas Day in Hong Kong
For Christmas 2017, my family and I traveled to Hong Kong as usual. Both my parents and my husband Kenny’s parents were born in Hong Kong and we both still have family there. I grew up in Sacramento, but since birth I have spent most Christmases in Hong Kong. Therefore, I never really gotten comfortable with the American custom of tearing opening presents in front of your Christmas tree. I have had at least 32 Christmases in Hong Kong, with 3 in Sacramento, 1 in West Virginia, and 1 in Virginia, that I recall. (There, now you know how old I am=) I also wanted to go to Hong Kong while Carissa is still a lap child. She’s about to turn 2!
Kenny holding Carissa
My Popo has some health issues. So a lot of my time this trip was spent at Hong Kong Sanitorium & Hospital. Usually in Hong Kong, I do a lot of shopping and eating. This trip, my shopping was limited but I definitely ate a lot of good food.
Food Highlights From My Hong Kong Trip
Hong Kong is really a great place to travel to if you’re a foodie. I always look forwarding to eating my favorites in Hong Kong.
Jin dui from Chiu Chow Garden
The jin dui from Chiu Chow Garden is awesome. They serve it piping hot and it has just the right amount of crunch from the outside and the sesame seeds. The inside is sweet with black bean paste (I think).
Hainanese Chicken Rice from the Hong Kong Sanitorium & Hospital
I love Hainanese Chicken Rice. I still haven’t mastered the art of making it myself yet. But one of the best Hainanese Chicken Rice dishes I have ever had actually came from the Hong Kong Sanitorium & Hospital this trip. The chicken was moist and tasty. The accompanying dipping sauces were great. This dish is typically served with chili sauce, a garlic and ginger sauce, and soy sauce or something similar to Hoisin sauce. It also usually comes with some pickled or cooked veggies, white rice, and a bowl of chicken broth.
Before I tasted this particular Hainanese Chicken Rice, I had no idea that a hospital, ANY hospital, mind you, was capable of making such delectable food. My family told me though, that some top hospitals in Asia have really great food because they view it as a part of the business. Let’s hope I can find a Hainanese Chicken Rice somewhere in California near me that is just as good.
Shark’s Fin Soup from the Hong Kong Chariot Club
Hong Kong people are into clubs. Unlike country clubs in the United States, they don’t always have athletic facilities. Take the Hong Kong Chariot Club for instance. There is a floor for Western food and a floor for Chinese food. My family has belonged to this club for years. We have a lot of special family gatherings here. The average civilian can’t get in here. If you eat here, someone in your party must have a membership.
Grouper from the Hong Kong Chariot Club
So I know this is a bit controversial, but I did have Shark’s Fin Soup from the Hong Kong Chariot Club during my trip. I do like the soup and the Hong Kong Chariot Club makes it well. I do always feel guilty about eating it, knowing that it’s a luxury and that some poor sharks had to die to make my soup. That being said, the Shark’s Fin Soup from the Hong Kong Chariot Club is phenomenal. So is their fish. This trip, I ate a very good Grouper which was so tender it was falling from the bones. The Hong Kong Chariot Club’s version is served with a flavorful sauce. I tend to like raw fish in sushi and poke better than cooked fish. But this fish was amazing.
Crab, Cooked Shrimp, Crab Legs, & Lobster from Playt buffet
Finally, one of the arguably best meals of my Hong Kong trip was from the buffet at Playt in Causeway Bay. I always think Hong Kong buffets are better than buffets in America. They are definitely better than any buffets near me in California. I think Hong Kong people just have a higher standard for buffet food and the food is generally more upscale than American buffets.
My 1st round from the buffet at Playt: Bacon, ham, mushroom, green onion, red onion Omelette topped with caviar and truffles, Lobster Bisque Soup, Lobster, Crab Legs, Mussels, Blinis with and Crackers with caviar, red onion, egg yolk, & egg white, Crackers with 2 types of New Zealand cheddar, Smoked Salmon with capers and red onion, and Hainanese Chicken Rice accompanied by chili and ginger garlic sauces
As you can see from the 1st round of my buffet food in the picture above, there really is a lot of good food at this Hong Kong buffet. I’ve never had caviar and truffles at a buffet before. The seafood was fresh. The Omelettes were made to order and topped by caviar and truffles. Actually they had a lot of caviar and truffle dishes so I think there was some sort of theme. The sushi was pretty good as well but I forgot to take a pic of that as that was in my 2nd round.
Yummy desserts from Playt buffet
My dessert from Playt buffet: Crepe with fresh mango, banana, strawberries, homemade whipped cream, chocolate, strawberry, and brandeis sauce, Pear Mousse in an egg cup, Mango Passionfruit Gelato, and some watermelon
By the time I got to dessert, I was pretty darn full. So I had a yummy Crepe made with mango, banana, strawberries and homemade whipped cream with chocolate, strawberry, and brandeis sauce, some Pear Mousse, and some Mango Passionfruit Gelato, and watermelon. I actually had a cute little Mango Mousse Cake too but I think I ate it before I took the pic of my dessert plate.
Meet-ups From My Trip To Hong Kong
Kenny, Roxy, Me holding Carissa, my cousin Jocelyn holding Kayden, and her husband John
I was happy we were able to meet up with my cousin Jocelyn in Hong Kong at Playt buffet. Jocelyn is on my Dad’s side and her Mother is my Father’s 1st cousin. I used to see Jocelyn a lot more in college because we both went to UC San Diego. These days, we see each other about once a year, when I travel to Hong Kong for Christmas. We really like meeting up at buffets in Hong Kong.
Me, Kenny, Roxy, & Carissa with my cousin Jonathan and his fiancee Connie
We also met up with my cousin Jonathan and his fiancee Connie at the newly remodeled Park Lane Hotel. My cousin Jonathan is on my Mom’s side. His Mom is 1st cousin of my Mom. He also was educated in the United States, or went to college here, and then returned to the Motherland. I’m stoked for him because he’s engaged to Connie. He and my husband Kenny share a love of college football and also both like craft beers. I’m thankful he made the time to meet us, especially considering that I didn’t factor in that Causeway Bay, where my family is from, is also one of the main places to shop in Hong Kong.
Me with Roxy, Carissa, & my friend Tania
I’ve known Tania since high school. For a time, we both went to the same parochial high school. Although I switched high schools, Tania and I remained friends through the years. We both have deep roots in Hong Kong, Tania having grown up in Hong Kong, and me spending almost every Christmas and some other vacations in Hong Kong. I was so happy to meet up with Tania and to be able to catch up with her.
Things I Bought In Hong Kong
As I said, I didn’t do a lot of shopping this trip. This is because I was more concerned with spending time with my 98 year old Popo with health issues. But I did buy 2 things that are notable.
Chinese boy outfits & Chinese dresses
I bought a lot of Chinese boy outfits and Chinese dresses. They are cheaper in Hong Kong and more authentic. I buy them from a stall in this hard to find alleyway across the street from the Causeway Bay Apple Store. It’s my place to go for Chinese New Year outfits. My girls already have their Chinese outfits through their teenage years so this year I got a bunch for my nieces and nephews, and some family friends.
If you’re ever in Hong Kong, you want to go to Causeway Bay (pronounced tung lo wan) and Tsim Sha Tsui (pronounced jim sa jui) for good shopping and eating. It’s easy to get to both on the MTR (subway in Hong Kong). In fact most people take the MTR everywhere. It’s the quickest mode of transportation in Hong Kong as most people do not own a car.
Cute Sanrio Hello Kitty & Keroppi children’s spoons
I also found the cutest Sanrio Hello Kitty and Keroppi children’s spoons at a little store near the Tin Hau MTR exit. In high school I loved Sanrio so sometimes I can’t help myself when I see cute Sanrio stuff for my kids. I actually did 2 Prize Giveaways with these spoons as well and I was surprised by how well they did.
Notable Scenery
I honestly didn’t see too many of the main sights of Hong Kong. So there were no pictures of us by the Peak or anything like that. But we did get to see the lights on the buildings by Victoria Harbour.
Christmas lights on buildings by Victoria Harbour
View from my Popo’s Hospital Room at the Hong Kong Sanitorium & Hospital: Happy Valley Race Course & Hong Kong Jockey Club
Also, my Popo’s hospital room happened to have a very good view of the Happy Valley Race Course & Hong Kong Jockey Club. My Dad actually spent a lot of time in his youth playing soccer on the fields and racquetball on the courts here.
Although our trip to Hong Kong this Christmas was not as busy as usual, because we didn’t do a lot of shopping and were at the hospital a lot, it was definitely memorable. We had a lot of good food and, most importantly, got to spend time with family and friends we don’t see very often. I hope that you all had a very Merry Christmas!
Happy New Year to you and your families!
XOXO Jax
Carissa next to a window on the 35th floor with skyscrapers in the background
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