Joe Gray's 365 Days of Food

The Best and The Worst

2010-02-02T08:03:00.004+08:00

Well, Voting is closed and it's time to announce the winners and loser for the 365 Days of Food.

The Best

A tie for first was no real surprise with many ties in the weekly polling (and frankly, I think some people are voting specifically to get ties) which in the was split 3-ways.

Day 20 - Happy Garden Thai
Day 20 was the fantastic Thai food at the Happy Garden Thai Restaurant in Shek O. Those of you fast enough with your number may also notice that this was a Valentine's Day meal. Upon looking at the photos after the meal I couldn't decide which I liked best so put them all in!

Day 43 - Bimbo Deluxe Caesar Pizza
Ahh. Bimbo's Pizza. Bimbo's Caesar Salad on a Pizza.
People are always taken a little aback when they hear it for the first time, but after tasting it for the first time I was hard pressed to order anything else (although the Agnello with Spiced Lamb, Sultanas, Lemon and a huge pile of Rocket is also damn good).

Day 201 - Cherries
Day 201 should really count as a studio type shot. It certainly wasn't the snap-a-second-before-digging-in that most of the photos were. Remote, tripod, off-camera flash, wireless flash triggers and a large white reflector were all necessary to bring together a simple portrait of the fruit. Still, nothing better than munching on some cherries while you're packing up your camera equipment!

The Worst

Day 9 - Cinema Hotdogs and a Giant Coke
Day 9. So early on in the 365, I was still adhering to a "interesting food is better than a great photo" dogma when I took this shot. And really, this is a terrible shot. Pop-up Flash, barely any food visible and Hotdogs aren't exactly glamorous. This was a standout poor shot and got voted as such, easily besting (or "worsting") all contenders.

Day 365 - Chicken Tandoor Pizza @ Mojo's Weird Pizza

2010-02-01T14:42:00.001+08:00

Day 365 - Chicken Tandoor Pizza @ Mojo's Weird Pizza, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Well, this photo completes 365 Days of Food. Although some photos were uploaded a little late (this one especially!) I managed to take a photo of the food I ate every single day for a year. As it turns out, it ends on the 25th of January, the day before Australia Day, with not a very special meal. Considering that we also opened with a not very special photo, I suppose this is somewhat fitting.

We ordered take-away pizza from the Richmond pizzeria Mojo's Weird PIzza. Fairly quick service and great pizzas, this place certainly warrants a return.

Day 364 - Metropolitan Chicken Burger

2010-01-29T15:23:00.001+08:00

Day 364 - Metropolitan Chicken Burger, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

A fantastic Chicken Burger at a pub on Bridge Rd who's name current eludes me.

Day 363 - Jelly!

2010-01-29T15:04:00.001+08:00

Day 363 - Jelly!, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

24 Litres of Jelly!!!

Yes, once again it's a food challenge. Last time I was in Melbourne we had a Viennetta Challenge and this time it's Jelly.

The Challenge was to finish 4L of Jelly , which turned out to be much more difficult than expected. In fact, it took me 4 hours and 19 minutes with a long break in the middle to have dinner!

Day 362 - Vegetarian Feast @ Soul Mama

2010-01-25T13:01:00.001+08:00

Day 362 - Vegetarian Feast @ Soul Mama, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

The all-vegetarian, semi-buffet style dining at Soul Mama in St Kilda is fantastic. This restaurant offers views of the setting sun over Port Phillip Bay (but it's probably best not to spend your entire meal looking into the sun)!

Trouble in old Melbournetown

2010-01-25T07:50:00.001+08:00

Hi Guys,

Sorry for the slight delay in the last few photos, I seem to be having some problems uploading photos to flickr on the dodgy Australian connection. But things seem to have slightly improved and I'll hopefully be able to get those last few photos up soon!

Cheers,
Joe

PS. Today (Monday 25th) is the 365th day!

Day 361 - Beef with Rice

2010-01-25T07:40:00.001+08:00

Day 361 - Beef with Rice, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Certainly not a great meal when the highlight is the James Squire Golden Ale (not that it's bad)!

Day 360 - Clams with Chilli

2010-01-25T05:48:00.001+08:00

Day 360 - Clams with Chilli, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

A final dinner before I fly back to Melbourne.

Day 359 - Thai Green Curry

2010-01-20T17:49:00.001+08:00

Day 359 - Thai Green Curry, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Another photo of Green Curry in my rice bowl. This is because, despite how delicious it is and how much I love it, a large bowl of pale green liquid with some leaves floating in it isn't exactly photogenic!

Day 358 - Tomato Mince Beef with Rice and a Fried Egg

2010-01-19T16:28:00.001+08:00

Day 358 - Tomato Mince Beef with Rice and a Fried Egg, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Lunch at my desk again! A Bolognese type sauce on white rice, with a small amount of Vegie and a Fried Egg on top!

A delicious and cheap lunch from the LG7 food court at work.

Day 357 - Steak and Chicken Fajitas

2010-01-18T22:48:00.003+08:00

Day 357 - Steak and Chicken Fajitas, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

... with Mini Chicken and Bacon Cheddar Beef Mini Burgers in the background and a Carolina Chicken Salad way out back. A quite expensive lunch at Ruby Tuesday's in Shatin.

Day 356 - Mango Sweet Tofu

2010-01-18T22:48:00.001+08:00

Day 356 - Mango Sweet Tofu, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

This is a fantastic, fairly common Chinese dessert. Silken Tofu topped with Mango and puréed Mango. Sweet, Soft and delicious.

Day 355 - Pea and Scallop Salad

2010-01-18T22:47:00.001+08:00

Day 355 - Pea and Scallop Salad, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Home-cooked family dinner. Steamed fish and poached greens in the background.

Day 354 - Hot Pot

2010-01-15T16:29:00.001+08:00

Day 354 - Hot Pot, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

We had a fairly big group for Hot Pot last night. We decided to go for a half and half soup base, where one side was a mild soup and the other was a tongue numbing, eye watering, super hot, spicy concoction.

De--my-mouth-is-on-fire--licious!!

Day 353 - Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese

2010-01-14T16:59:00.001+08:00

Day 353 - Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Another quick post-run lunch at my desk.

Day 352 - Baked Dough Balls

2010-01-13T11:30:00.001+08:00

Day 352 - Baked Dough Balls, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Last time I was at PizzaExpress I ordered a salad that arrived with these dough balls on the side. They were great. So great, in fact, that I thought: "maybe next time I can just order the Dough Balls?" and so I did. Unfortunately, I was slightly less impressed this time, I was expecting them to arrive hot and soft and pillow-y in the middle (like last time). It wasn't to be... Next time I think I'll just go back to a regular salad!

Day 351 - Satay Beef with Sweet Potato Noodles in Hot and Sour Soup

2010-01-13T11:29:00.001+08:00

Day 351 - Satay Beef with Sweet Potato Noodles in Hot and Sour Soup, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

This is limited time dish served at the Cha Chaan Teng at HKUST and since I enjoyed it so much last time, I decided to try the Satay Beef version this time.

Delicious

Polling is Back!

2010-01-11T10:02:00.009+08:00

Hi Everybody,

Since it's just 2 short weeks* till the end of the 365 Days of Food, we're having final polls. Two! The first being the Best Photo of the 365 Days of Food and the second being Worst Photo of the 365 Days of Food. The shortlist for each of the polls was compiled mostly by me, but with a little feedback. If there's an image you particularly like, that's not here, let me know and I'll try to sneak it in. As per usual, feel free to vote on as many items as you like. Voting will be open until the 25th of January, midnight, the final night* of the 365 Days of Food.

* On the topic of the "end" of the 365 Days of Food, it turns out that I made something of a mistake when starting on the first day of the Chinese New Year (January 26th, 2009). The next Chinese New Year Festival doesn't happen until the 14th of February, which makes for 385 days in this Chinese Calendar Year. As it turns out the Chinese Calendar normally has 353-355 days in a year except for a leap year... where they have a whole extra month! And this year is a leap year, thus the 385 in this Chinese Calendar Year.

So... should I persist until the end of the Chinese Year, making 385 days in my "365 Days of Food" or should I just stop on Australia Day (which I'll be celebrating in Australia). I haven't decided yet, but am open to suggestions!

Vote Away!

Day 350 - Sugared Donut and Coffee

2010-01-10T22:46:00.001+08:00

Day 350 - Sugared Donut and Coffee, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Just a light (and very sugary!) lunch before an afternoon long run.

Day 349 - Indomie Instant Noodles

2010-01-10T22:45:00.003+08:00

Day 349 - Indomie Instant Noodles, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

As I've stated before, I rather like instant noodles. My favourites are the Indomie which is a "dry" spicy Indonesian noodle and the Nissin Tonkotsu which is a Japanese Pork Bone flavoured soup noodle.

Day 348 - Smoked Turkey Sandwich

2010-01-10T22:45:00.001+08:00

Day 348 - Smoked Turkey Sandwich, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

A post-run sandwich at my desk. As it turns out the Smoked Turkey Sandwiches are much better than the Ham Sandwiches at HKUST's Cafe.

Day 347 - Spaghetti Carbonara

2010-01-08T21:53:00.001+08:00

Day 347 - Spaghetti Carbonara, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

So Easy!

Cook a 1/2 to 3/4 of a packet of pasta (I used a whole pack - probably too much spaghetti) until al dente,

Fry 1 finely chopped onion (red here, but brown is better), with ~6 rashes of bacon until crispy,

Well mix approximately 6 tablespoons of Parmesan, 2 eggs, ~1/2 cup of cream and white pepper to taste,

After the Bacon and Onion is cooked add the pasta to the pan and when everything is hot pour in the mixed sauce while furiously stirring.

Serve! Feeds ~4-6 depending on appetite.

I love a salad so included the only thing I could find rocket in, but was too lazy to include halved cherry tomatoes, carrot and cucumber (which would have gone well).

Day 346 - Crispy Fried Rice with Chicken

2010-01-07T12:20:00.001+08:00

Day 346 - Crispy Fried Rice with Chicken, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Normally called Bo Jai Fan, this is a traditional Chinese dish cooked in claypots where the rice gets charred, crispy and delicious on the bottom.

Day 345 - Japanese Chicken Curry with Rice

2010-01-07T12:19:00.001+08:00

Day 345 - Japanese Chicken Curry with Rice, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Back to an old favourite.

Day 344 - Sandwich in a Bowl

2010-01-05T17:28:00.001+08:00

Day 344 - Sandwich in a Bowl, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Finally, after often finding it sold-out after a spot of lunchtime climbing, I got to enjoy a Sandwich-in-a-Bowl. I really enjoy salads, and often here in Hong Kong, there's not enough variety.

Day 343 - Roll-in-a-Roll

2010-01-04T12:17:00.001+08:00

Day 343 - Roll-in-a-Roll, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Another lunchtime treat: a return to the old days of Melbourne High School.

Day 342 - Thai Pomelo Salad, Pineapple Rice and Green Curry

2010-01-03T12:03:00.005+08:00

Day 342 - Thai Pomelo Salad, Pineapple Rice and Green Curry, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Take-away dinner from a Thai Restaurant. The green curry is my favourite!

Day 341 - Barbecued Chicken Wings

2010-01-03T12:03:00.003+08:00

Day 341 - Barbecued Chicken Wings, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

A Western-style barbecue on the first day of the new year.

Day 340 - Spiced Eggplant and Potato in Tomato

2010-01-03T12:03:00.001+08:00

Day 340 - Spiced Eggplant and Potato in Tomato, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Dinner on New Year's Eve at a Nepalese Restaurant in SOHO. Very similar to Indian but still very good.

Day 339 - Pork with Sweet Potato Noodles in Hot and Sour Soup

2010-01-03T12:02:00.001+08:00

Day 339 - Pork with Sweet Potato Noodles in Hot and Sour Soup, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Szechwan Style. Very hot, very sour, very good!

Day 338 - Tonpeiyaki

2009-12-29T23:26:00.003+08:00

Day 338 - Tonpeiyaki, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Dinner at Watami: Casual Japanese Restaurant in Kowloon Bay again.

Watami's Tonpeiyaki is tasty mixture of Pork, Cabbage and Cheese wrapped in an Egg Omelette and drizzled with (I'd guess) Japanese Mayonnaise and Oyster Sauce. Served on a sizzling pan to top it off.

Delicious!

Day 337 - Tuna and Salad Sandwich

2009-12-29T23:25:00.002+08:00

Day 337 - Tuna and Salad Sandwich, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

I wanted to go for the Sandwich-in-a-bowl but it was sold out (again!) so I decided to go for a plain tuna sandwich.

Day 336 - Sausage and Egg Noodles

2009-12-29T23:25:00.001+08:00

Day 336 - Sausage and Egg Noodles, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

... with my standard Dong Yuen Yeung. We stopped at a small village in Lam Tseun, and decided to wait out the rain a little and have brunch. Not really a first rate meal, but I always enjoy dining al fresco.

Day 335 - Ferrero Rocher

2009-12-27T17:19:00.001+08:00

Day 335 - Ferrero Rocher, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

As I suppose it is for most families, our boxing day dinner was very similar to our Christmas Night dinner due to the large quantities of unconsumed food. Instead I took a photo of these gift Ferrero Rocher.

Day 334 - Christmas Feast

2009-12-27T17:18:00.001+08:00

Day 334 - Christmas Feast, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

A huge Christmas meal with all the extended family around. We bought the giant turkey from outside, but everything else was home-made including Lamb Cutlets, Buttered Sweetcorn, Green Salad, Oven Wedges, Fried Rice and Bacon and Mushroom Carbonara Spaghetti.

Day 333 - Orange

2009-12-25T12:43:00.001+08:00

Day 333 - Orange, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Feeling a cold coming on, I decided on a good dose of Vitamin C in an after dinner Orange.

Day 332 - Dreyer's Vanilla Chocolate Chip Icecream

2009-12-25T12:25:00.001+08:00

Day 332 - Dreyer's Vanilla Chocolate Chip Icecream, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Dessert. In retrospect I think I should have gone for the plain vanilla with Milo topping!

Day 331 - Beef with Noodles

2009-12-25T12:24:00.003+08:00

Day 331 - Beef with Noodles, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

A quick dinner at the food court in APM after some last minute Christmas shopping.

Day 330 - Hot Pot

2009-12-25T12:24:00.001+08:00

Day 330 - Hot Pot, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Hot Pot for my first night back in Hong Kong with all the usual suspects. My favourite is the shrimp wanton, middle right.

329 - Airline Food

2009-12-23T19:56:00.001+08:00

329 - Airline Food, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

This was supposed to be Braised Chicken with Jasmine Rice but it honestly tasted just like so many airline meals before it. At the bun is served warm!

Day 328 - Meatball Sandwich @ Pine Market

2009-12-23T19:55:00.001+08:00

Day 328 - Meatball Sandwich @ Pine Market, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

At a small supermarket / deli / liquor store I found a (terribly unhealthy) but delicious combined breakfast lunch. Homemade meatballs with a homemade tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese tied this sandwich into something special. Rounded out with a Double Espresso and a free coleslaw (would have preferred a green salad but the options were pasta salad or coleslaw!).

Day 327 - Tandoori Chicken, Lamb Vindaloo and a Garlic Naan @ Lahore Karahi

2009-12-23T19:53:00.001+08:00

Day 327 - Tandoori Chicken, Lamb Vindaloo and a Garlic Naan @ Lahore Karahi, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

With a little guidance from my San Francisco travel guide, I ended up at this Pakistani restaurant very close to my hotel.

Fantastic.

The Tandoori Chicken was a little dry, but the Lamb Vindaloo was just amazing and the Garlic Naan the perfect tool with which to clean all remnants of the curry.

Day 326 - Ham & Cheese Filled Croissant, Powdered Jelly Donut and Double Espresso @ The Happy Donut

2009-12-19T06:15:00.001+08:00

Day 326 - Ham & Cheese Filled Croissant, Powdered Jelly Donut and Double Espresso @ The Happy Donut, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

I stopped for a brief lunch at this restaurant on the edge of Chinatown. Despite the fairly dodgy outlook, the food here was great. The powdered donut was so sweet... just the sugar boost I needed before I headed out for a long run!

Day 325 - Burrito Mojave @ Taqueria Can Cun

2009-12-19T06:14:00.002+08:00

Day 325 - Burrito Mojave @ Taqueria Can Cun, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

After a climbing session at Mission Cliffs I headed back towards my bus and spotted this restaurant on the other side of the street. It was super busy... normally a great indicator of quality and it certainly didn't disappoint. Looking at the menu I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted, Tacos with soft flour tortillas? Burritos with soft flour tortillas? Quesadillas with soft flour totillas?

In the end, I went for the "Buritto Mojave - (The Big One)". It arrived within minutes, served with corn chips, salsa and guacamole, this certainly was a big meal. Filled with meat, beans and a rice mixture, it likely wasn't very healthy but was very delicious. After finishing one, I was highly tempted to try another, but was so full, I didn't think I could manage it!

Day 324 - Tomato Braised Kale & Potato Crosata with Rugosa Squash w/ Creme Fraiche Soup @ Split Pea Seduction

2009-12-19T06:12:00.001+08:00

Day 324 - Tomato Braised Kale & Potato Crosata with Rugosa Squash w/ Creme Fraiche Soup @ Split Pea Seduction, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

... served with House-made Rustic Country Apple Cider. Taking a suggestion from my mini-lonely planet, I headed down to this trendy, small, semi-open kitchen soup extraordinaire.

I went for a medium pumpkin-esk soup and a half crosata. The soup was good but quite sweet, and I generally prefer a peppery pumpkin soup, while the crosata was crispy and delicious. The apple cider was iced, very think with lots of cinnamon... Fantastic.

Day 323 - Fettucine Putanesca @ L'Ottavo

2009-12-16T04:14:00.001+08:00

Day 323 - Fettucine Putanesca @ L'Ottavo, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

The pasta served up at this San Franciscian restaurant was the best Italian food I've had in years!

The pasta had precisly the right blend of gastronomic delights, with individual ingredients providing subtle flavours here and there but overall blending into a wonderful symphony of flavour.

The bread arrived warm, with a soft chewy inner, and crispy outer, served with a saucer of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and a tapanade of sun dried tomatoes and chilli.

Even the beer, a Moretti La Rosa, was the perfect complement.

A wonderful meal.

Day 322 - Nugget Burger and House Salad @ Grubsteak

2009-12-16T04:12:00.001+08:00

Day 322 - Nugget Burger and House Salad @ Grubsteak, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

My first dinner in San Francisco. I asked the reception at my hotel for a recommendation and for a "real San Francisco experience" he recommended a nearby place called Grubsteak. Designed like the inside of a tram (or possibly actually the inside of a tram, this restaurant certainly had a lot of that sterotypical US feel about it. I was a little disappointed that most things on the menu were burgers and steaks, but I shouldn't have been surprised. The burger was quite good but still just a burger and the servings weren't huge and no fries or anything extra included, but overall not a bad meal, the unique setting making up for everyday food.

Mini Cakes, Big Votes...

2009-12-16T03:49:00.002+08:00

Day 308, The Mini Cakes, lead at the start at lead at the end despite a strong finish by the Pre-Race Pasta...

And thus, the weekly photo contest comes to a close. But don't fret, there's more voting to be had. We're going to take a week break (while I'm in San Francisco) and then in the lead up for the finale, Day 365, we're going to have votes on topics like "Favourite Breakfast", "Best Japanese Meal" and the bitterly fought "Worst Photo Ever".

Stay tuned and start perusing the catalogue for winners (and losers)!!

Day 321 - Thai Green Chicken Curry

2009-12-16T03:46:00.001+08:00

Day 321 - Thai Green Chicken Curry, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

One of my favourites for a final dinner before heading off to San Francisco for the week.

Day 320 - Lemon Cheesecake

2009-12-12T11:24:00.001+08:00

Day 320 - Lemon Cheesecake, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

... with "Dong Leng Char" - Iced Lemon Tea. Dessert at Spaghetti House in Mong Kok.

Day 319 - Smoked Turkey Sandwich

2009-12-12T10:52:00.001+08:00

Day 319 - Smoked Turkey Sandwich, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

I was originally planning to go with the trusty Sandwich in a Bowl but after my run, when I arrived at the Cafe, they were sold out! So instead, I decided to go for a regular sandwich.

Day 318 - Fried Rice with Choi

2009-12-11T15:12:00.001+08:00

Day 318 - Fried Rice with Choi, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

A daily staple livened up.

~Sik (Choi) Fan

Day 317 - La Marzano Pizza

2009-12-10T12:30:00.001+08:00

Day 317 - La Marzano Pizza, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

More subtle this time, but that slight blue twinge on the plant in the back gives away the Pizza Express location.

Quite a good pizza, but I would have loved for a pile of fresh rocket on top!

~Sik Pizza

Day 316 - Mixed Salad

2009-12-08T11:55:00.001+08:00

Day 316 - Mixed Salad, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

I was having trouble coming up with a name for this dish. It has Red, Yellow and Green Capsicum, Tofu, Seaweed, Ham, Onion and Sesame Seeds. Rainbow Salad? Vegetable Salad? I decided to go with the generic Mixed Salad. Fairly good, but I was busy chowing down on the home-made wontons (pot to the left)... again!

Day 315 - Pork Chop in a Sweet Bun

2009-12-08T09:50:00.002+08:00

Day 315 - Pork Chop in a Sweet Bun, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

The Pork Chop Bun is a Macau tradition and after the race we found ourselves at Tai Lei Loi Kei in Taipa, perhaps the most famous pork chop bun joint in all of Macau. Unfortunately, I couldn't go for the crispy bun version of the bun (it's only served after 3pm) so I went for the Sweet Bun version. Although it sounds a little strange, it was great, almost worth waiting around till 3pm just to have the crispy version!

Pork Wonton with Chilli burns off the competition

2009-12-08T09:37:00.002+08:00

The Home-made Pork Wonton have won again, this time with the aid of a little chilli! Once again, I am running a little late, but the photos will be up! The new poll will be up shortly and voting will be open till Midnight Saturday!

~Sik Fan!

Day 314 - Pre-race Pasta

2009-12-08T09:31:00.001+08:00

Day 314 - Pre-race Pasta, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

In preparation for the Macau Half-marathon the next morning, I filled up on spaghetti with a very basic tomato sauce. In the end, the race went great and I had heaps of energy for the entire race, I just wished that I'd gone out a little faster at the start!

Day 313 - Japanese Chicken Curry and Rice

2009-12-08T09:30:00.001+08:00

Day 313 - Japanese Chicken Curry and Rice, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

The old favourite.

Day 312 - Pan Fried Duck Breast with Pesto Spaghetti

2009-12-04T16:07:00.001+08:00

Day 312 - Pan Fried Duck Breast with Pesto Spaghetti, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Although it seems like quite a big meal for lunch, this is a fairly standard sized dish.

This dish, in particular, is quite popular among my colleagues, so I thought I should try it but I was actually a little disappointed. The breast had a huge amount of fat that I had to cut off and there was a measly amount of vegies. Perhaps next time I'll just return to my favourite at the Cafe, the Sandwich in a Bowl.

Day 311 - Fried Rice Noodles with Beef and Pineapple

2009-12-04T10:22:00.001+08:00

Day 311 - Fried Rice Noodles with Beef and Pineapple, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Despite looking really oil (it wasn't - it's corn flour), this dish was quite good. Subtle flavours, but good.

Day 310 - Spaghetti Carbonara

2009-12-02T11:41:00.002+08:00

Day 310 - Spaghetti Carbonara, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Home-made Spaghetti Carbonara last night and although it doesn't sound like a winning combination, it went great with a little tabasco sauce!

Day 309 - Fried Egg and Enoki Mushroom with Pork Chop and Rice

2009-12-01T12:19:00.001+08:00

Day 309 - Fried Egg and Enoki Mushroom with Pork Chop and Rice, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

I saw someone collecting this dish last week, and despite not finding it on the menu, asked for it at the counter and they understood what I meant!

The fried egg and pork chop were great, but the rice was a little bland. An okay dish, but didn't come close to my favourite: Japanese Curry Chicken with Rice.

Day 308 - Mini Cakes

2009-12-01T10:03:00.001+08:00

Day 308 - Mini Cakes, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Dessert!

Late, late, late, late...

2009-12-01T09:51:00.003+08:00

Sorry Gang, a little tardy with the last couple of updates, but I have been taking photos everyday! Last week's poll was hotly contested between the Roll-in-a-roll (probably with strong old boy support) and the Apple and Cinnamon Crunch Toasted Oats (an action shot). In the end, the Roll-in-a-roll, Day 300(!), won out by a single vote!

The new poll will be up shortly, and voting will end at Midnight on Saturday!

Day 307 - Shanghaiese Mince Pork Noodles

2009-12-01T09:49:00.001+08:00

Day 307 - Shanghaiese Mince Pork Noodles, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

...at the favourite Shanghaiese place in To Kwa Wan. I went for the Mince Pork Noodles this time, but think I prefer the Dam Dam Mein.

On a side note (and somewhat related to Shanghai), I was watching "Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer" last night, and the (lack of) Asian comprehension displayed was unbelievable. First they're flying along in a jet and report about being over "South Eastern China" (which is pretty much where Hong Kong is), the next moment, they're flying alongside (and blowing up) the Great Wall (Northern China and approximately the same distance from HK as across all of continental USA from North to South), and then they crash in Shanghai (Eastern China). To top it all of, at the suggestion of a wedding they say: "I've got an idea" and are mystically transported to a very Japanese wedding (not sure if they're pretending all of Asia's the same or just leaving huge holes?)... Surely this is the kind of thing most Westerners would notice? Maybe not...

Day 306 - Tuna and Salad Sandwich

2009-12-01T09:45:00.001+08:00

Day 306 - Tuna and Salad Sandwich, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

A sandwich in the sun and a bit of sketching... not a bad lunch-break really!

Day 305 - Aussie Cheese Fries

2009-11-27T16:40:00.001+08:00

Day 305 - Aussie Cheese Fries, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

... at the Outback Steakhouse in Wan Chai.

In fact there's nothing remotely Aussie about this dish right down to the fact that we call them "chips" and not "fries".

Only a change of decor, and swapping all the "Aussie"s for "Wild West"s would be needed for a lot more accurate restaurant theme!

Day 304 - McDonald's Deluxe Breakfast

2009-11-26T12:20:00.001+08:00

Day 304 - McDonald's Deluxe Breakfast, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

I'm not sure what's so deluxe about having to make your own Sausage McMuffin with Egg, even if the egg is scrambled instead of fried. I suppose there *is* the hash brown... and I do like hash browns.

Day 303 - Cold Noodles with Peanut Sauce and Chicken

2009-11-26T09:49:00.001+08:00

Day 303 - Cold Noodles with Peanut Sauce and Chicken, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Although listed on the menu as "Soba Noodles", which would be a Japanese dish, I think this was more similar to Shanghaiese-type Noodles with Peanut Sauce. Nevertheless, it still tasted great!

Day 302 - Pork Wonton with Chilli

2009-11-24T15:28:00.001+08:00

Day 302 - Pork Wonton with Chilli, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Despite knowing how good these would taste, I held back and was careful not to burn my mouth. Again.

Vegetable Salad, Pork Ribs and Chicken in the background.

Day 301 - Dinner at Home

2009-11-23T12:14:00.001+08:00

Day 301 - Dinner at Home, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Another "what's in your bowl" photo. Fried Rice Noodle with Chicken, Sliced Sausage, Fried Egg with Soy, Broccoli and a can of Löwen Weisse to cap things off.

Watami Ramen Storms Home

2009-11-23T12:04:00.002+08:00

Day 287, the Watami Ramen stormed home for victory last week, easily fending off all competitors. As I noted, this is only the second photo to appear in the "365 Days of Food" that wasn't taken with my Pentax. Perhaps the little Casio should get more of a run? The new poll will be up soon... On your marks...

Day 300 - Roll in a Roll

2009-11-23T11:58:00.001+08:00

Day 300 - Roll in a Roll, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Return of a Classic. A old favourite and staple at Melbourne High School, I recently read that it's been banned from the canteen (with the exception of fund raising events) for health concerns! Sacrilege! Despite a (probably) heavily romantised memory of them, this home-made incarnation was utterly fantastic.

Day 299 - Tea Eggs

2009-11-23T10:47:00.001+08:00

Day 299 - Tea Eggs, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

The Tea Eggs are back after making an appearance on Day 3! Coffee also included in this breakfast, but not pictured!

Day 298 - Quattro Carni Pizza

2009-11-20T16:38:00.001+08:00

Day 298 - Quattro Carni Pizza, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

... at Pizza Express in Wan Chai (that electric blue lighting in the background should be reminiscent of the same lighting on Day 269!).

Ham on the right, Peperoni Salami on the "bottom", Chicken Breast on the left and Spiced Beef up top.

They asked us when we ordered this if we wanted it divided up or just all mixed together. As I was eating a 'border' piece, I couldn't help thinking that mixing everything up might have been the better choice!

Day 297 - McDonald's Double Quarter Pounder

2009-11-19T11:56:00.001+08:00

Day 297 - McDonald's Double Quarter Pounder, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

No, it's not just a re-run of Day 232... This is a lunchtime Double Quarter Pounder, and that was the dinner variety!

Day 296 - Apple and Cinnamon Crunch Toasted Oats

2009-11-19T11:02:00.001+08:00

Day 296 - Apple and Cinnamon Crunch Toasted Oats, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Breakfast action shot.

Day 295 - Fried Eggplant with Fishmeat

2009-11-17T21:20:00.001+08:00

Day 295 - Fried Eggplant with Fishmeat, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

This is a traditional Chinese dish. The vegetable (typically capsicum, peppers or eggplant) or tofu have a lump of ground fishmeat stuck to them and then the whole thing is fried. Much more delicious than it sounds, these Home-made Eggplant versions were fantastic.

Day 294 - Cold Pizza and Subs

2009-11-17T20:02:00.001+08:00

Day 294 - Cold Pizza and Subs, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Breakfast of Champions! All that's missing is a strong black coffee.

Sea(food) Monsters Attack, Win Poll.

2009-11-16T13:57:00.002+08:00

A tie this week between the two seafood options: the Mixed Sushi (Day 284) and the Lobster Pasta (Day 285). I'm a little late posting this week's poll up so the deadline will be extended to Saturday midnight. Get those votes ready, the poll will be up very soon!

Day 293 - Cajun Chicken with Mushroom Risotto

2009-11-16T13:56:00.001+08:00

Day 293 - Cajun Chicken with Mushroom Risotto, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Although titled on the Shakey's Pizza Menu: Cajun Chicken Risotto, this was really more a Mushroom Risotto with chicken served on top. The chicken was great but the risotto just okay.

The risotto was very creamy and lacking onion and that salty stock quality. It was quite sweet, more like a rice pudding dessert really.

Day 292 - Roast Chicken Steak with Lemon Sauce

2009-11-16T10:29:00.002+08:00

Day 292 - Roast Chicken Steak with Lemon Sauce, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

A quick lunch at my desk after a hilly lunchtime run. This was a strange combination of flavours with the Lemon Sauce, Chinese BBQ Soy Sauce and the Spring Onion / Ginger Condiment... but it *kinda* worked.

Day 291 - Tuna Sandwich in a Bowl

2009-11-13T10:41:00.001+08:00

Day 291 - Tuna Sandwich in a Bowl, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Sometimes I really like to have just a salad for lunch, but there's very little variety here, so normally I'll either end up with the Tuna Sandwich in a Bowl or the take-away Chicken Caesar Salad. They're good... but sometimes I'd prefer something a little different.

Day 290 - Crispy Skin Chicken

2009-11-12T12:17:00.001+08:00

Day 290 - Crispy Skin Chicken, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

...served with Pineapple, Rice, Winter Melon Soup and a trio of Sauces. The chicken was very good; this skin thin, delicious and crunchy. It was quite a large lunch already, but I couldn't help thinking that this dish could be vastly improved with at least some vegetable!

Day 289 - Mushroom and Bacon Carbonara

2009-11-12T10:51:00.001+08:00

Day 289 - Mushroom and Bacon Carbonara, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Okay, but not fantastic. Mashed Potato with Bacon and Bolognaise Sauce in the background.

Day 288 - Ham Sandwich

2009-11-10T11:00:00.001+08:00

Day 288 - Ham Sandwich, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

A quick lunch at my desk after a hilly, hard lunchtime run. I wanted something light, but was still a little hungry after this sandwich!

Day 287 - Watami Ramen

2009-11-10T09:26:00.002+08:00

Day 287 - Watami Ramen, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Lunch at the Watami Casual Japanese Restaurant in Hung Hau. We tried a couple of dishes different from the normal ones including this huge bowl of Pork Ramen. The noodles were perhaps a little overcooked but the soup was a delicious thick pork syrup. Very good!

On a side-note, this is the second photo only in the 365 Days of Food that wasn't taken with my Pentax K20D. I should just go ahead and get that thing surgically attached to my arm.

Chinese, Japanese, Western...

2009-11-09T12:15:00.002+08:00

A three-way tie this week between Day 274: Wonton, Day 277: Deep Fried Prawns with Mango Mayonnaise and Day 278: Wellington Beef Burger with Beetroot. One example each from Chinese, Japanese and Western cuisine!

The new poll is up and ready to vote on, so click away!

Day 286 - Grilled Chicken McMuffin

2009-11-09T12:01:00.001+08:00

Day 286 - Grilled Chicken McMuffin, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

A pretty scrappy looking example of McD's new breakfast Grilled Chicken McMuffin. Not bad, but not super good. Just like all McDonald's really.

Day 285 - Lobster Pasta

2009-11-07T22:36:00.001+08:00

Day 285 - Lobster Pasta, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

An almost entirely seafood dinner at Kowloon City that included: 4 different types of clams cooked 3 different ways, sashimi, prawns, yabbies, streamed fish, choi, fried rice, all you could drink beer and this delicious Lobster Pasta dish. An epic feast.

Day 284 - Mixed Sushi

2009-11-06T14:50:00.001+08:00

Day 284 - Mixed Sushi, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Take-away sushi for dinner last night from the Genki Sushi downstairs.

Day 283 - Tomato Meatballs with Angel-Hair Pasta

2009-11-05T11:37:00.001+08:00

Day 283 - Tomato Meatballs with Angel-Hair Pasta, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

I was very tempted by a Toasted Cheese, Tomato and Salami Sandwich, but since I'd had it before, I decided to try something new. The meatballs were surprisingly good: pork, with just enough black pepper for a bit of bite. The tomato sauce was also good, but a bit plain; the Tabasco took care of that!

Day 282 - Shredded Duck Breast with Rice Noodles

2009-11-04T15:45:00.001+08:00

Day 282 - Shredded Duck Breast with Rice Noodles, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Unlike the previous Duck Breast with Rice Noodles (and here and here), a dish that was one of my favourites but isn't served anymore, this is the noodle soup variety. Despite the very hot looking chillis this wasn't that spicy. The duck breast was great, I just kept wishing there was more of it!

Day 281 - Ham and Tomato Sandwich

2009-11-03T17:38:00.001+08:00

Day 281 - Ham and Tomato Sandwich, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Just a quick, easy lunch.

Day 280 - Ho Beng and Bo Jai Fan

2009-11-02T15:37:00.002+08:00

Day 280 - Ho Beng and Bo Jai Fan, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Ho Beng (Fried Oyster Cake) and Bo Jai Fan (Pot Rice) for dinner last night. The Fried Pot Rice isn't my favourite, but was okay, and the Fried Oyster Cake was great, as per usual!

Electric Blue Bokeh Boogaloo

2009-11-01T10:47:00.002+08:00

Last week's Cannelloni (Day 269) ran away with the voting. It was very good, but I thought it had some stiff competition against the cheesecake, icecream and fish and chips. Apparently not!

This week's poll will be up very shortly, so get those voting clicks ready!

Day 279 - Vanilla Icecream with Milo

2009-11-01T10:46:00.001+08:00

Day 279 - Vanilla Icecream with Milo, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

...or perhaps this picture suggests Milo with a little Vanilla Icecream, instead of the other way round. A match made in heaven!

Day 278 - Wellington Beef Burger with Beetroot

2009-11-01T10:45:00.001+08:00

Day 278 - Wellington Beef Burger with Beetroot, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

Dinner at Cul-De-Sac, just off Lan Kwai Fong, Central. I do love a great burger (which they certainly do here) but the reason I keep returning is the selection of bottled beers. Specifically, Coopers.

When chatting to the owner on Friday night he mentioned that the previous distributor of Coopers in Hong Kong had lost the rights to distribute and there currently wasn't any distributor arranged here. Apparently he has the last couple of cases from the distributor and after they're gone, there's no Coopers in Hong Kong! A situation I sure hope gets remedied soon.

Day 277 - Deep Fried Prawns with Mango Mayonnaise

2009-10-30T15:20:00.001+08:00

Day 277 - Deep Fried Prawns with Mango Mayonnaise, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

At Watami: Japanese Casual Restaurant in Kowloon Bay. Delicious.

Day 276 - Fried Noodle with Beef and Preserved Vegetable

2009-10-29T12:07:00.002+08:00

Day 276 - Fried Noodle with Beef and Preserved Vegetable, originally uploaded by JoeGray.

A surprisingly good dish. The Preserved Vegetable was just sour enough to add a little bite but not over-power anything and the Fried Noodles were deliciously crispy around the edges.

On a secondary note, the apparent "posterization" in the background is an artifact caused by the conversion to GIF format. I kinda like it anyway.