Cooking - Carbonara

Simple, easy and fast cooking for lunch or dinner! It is so easy that it can be done in 20 minutes! Fulfilling and hearty food! Read along on how to cook it!

Ingredients: 

• Spaghetti
• Bacon 6 - 8 sliced into small bits
• Shredded parmesan cheese
• 1 whole egg with egg white
• 2 eggs with only the egg yoke
• chopped 2 cloves garlic
• chopped onion (with or without is fine)
  

Let's start cooking!

The sauce

• Add the eggs into a large bowl
• Add a generous amount of shredded parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Mix all ingredients together

The pasta and bacon

• Boil the spaghetti (6 mins - 8 mins) and taste if it is al dente
• Set medium head on a non stick pan.
• Add oil (you can add any type of oil you like)
• Add the bacon and cook til it is cooked and not brown
• Add onions and cook it til it is clear
• Add garlic and turn the heat to low heat.
• Use tongs and transfer the spaghetti to the cooked bacon pan and mix well
• Transfer the mixed spaghetti onto the sauce bowl and mix well
• If the sauce starts to dry, add the boiled pasta water onto the bowl and mix

Delicious flavours! You can eat it just the way it is or you can add some basil to the mix to make it look pretty!

HK eats - Ishiyaki Cafe (My Melody and Kuromi)

Today my friend and I met up for dinner and we spotted that Langham Place (Mong Kok) was doing a Sanrio promotion. We decided to head to Ishiyaki Cafe and they were doing a My Melody & Kuromi Pop up cafe!

Ishiyaki Cafe

Since it was still early there was no queue and within 5 minutes we we able to grab seat. The whole cafe was in wood and pink colour. Some of the tables had My melody and Kuromi. You can even select My Meldoy pillows and take pictures with them. I didn't do it because I was afraid the pillows were too dirty since many had their hands on them.

My Melody & Kuromi welcoming people at the entrance!

Everything is pink

The tea set menu

We were there very early and dinner service starts at 6:00pm. We only had the tea set service which starts from 2:00pm - 6:00pm. There were various of selections on the food you would like with the set you will also get 3 selections of drinks and 10% service charge. 

My friend and I ordered the fried rice which came with the stone bowl and the Korean spicy sauce. The rice tasted pretty good but the only thing that was lack was the stone bowl was just a display. It wasn't like the Korean style where the bowl is so hot that the rice is still sizzling inside the stone bowl. It was simply just placed inside the bowl. The vegetables were even cut into little shapes to make it more cute! 

Kuromi french toast with ice cream

The next dish was a dessert. French toast with ice cream. Some of the french toast tasted crispy but some were soggy, so I assume some of them were just cooked and left it out. They simply just mixed the old ones and new ones together. Obviously, the ice cream wasn't homemade.

My melody coffee

Super cute!!! Well, cute doesn't mean it is a great cup of coffee. I kind of like my coffee mild strong and this cup of coffee certainly wasn't strong enough for me. It tasted more like a latte. I guess it is the taste for teenagers?

Overall, the food there wasn't good which I have expected because if you are there you are simply there for the theme experience. If you are into Sanrio theme dinning experience this is the place for you! If you are a My Melody fan then this is definitely the place for you! 

The staff there are pretty young, they are in high school so, don't expect them to be very good in customer services and serving. I think most of them are part time since I saw some of staff arriving to the cafe in their school uniforms. Cut them some slacks because school just started and after school they have to go to work. After work they will have to probably do their school work. 

My Melody & Kuromi Pop Up Cafe:

Date: 14 July 2014 - 14 September 2014

Time: 11:00am - 11:00pm

Location: 10/F Langham Place

Visit other Sanrio Promotion offer!
http://www.langhamplace.com.hk/en/#/whatshot/promotions/latest/55

Where is Langham Place?

Transportation: MTR
Location: Mong Kok Station

Europe Trip - Day 8 Vienna Schönbrunn Palace

The next day after arriving to Vienna (read Day 7 and Renaissance Wien hotel review) we had our breakfast and coffee, headed out at 10:30am to our first destination of the day which was the Schonbrunn Palace (aka The Summer Palace).

The Schonbrunn Palace wasn't far from where we were staying so, we used the google map and walked to the palace. It was just a 10 minutes walking distance. 

Front of the Schonbrunn Palace

We arrived at the side entrance of the palace, it was kind of a long walk to the main entrance of the palace. Once we got there, the palace looked golden huge! The summer palace looked very homey which made me felt that I wouldn't mind staying a few nights there.

Anyway, so we went all the way back to the entrance gate where there was the ticket office to purchase the tickets. There were a few choices depending what you would like to see inside the palace.

We purchased "The Grand Tour" ticket which allowed us to access 40 different rooms inside the palace with the Now or Never card (Vienna Card) that we purchased at the airport and the coupon booklet that we got we used it and there was a discount for the tickets. (The Now or Never card (Vienna Card) is a card for you to get discount offers by showing the card + coupon and also allows you to get on any transportation according to the days on the card you selected).

The Grand Tour of the palace takes you through 40 magnificent interiors. The Grand Tour begins in the west wing of the palace and takes you through the apartments of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth, the central wing with its imposing state rooms and finally into the east wing of the palace, where highlights include the magnificent audience chamber used by Emperor Franz Stephan and Empress Maria Theresa. (info from: Schonbrunn Palace website).

There are various of selections you can choose from inside the ticket office or you can purchase them online.

Read my arrival day in Vienna! (Tips on transportation in Vienna!)

Backside of the Schonbrunn Palace

It took us about an hour waiting in line and purchased our tickets. Once we got in, we didn't go line up to see the rooms yet so, we decided to check out the beautiful garden. The garden was huge. Along the side there were different things to see. There was a maze, a zoo and other different gardens. There are other things to see that you will have to purchase an entrance other than that, the garden outside the palace is FREE to all people to walk in. People were jogging around the palace like it was just an ordinary park.

Schonbrunn Palace

The view of the garden was amazing! It was so big that every tourist was there had their own space to roam around the palace. At the far end was the Gloriette where the Gloriette Cafe is located and you can have a nice cup of Vienna Coffee and a piece of cake to rest while looking at the Schonbrunn Palace.

We headed up to the Gloriette and found ourselves looking a huge fountain. The carvings were so real and detailed. Once you are there you will have to walk either right or left to go up to the Gloriette. The path way was designed in a zig zag way, I assume it was much easier and faster to walk that way and it did not pull away any attention for the Imperial people to look at the garden inside the Schonbrunn because trees was hiding the pathway. 

The Gloriette

Top of the Gloriette

Get on top of at the Gloriette to view Vienna. (Reminder, going up top you have to walk on stairs. There is only one to up and down. The stairs going up is pretty narrow so, please be careful and give room for other tourists who was going out or going up to visit the view.) It was absolutely breath taking. You can even see St. Stephan's Cathedral there. After taking a view moments and snap shots of this beautifu we decided to head down to the Gloriette Cafe

We sat down at the outdoor of the Gloriette over viewing a pool at the back surrounded by wonderful tourists who were having drinks and cake. The waiter there was busy but efficient. They were well dressed in their staff uniform and the place looked really clean. They really held up a good reputation for the palace with their services. 

The food tasted very nice as well. I ordered Gratinierte Fleischpalatschinke mit Salat (Pancake stuffed with minced meat and gratinated with cheese, salad) and a hot cup of Vienna Coffee. The salad was fresh and the salad dressing didn't over power the dish. The pancaked was soggy and the whole presentation looked very nice. It was a perfect dish for the spring season when the sun was shining down at the cafe.

Sachertorte, Gloriettetorte

Since we were in Vienna and it is best known of their delicious pastries, we couldn't resist on ordering ourselves lunch desserts. Sitting at the Schonbrunn Palace is probably a once in a life time there. I don't often sit inside a palace and have food served, so I am going to take that opportunity to do so! I ordered the Sachertorte, Gloriettetorte. It was just the amount of sweetness that I was looking for! I am not a fan of anything too sweet. I will get a sore throat if there's too much sugar but this cake was just right! It was very moist, the chocolate icing on top was not too sweet.. hmm... delicious!

Overall with all the food I had at the Gloriette Cafe, it costed a total of 16.5 euros with tips for the staff I paided about 18 euros - 20 euros for the lunch. It wasn't so bad thinking that I was in a tourist attraction place and I was inside eating inside the palace compound.

View the Gloriette Menu here (file in pdf format)

After lunch, we finally walked inside the palace! There were so many beautiful rooms. Audio devices will be provided to all tourists. All you have to do is ask after you have entered the entrance. All the rooms were beautiful. It showed cased the army uniforms. Part of the imperial beds, clothes, paintings. It is all fascinating and knowing the history of the Austria Royalty. What I was most excited about was I got to step inside where once Maria Antoinette was born and raised before she got married and became the Queen of France. Though she had a tragic death due to the French Revolution but seeing how extravagant lifestyle from the Austria Royalty lived was pretty amazing!

Inside the palace no pictures were allowed so, I secretly had a snap shot of the central room.

By the time we finished the rooms inside the palace, it was nearly closing time. Some parts of the garden that required tickets was closed already, so we couldn't finish the whole tour using the ticket we purchase. Even a day spending at the Schobrunn Palace I couldn't see everything, so my advice to people if you really like to see the whole palace probably spend 2 days there. You can purchase each ticket individual to see the things you want.

Where is Schonbrunn Palace?

Address: Schönbrunn Palace, Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47, 1130, Wien Austria
Opening Hours: 8:30am - 5:00pm
Website: http://www.schoenbrunn.at/en.html
Suggested Transport: U-Bahn get off at Schonbrunn Station

Once Schonbrunn Palace closed, we headed to the center of Vienna to find our next place to have dinner. We took the U-Bahn and got off at Karlsplatz station. Then simply just roamed around and found ourselves in front of the infamous Vienna Opera House (Wiener Staatsoper).

Wiener Staatsoper - Vienna Opera House

What a beautiful beautiful building. Unfortunately during WW2 most of the building was lost only the entrance part of the building was left and the building behind it was re-built after the war. More details on the tour at the Opera House later in the future blog!

Interesting Street Performance

Sissi Palace

Not really knowing what we are having dinner, thanks to Tripadvisor we looked up a place that was sort of far from the whole tourist attraction place and was located in between the business district and local district area. During our adventure on finding this restaurant we just took snap shots on the streets we saw along the way.

I think as a backpacker tourist, the most wonderful thing on not having a tour is that you can roam around the city and not knowing where you and you will find so many interesting things around you rather than just spotting out only where the tourists are.

Schnitzel time!

Thank you to tripadvisor we looked up Das Heinz restaurant. The pictures told us the place looked very cozy and warm welcoming. When we got there it was drizzling was rain. Luckily we found it before it was raining very heavily. As expected the restaurant was very cozy, homey, warm and romantic.

The staff was very nice and gave us a good seat near the window. I love the decoration around the restaurant. I never had a Schnitzel before and my friend wanted one so bad so we ordered two and beer. The schnitzel was so big that I couldn't finish it at all. It was tender, not try at all and very flat. The potato salad was very well seasoned and not soggy. It a traditional Austrian food and I think it is the same in Germany as well.

Where is Das Heinz?

Address: Rudolfsplatz 12, Vienna 1010, Austria
Opening Hours: 11:30am - 12:00am (Mon - Fri) / 6:00pm - 12:00am (Sat) / Close (Sun)
Website: http://www.dasheinz.at/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dasheinz
Suggested Transport: U-Bahn get off on Schottenring station or Schwedenplatz station

The romantic night after the rain in Vienna

Once dinner was over we were heading back to the hotel for a good night rest. The next day we had plenty of places to visit. After the rain, I couldn't help to take a photo of the night scene in Vienna. It felt so romantic being outside with old building surrounding me and the went pavements on the street. I felt like I was inside a movie scene.

Next Blog... Day 9 Belvedere Palace & Gustav Klimt

Game - Kim Kardashian Hollywood

I am not much of a gamer at all. I normally just play to spend a bit some time. I usually just end up playing those typical farm games, candy crush, jelly splash those sort of genre.

A week ago, I found out that Kim Kardashian released a new game. I didn't feel excited what so ever, I was simply curious but I do watch "Keeping up with the Kardashian" reality series. Due to curiosity I clicked "Download" and voila! I have the game on my phone.

Here's my opinion and in take about this game...

Every time when you open this app you will see a cartoon character of Kim K. Not that I am offended by it and I find that the illustrator did a pretty good job on drawing out the whole game. The colours looked pretty good as well.

The one thing that sucks so much is that it always say that there's a network problem and I have to check my internet settings which I doubt it's my fault because everything is working find on other devices. Sometimes the app has to load 2 times before it fully goes to 100% then you can start playing the game.

Afterwards, the app will direct you to select whether you want to be a woman or a man! For myself, I picked myself as a woman. It's just way easier for and I assume I have more clothes and variety to pick on.

Since I have played on the game I am on Level 8 already. YAY me! There are wide selections on different face shapes, eyes, hair, make up and clothes for you to choose from. Depending on which level you are on you can select different types of styles you want according to what they offer. Some of them you have to earn money to purchase them.

Seriously? I'm on the D-List! Before you move your way up top you must be in the down bottom "THE E-LIST" Yes! It's worst than the D-List. By working on job offers & tasks they want you to do you can make money, earn level points, K silver coins & energy. Most of all if you have done your job well you will gain "fans".

Fans are very important to increase your status in the came. The most fans you have the faster you crawl up the ladder! Under the D-List star there's your ranking and fan number. If a job you did that mentioned on the new feed saying that you didn't do well or you gossip about some one in a bad way you will lose your fans and your rank will lower.

Every job you have completed at a certain time scheduled a feed about your will pop up. It will notify you on how well you did or didn't do and notify you how many fans you have gains or lose. Next to "My Feed" Top stars, is how you rank. There are so many on that list and I envy the first few people who are on the A-list! I know I will get there!

Get to work! The manager will let you know and let you pick some campaigns you would like to do. Getting to work and the job done is key to get more money, so you can shop, increase you rank and level! Just by clicking on the "teal buttons" you can get to work and the energy will decrease. Once your energy are gone you will have to wait for it. It doesn't take long. Just play some other games!

You will receive calls all the time. Most of the time is the manager "Simon" calling notifying you on jobs but some rare moments Kim K. will call you. She will call you mostly on the goodies. Inviting you to parties and giving you jobs. She will also give you gifts!

What do I think about this game? 

I think it is an alright mobile app game to waste some time on and since I am kind of a person that do want to see what happens next in other levels and getting my rank up to leave the D-List group, I will stick around and keep playing.

The game itself is very easy to understand and move around. But I wish the words on locations can be more specific. Sometimes the manager will just tell me to go to his office but doesn't tell me which location. As a person who doesn't live in Hollywood, I don't remember where the office and other places are if it didn't mention. I will have to take the metro and waste a few buck on finding where are those places located.

Networking in the game is hard. I don't have friends playing this game and networking with other people in the game you need a lot of K stars. If you want more K stars you can purchase them but as a person who isn't addicted to games I don't purchase anything. I will simply wait for my time to come.

The game itself takes you to places. The graphic is very simple and clean. It is easy to look at and it's not complicated at all which I like.

Pros:

• Easy & user friendly
• Nice designs and layout of the game
• A competitive game to get famous!
• Wonder what the next level offers.
• Change clothes, hair, make up on how you want it!
• Once logged in, game is smooth

Cons:

• Loading is so slow
• Says error on the network have to re open the app
• Not all areas are located specifically.
• In some conversations you don't get to choose what you want to reply.

Tip: When you are on the street try tapping on the bushes, luggages and other things you see, you will get extra money, energy, level up.

I will keep playing this game. Maybe will have a follow up once I reach a certain level and I find there are interesting happening in the game! Give it a try, if it's not your thing then just remove it from your cell phone.

Watch how the Buzzfeed crew felt about the game!

Gosh! Kim Kardashian is making big bucks on this app! 

Movie - 50 Shades of Grey Trailer Review

The day has finally come! The anticipated official launch of the 50 Shades of Grey Movie Trailer! Since Beyonce posted a Teaser Trailer of the movie on her instagram (Beyonce Instagram) and the 50 Shades Of Grey Facebook Page announced the official trailer will drop on 22 July, 2014 (Thursday) I was HYPED! Now I have seen the trailer, keep reading!

For many of us ladies around the world whom have read the books by EL James and went all goo goo gaga over Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele it is the day to actually see a little glimpse of the two actors Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson acting as the character. 

Image Credit: ibtimes.com

This is only base on my perspective on the trailer and the book. Firstly, I would like to clarify that I haven't finish the first book yet but as far as how I imagined who Christian Grey is, it is NOT Jamie Dornan. Sorry to say, I just don't see him being Christian Grey. 

For the past 2 years I think, people were talking about who should play Grey's character and I think the actors that were mentioned was far more interesting and better that this dude. Let's name a few... 

Matt Bomer - The top runner through out everyone wanted him to play Grey! I certainly see him playing the character but I guess he or the casting crew passed, maybe for the age? Does Bomer's face pull off playing a 27 year old character? My thought... WHO CARES!!! HE'S GOOD LOOKING!!!

Ian Somerhalder - Second hot pick! My favorite man in The Vampire Diaries. I watch the show because of him. Well, I can see why people wanted him to Grey because HE IS SUCH A BAD VAMPY BOY in the show! 

Then there were these other selections:

• Christian Bale - Why would he want to play in a movie like this? He's older & I think he surpassed this typed of movies after the American Psycho.
• Ryan Gosling - We all know he has an AMAZING body but seriously? Does Ryan really need to play this role? He is a heartthrob already! Remember the movie "The Notebook"?
• Robert Pattinson - Why would he want to be in an R-rated version of Twilight? He has Twilight in this pocket and survived 4 movies does he need another 3-4 movies that has a similar story line? Doubt it! 

My honest review...

After watching the official trailer, I was disappointed. The trailer doesn't bring enough for me to be drawn, excited, captivated and excited that it's coming soon in Feb 2015. This Grey doesn't look anything mysterious to me. He looks boring. Probably he should keep doing TV shows.

Anastasia Steele, I don't see this actress as the character either. She doesn't look "THAT" innocent to me. I seriously would want what everyone wanted Alexis Bledel (Gilmore Girls) to play the character.

Probably it is because the book is so popular that I don't see this guy can carry the character and knowing that this movie will be a saga since EL James wrote 3 books.

I assume the actors want to make a name for themselves from this movie since both actors are kind of fresh face. I wouldn't have know what movies/TV roles they have played if I didn't IMDB searched for them.

Will I pay to watch this in the theaters? I will just have to wait for a few more trailers that hopefully will release and give me some excitement and anticipation that this movie is worth the money and time to watch it in theaters. If the movie doesn't deliver the BIG chance will be I will watch it in DVD/Streaming.

Watch Fifty Shades Of Grey Official Trailer

Youtube Credit: JoBio Movies Trailer
What do you think about the trailer? 

HK Eats - Ovo Cafe

For the past few years, I have noticed that Hong Kong is adapting the western vegetarian health eating routine. There are plenty of Chinese vegetarian restaurant around Hong Kong but I find that their dishes are quite greasy.

Anyway, since I am all "hands up" on vegetarian food a friend of mine decided to try this new place that opened in Wan Chai Market. Wan Chai Market has been newly renovated and there is a place called Ovo Cafe just opened. It is currently a very popular place for locals.

Ovo Cafe Entrance

My friend and I arrived there at 6:30pm, as soon as we arrived there were 4 people behind us. It wasn't that pack. By the time it was 7:00pm more and more people started to wait in line.

The whole atmosphere is base on a garden design. Once you enter you will be surrounded by a lot of greens and flowers. The whole cafe smells with fresh plants and flowers. It gives you a very relaxing mood.

Calm atmosphere

Ovo Cafe only sits about 25 seats and it is a half self serve service. The staff there are all very helpful and really nice. I guess it is partially because of a relaxing area. Once the staff have taken to where you will be seating, they will provide you their menu. 

Vegetarian menu

They do not provide a long list of food selection which I think it is good because they can focus on making the food taste better. All the food on the menu are vegetarian. On each food listing they will provide G,O,M,E at the end to allow customers know what kind of ingredients are there.

G - Garlic
O - Onion
M- Milk
E - Egg

Once you have made your decision go up to the cashier and place your order. A number card will be provided and you will have to collect your own utensil then head back to your table and wait for the staff to serve the food to your table. 

Order at the Cashier. Utensils on the left.

The following are the dishes we ordered:

Ovo Green Salad. Everything inside the salad tasted very fresh and looked very fresh. It has a good texture and everything balanced very well with the balsamic vinegar as the sauce. The presentation of the salad looks pretty good too. The dish is big enough to eat as 1 serving or share it with friends.

In the menu there were only 2 choices of pasta so, we ordered 2 of them to try out.

Tagliatelle with aubergine tomato & mozzarella mountains

The pasta was not al dente, it was towards on a bit soggy side so, I think it was over cooked. The tomato sauce tasted fresh. The egg plant was a bit over cooked as well as the skin was kind of chewy. The stuffed tomato mozzarella was alright. If only, the pasta wasn't over cooked I think this dish is a winner. 

Linguine with king oyster mushroom with miso sauce

A Japanese style pasta. The tasted a bit plain. My own tasting there wasn't enough salt or probably that is how it is suppose to be since this cafe is all about eating healthy. I am a fan of mushrooms so, I have no complain on the oyster mushroom. It was the same, the pasta wasn't al dente. I think the restaurant cook should carefully time their pasta. This can be cooked at come easily!

DELICIOUS!!! Mixed vegetables with goat cheese wrap

This wrap was my favourite. The tortila was crispy and warm. Crunchy fresh vegetables with a great goat cheese flavour. For those you aren't a fan of cheeses this might not be for you. If there wasn't any cheese inside, the wrap would have tasted bland.

SUPER FRESH!!! Fruit juice - Orange

The restaurant provide a large variety of drinks but since I wasn't interested in any of them, I chose the daily fruit juice which turned out to be orange juice. It is definitely juiced right out from an orange and not out from a carton! So, THUMBS UP on that! Absolutely not over sweeten and taste just like you were eating an orange!

Overall, I would suggest everyone to go try the salads and the wraps! All their veggies are fresh and organic. It is perfect to sit down with friends having a good healthy lunch or dinner. Incorporating some healthy food in our body helps instead of having heavy meaty proteins daily.

Where is Ovo Cafe?

Openrice Reviews: Ovo Cafe

Opening Hours: 
Mon - Fri: 11:30AM - 10:00PM
Sat, Sun & Public Holidays: 10:00AM - 10:00PM

Ovo Cafe Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OVOCAFE.green
Email: tastegreen@ovocafe.com.hk
Telephone: +852 2527 6011
Address: G/F, 1 Wan Chai Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

View more other photos on #ovocafe!