I love steamboat but never get to eat it cos my daughter hates it. In fact, she's a really picky eater, and favours junk over seafood, much to my disgust. So I very happily indulged in the fruits of the sea during my recent trip to Hong Kong with Andy from Ocean Health.

We attended the Cosmoprof exhibition together, and took the opportunity to eat our way around Hong Kong (and Shenzhen).

The night we got back from Shenzhen, we decided on a late supper at a steamboat restaurant, located 10 minutes by foot away from our hotel. After a certain time, they serve buffet style only. I believe it was about S$20 a head, but that included all soft drinks and beer, as well as premium beef slices, seafood and other weird and wonderful things.

What arrived first was certainly weird but in no way wonderful. Not by my standards anyway: some creature's testicles and something else's spinal cord. Yummy. Not...

If you look closely at the photo above, you can just about make out the grey matter within the white matter. That is, if you remember back to your science classes to know what I'm talking about!

Even when other food did arrive, I kept scooping out bits of this spinal cord. Yuck! And no, I wasn't game to try it.

What I enjoyed immensely was the melt-in-your-mouth beef slices and the crispy fish skin. I'd happily go back to that restaurant just for these two items.

As with many Chinese restaurants, fish tanks showcasing live seafood seems mandatory. Not sure why... And the fish all seem to have been on steroids! I'm sure if anyone tried to eat these things, they wouldn't taste good at all! Poor buggers to be kept in captivity just for show. I guess this one got it lucky... free chin jacuzzi whenever it fancied a massage!

I was also somewhat tickled at why they would want to keep these giant prawn-like creatures in plastic bags. Any idea? Please post in the comment box below!

I'm sorry I didn't take down the name of this restaurant or the location. But I'm sure I'll be back there some day...

                  

We've been visiting Bangkok's Chatuchak Weekend Market for years now. It's a must-visit as long as we're there over the weekend. It's only a few months ago that we first noticed the coconut ice cream stalls surfacing. We were on the tram for the first time that trip, and jumped off when we saw this stall.

As with all good ideas, this stall has been copied, and there are now half a dozen clustered around the same area (which is in front of the MRT station for those who may be interested).

I LOVE coconuts from Bangkok! But my daughter generally hates them! She's just starting to come around though, so we decided to share one ice cream between us that first trip.

For less than S$2, we got a large scoop of home made coconut ice cream, served in a half coconut shell. Underneath the ice cream lies a few shreds of fresh young coconut flesh. Sprinkled on top, freshly roasted peanuts. And on the side, as much fresh coconut juice as we wanted to drink!

The tastes and textures blend together so well, and the presentation is so rustic, that I'm not at all surprised that the trend has taken off as it has.

With our more recent visit, we had to have one portion each. Nothing else would do! And I'm sure if it became street food, I'd have it more than once per trip.

So poison to my blood type or not, I'm certainly unable to resist this incrediblly delicious concoction, and look forward to savourig it again soon!