Hong Kong's Homegrown Eats
From traditional tofu and preserved meats to yogurt, ice cream and even wine, there’s a lot of great food being made right here in Hong Kong. Yannie Chan takes a tasty tour of these food factories—traditional and modern alike.
Milkin’ It
Founded by a vegan couple with a passion for ice cream, Happy Cow supplies fresh, dairy-free, all-natural frozen treats. There are 17 flavors ranging from banana caramel swirl and mint chocolate chip to lime and coconut. The secret to the animal-friendly recipe? Coconut cream, which even boosts your levels of “good” cholesterol. Needless to say, Happy Cow’s ice creams are free of soy, gluten and artificial anything. Buy it by the scoop or in pints from one of the stockists all over Hong Kong Island and Kowloon—or online.
Fourteen locations, including Something Fresh, 35-37 Graham St., Central, www.happycowhk.com.
Oodles of Noodles
Craving a bowl of fishball noodles or some Cantonese lo mein? The first thing you’ll need is soft, chewy and flavorful egg noodles from Kan Kee noodles. The shop hand makes a dizzying range of carb-loaded products at the back of the shop: fresh shrimp roe noodles, noodles made with fish paste, macaroni, rice noodle rolls and more. While most noodles are delivered to restaurants and cha chaan tengs, the shop—which is more than 30 years old—welcomes individual customers.
15 Peel St., Central.
Top Grapes
Well-equipped local urban winery The 8th Estate Winery makes its wine right here in the city, as the founders believe that wine doesn’t travel well. After sourcing the finest grapes from across the globe, the winery produces quality tipples and leaves them to age in their French and American oak barrels. The winery is temporarily halting daily tours and private tastings until they move to a new location in about three months—but worry not, you can still buy wines both at the winery and online.
3/F, Harbour Industrial Centre, 10 Lee Hing St., Ap Lei Chau, 2518-0922, www.the8estatewinery.com.
Sausage Fest