The Food

Of all the things to like about Hong Kong, when it comes down to it, it's all about the food. I believe eating is both the national pastime and the national sport in Hong Kong. I have learned a few lessons in the short time I have been here. One of the most important is this: With respect to food, there are a lot of good things and a lot of gross things. I have realized that there is not a lot of payout for eating things that sound disgusting. Whether it is chicken feet, pig's feet, intestine, stomach, lung, cartilage, sea cucumber, 1000 year old eggs, or durian (for brevity's sake, I have left off a host of other disgusting things I have ingested), the best you get from eating gross things is the occasional surprise that it is in fact edible. Keep in mind that edible means just that, not desirable, not delicious, just edible. Where, most end up tasting exactly as bad as they sound. I understand the history and I realize that many of these things became popular at a time when people couldn't afford to waste anything. Well, I can, and I am drawing the line. On the other hand, there are many things that sound, look and smell good, and those things make the eating experience in Hong Kong one of the best.
Tonight I dined at Under Bridge Spicy Crab. It is located unironically enough under a bridge. It is actually the second generation of a former restaurant by the same owner called "Typhoon Shelter Crab," which was as you might have guessed, located in an old typhoon shelter. Under Bridge has become so popular that they bought out three other restaurants in the immediate vacinty so they would have enough table space to meet the ever-growing demand. It was also featured on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations.
It was phenomenal. It was a reminder that the worst part of eating alone, is you are limited in the amount of dishes you can order without appearing like a total glutton. So, I settled for only two: the razor clams with chili and jinger and the Salt and pepper chicken wings. The razor clams were a tribute to Matt Peirce (One of his favorite dishes) and the wings can recommended from a post on ChowHound.com (yes I am a dork, and I research things like this). I decided to pass on the signature dish - the Spicy Crab until next time, when someone else is there to enjoy it with me. The razor clams were delicious, fresh, and enormous. The chicken wings were phenomenal. It was the best salt and pepper seasoning I have ever had, and this comes from a guy who has had a clogged arteries worth of salt and pepper. I would have let them salt and pepper my arm if I didn't otherwise need it. In the words of our great governor, I'll be back.


















Anthony Bourdain with the chef.

















The crabs










My meal.