Picture of the Day: Man Mo Temple

Incense coils hang from the ceiling in Man Mo Temple

Late this afternoon I was in Sheung Wan and had a bit of time before my appointment, so I took a quick look around Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road. The outside was covered in a haze of smoke from the incense and some tourists were sitting around across the street away from the incense emissions.

More tourists inside were taking pictures of everything, from the carved wooden doors to the burning coils of incense and physical representations of deities, the God of Literature (Man) and God of War (Mo).

These two gods were worshipped by scholars who wanted to succeed in the civil examinations during Imperial China. The temple was built in 1847 and is the largest Man Mo temple in Hong Kong.

Step inside the temple land one feels like they've been transported to another time. Outside are western bars and cafes that are gentrifying the area, but it's neat to see Man Mo Temple standing its ground and not intending to budge anytime soon.

124-126 Hollywood Road

Sheung Wan

Wandering Sheung Wan and Taiping Shan

Clever frontage for a bar hidden behind this "shop" supposedly selling chops

Last Sunday after a delicious dim sum in Sai Ying Pun, some relatives and I walked around the Sheung Wan and Taiping Shan area.

Several piggies lined up with roast ducks too!

We saw a mix of old and new which juxtapose so well together, making Hong Kong a unique place to live in. As we walked along the start of Hollywood Road from the west, we saw a pine of pig carcasses hanging in a row on steel hooks.

One relative, who was visiting had to get a picture and I encouraged her to walk inside. The middle-aged men standing or sitting around invited us to come in, but warned the floor was slippery thanks to all the pig lard on the floor! Hanging above the carcasses were roast ducks too!

A cheerful mandarin tree plant

After climbing up hills and steps, we arrived in Taiping Shan. One deceptive shop front is Mrs Pound, or Pong Tai Tai in Chinese. In front is a display of all kinds of chops and rectangular-shaped stones that can be carved with Chinese characters.

But in fact this "shop" is a front for a bar inside -- if you can figure out how to get in. The hint is to press one of the buttons in the glass display...

Further along I spotted a cute mandarin orange tree plant in a small pot holder by a store front. What a wonderful way to liven up a space!

We also spotted a new restaurant that opened, and had a hand written sign apologizing for the slow service because of Chinese New Year. It looked cozy inside with an international menu. It may be a spot we come back to try.

An artistic homage to Dr Sun Yat-sen

Finally along Bridges Street, a wonderful colourful mosaic featuring Dr Sun Yat-sen in the top left corner and various buildings and street scenes of Hong Kong during the early 20th century.

The Last Meal

A colourful scallop tartare in a watermelon and cherry tomato consumme

Tonight my cousins and I went to TBLS, a private kitchen on Hollywood Road in Central.

The six-course tasting menu was fantastic, themed on Latin flavours.

Slightly spicy gazpacho soup with a hearty chorizo sandwich

We started with an amuse bouche presented in a small glass jar of deep-fried salted cod on mashed potato, followed by the first course called "soup and sandwich" -- the soup was a yellow gazpacho with ancho chilli panna cotta and Parmesan froth, accompanied by a homemade Mexican style chorizo sandwich with pickled watermelon skin.

The subtle spiciness in the soup was perfect and refreshing, the sandwich meaty and had complex flavours heightened by the watermelon. We were intrigued by what was to come next.

Again we were not disappointed, with slices of braised octopus on a bed of squid ink rice that also had a hint of spiciness from the fresh chillis.

Braised octopus on a bed of squid ink rice

The next dish pulled back from rich flavours to something more delicate. The scallop tartare was topped with a cilantro sorbet with two banana chips, sitting in a colourful watermelon and cherry tomato consumme. Very refreshing, savoury and sweet, crunchy and soft.

Berkshire bacon with guacamole (under the salad)

We were most impressed with the main of Berkshire bacon, a big square chunk that was braised and then the top was fried for a bit of crunchiness, topped with thin slices of pig ears, dressed with black bean puree and next to it a "salad" of guacamole. Perfect pairing and the bacon was delicious, fatty and meaty, practically melting in the mouth. The guacamole creamy from the avocado.

Just before our desserts we had a palate cleanser of sangria sorbet. Straight forward and yummy, which made us wonder why no one else had done this before...

Then our first dessert called chocolate bar -- chocolate mousse on a bed of cookie crust, topped with olive oil powder and surrounded by a creamy olive oil sauce. Very chocolately but not too sweet either, balanced with some sea salt.

The chocolate bar with olive oil sauce and powder on top

We also loved the second treat, a kind of macaron ice cream sandwich, made with salted dulce de leche ice cream and coconut cream.

Mmm mmm good.

But sadly this is the last menu the private kitchen is serving until the end of next month. It sounds like it's the same Hong Kong story of landlords being greedy and jacking up the rent.

Chef-owner Que Vinh Dang also says he wants to take a break and perhaps do some other food-related things instead.

Salted dulce de leche ice cream in between macaron shells

So we're sad to see TBLS close, but we are lucky to have finally tried it and the last menu. We hope to see chef Que out there again soon, creating new concepts for the Hong Kong food scene.

TBLS

7/F, 31 Hollywood Road
Central
2544 3433

info@tbls-kitchenstudio.com