Sunday, August 8, 2010
HK: Checking out "Aunty Sweet" 甜姨姨 at Tin Hau, where locals go for dessert
After Mak's Noodles, I went to meet up with two old friends, Janet and Walter, whom I had not seen in more than four years. When they heard I had already had dim sum, grilled lamb rib, curry beef brisket, and wantan noodles...the only sane option left was dessert! At first, we headed to Times Square at Causeway Bay, but later Janet thought Tin Hau would be a better choice - it's where the locals go, and the dessert shops there are less commercialised.
We came to Aunty Sweet or 甜姨姨. It's a fairly well-known shop, but despite its success, it's stayed as a single outlet, not a chain. The owner Candy used to work at TVB, so occasionally you'll catch some TV celebrities eating here too.
Their signature special for the month was "Durian beancurd" (HK$28) - oh yes, oddly you'll find quite a few durian desserts in Hong Kong. Gorgeous creamy durian pulp atop refreshingly cold and smooth durian-flavoured beancurd. Even though durians are generally better in Singapore, this dessert was actually really good.
The other very beloved fruit for dessert in Hong Kong is mango. Hui Lao Shan is probably the name most people (especially tourists) flock to, but someone told me locals prefer other brands.
This "Mango Orchestra" (also about HK$28) features mango ice cream, mango puree, fresh mango cubes and dried mango atop shaved ice. Extremely decadent with nothing to cut through the mango overload, but if you love mango, this will be the bomb!
Walt took a Lychee Pomelo with nata de coco on shaved ice. It looked luscious.
There are also some unusual drinks here, like the "Hawthorn" ice blended drink. It tastes like hawthorn-spiked lemonade. Tangy for the most part, with the sweetness coming from the red bits.
The place is quite easy to find. From the main road, look for intersecting street that has the flyover above it (you can see it in the first photo too). Turn in there, walk a little bit and you'll see Aunty Sweet next to Kin's Kitchen.
For you durian lovers, check out Cha Xiu Bao's photos of Aunty Sweet's durian desserts - including the "Ultimate" (3rd photo) of durian sorbet, durian ice cream, durian puree, durian wafer and dried durian.
Hong Kong has so many lovely local desserts. Here's a list of other summer desserts in BC Magazine - Aunty Sweet's included too.
It was fun catching up with friends. We jumped into conversation like the four years lapse never happened. Our sweet interlude did not last long though. I had to rush to regroup with the rest of the bloggers and HKTB for our buffet dinner cruise on The Bounty (a full-sized replica). More on that in the next post!
AUNTY SWEET 甜姨姨 私房甜品
G/F, 13 Tsing Fung Street,
Tin Hau, Hong Kong.
Tel: +852 2508 6962
P.S. This post is also replicated on the OMY.sg Hong Kong Travel Blog. You can vote and Win a 3D/2N trip to Hong Kong!
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someone should really come with durian beancurd in singapore :P
ReplyDeleteOh I wouldn't mind having me some of that durian beancurd... Looks incredible! :D
ReplyDeleteOh wow, I really have to go and try this place the next time I'm in Hong Kong. The mango dessert looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteStill reading.... :) I feel so lucky that I will be in HK later this week...I have promised myself to check out at least 2 or 3 of your recommendations!
ReplyDeletePersonally I don't prefer Hui Lau Shan as well, for I felt that their mango desserts are well over-rated. Not even as sweet as I had imagined.
ReplyDeleteBut the durian beancurd could be the BOMB! I wonder when someone will replicate that here.
Stargirl: yeah, we have better durians here and yet no one's making durian beancurd as good as that here.
ReplyDeleteLFB: it is!
Eerational: The mango overload in that is killer!
Shirley: Ah, I hope you have a good trip - I still have a few more posts coming!
J2Kfm: They were everywhere in HK but I didn't try them. The durian beancurd is nice though.
Love durian desserts! And I'm loving your food write-ups!
ReplyDeleteCheryl
oooo..durian beancurd. Their desserts look so tempting
ReplyDeleteToo tempting I would say. I would eat all the deserts in the world but I am on a diet and want to lose weight.
ReplyDeleteThe place you have visited is marvellous. Ice cream is my favourite desert, it looks so delicious. Studio Web Design
ReplyDelete