Unbelievably, we had a few pieces of suckling pig in a doggie bag from last night. About to rise and shine and have some pork for breakfast. Life IS good.
Preparation for the CNY reunion feast, I’m sure. Whole roasted pigs are used as offerings to the Heavenly Jade Emperor (Chinese: 天公). The pigs will then be chopped up into smaller pieces for distribution to family and friends.
I saw a whole roasted one at my local market yesterday morning:
There are also small suckling pigs, caramelised and barbecued, at another shop a few doors away. These are usually bought as gifts during the CNY season.
That seems like a good price! Is that a hearty meal for one person? It appears to be. I really need to get to hk. It seems like a fun food destination. Around my area they serve some suckling pig but it is always served chopped and not presented “whole” like they do over there. Nice pics as usual! Are they cooked over wood?
For jerky suckling pigs, I’m not sure I have seen those in HK. I love pork jerky already. Peter, can you find this the whole year round? or only in Chinese new year?
My wife translated. Interesting article. Got another week to try the range of Porky Goodness.
We are finally kind of adjusted to the time diff, slept in and got a late start. Tossed around the idea of ferrying to Cheung Chau Island for more seafood. But the forecast of rain and our lethargy postponed this excursion for another day.
Instead, we strolled from our Tsim Sha Tsui hotel to the Yau Ma Tei area, a leisurely 45 minute walk. Finally decided on Ho Ho Restaurant, a very decent hole in wall that is on our short rotation list.
They do a very good Bo Jai Fon (clay pot rice), but I needed some comfort food. I had a chunk of steamed fish. Plain steamed topped with pickled mustard.
Pork jerky’s a year-round thing. The whole suckling pig given the same treatment: not so, only appears during CNY period.
In Singapore, the most popular brand is Lim Chee Guan, where 4-hour queues form each day at least 2 weeks before CNY. This was what I saw last week when I was back in Singapore - the queue stretched around the block.
Most Singaporeans swore Lim Chee Guan’s version is superior to those from other leading brands, including previous numero uno, Bee Cheng Hiang (which has branches in HK), but whose outlet a few yards away from Lim Chee Guan looked deserted in comparison.
I’ve only tried Bee Cheng Hiang’s jerky, the supreme pork one (only available en vrac in shop), moist and fat was really good already, now I can’t imagine Lim Chee Guan…
I flew from ny to singapore with my american client many years ago. I was exhausted and jet-lagged after our long flight and wanted nothing more than shower and sleep. A company driver met us and asked where we wanted to go. I started digging in my briefcase for the name of the hotel but my client said *Lim Chee Guan". I was incredulous, but kept quiet since he was paying the bills. It was so delicious, we have this food in nyc but it’s nowhere close to as good.
Little did I know that after this stop, rather than head to the hotel, we were going directly to a birthday party for the wife of one of the wealthiest men on the island. The food was fabulous and I I had my first (and only) taste of durian birthday cake!
Now, many years later, I’m in singapore, I texted my former client (he’s now my friend) to let him know and included a photo of pork jerky!
I hesitate to recommend a restaurant, you obviously are doing very well, but last year, on the suggestion of charles yu, we tried and loved the roast goose at chan kee. enjoy!