Which ice cream maker to buy?

Ice cream is hands down my favourite food. At certain point in my life I decided that I needed a diet. I went on an ice cream diet for a few weeks one summer when I was in University.

I tried making ice cream at home without an ice cream maker when I was a kid. I put the milky custard in the freezer and took it out every hour or so to stir it. The product was decent but that was quite a lot of work.

Fast forward to when I first started working many many years ago, I saw an ice cream maker at an outlet for sale cheap. I didn't buy it then, thinking I'd see such deal again soon. But I didn't. Upon further research, I found that there are many types of ice cream makers. (1) the home budget style you need to put the ice cream maker in the freezer for 24 hours before you can start making ice cream. Not to mention you have to freeze the custard for hours before you can actually start making the ice cream. (2) the compressor style you can make ice cream any time you want, without pre-freezing - but it costs a fortune. It also takes up lots of space. It is a big investment.


That's a tough decision. So I ended up not making the decision until now!  After buying maybe my 100th tub of ice cream from stores, I decided it is time to buy an ice cream maker. I also gave myself excuses like making healthier ice cream/ gelato for my little one Mochi, ensure the ice cream is low in sugar and gluten free, and to try out funky new flavours.

Home pre-freeze style

Cuisinart ICE-21

This is one of the most budget model (around US$60 at regular price) with good review. If I were to buy a non-compressor stand alone ice cream maker, this would be my choice. However, I know I'd leave it in the kitchen storage collecting dust.


Kitchen aid

Who could resist the temptation of having a Kitchenaid sitting in your kitchen? It is the appliance that shows you are a professional. It is the appliance that shows you have good interior design taste. It is the appliance you see in staged houses for sale too!  I was very tempted too... before I realised it is an ice cream bowl attachment that require pre-freezing. Unless you have a KitchenAid already sitting at home and only plan to make ice cream occasionally. I'm not sure if it can meet the purpose.

Compressor ice cream makers

If I were to buy an ice-cream maker only after 10 years of waiting and pondering, I might as well buy a compressor ice cream maker so I don't have any excuse to abandon it.

Ice cream maker is not very popular where I live. After searching through the city, I found Cuisinart, Breville, Delonghi GM6000, and some other brands in Sogo and some smaller shops in Kowloon (Yau Ma Tei). They all have very good reviews but each with some drawbacks. If all equals, then ease of purchase and size helped me make the decision!

The Purchase - Cuisinart ICE-100

After waiting a month or two for the pre-summer sale, I went to the department store to find 2 models on sale. Given the Cuisinart ICE-100 width fits my previous kitchen counter-top perfectly, and it is ready for immediate pick up. I decided on Cuisinart over DeLonghi. 

My baby - Cuisinart ICE-100HK

In my research, I noticed some key concerns people have on Cuisinart ICE-100. I've added my comments after 1 year of using (and still going strong): 

• Squeaky sound it makes after a few uses. (It is reasonable noise I can stand)
• Potential dirt built up at the bottom of the ice cream bucket (See review from IcecreamScience). (I made sure I wash and dry the ice cream bucket immediately after every single use. I have included photos of the bucket for your easy reference) Some people recommended disassemble the parts and reassemble adding some food grade grease to avoid the squeaky sound. I will definitely do that in the future and provide update on that. 

Circled are the two small holes mentioned by Icecreamscience

Inside of the ice cream bucket

Are you also deciding on purchasing an ice cream maker? Which one you ended up buying? If you also have/had Cuisinart ICE-100, any tips you could share? 

See my other postings on the ice cream I made!

- Scrumptious chocolatey chocolate ice cream 

The Gluten-free List (HK)

Gluten free ("GF") restaurants in HK
Just Salad, Soho Central (***)

Cafe on the 1st at the Excelsior, Causeway Bay (*****)
Life Cafe, Soho Central - vegan also (****)
Green Waffle Diner, SOHO Central and various outpost (****)
La Creperie, Wan Chai (*****)
Eat Right, SOHO Central (**)
Coast Bistro and Bar, Soho Central. Need to request specifically for GF meals (to try)
Sesame Kitchen offers gluten free cooking class in Sheung Wan
Taco Truck, Quarry Bay, Shop E, 22 Finnie Street (to try)
Munch, TST 1 Knutsford, Buckwheat pizza! (to try)

Organic / MSG free restaurants that hopefully understand our gluten free requests:
The Chairman, SOHO Central (*****)
Yin Yang, Ship Street - Wan Chai (*****) - Closed as of 2017. they make everything from scratch with love. At $680, you can be the King and make whatever allergy requests you have. Starting at $228 (set), lunches are more affordable. I think they have ala carte menu as well.
NaturoPlus, Wan Chai (*****) - Closed as of 2016. I was there last night. They understand the term "gluten-free". However, most dishes are not GF. I usually eat the Pork dish which is amazing. They changed the sauce to a cream sauce for me, but they said the pork was marinaded in Chicken Powder... To be 100% GF, you could order the steak, the chicken with olive oil, or the fish.
健味粥 Tam Keung's Congee (****), closed MSG & chicken powder free congee. Famous for its fresh fish & pork. The place is a bit quiet most of the times cuz it is located on a infamous drinking street (Tung Lung St) but it doens't serve alcohol... But the congee tastes like how I make it at home.
Tim's kitchen, the Michelin winner (*****).  Closed as of 2017. You can check with the waiter for the exact ingredients in each dish. They are always MSG-free but also confirms that your dishes are chicken powder free and soy sauce free. Note that in HK, most deep fried dishes are made with corn starch.
Original taste workshop 原味家作, various (**)
Xiyan 囍宴, various (**)

I haven't tried all of them but you could find information and reviews of them on openrice (available in Chinese and English).

Organic/natural food shops where I do my GF snack shopping:

Little Giant, Wan Chai (*****)
Health Gate, Central (***)
OrganicToHome, Soho (**)
Safforn Bakery, 24 Square Street, Sheung Wan (gluten free bread)
Healthy Delight, Soho 34-38 Stanley Street, 2/F (to try, has organic GF milk formulas)
Just Green, Soho Central, 52 Graham St
Green Earth Society, Sai Kung, See Cheung St
有機地Organic Land, Wan Chai (181 hennessy road), Tin Hau, Central (**) e.g. Gussie Auntie's cookies. See their online product listing
點點綠Green dot dot, 18 outlets - not GF focus (*)
綠盈坊O'farm, 12 outlets - not GF focus but may have some GF items (*)
Manna Organic Path of Health Ltd 177 Wan Chai Road. Also in Yuen Long, Kwun Tong, etc. (*). Not GF focus. Has Envirokidz rice crispy. Key product is coconut oil.
Healthy Delight delivery
SpiceBox Organics in Sai Ying Pun (Western district)
iDetox food store also has classes, workshops, etc.
General grocery stores with GF selections:
Oliver's Prince's building, Central (pricier) (****)
City'super, IFC Central, Times Square CWB, etc. (***)
Great, Pacific Place Admiralty (****)
Taste of Park n' Shop, various locations
International of Park n' Shop, various locations
Mark n Spencer, Central
Market Place by Jason's
Apita and Jusco, Taikoo Shing
Wellcome, various locations

Specialty shops with specific GF items:
Canadian Fine Foods (closed? I cant find them anymore) for delicious GF sausages, 3 Wan Chai Road (*****)
il Bel Paese for gluten free pasta and other italian ingredients. Queens Rd E Wan Chai near Star St (****)
NaturoPlus a restaurant that also do GF ordering delivery, Wan Chai
Mandarin Oriental HK, Central, GF bread at $68 4 slices (*****)
Ali Oli, Sai Kung, G/F, 11 Sha Tsui Path. Has GF bread with delivery. Also offers GF cakes!
cake2 Tin Hau 天后興發街 54號 - they seem to sell GF cake mix per magazine article in 2008
Xocai chocolate from Africa [to check]

GF dessert!!!
Riquiqui (closed), Central. Great after dinner hangout. (think Chickalicious in NYC). Call/email Amanda/Andrea in advance to order GF dessert like flourless chocolate cake, pavlova, ice-cream/gelato, etc. Friendly service and lovely atmosphere (****).... sadly closed....
Baking Maniac, online. Email ordering. GF cupcakes and other goodies. The chef & son pair is amazing. They are fluent in the allergy-language: egg-free / nut-free / gluten-free / milk-free, you name it. And their cupcakes taste as good as the regular ones! (*****)
Piece of cake (phone ordering. seems to be out of business)
Hagan Daz (some flavours)
Ben & Jerry (some flavours) - Times Square
Grassroots Pantry 12 Fuk Sau Lane, Sai Ying Pun, Western District - gluten free cookies!
Mana, 92 Wellington St Central also has gluten free desserts
Sweet Secrets 35 Graham St Central - gluten free cupcakes
Island Gourmet at the Shangri-la - GF version of their Chocolate Frou Frou
Sift Bakery can do GF cupcakes and some of their beautiful cakes like the feminine Ispahan
* I'll keep adding to this list. Please feel free to suggest.


Special thanks to everyone who left GF related message on geoexpat or else I could never find these amazing stores!

[Original post in 2010. Last updated: Jul 2013]

Scrumptious homemade chocolate ice cream

How my scrumptious chocolate ice cream looked like after staying in the fridge for over 24 hours. As tasty as fresh + Very scoop-able.

I have made at least 10 batches of ice cream since the purchase of my ice cream maker last year. While I loved every single batch, something is just not right:

• While they are all smooth and rich when freshly made, the texture become icy and hard once frozen overnight! 
• I used the best chocolate, different mix-in, but they taste nothing like Haagen Dazs. 
• I might not have the patience for that egg yolk cooking process. I've thrown out many batches of overcooked egg yolk since. What a waste!

What is missing? I've read so many "scientific" ice cream making articles. I tried different ideas.  The best texture, best tasting ice cream I made was the one I made with sweetened chestnut cream (creme de maroon) so I didn't have to add white sugar. But making ice cream with liquid sugar doesn't seem to make that difference.

Finally I read the Kitchn "Best homemade chocolate ice cream" article which was just posted last month. It has condensed milk in the recipe, which is also an ingredient on the Haagen Dazs box! Haagen Dazs is my favourite store brand ice cream.   I think I found the holy grail. I made it immediately this weekend. O dear! This is just how Haaden Dazs belgium chocolate ice cream tastes like. That rich chocolate flavour with a hint of caramelised taste. That is it! That is the secret I have been searching for! 

A few tips/reminders on ice cream making:

• Use condensed milk!
• Whisk the heavy cream until standing, then add/fold it in the other ingredients gently as per recipes. That seems to make the product more fluffy and less dense/hard. 
• Dutch processed cocoa powder really make that chocolate flavour stands out
• Whisk the custard for the one last time before putting in the ice cream maker
• I reduced the sugar content but added more chocolate than the recipe called for. The product seemed fine

Scrumptious chocolaty chocolate ice cream

1. Melt 200g chocolate in a bowl sitting on top of boiling hot water. I used Callebaut semi-sweet chocolate, 54% cocoa.  (original recipe called for 6 oz or 170g chocolate - mix of milk and dark)

2. Whisk 1 cup of Heavy Cream until standing

3. Add the 1 cup of cream (whisked), 2 cups of fresh milk, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup condensed milk, 3 big table spoons of dutch-pressed cocoa power.  (original recipe called for 3/4 cup of sugar)

4. Heat on medium-high until simmering for 2-3 minutes. Continue whisking occasionally 

5. Gradually add the hot dairy mixture into the melted chocolate. Blend throughoutly. 

6. Put in freezer until cooled (approx 1 hour?)

7. Whisk the mixture again before putting in the ice cream maker. 

8. Pour the mixture in the ice cream maker. I churned it for at least 50 minutes. 

9. Move the churned mixture into a pre-frozen container.

VIOLA!! This is how it looks after 10 hours of freezing. I was in such a rush to try out the new recipe that I forgot to add any mix in. 

This will be my go-to recipe. I will try condensed milk on other flavours ice cream =)))))

I'm so excited!

Gluten free lunch at home - SUSHI!

It was so hot and rainy the past weekend we decided we would spend the Sunday indoor at home. Stay at home weekend could be lots of fun!

We made sushi (maki roll) for lunch and Mochi the little one enjoyed the experience - preparing and eating. And it is a super healthy lunch for adult and kid alike.

And it is simple! Instead of one of us doing all the cooking in the kitchen, everyone gets to participate. Just wrap all the ingredients of your choice in rice and seaweed! We did not dip our sushi in soy sauce as it is so flavourful as it is! 

Little Mochi usually takes at least an hour to finish her lunch. She also has little patient to sit at the dining table with us. However, for the Saturday sushi lunch, she finished her food the same time as we did! Well actually we were eating as we make the maki rolls to make sure the seaweed remain crispy. 

What we put in the sushi? 

• little white fish, 
• salmon (seasoned with salt, pan fried and flaked), 
• sliced cucumber, 
• fried egg (seasoned with salt). 
• avocado!
• sesame
• shrimp and other seafood
• Spam (yay Hawaiian spam musubi!). I used a Japanese brand with no flavour enhancers.

How about sushi rice?

• Cooked rice (2 bowls)
• White vinegar (60ml or adjust to your taste) - any gluten-free white vinegar... as some rice vinegar may not be gluten-free
• Sugar (3 spoons or adjust to your taste)
• Salt (pinch)

You may adjust the vinegar and sugar based on the actual taste. We prefer it less sweet.

You may also add quinoa when cooking rice. 

How to cook rice without a rice cooker? 

I never had a rice cooker until the past few years! Here is how I did it:

- rinse your uncooked rice in water 

- put the rice in a pot (I used clay pot)

- add water such that the level of water is about 1cm above the level of rice

(So the water : rice proportion is approximately N cup of rice to N+1 cup of water)

Bon appetite!

Gluten free bakery in HK!

Great news!
A new bakery in Hong Kong that sells gluten free bread!

Saffron Bakery
http://saffronbakery.com/organic-natural-breads/
Quoted from their website "We have therefore sourced what we feel to be the best gluten free flour on the planet. Doves Farms in the UK have developed an award winning range of Gluten Free Flours. Their Gluten Free Brown & White Bread Flours are a blend of naturally gluten free and wheat free ingredients and natural gum for an alternative to wheat bread flour."
They prepare brown and white gluten free loaves on the weekend at all their outlets.You may also contact them if you would like to place an order for other gluten free bakery products.

You could find them at:
- Sheung Wan, 24 Square Street (830am-6pm)
- The Peak
- Stanley
- Repulse Bay
- Gold Coast

Gluten-free snacks from Germany

Below are scores of the snacks I tried, with 10 as the highest score.

The yummiest of the yummy:

Schär (10/10)

(9/10)

(9/10)

(10/10)

Good but not the best:
(8/10)

(8/10)

Those I finished the pack I got but won't repurchase:

(7/10)

(6.5/10)

Bottom of the list:

After eating these Bio Hirsebrot bread by Schnitzer (spezial) I finally understand what it means when other bloggers suggest that certain bread tastes like "cardboard" by many bloggers. (1/10)

(2/10)

Gluten free Shanghai

Thanks Jaclyn for sharing the following article with us!
Although in China, you can always stick to plain rice.. (I used to bring my own instant baby food japanese curry to mix with plain rice when travelling in China / Asia.) but it is better to have more options when you actually move to the city.

Shanghai gluten free: http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/articles/blogs-shanghai/health-beauty/health-matters-going-gluten-free-shanghai/



Below is an extract from the article:
Spaanjaars suggests checking City Shop, which stocks German brand Schar’s and Bob’s Red Mill brands, along with a small, assorted selection of gluten-free pasta and cereals. The bakery at the Hilton on Huashan Lu has gluten-free bread, but Spaanjaars says it’s “very dry and a bit like cardboard.” Sunflour has recently started offering a gluten-free loaf as well. Baker & Spice has a gluten-free orange cake, but because it sits in the display next to all the other cakes, contamination is an issue. For gluten-free truffles—available in coconut, chocolate, hazelnut and sesame flavors—email heavenlytreats12@gmail.com or call Amy at 186-1689-6014. Online, FIELDS, sells gluten-free chocolate chop cookies and flour, Taobao has a handful of Bob’s Red Mill products and iHerb.com ships to China

Gluten free articles in The List Magazine, HK

The June edition of The List free magazine has some info on Gluten Free in Hong Kong. In case you have missed the magazine, I've taken photos of the few pages for your reference. Here is their website: The List - Eat Smarter
Check out the articles! Our friends Baking Maniac is in the list =)
Some other stores to stock up for gluten free supplies and ... gluten free doesn't mean no more dessert indulgence!!!:
- Grassroots Pantry in Western District seems to offer gluten free cookies!
- Mana in Central at 92 Wellington St also has gluten free desserts
- Sweet Secrets with gluten free cupcakes
- Sesame Kitchen offers gluten free cooking classe in Sheung Wan
- Little Giant has always been the giant in gluten free food suppies
- Healthy Delight delivery
- Healthy Delight in Central has an organic gluten-free milk formulas
- SpiceBox Organics in Sai Ying Pun (Western district)
- Just Green in Central
- iDetox

Bon appetite

Florence here I come!

In my search for food for my Italy trip, I came across the following link with restaurant recommendations highlighting those that serve gluten free!

ItalianFix


Hostaria Il Desco Address: Via delle Terme 23/R

Hours: Closed on Monday at dinner
Phone: 055 294882
(ItalianFix website's "local picks")

Al Tranvai
Address: Piazza Torquato Tasso 14/r
Hours: closed Sundays and Monday for lunch
Phone: 055 225197
(ItalianFix website picked this up from the Il Mangiarozzo magazine)

Italy is obviously a gluten free person's heaven! See this post by celiac chicks - it listed some restaurant recommendations in Rome and Venice. And this newsletter by glutenfreetravel.com.au

"Cutting gluten" article in Foodies magazine

I came across an article on "Cutting gluten" in the free foodie magazine. It has some recommendations for restaurants with GF-free dishes:
- The Flying Pan (might only be wheat free. Pls check - thx for the comment)
- Pasta Mio (27-29 Hollywood Food Soho)
- Lo Chiu Restaurant (25 Man Yuen Street, Jordan)
- Chung Kee dessert (21 Woosung Street, Jordan)

Source: foodie (July 2011). Available at Classified, Wan Chai

Enjoy~

Baking Maniac Party

What a great evening... R&A from Baking Maniac, thanks for the yummy dessert! It was great meeting Jason from Geoexpat group in person as well. Finally an update to the photo preview of the dessert party as I've been so busy at work since Chinese New Year.

Look at all the dessert in the photos! It has been one of the best all-you-can-eat dessert party for me in a LOOOONG while since I've had all these allergies! R&A are very serious about their baking and careful in avoiding all our allergies - as you can see in the beautifully designed menu and the grand dessert stand!


I even got to pack my favourites home to satisfy my sweet tooth for the next few days. Those in this box are our favourites:



Chocolate Mendiants - The chocolate so smooth and overloaded with nuts and my fav dried cranberries. Loved them:

These cupcakes are amazing! They are the signature of the Baking Maniac ;) The level of moist is perfect to my liking. They used the best chocolate in the cupcakes, and the orange flavour is real, not from some flavoured oil. mmmmmmmmm yum! They also had banana muffins but I'm not crazy about banana (though I LOVE chocolate and had 2 of the chocolate muffins).

Cranberry Hazelnut Biscotti, with a hint of Cardamom. Biscotti is something I always loved. The texture of these biscotti is perfect and I loved the Cranberr/Hazelnut mix.

Yuuuum. I'm not a brownie person but I couldn't put these down. Thanks C:

The crisps to the right also has the interesting herbs flavour. Loved the texture of crisp + bit of chewiness. Cookies are decent too, would be great if it has more chocolate chips LOL, as a chocolate person. Chewy gluten-free cookies isn't easy to make... They also had Saffron Cardamom Pistachio Cookie.

Another heavenly dessert from C. You definitely couldn't tell that they are gluten free. We all agreed that the almond powder makes the difference:

Another look of my favourite:

Special thanks to Baking Maniac for the invitation =) See their website for some more professional photos and the "behind the scene" story ;)

If you have any sort of allergies (dairy, nut, gluten, you name it) and need cupcakes or any cakes for any parties, they can definitely help. R&A are amazing people who'd take care of all your special requests =)

Their contact info: http://bakingmaniac.blogspot.hk/p/contact-us.html
Bakers@bakingmaniac.me