A Warm Bag of Gen Dan Jai
You could literally walk for a few kilometers while doing the rounds of street shopping in Hong Kong. In places like Granville, Mongkok and Lai Chi Kok, some shops close around midnight on a daily basis. Fortunately lots of food stalls can be found everywhere for weary shoppers. From a variety of skewered undiscernible animal parts, fried vegetable fritters, simmered meatballs in funky gravy and tofu - all good, mind you. But nothing will probably keep you going more than the street shopper’s power bar, the Gei Dan Jai. Basically, it's a waffle. Nothing more, nothing less. Except, I suppose nothing beats a hot, freshly made one.
Fresh off the Griddle
Special waffle irons churn out these giant bubble-top shapes. For HK$10, you get these smoldering treats in a thin brown paper bag. You carefully detach a piece (requiring some dexterity so as not to burn one’s fingers) and pop in your mouth. As with any properly cooked waffle, you get the soft, chewy middle with bits of those thin crispy crusty edges where the griddles meet. It has this wonderfully eggy, custardy aroma. Fantastic.
Other variations come with fillings such as chocolate and taro paste. A certified old-school street treat.
4 comments:
I saw this in Tsim Sha Tsui. I regret that I didn't try it. We tried the other unfamiliar streetfood though.
i had this along nathan road. we saw there were people lining up for something. so we made usiyoso what the "commotion" was all about. we ordered those eggettes & the waffle (with condensed milk, I think). So good. I heard they sell eggettes in Cash & Carry--is it any good kaya? :)
there's a kiosk at metro market market selling the same thing, only much smaller. I don't know though if they're still there. The smell was an attention-getter indeed, but the taste? forgettable. i wish they'd have more of the "authentic" ones here.
Those are really good when fresh, meh after a 15 minute cool down. What I've also found in China are vendors selling crispy thin waffles that are studded with sesame seeds. A really nice early morning treat.
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