Hong Kong Edition March 2019

Hello from honkers

Really should be the place of food photos. Case in point, rainbow cheese sandwich.

Loads of funny signs, some with mangled English. I wonder if we have the same in Oz, probably not because we just expect tourists and visitors to speak Austrayun or Queenslandah (rimes with verandah).

Loved the train direction signs within the airport where there was only one stop, one destination, one direction, one line, one station… Confusing because it wasn’t.

Dinner the first night included the most delicious kale I’ve ever eaten, enhanced with rice wine and ginger. Added to this were essential pork and goose protein, of course. Who’d have thought “delicious” and “kale” could exist in the universe?

Thought I’d struck on a bargain, while still quite relatively expensive, for the matching burgundy, a 2012 grand cru from Beaune. Ahh, that will be the price for a glass…

Went on a foodie walk around central HK island on Saturday, which we really enjoyed. Saw pig roasting ovens that can do a whole pig in 1.5 hours. Getting one of those for home.

It has become the norm with restaurants in central HK to have the cooking and cleaning done in the outer suburbs and transported in/out a few times a day, because the rent is so high it’s more economical than having the space in the city. Capitalism at its worst.

Climbed the peak on Sunday with the aid of a tram. There were four “stations” on the way and someone got on half way up. Walked down pretending to all the passersby we had walked up.

Also saw “maid’s day“, which has become something of a phenomenon in central HK. Fantastic atmosphere around the streets as there are thousands of the maids filling the streets eating, dancing and relaxing.

Could have easily bought one of the antique cars for sale on maid’s day; Aston DB5, Maserati Sebring, Trans Am, Stingray… You can imagine the look on Brenda’s face already…

Went to dinner at an Alain Ducasse restaurant and finally get why people rave about camembert. Matched with a grand cru burgundy with age (the wine not me). Splendid.

High tea at The Peninsula, darling.

Honkers is crazy about aircon. Apparently its a sign of wealth to have it seriously cold. And, the latest fashion is “indoor coats”. Temperatures of 15 degrees or less have been recorded in some shopping centres. I hate to think what that’s doing to the environment.

There are Teslas everywhere. Gonna be some serious competition between them and the airconeers for power.

If you happen to be in Honkers, you must go to Bo Innovation, thanks for the tip Hans & Nora. Three Michelin Star and absolutely stunning food. Expensive, although we’ve paid more and been less delighted. Had a Hungarian Tokai with proper French foie gras; marvellous, plus two other stunning whites from Austria and Germany.

Also had a palette cleanser that presented in a bottle like motor oil, the liquid itself looked like radiator anti-freeze and it tasted a bit of mouthwash. Weirdly, for the rest of the day I seemed to be able to slip through the crowds, felt quite warm and had fresh breath.

I’ve started collecting room numbers. HK 1525.

Look out for upcoming Sri Lanka editions.

G&B