This Amazing Place

I live in Hong Kong.

Lucky – this is the second time.

Every day is amazing.

A Cantonese speaking region, in a Mandarin speaking country, where English can be used everywhere, especially in government offices and business.

The engineering marvels of the MTR – the superior subway system and the tightly sandwiched skyscrapers clinging to the side of slippery subtropical slopes are seldom matched.

Traveling along the “highway” looping the Western District to the Eastern District of HK, a view of the busy cozy harbor with cheerful ferries and fishing junks popping to over two hundred islands looks like a movie.

Hong Kong has become even more cosmopolitan in the last ten years, with French, and Mandarin, often spoken on the streets, as products in even the smallest grocery shops becoming increasingly international – the selection of beverages and of all things eggs – from five continents.

And it’s relatively safe. We come and go, day and night, young and old, unaccosted for the most part – note Hong Kong is one of the most inequitable places on earth – shiny new concept cars and empty uber high end shops are more of a red flag than signs of equal opportunity.

Love Hong Kong.

Change is a good thing, but not too much, please.

 

 

When fast food gets an Indian twist

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-38633567

China probes ‘fake seasoning producing hub’ near Tianjin

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-38646614

Tonight in Hong Kong

A chilly 23 C I’m waiting I have a  But wait in line for a … sweet potato or chestnut?

Source: Tonight in Hong Kong

Tonight in Hong Kong

A chilly 23

C

I’m waiting

I have a 

But wait in line for a

… sweet potato or chestnut?

Is this animal too cute to eat?

This pig, at a grocery store in Hong Kong’s Kennedy Town, looks a lot like Wilber from Charlotte’s Web. He also looks like he’s posing, one foot in front of another   An…

Source: Is this animal too cute to eat?

Is this animal too cute to eat?

This pig, at a grocery store in Hong Kong’s Kennedy Town, looks a lot like Wilber from Charlotte’s Web.

He also looks like he’s posing, one foot in front of another  

And in South Korea, cute is through the roof, all the time.

They’re begging you to eat them

  
Fish, fishy things, or fowl

   
Smiling, encouraging.. Eat Me! It’s ok!

 
Again, thumbs up, forks up!
  
Call me! I’ll jump on the grill for you!

 

The Danger in the Layover

I went for dim sum this morning. Something I LOVE to do – with or without dim sum buddies. Newspaper, a local tradition, or book in hand I mix it up; local, touristy, high-end, cheapest one Michelin star.

Tim Ho Wan in IFC is one of my favorites. A limited menu of twenty-seven tender flavorful dim sum. The best of which is the Baked Bun with BBQ Pork with a type of sweet streusel-like topping. This crumbly cover is also found on the delicious pineapple bun popular in Hong Kong and Macau. Similar to the Mexican Concha – they were likely all brought by and borrowed from the Portuguese or Spanish.

What’s the point of all this, and what does it have to do with danger or layovers?

I met a lovely young woman today. We were a few seats apart on a tightly shared table of twelve strangers. Japanese, Koreans, ABC – American born Chinese, Mainland Chinese, and me and her. She was speaking to another American, he was polite, offered her more tea, they exchanged views of the food, and discussed travel plans. This location of Tim Ho Wan is one floor above the airport express train station.

What did she think? ” Well, if this is what Hong Kong has to offer, I prefer the dim sum in New York.” She is here on a layover and will depart Hong Kong tomorrow.

Which leads me to: the danger in the layover.

We don’t know what we don’t know. Exposure to a place, its culture, and cuisine for a day or even a week doesn’t give us the depth of knowledge we need to assess, or even access it.

Hong Kong has restaurants you can’t see, you can’t know. They are hidden high in skyscrapers, down alleys and basements, in central, in every district, and on all the islands. They represent every region of China, and Asia, many times over. There are clubs, societies, private kitchens, pop-ups, and salons. And if it must be said – so much is lost to non-Cantonese speakers and non-locals.

Angela Chin, graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Chef at the American Club Hong Kong, a NYC native, and Cantonese speaker, has lived in Hong Kong for eight years. She says Hong Kong dim sum is more creative than her native New York, and is always changing.

I’m still learning, living, and loving the dim sum, and all the local cuisine – don’t get me started on the BBQ. New York can’t compete – sorry.

Let’s see what I can grab on my next layover in New York…

Will there been dim sum after death?

Kalguksu love

Knife cut noodles in slightly seafood broth – ah and often order bossam on the side; steamed pork in lettuce wrap