…wins the race? Despite the lack of posts on the build out- it is in fact happening, just at a snails pace. Our 2 month foray to Hong Kong def was an unexpected delay (but absolutely worth it). Now we’re trying to get back on pace in between trips to NYC etc. We’re approaching the stage of cutting the outer truck frame for our serving window, hopefully by months end. Between James, my dad & brother an initial layout was born- which was perhaps technically sound- but as with many things in the world it lacked the neccesary eye, intelligence & practical considerations of a woman. The mathematics and mechanical formulas seemed to be correct in the original layout, but I re-iterated our plan to staff the truck with humans (and not miniature robots- although that would have been a whole new kind of awesome). With the revised layout there will be a bigger airy serving window, a better and more ample area for packing soups & salads, brewing beverages, wrapping snadwiches, taking orders, moving to and fro and all that good stuff. Above is a last look at the truck pre-torching.
Posted in: Uncategorized.
We’ve been busy bees since our return from HK. We had 2 days to prep for the National Stationery Show (as well as recover from our 30 hr journey home & deal with jet-laggin’ times). Here’s a sweet treat we had last week in New York, at a new-ish cafe called Bee Desserts in the West Village. This marshmallow & dark chocolate honeycake along with pomegranate mojitos on the cafe’s charming back patio was a bite of fresh taste after 4 days of god-awful food and flourescent lighting at the Jacob Javits Center. This weekend it’s back to Brooklyn for the Renegade Craft Fair. At least James will have a chance to visit & feast from a handful of food trucks while I spend 2 days peddling paper in a hot tent in McCarren Park. Here’s an article in the Times about the cafe.
Posted in: Recipes & We Ate Pics.
Tagged: cafe · desserts · meals · restaurants
Here is an Alligator Specialty Shop in the Western District. Food? Medicine? We’re not sure. Another one of the mysteries of Hong Kong. Not much else we can offer on the subject.
Posted in: Hong Kong 2010.
One thing I love most here in Hong Kong are the colors and plentiful non-chalant dispalys of fruit at the markets. One of the typical greetings is to ask if you’ve eaten yet. Making sure that your family & friends are well-fed is a top priority- I love the “you first” way of meals that can be in stark contrast to some attitudes back home in the land that inspired the “me first” mantra. My aunt & uncle always make sure the shop is stocked with some variety of fresh fruits, oranges, mangosteens, kiwi’s, bananas, lychee and magnificent pomelos (a sweet Chinese grapefruit).
Posted in: Hong Kong 2010, Inspirations & Finds, Musings.
Basements of upscale department stores here thave specialty grocery stores that offer food and fare from neighboring Asian countries or around the globe. We went to Wing-On because it was my Apaw’s favorite store- I got a little misty remembering going here with her on the first trip I took to Hong Kong. But one hilarious thing we discovered was this bag of “Italian Gratin” flavored chips- from Japan I think. We couldn’t resist trying them because A.) we figured Italian Gratin was a mis-interpretation for lasagna- and who wouldn’t want a lasagna flavored chip when real lasagna is not an option & B.) look at how excited the chef on the package is! Well, all of James’ Italian relatives need not take out their envy badges- because these tasted nothing like the Ferrante lasagna! Not terrible- just not very Italian Gratin in my opinion.
Posted in: Hong Kong 2010, Musings.
On Saturday nights my Auntie and Uncle take care in picking out restaurants to take us to that they think we will particularly enjoy. So far they’ve done a perfect job. Here are some of the dishes we enjoyed at one such dinner. A savory pancake made with oysters, roasted duck & beef with choy-sum greens. There was also another sweet & sour fish that’s not pictured here. Delicioso!
Posted in: Hong Kong 2010, Recipes & We Ate Pics, Uncategorized.
The markets here are nothing like most back home- fresh fruits, fish & meat are in full bounty all year long. Strolling around the Sheung Wan neighborhood we snapped a picture of a typical fish stall. James is going to pine for these treasures of the sea once we return- look at the glint in his eye!
Posted in: Hong Kong 2010, Inspirations & Finds, Musings.
We’re trying to check out as much new food as possible- but these sesame desserts are an oldie but goodie. These sesame treats are usually filled with either a sweet black sesame paste or sweet red bean paste. They are my brother Dan’s favorites and they are in full abundance. Here that is, across the ocean where he is not.
Posted in: Hong Kong 2010.
This week we took a 2 day trip to Macau, China. It was interesting to see the odd remnants of it’s Portuguese governed history mixed in with overwhelmingly chinese surroundings. We loved the “Macanese” cuisine- a wonderful blend of Portuguese & Chinese food (2 cuisines that are not always my favorites in their native forms). What Macau is really famous for (other than the neon-horrers of casinos and ultra seediness as we discovered) are their egg tarts. The Chinese have their own similar egg tart that is tasty and well-loved- but the Portuguese version is just a smidge better. The secret I think is the pastry crust & the egg to cream ratio. Also- they seem to be cooked just a bit longer so they are not on the verge of being runny like their Chinese cousin tart. Look at the golden brown custardy crust! Perfection a la tart.
Posted in: Hong Kong 2010, Recipes & We Ate Pics.
James here. Well it has finally happened, I guess it took a trip to Hong Kong, but I have actually figured out how to post on our blog (Char lended a hand for holding). Surrounded by so many culinary delights in this city I found it difficult to pick one thing I wanted my first post to represent. I settled on this butcher going about his daily routine. This picture was taken by Char in the Central District, but pass by almost any street in Hong Kong and you will likely find the same scene. I may not buy fresh pork from these guys everyday, but I feel a sense of nostalgia passing by them. This is something that has long passed in the States, so it is refreshing to know that many people in major cities across the world still remain connected to this time honored trade. More post to follow from me, I promise.
Posted in: Hong Kong 2010, Inspirations & Finds, Musings.
