Hong Kong - Barista Journey

Have your cuppa at the Star Ferry Pier, Kowloon side  -  % Arabica Cafe.   Strong, flavourful and with character - I liked this one best on a recent visit.

The KnockBox Coffee Company is pulling people in at all hours with its artisanal style and produce.   We sampled two flavours
- nutty and fruity - and I preferred the former choice.   The place is small like a London UK cafe but offers seating beside the wall that goes deep in.    Owner and founder Patrick Tam is a self-made man with his own flavour of artistry and skill.   He was one of the first Q-Graders in Hong Kong


Located at 21 Hak Po Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon (photographs above and below).

The Cupping Room is sited on the ground floor at 299 Queens Road Central, Sheung Wan, not far from Central Hong Kong Island.  Best to use the MTR station for access, the cafe is in a rather characteristic suburb with ambiance, all types of small businesses and a feeling of old Hong Kong.   

The Cupping Room has a breakfast and brunch menu - I tried the Eggs Benny and I loved it!     The coffee, a Melbourne  inspiration,  was to my taste lighter than I anticipated and with a creamy after feel - I initially recalled Anthology cafe in Brisbane CBD but that had an oomph about it.   Still, in 2013, the Cupping Room was the home of the winner of the Hong Kong Barista Championships.

Brew Bros, at 33 Hiller Street, is around the corner from the Cupping Room in Sheung Wan - mind t,he steps on the lane as you approach this cafe.   That morning we dropped by, there were eager and young men behind the counter.  The layout reminded me of cafes in the colonial quarter of George Town, Penang island.  The blend served that day was not bold enough for my preference. (photograph above)



Coffee Academics has its home base in Causeway Bay on the island side but we had a rushed stop by between chores at the Tsim Sha Tsui on the morning before we flew back.
A spin off of the local coffee company Habitu, it has a contemporary layout that has affinity to office lobby blocks or airline outlets.



I could not imagine Starbucks reinventing itself and redesigning its customer experience and offering a different level of artisanal coffee experience.   I had to eat my words when we bumped into the outlet at Tai Koo Shing CIty Plaza IV.    Photographs are below.The cold drip served, after having been brewed at least 48 hours, was a refreshing experience that I enjoyed.

Bull & Bear Cafe & Restaurant - September 2017

Chicken Croquettes with Alioli.

It was an occasion for a blokes' lunch  - one of our party had sung praises about the Tapas like creations and we could hardly wait!   There are sort of two levels at the B & B, one at street ground level and then a quick step up on the side to the right to an inner chamber, where groups gather, with all female hang outs, families and singles.   There is a licensed bar, the place has a rustic feel and one feels as if a hang out party is about to begin at one corner of the place.

There is a Iberian or Mediterranean feel about the menu and place.  I instinctively think of Siesta after our meal.  However, it was not warm the day of our dropping by the B & B, the winter had not fully blown its oceanic winds in this seaside region.   So my palate was ready for something grilled, and there they were.   The chicken on skewers is always a winner with me, here accompanied with cool cucumber and dips.   I am a sucker for croquettes - what we got was exquisite, with a rather crispy exterior and a comfy warm inside of fillings.

Naturally we winded up our meal with Churros, served with a rich dipping chocolate sauce.
This dessert echoed an authenticity about itself.  I can say that the food is prepared and cooked with obvious touches of love.    Owner David Juarez Vidal recalls with fondness her GrandMa's culinary passion and strong sense of family togetherness.

Pork and veal meatballs with a rich tomato sauce.

The Bull & Bear was visited at lunch time.   This place was attempted to be booked fby a mate of a mate for dinner recently one Friday evening, but some hurdles were placed for this chap to get a table for around ten persons, including family members under 18 years  of age.   I am not sure of the reasons but there were a lot of No's said on the phone to this prospective customer.  Apparently only Tapas are served on the evenings the place is open for diners.


The "Special Plates" menu appears on the black board and can change weekly.   You can expect sightings of Chorizo, Paella,  Jamon, grilled octopus, olives, meatballs and spices.    There is the aroma of slow cooked beef cheeks,  crispy chicken drumettes, twice cooked lamb shoulder and braised pork belly.

On a next visit, I am aiming for these following dishes that caught my eye on the menu:*

The Pulled Pork Baguette

La Espanola:  A sourdough toast filled up with smashed avocado (how Aussie!), fried egg, Tumaca and grilled Jamon Serrano.    The practice of spreading ripe tomatoes on bread had given rise to the term Tumaca.

and the Valencina Ensaladas: Spanish onion, black olives, Frisee  ( a curly bitter leaved endive), orange, croutons and crispy Jamon Serrano go into this delightful light salad mix.  

Serrano ham always brings out the best in uplifting a dish when applied with care.


My impressions of the Bull & Bear on this visit in Wollongong NSW are:


Ambiance: 3.5 out of 5
Staff Engagement:  4 out of 5
Culinary Captivation: 4 out of 5
X Factor:  3.5 out of 5
Overall:  3 out of 4





The Bull & Bear Cafe & Restaurant is located at 2 A Voctoria Street, Wollongong city centre, NSW.
Contact  +61 2 423 143 15
Opening hours are from 8am every day until late, except for the three days of Sundays to Tuesdays, when it closes at 4pm.
A ten percent surcharge applies to bills on public holidays.

The Bull CALL US ONMy impre

 

Taiwan Markets, Chatswood Mall NSW

Vegetarian pastries, including mooncakes.

Red is the colour of celebration and festive joy.

Freshly prepared pan cakes with moulds, dough and flavour.  Memories of the Shih Lin night markets in Taipei.

A happy Sunday morning!

Puppetry is a treasured tradition and craft in Taiwan, echoing influences from the Chinese mainland.

This fresh sugar cane stall is often operating at the Mall markets.

The Indigenous culture in Taiwan gave rise to the Polynesian nations.

Takoyaki, snacks which are popular in Osaka but which also reflect the Japanese past in Taiwan.   These pan fried  or grilled dough balls are usually combined with octopus (Tako) and are yummy bites on the go in street markets.

Australian Universities - The Customer Perspective

It is reported there are currently 300000 university students from outside Australia studying in our nation's universities. 

This number of students is larger than the population of the greater Wollongong area, from Helensburgh down the coast to Shell Cove. Wollongong is ranked as the tenth largest conurbation in Australia.

These students pay full fees, do not get subsidised public transport in most cities but do contribute to the local economic areas in spending for accommodation, food and daily amenities. Several universities in the capital cities have a significant number of such students, like from China, India and south-east Asia. 

Do such International students socially mix with their local fellow students and vice-versa? Many are allowed to work for a capped ceiling number of hours, especially in retail outlets. Graduates of Australian universities are encouraged with bridging visas to continue staying on if they can find related work. 

International students are a critical part of the process of Immigration, property boom and skilled inflows affecting the socio- economic parameters in contemporary Australia. They are part of the spectrum of labour and knowledge supply chain that also involves tourist visa over stayers, 457 visa holders and the underground economy. 

With this waterfall of cash revenue for universities, is there a big risk of the quality compromised in the delivery of teaching and social support for students as customers? Are students increasingly seen as supplying funds to be used more by universities for research and securing commercial opportunities? 

Universities do not pay tax in Australia - but the threatened funding cuts from the Coalition Government in Canberra can still shake up budget restructuring imperatives for our higher tertiary institutions. Where are such cuts going to make an impact in the operations of our university sector? Administrative expenses have suffered cuts for many years - the next question is which other area is targeted for reduced spending and hence a deterioration in service and engagement levels.

Universities will increasingly wake up to competition for any cash cows they may have taken for granted for so many years. Alternative options in training, certification and accreditation can now challenge the traditional university route to a career. Employment prospects can be better if one does not go to university. Local students in Australia can also lower their risks for incurring a huge financial debt after graduation if they smartly choose other paths to what they really want to do after study. 

Universities in Australia do realise that they are not the only ones milking the study and career dreams of foreign students and markets. The source markets are also developing their quality centres of learning. Other suppliers off shore are challenging the attractiveness of coming to Australia to study, but may not provide the captivating migration options. 

Hong Kong Island Revisited 2017

A friendly visitor in Hong Kong with family - Mid-Levels.

Baked pastries like chicken pies and custard tarts, inspired by Western colonials like Britain and the UK in the 19th and 20th centuries.     North Point Markets.

The iconic classic stereotype of a Hong Kong street, with trams, buses, pedestrians and buzz.

A downsized fire engine waits on a sloping street in a busy part of the city - Wellington Street.

A cloudy and humid morning in Central.

The street escalators are still working all right - the other tour experience is to take the train up the Peak.

Upmarket shopping at the IFC Mall, Central.

Midnight at Causeway Bay.

Community game after a passing shower.