Hong Kong Culinary Sampling

Roast goose, Yung Kee Restaurant, Wellington Street, Central, Island.   Perhaps still with the most exquisite presentation and taste so far, for this dish, the business commenced in the wartime year of 1942.

Lobster Club sandwich, Cova at Tsim Sha Tsui.

Mak's Noodles at Wellington Street branch  - the serve is smaller than most but each bite has a memorable texture, flavour and outcome on the palate.

Radish cake with a spicy condiment - with oomph, bite and satisfaction.   Chiu Chow Gardens Restaurant, Tai Koo Shing City Plaza IV,  Hong Kong Island.

Delights counter at the Michelin awarded de Joel Robuchon outlet in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Pork knuckle with egg noodles, Chee Kei Restaurant, Central.

Wartime - Games and Realities

How do you defend your borders and integrity as a nation?

Are you surrounded by neighbours who have a different cultural and political emphasis? The historical question is how you deal with and manage such entities without compromising your core values and political existence. One is to actively engage and cooperate with them, integrating mutual interests like trade and economic growth to the extent it will become disadvantageous to be embroiled in a conflict. 

In an inter connected contemporary world, it can be unwise to practice isolationist policies and attitudes. The benefits of providing cosmopolitan environments nurture skills, talents and knowledge in your own territory. 

However, the question remains as to how you control the proverbial Trojan Horse within your country - those elements that can reveal and show their true colours of allegiance in the event of a conflict. Many multicultural countries will have to deal with this significant factor. 

Another critical consideration is how many different and distinct fronts a specific nation has a boundary with. Does one play off one neighbour with another? This can imply playing Machiavellian games, strategic thinking and deeply understanding the key needs of potential friends or foes. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, so they say, but the enemy of my friend need not be my enemy, or the friend of my friend need not necessarily be my friend. 

This then begs the question of alliances. Are such political partnerships formed out of similar interests, practicality or based on a sea of fluid arrangements? Are they based on personalities, having various resources or temporary delusions? 

Creating diversions can be a useful tactic for nations at war or having internal political problems. Nations not initially involved with the original outbreak of war can be drawn into the military mess, or utilised to reduce pressure on the original conflict. 

There are nations which carefully and purposely choose not to be involved with 'tis blight of mankind - and remain strictly neutral. Can warring nations ask such neutral nations to facilitate peace?

Countries not directly involved with any military conflict can cleverly play off the opposing sides in a major war. At the same time, there are political entities behaving loyally to one chosen side of a conflict due to history, shared culture or economic ties. 

The danger is always when two primary opposing countries at war line up their supporters and allies as if it was a football game. These days it is not so much because of blood ties of royalty, but the political leanings of governing thought. Will Western democracies form a group because of this, or does the agenda of war go deeper than this?

There can be strange bedfellows amongst oppressive and democratic leaders in time of military conflict. The question can be embedded in options of securing petroleum, water supplies, sharing secrets and trade routes. 

The nature of war in the future poses a significant factor when protecting your country. Defeat can be inflicted on your enemy not just by traditional physical warfare methods. Your enemy nation can be brought down by hurtful attacks on financial systems, cyberspace vulnerability and movement of peoples. 

Is your nation surrounded by foreign military bases controlled by one particular country? Physical distance still plays the shots in timeliness, impact and psychology. An enemy nation can cleverly battle it out in proxy wars, without military damage never inflicting its Homeland. Small states are often subject to choose allegiances, can have their land and people destroyed in battles that they did not initiate and often do not have the ability to say No.

Territories which belong to federations or blocs lose the independent capability to avoid war. The ability of supra national institutions like the United Nations to resolve conflict has been tested and not always successfully. 

Remnants of unresolved past conflicts can be the ambers that spark off from contemporary tensions and lead to a bigger war theatre. What do warring nations try to get by slugging it out - ego and pride, being provoked, access to critical resources or just preserving their national borders? 

Mankind often never learns. History does repeat itself and only materialises in different forms. Is it to preserve the current world order, or to change it, that underlies the risks of a major military conflict?

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.