bc magazine

American Artisan Cheese @ US Consul’s Residence – 8 November, 2018

‘American cheese’ was for many years synonymous with tasteless slices of plastic cheese… Things though have changed in the last decade as the world’s largest milk producer and a myriad of small and big cheese companies across the fifty states now produce some of the tastiest cheese in the world.

Unconstrained by the tight regulations that define a type of cheese in France / Italy / UK, cheese manufacturers in America have experimented with milks and production processes to create delicious traditional hard and soft cheeses but also many with new flavours and textures. The US Dairy Export Council is working hard to raise awareness of locally and slowly we are beginning to see these American artisan cheeses in Hong Kong shops.
Click on any photo for the full gallery.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/American-Artisan-Cheese-US-Consuls-Residence-8-November-2018/i-K6L3sqm

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/American-Artisan-Cheese-US-Consuls-Residence-8-November-2018/i-PxFfzG2

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/American-Artisan-Cheese-US-Consuls-Residence-8-November-2018/i-rD6ZgZk

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/American-Artisan-Cheese-US-Consuls-Residence-8-November-2018/i-3KZ9TTP

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/American-Artisan-Cheese-US-Consuls-Residence-8-November-2018/i-tCVVMNc

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/American-Artisan-Cheese-US-Consuls-Residence-8-November-2018/i-spj3mqz

Explore the World of Wine & Spirits

This year’s Wine & Spirits Fair at the HKCEC runs from the 8-10 November and features pavilions from wine-producing regions, trade organisations and governmental organisations. There are new pavilions from the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Sichuan Council, the Department of Commerce of Zhejiang Province, Ningxia’s General Office of Administrative Committee of Grape Industry Zong of Helan Mountain’s East Foothill Wine Region, the Czech Grape and Wine Producer Association, Gifu Prefecture and the Niigata Sake Brewers’ Association from Japan, and Peru.

If you’re not a wine lover or fancy something different there is Liquor & Beverage Products Zone, a Whisky and Spirits Zone and a Beer Zone. As well as an Organic Wine and Spirits corner and for those wanting something to pair with all this alcohol there’s a food area and also intriguingly a “World of Olive Oil” where you can learn about and taste premium olive oils.

The first two days are for trade only, the public day on the 10 November runs from 10:30am and entry costs $200.

Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair
Date: 8-10 November, 2018
Venues: HKCEC
Tickets: $200

Wine & Dine Festival 2018 – Opening Night, 25 October, 2018

The 10th Wine & Dine Festival opened under a full moon at Central Harbourfront with a dramatic drone dance over the waters of Victoria Harbour. The novel performance was but a momentary distraction to the festival visitors who danced among the booths sampling tasty bites from across the globe paired to a plethora of wines, coffee, spirits and craft beer.
Click on any photo for the full gallery of images

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/Wine-Dine-Festival-2018-Opening-Night-25-October-2018/n-Jb3Bw3/i-RzQGrLT

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/Wine-Dine-Festival-2018-Opening-Night-25-October-2018/n-Jb3Bw3/i-bM7Fg2k

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/Wine-Dine-Festival-2018-Opening-Night-25-October-2018/n-Jb3Bw3/i-LJQ63qd

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/Wine-Dine-Festival-2018-Opening-Night-25-October-2018/n-Jb3Bw3/i-t28wnGw

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/Wine-Dine-Festival-2018-Opening-Night-25-October-2018/n-Jb3Bw3/i-Pztn5wq

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/Wine-Dine-Festival-2018-Opening-Night-25-October-2018/n-Jb3Bw3/i-J2qPvDG

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/Wine-Dine-Festival-2018-Opening-Night-25-October-2018/n-Jb3Bw3/i-M76BfhB/A

PizzaExpress x JUST Egg Vegan Pizza

The assorted healthy / diet fads that are sweeping the web and restaurants both locally and internationally often obscures the fact that some people really cannot eat gluten, dairy, eggs etc. And it can be really difficult for those with dietary restrictions to safely enjoy a meal out with friends.

PizzaExpress has teamed up with JUST Egg to expand it’s vegan and vegetarian menu offerings with new pizza and pasta dishes. JUST Egg is a new mung bean based plant alternative to egg that is high in protein and cholesterol free. Like real eggs Just Egg scrambles nicely to create a light fluffy texture and it also works well in cooking as both a binding and emulsifying agent.

The two new vegan dishes are currently only available at the recently opened Pizza Express Lee Tung in Wanchai. The JUST Pizza ($138) is dressed with tomato sauce and topped with scrambled JUST Egg, crumbled vegan sausage, button mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, vegan mozzarella and fresh rosemary.

The JUST Spaghetti ($128) is made with a JUST Egg, mushroom, liquid smoke puree and tossed with chopped peppadew and parsley.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/Pizza-Express-Just-Egg-Vegan-Pizza-Launch-14-August-2018/i-SFPLcCQ

Pizza Express Lee Tung

Shop G31, Lee Tung Avenue, 200 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai
Tel: 3164 1303
www.pizzaexpress.com.hk

Note: JUST Egg was previously known as JUST Scramble

Chip In, Wanchai

Sai Kung’s Chip In has opened a second branch on Queen’s Road East, bc went along to check out the fish and chips.

Fish and chips a simple yet iconic meal and sadly it’s impossible to find a good ‘English style’ option in Hong Kong. The best iteration recently was a pop-up called The Chippy three years ago in Chater Garden. There were rumours they were going to open a restaurant here, but as yet it hasn’t materialised.

bc hasn’t visited the Sai Kung outlet, so our comments are limited to the Wanchai branch. Service is polite and efficient, at the moment it’s cash only, with all meals being cooked to order.

The European and Atlantic cod shoals were decimated in the 1980s through over fishing, careful management in the decades since has seen stocks rise and this lovely tasty fish is back on the menu. Chip In serves it’s cod in two sizes small ($48) and large ($75) with a fair sized portion of chips and a side of either ketchup or tartar sauce.

The Atlantic cod comes pre-battered and frozen. The photo below is of the large portion, inside the batter the fish was perhaps 8mm thick – not exactly a ‘large’ piece of fish. The cod was hard, didn’t flake well and lacked flavour. The batter was thin, crisp and evenly cooked.

The chips are also cooked from frozen, some of ours were a little cold in the centre but the real problem was they were so bland and tasteless.

The menu also features calamari, chicken nuggets, bacon or sausage butty all $48 and served with chips.

While Chip In is a take-away / delivery outlet only, there are numerous small seating areas nearby to sit down and eat.

If you’re wanting fish and chips Chip In offers it, and while there’s nothing particularly wrong or bad about what they offer. Sadly it’s bland and not a meal you’re going to shout about to your friends or say I’ll be back for another portion tomorrow – which is more than a little disappointing as good fish chips are delicious.

Chip In Fish and Chip

164 Queens Road East, Wanchai
www.chipin.com.hk
Open: Weekdays 9am-9pm
Weekends 11am-9pm

New Tastes Amid Frustration at HK Food Expo 2018

The Food Expo is a frenetic, crazy mix of tastings, shopping and promotions – among those promoting are companies and products looking for exposure and distribution in Hong Kong.

Sadly what was noticeable among many of the new and existing products was the excess of packing materials and the use of single serve packs/portions in very non-recyclable materials. It’s sad to see this continuing push for convenience over conservation.

What is the point of looking to reduce the usage of plastic bottles and bags only to fill the sea and landfills will metallic plastic ones instead. Without wanting to get preachy, the only way that things will change is if you vote with your wallet.

There were no real standout new products/ideas that shouted wow! Here are some of the more interesting ones that you might see on your supermarket shelves and in online stores soon:

Durian drink/soup (top image) – Rich and creamy and a tasty way to have your durian fix anytime.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/HK-Food-Expo-2018/i-PTg6pT7/A

A rich creamy textured spread perfect for pancakes, waffles, ice-cream.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/HK-Food-Expo-2018/i-BbvkbDw

Savoury oats/porridge in a range of flavours – it’s different…

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/HK-Food-Expo-2018/i-zV2sVgC

Air-dried fruit rather than freeze dried, there’s lots of existing dried fruits out there but these were rich and full of flavour.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/HK-Food-Expo-2018/i-cKb2hw7

Flavoured noodles – waiting to test the texture and flavour.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/HK-Food-Expo-2018/i-TmsXFWr

Not really a dessert more a spreadable cheese…

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/HK-Food-Expo-2018/i-pXK3XXs

Rich tasty honey cake!

And to finish off on the Expo’s first floor some of our favourite popping candy 🙂

Confusion Plant Based Kitchen

After a few hiccups during construction Confusion Plant Based Kitchen is open in Sheung Wan and hopes to show that “Plant based cuisine is more than just salads and raw fruit. It can be an adventure in variety, a dance upon your taste buds.”

Confusion Plant Based Kitchen

103, Jervois Street, Sheung Wan

Hong Kong

Tel: 2563 3699
Open: 9am-9pm

www.confusion.hk
www.facebook.com/confusionhk

Vinexpo Explorer Sonoma County Cocktail Reception – 29 May, 2018

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/Vinexpo-Explorer-Sonoma-County-Cocktail-Reception-29-May/n-M2TMjk/i-tx3hNCQ

At a Vinexpo cocktail party, Sonoma County announced the details of their Vinexpo Explorer event on 23–25 September, 2018. Located just north of San Francisco, Sonoma County is known world wide for it’s wines and several showcasing the area’s wide range were available to taste.
Click on any photo for the full gallery of images.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/Vinexpo-Explorer-Sonoma-County-Cocktail-Reception-29-May/n-M2TMjk/i-f9z6QfZ

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/Vinexpo-Explorer-Sonoma-County-Cocktail-Reception-29-May/n-M2TMjk/i-GkfFP2t

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/Vinexpo-Explorer-Sonoma-County-Cocktail-Reception-29-May/n-M2TMjk/i-c43fQgv