Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Sharp and Sweet
What happens if you leave an artichoke on the plant and allow it to bloom? Voila!
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Visiting the World of Susie Wong
In 2003, Glenfiddich conducted a poll, and named The World of Susie Wong Club as the best bar in Beijing.
In 2006, I went there and proclaimed The World of Susie Wong the official Marrow Spoon Best Bar in the Whole World. Sure, you can't drink the water there, but I don't take ice in my drinks anyway. The entertainment, the decor, the menu, is all very cool.
Don't leave Beijing without visiting it. If you are female, go on Wedesnday for ladies night. Somehow there are drinks and flowers and attentive hosts a-plenty, for free. My companions and I chickened out and left before the "show" happened, but still it was a very good place to start an evening.
Aqua, Hong Kong
Aqua is a hip place with a posh website on the Kowloon side of Hong Kong. At 1 Peking Road, it offers a lovely view of the famous Central skyline at night. 
As you can see here, the website is fabulous. Unfortch, the restaurant itself is not as fabulous as the website. It is beautiful, and the food was lovely, but somehow the website made it seem bigger and hipper than in was in real life. In real life, it was small, and the servers were, well, mortal. And apparently, the sound system on my computer is better than the one at the restaurant.
Still, the view is worth it. If you time it right, you can't beat it as a perfect venue to see the skyline light show with a cocktail.
The Aquatini comes with gold flakes and lychee. Sparkly, but very sweet (not as good as the World of Susie Wong bar in Beijing - and not as free). Strawberry mojitos were packed with fresh fruit and mint. Very nice. And as you can see, the sushi was artfully presented and very tasty.
As you can see here, the website is fabulous. Unfortch, the restaurant itself is not as fabulous as the website. It is beautiful, and the food was lovely, but somehow the website made it seem bigger and hipper than in was in real life. In real life, it was small, and the servers were, well, mortal. And apparently, the sound system on my computer is better than the one at the restaurant.
Still, the view is worth it. If you time it right, you can't beat it as a perfect venue to see the skyline light show with a cocktail.
The Aquatini comes with gold flakes and lychee. Sparkly, but very sweet (not as good as the World of Susie Wong bar in Beijing - and not as free). Strawberry mojitos were packed with fresh fruit and mint. Very nice. And as you can see, the sushi was artfully presented and very tasty.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
The Delicious Hams of Zhouzhang
OK, I have to admit, I didn't try these beautiful specialty hams of Zhouzhang. I was so full from lunch I could barely walk!
But they looked and smelled fantastic.
So far, everything I thought was unusual or unique to China is actually pretty easy to find in the SF Bay Area, so I hope to have another chance.
This is in the touristy part of Zhouzhang, which I am told is something like Venice, Italy, for its charming canals.
Like a lot of places in China, if someone invites you in off the street to have a cup of tea or a beer, do not go! It will cost about 100 times what it should. Well, if you must, at least ask how much before you order. Duo xiao? "dew-oh sha-ow" or how much? We paid $30 US for green tea! Don't let it happen to you.
But they looked and smelled fantastic.So far, everything I thought was unusual or unique to China is actually pretty easy to find in the SF Bay Area, so I hope to have another chance.
This is in the touristy part of Zhouzhang, which I am told is something like Venice, Italy, for its charming canals.
Like a lot of places in China, if someone invites you in off the street to have a cup of tea or a beer, do not go! It will cost about 100 times what it should. Well, if you must, at least ask how much before you order. Duo xiao? "dew-oh sha-ow" or how much? We paid $30 US for green tea! Don't let it happen to you.
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