Weekly Menu

Mon: Smoked Salmon Bruschetta with Tomato Avocado Salsa

Tues: Chili Roasted Chicken with Sweet Potatoes

Wed: Spicy Thai Lentils

Thurs: Pork Stir-fry with Green Beans & Peanuts

Fri: Asian-Style Crab Cakes with Wasabi Caper Sauce

Lunch: Rajma Salad

Honeymoon Dessert

After a very warm day hiking up to the Tian Tan Buddha, we were in need of some cooling.  Spotting a branch of Honeymoon Dessert, we made a beeline, knowing it would quench our appetites for refreshment.

We decided to share the slightly messy Watermelon Tofu Pudding.  It was lovely and refreshing.

We washed it down with some Watermelon Juice and a Mango Iced.  Scott loves mangoes, and that really hit the spot for him as it was packed with chunks of fresh mango.

It turns out that healthy, fruit based dessert chains are quite handy to have around in such a humid climate (more about that and the effect it had on my hair in a later post ).

Sunday Brunch

We ended our Hong Kong excursion with a trip to Tiffin Lounge in the Grand Hyatt for a three hour feast.  They do a lovely Sunday brunch buffet with free flowing Moët & Chandon Impèrial Rosè.  We gorged ourselves.  It was awesome.

The service was excellent.  My Champagne flute never dipped below half full, and the atmosphere was nice and relaxed: comfy sofas and a musical trio playing some standards and classics.  As Scott said yesterday while cleaning his fifth plate, “This is worth every penny.  I’d even pay double.”  There was loads of food we didn’t get to try.  We were far too full, but here’s a list of what we did manage:

Savoury:
Whole Roasted Foie Gras
Asparagus with Quail Eggs
Liver Pate
Poached Beef Tongue
Prosciutto
Baked Boston Lobster with Champagne Creme & Herbs
Beetroot Salmon
Pan Fried Perch
Assorted Cold Seafood
Roast Lamb with Rosemary Jus
Tandoori Lamb Chop

Sweet:
Mango Charlotte
White Chocolate Raspberry Cake
Chocolate Brownie
Green Tea & Red Bean Cake with Mini Macaron
White Chocolate Cinnamon Mousse
Bread & Butter Pudding with Vanilla Sauce
Raspberry Tart
Baked Orange Chocolate Cheesecake
Mango & Passionfruit Pannacotta
Bavarian Chestnut Cream with Banana & Passionfruit
Freshly Bake Apricot Almond Tart

In retrospect it may have been a bit indulgent, but we enjoyed it immensely. 

Hong Kong at Night

 

 

Sharp Dressed Man

aka: Why you should always take your wife with you on business trips. 

Scott is giving his talk at the conference today, so we’ve chosen a suitably professional ensemble with a few fun elements thrown in too.  I stick to the general rule that when wearing a suit, men’s accessories should be kept to a maximum of three, including the watch but excluding the wedding band.

So we went for a black suit with a conservative blue and white stripped shirt with white collar and cuffs.  For accessory number 1- the cufflinks, we went with his black lego pair.  This is after all an academic conference.

For the tie, we also went the less conservative route.  We then paired it with accessory number two- his St. Andrew’s Cross tie bar.

For accessory number three, he chose to wear his watch.  It’s one of those skeleton affairs, and he loves it. 

So here are the final results:

I’m sure he will be thrilled this evening when he sees his pictures plastered all over the interwebs, but I couldn’t help it.  He looked far too good for me to resist. 

In the light of day

Turns out we’re surrounded by bloody great mountains which were completely obscured by the darkness. 

Amanda Nowson Is A Hindu

It’s almost 1am here in Hong Kong (4am Sydney time), and we’ve been in our hotel for approximately 25 minutes.  Getting out of the airport and checking into our hotel took a wee bit more time than expected.  Our eyes are bloodshot, and we’re exhausted, but here’s the story so far. . .

We took a plane.  We watched Harry Potter while eating some cheese and crackers we’d brought from home.

I took a picture of myself.

I ate my traditional specially requested meal.  As far as most major airlines are concerned, I’m a Hindu.  Though I might decide to be an Asian Vegetarian on the return flight.

We watched The Boat That Rocked, then I began a new farm in Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness.

Now we’re in our hotel room.

It’s amazing.  Everything in our room is so high tech.  It took us 15 minutes to workout how to turn on and off the lights, and yet at reception they’re still using myriad pieces of paper and staples to keep track of the bookings.  Go figure. 

Off for some much needed sleep.  The real story begins tomorrow. . .

Satisfying a Craving

Jackie M Malaysian has a stall in Chatswood every Thursday, and occasionally their roti canai really hits the spot for a light pre-dinner snack. . .  

House Guest

Today I found this wandering around our living room:

This is what happens when you accidentally leave your balcony doors open when you go to the bathroom. . .  You think I would have learned my lesson after the Kookaburras.  

Cocktail of the Week

Polar Bear

1/2 ounce Creme de Cacao
1/2 ounce Creme de Menthe

Add ingredients to a shaker with ice.

Shake and strain into a shot glass.

Enjoy!