mooncakes...

Mid Autumn festival is celebrated in most of Asia during the eighth lunar month. This year the celebration started on September 27 and lasts a week. Celebrating centers around family gatherings, lanterns and moon cakes.  Moon cakes are given as gifts artfully packaged. There are hundreds of flavors of moon cakes available. Every store, hotel, charity and business offers their own moon cake variety. The classic moon cakes are densely filled with lotus seed paste and an egg yolk in the center. 

This year Heidi and I decided to try new (to us) varieties of moon cakes. Our personal version of 'Americans taste test...' video. The Shangri - La ones are the classic lotus seed paste version. Starbucks offers a boxed set of moon cakes inspired by their popular beverages. Tea WG offers several types of moon cakes, but I purchased the varieties I thought we would like the best.

Shangri La lotus seed with egg yolk. Starbucks salted carmel mochi and chocolate. Tea WG mixed nuts in lotus seed paste.  Starbucks espresso and almond. Starbucks green tea mocha and red bean paste. Tea WG black sesame. Starbucks hojicha tea and osamantus. (clockwise)  

 We added just the right Hong Kong accessories for our moon cake tasting. 

I assumed I would like the Starbucks ones the best. Heidi was quite fond of the green tea and red bean paste moon cake. As did the hubby.  In their defense red bean paste does contain sugar. But on the flip side none of us liked the hojicha tea and osmanthus one. It tasted like how walking past someone wearing too much perfume smells. 

 But really it was the Tea WG black sesame that I loved.

Moon cakes are densely packed so you really don't want a whole one. A small sliver will do you. And they are best paired with a strong tea or coffee. We brewed a pot of Tea WG to wash down our moon cake selection. Hope everyone had a great Mid Autumn festival. Wishing everyone much happiness and bliss. 

xox, 

Christine

photos by Heidi 

flower market...

Just the other day Heidi and I made quick early morning run to the Mong Kok Flower Market. I was after one of everything. Heidi was more restrained and focused on cut flowers and succulents.  We both were after some herbs. As the whole herb plant costs less than the small bunches at all the grocery stores. 

We both grabbed several succulents. Including the two on the far left. I wasn't very exciting and just re potted three of them into a plain pot. Now my inspiration is in full blast and I need to return to start more detailed projects!

Orchids can usually be snatched up at three for $100hk ($13us). Priced just right for one in every room or one large pot with several plants. 

Every kind of bamboo. Shaped. Curly. Short. Variegated. Tall. Single stems. Bundled. 

Early morning deliveries 

Need a quick grab and go bouquet?

I had to have one of these olive topiaries.  They were $20us, but it is still alive. The sales lady was certain to tell me not to eat the olives. I'm not sure as to why? Other than you shouldn't eat raw olives. But can't I brine them and then eat them? 

A quaint hotel nestled among the florists (by the hour!)

Carnations in every hue.

And fancy bamboo

Heidi's purchases

Now after reviewing my own green thumb pinterest board I really want to go back with a better master plan! Terrariums. Hanging succulent planters. Inside waterlily with added goldfish. All possibilities.

xox, 

Christine

all photos via Heidi Selch

Getting there...

MTR

Tsuen Wan (red) line Prince Edward Stop exit B1 

BUS

New City 113 stop at Prince Edward road West

Show and tell...

Good morning! How are you this morning? I'm going to need copious amounts of coffee before I even draw up my weekly to do list. How is it the ninth of September? School fully under way and all after school activities full blast. I'm a day late in posting and I don't have Labor Day festivities to blame.Without further ado here's several tidbits for thought this week...

• My great grandparents made the perilous journey to America from Hungry. They were alone and young and desperate to escape not much unlike the current refugees from Syria. Yes, they could be us. And how you can help. 

• I'm in love with all the cheeky tee shirts available in Hong Kong, even purchased a few. But frequently they sit in my closet as I'm not sure how to style an outfit with the tee. I was finally able to pull a couple of outfits together with help. Try this Vogue tips to one up those fun tees. 

• Current girl crush - Mindy Kaling. So yeah, already pre-ordered her new book. And if you pre-order from one of these bookstores they throw in a free tote! If there were any in The Kong I'd be all over it! 

• Ever dream of a wall, bookcase or a desk made of gigantic legos? You wish has come true. Everblock makes large legos and they even come in gold and silver! 

 I've already crossed off several to dos. Lets hope I can keep the momentum up. Start your Tuesday off right. Whether its coffee, exercise or massive planning (or like me- all three!) Good luck friends!

xox,
Christine

show and tell...

You know that saying the more you need to do to the more you can get done? I hope it's true as I have  too much to do this week! To the point of planning on returning emails on the mtr and Google mapping stores that are on the way of my priority to dos to run multiple errands in one trip! Crossing my fingers it all works out! Without further ado here's some snippets I thought you'd like..

• If you need a break between red lining all your Monday morning to dos, check out the panda cam at the National Zoo. The awww factor is huge with rare twin pandas only a couple of days old! 
• Remember the Crazy, Rich Asians book? Well, good news Mr. Kwan is out with his next book- China Rich Girlfriend. And rumor has it Crazy Rich Asians is being made into a movie. Bad news- Mr. Kwan was here in The Kong and I didn't know it and I missed him. 
• The flights back and forth between Hong Kong and the states are some of the longest  in the world. The resulting jet lag can be miserable. So it's great news that there is a new three minute cure! But seriously, it requires almost freezing! It think I'll take my chances with melatonin. 
• I made the decision that we must get out of our regular dinner meal rut. I'm sick of spaghetti, tuna and the normals. This Sunday I printed out several recipes I had pinned and we're going to give them a try. Starting with a red pepper pasta sauce over homemade gnocchi (all vegan and gluten free!). How about you? Any new dinners you'd like to share? 

xox, 

Christine

shanghai street...

Why weave through the ikea maze when you can meander with the natives on Shanghai Street. Shanghai Street has everything you could possibly need. There are baking shops, 'white' porcelain shops, knife shops... If it's good enough for Anthony Bourdain, it's good enough for me. On my most recent trip, my list included white congee spoons, Vietnamese coffee filter, tiny white porcelain spoons and any gluten free goodies I could get my hands on. 

Of course, I found everything I needed and then some.

There's the Vietnamese coffee maker above. I have sweet memories of my iced morning coffee on the beaches of Da Nang. Now I just have to figure out their elusive method. But how hard can it be?

I have collected steamer baskets in all possible sizes. Does anyone have tried and tested gluten free recipes for dim sum? I also stack them up and corral goodies in them as well. 

Having a party? Shanghai Street has several baking shops as well. You won't miss them. One of them is affectionately named, 'I love cake.' 

This is where I purchased my pan for Hong Kong traditional egg waffles. 

Lunch anyone? After all that shopping we were hungry, but we decided against the various dried meats. Cafe Mido was closed due for Spring Break. So we found a dim sum restaurant down the street.   Before I leave Hong Kong I will return to Shanghai Street for one of their massive several inches thick round chopping blocks. I think the hubs also mentioned a set of knives. If you watch the Anthony Bourdain clip that's what he was after on Shanghai Street as well. And if you walk far enough down Shanghai Street, you'll run into the jade market... 

xox, 

c

photos courtesy of Heidi Selch

show and tell...

Ugh. I did not make it to the beach for a walk this Monday morning. Hopefully tomorrow. You know how the more you commit to the more you are able to get done? At what point does that start to become just over committed? (definitely not asking for a friend) Well, I'm going to invest in some colored pens and color code my planner. Maybe that will make it easier to decipher or at the least make it look cuter! I'm going to steep myself a pot of tea and get back to you on that color coding idea (maybe even stickers!). Meanwhile, here's some tidbits I thought you might enjoy...

• I have such trouble finding shoes in Hong Kong to fit my size nine feet. Size nine is BIG in Asia. It reminds me of the days of foot binding. Surprisingly, foot binding was done for a millennium only stopping in the 1930s. 
• I usually don't check out buzzfeed, but couldn't resist reviewing the reasons why Hong Kong's the only place to live. I have to agree with them on several of their reasons!
• I usually struggle with the swan posture at pilates, but maybe these yoga straws would further inspire me. Not all that shocking, they are made in China for a Chinese yoga center. 
• Just when I thought I was doing pretty good exploring Asia, I read this article on Conde Nast Traveler. Wow! I guarantee I'll never get to all these locations, but its a good place to start. 
• Living just a walk away from the ocean brings an over abundance of seafood. One of the Sai Kung seafood joints has even earned itself a Michelin star. Unbeknownst to me I ate there last Wednesday. To their credit it was the only place I have ever been able to stomach eating abalone. 
• I was asking a good (and healthy) friend for some new ideas for breakfasts. She suggested bircher muesli. Have you tried it? Its easy just uncooked oatmeal and milk to start off and then you can add all sorts of toppings. I think my first attempt will be to add kefir instead of milk and go from there. 

xox,
c

show and tell...

I will miss this the most when it comes time to leave Hong Kong (other than friends of course). Seriously, I can just pop into the beach on the way to to do groceries, the butcher, the doctor and the gym. And I do. I am there more in the winter than the summer. Probably the irony of it all. Most of the locals think its freezing outside when the mercury lowers to 60F. And then there are still diehards swimming in the ocean. I'm sure they are thinking that chubby gweilo could move a little faster. Oh, well, I'm the only gweilo there.

I have a chock full schedule this week (who doesn't?), but looking forward to some new challenges. Before I head to pilates here's a few snippets to enjoy...

• We had friends over for dinner and I baked this chocolate flourless cake. It was delicious. You would have never guessed it was gluten free. 
• Friends and family at home doubt me when I tell them that in Hong Kong people line up to get into numerous luxury stores (think Hermes and Chanel). I am not kidding. Here's an article with photos to prove it. But it's still insane no matter how you slice it!
• Have you ever seen children dressed up as old people for Halloween? Adorable? Well now you don't have to wait for Trick or Treat. Check out Zachary Scott's photography of children dressed as old people. My fav is the girl with a cane and babushka.
• Last week a wrote a post for Live Sigma Kappa regarding the pantone color of the year, marsala. Check it out for tips on adding marsala into your home. 
• For those of you who eat gluten free for weight loss or celiac disease, Sassy has published a new 2015 Gluten Free Guide in Hong Kong. My son loves the gluten free pizza at Pizza Express, but be sure to call ahead. Sometimes they are out of gluten free dough.
• I finally started the BBC series Sherlock Holmes. It is quite good if you need a tv break. It's available on netflix. 

Hope you all have a great Monday!

xox,
c

mango pudding

Mango pudding is an Asian favorite and frequently served after dim sum in Hong Kong. The boxed mango pudding mix can be easily found in most local grocery stores, but all the ones I've found included artificial colorings and other preservatives. After searching pinterest I quickly came to the conclusion its just as easy to make the pudding from scratch. The most basic recipe I have found is from food tv.

• 2 ripe mangos
• 1 gelatin packet (3/4 oz)
• 1/2 C hot water
• 1/3 sugar (or less)
• 1 C evaporated milk 

The recipe could be easily altered for vegans. Just substitute coconut milk (or whichever non dairy milk you enjoy) for the evaporated milk and use agar instead of the gelatin. If you are watching your sugar intake you could also try a sugar substitute instead of sugar as well. I think next time I will try the agar and coconut milk, maybe even less sugar. Maybe try stevia instead of sugar?

1. Peel and chop both the mangoes.
2. Puree the mangoes until smooth and no lumps.
3. Boil the water. Remove from heat and add the gelatin.
4. Stir the gelatin until well dissolved. Add the sugar.
5. Add the water solution to the pureed mangoes.
6. Pour into desired bowls before the pudding sets.
7. Refrigerate at least two hours, but overnight's best.

This is a great dessert to take to a dinner party. Its already gluten free and can be vegan and dairy free. You could also gift the hostess the pretty dish you serve the pudding in. Enjoy.

xox,

c

show and tell...

Well, happy first September Monday friends. I miss Fall. There aren't any colorful leaves here in The Kong. And temperature hasn't dropped. We are still hovering in the 30s (Celsius) most days. October's when it usually begins to cool off a little. I'm looking forward to it.

* Did you see this crazy man in Hong Kong? Eating bananas on the fifth tallest building in Hong Kong? No thank you.

* Last week I was all fluster about instagram's gingham shirts. This week it's classic art embellished with dramatic fashion pieces. My fav so far is the American Gothic. If I might be so bold to suggest  Degas' Little Dancer with a Pucci turban.

* I just ordered Red Scarf Girl.  It's a autobiography of a twelve year old Chinese girl in 1966 during the Cultural Revolution. My son read it last year for school and liked it. Pretty much the only fiction book he's liked in a long while. I was sold.

* My favorite show in the states ended. Chelsea Lately. I love it. I've read all her books. I kept trying to find the finale on you tube, but it keeps telling me 'not available in your country.' Grrr.

Happy Happy September! Pretty much all the women in my family have birthdays in September so it'll a busy one here!


xox,
christine

Hong Kong favs by pattersonestate on Polyvore

The tropical climate of Hong Kong does not agree with my old favorites products. Let alone some aren't even available here or more expensive. Some items I stock up on when vacationing in the states others I have had to just replace. One cannot drag a whole Sephora or Target to Hong Kong. Added bonus there's no sales tax in Hong Kong!

• La Roche-Posey sunscreen There's no Banana boat or Coppertone to throw in your Target here in Hong Kong. There's lots of brands I'm not familiar with and with sun beating down almost everyday I really didn't want to mess around with my skin in the sun so I grabbed the best. Or I could be like the locals and use an umbrella and arm covers. Trust me it's a thing.  
• Tiger Balm back pain patches These are great additions to supplement a physical therapy program. I use them along with weekly acupuncture. 
• Shanghai Tang Ginger Lily perfume  Heavier on lilies than ginger this has become my favorite every day perfume. But I'll be sure to buy a couple extra bottles before leaving Hong Kong, because it's quite hard to find in the states and they don't ship it overseas.
• Betadine first aid cream I am one of those lucky folks that are allergic to the main Neosporin ingredient  So I was always looking for alternatives back at home. This is a great one and there's a lot of Betadine formulas to chose from.
• Laneige Water Pack EX This weightless serum has a cult like following for a reason. It's  intended to be used as a weekly overnight mask. To be honest I use it more than once a week and I have very oily skin. It really helps waking up and looking refreshed on those late nights. I also hear it's a big hit with med students working the night.
• Oil blotting papers  Hong Kong summers are killers with the tropical humidity and heat. It's almost pointless to try and get all fancied up. Mascara best be at the least waterproof so it stays to avoid raccoon eyes. Blotting papers are the perfect help in refreshing one's face after hailing a taxi to the island.
• Tiger Balm mosquito repellent Mosquitos are something fierce over here in southeast Asia. Don't ever be caught without bug spray. This is my first DEET free choice. 
• Mopiko ...and when you have been bitten this cream is the best choice. Hailing from Japan it's pretty much the only cream sold in Hong Kong for a good reason. It really stops the itching!

Langeine is sold stateside. Which is good, because when I return I'll need to stock up. The rest I may have to pack stock piles back with me!

xox, 

C

show and tell...

Sometimes she stops me dead in my tracks. So much to ask. What happens at the top? 

Somehow again I pulled off another American holiday here in Hong Kong. These are the times I wish we had a Target, but I suppose that'd be cheating. Just one of the many ways Hong Kong is different than home. I wrote a ditty for Live Sigma Kappa last week detailing how our Hong Kong homes are different than the states. Including some great pictures by Heidi Selch as well. Here's some more from last week while I'm sharing...

*Have you tried dry shampoo? With my thick hair I don't know how I ever lived without it. I just found a couple recipes for diy dry shampoo on pinterest. Have you tried one of these recipes? I'm about to mix this one up tonight. 

* We have finally taken the plunge and tried to go gluten free as a family. We have suspected for awhile that one of the children had issues with wheat. But trying the elimination diet has pretty much solidified it. So this Easter I baked gluten free sugar cookies. Easy and delish!

* Are you good at selfies? Neither am I. Those eyebrows past due? Bad hair day? I'm trying Elle's tips. Every little bit helps. 

* Hong Kong's history's phenomenal. During the 'Great Leap Forward' in the early sixties, many Mainland Chinese immigrated to Hong Kong.  See it here with newly restored video. 

Well, lovelies, I have a full docket this week as soon as the kiddos head back to school. Hope I get it all done. Here's to Mondays!

xox, 

c

nan lian garden

last weekend we had a try at our best haggling with the mong kok street vendors to no avail. 

{too many tourists for golden week, perhaps?} so on our way home we popped into a garden a local friend had suggested. of course, it was the best thing going and we walked every inch...

the pavilion of absolute perfection is in the center of a lotus pond with eight surrounding old pine trees.

eight is a lucky number in chinese culture and the pavilion is an octagon as well.

{it is perfect. isn't it?}

the guards leading up to the perfection pavilion

one of the chinese timber architecture gallery buildings

 the pavilion bridge is on the east side of the blue pond and a majestic phoenix guards atop

the lamp of enlightenment

{notice the eight sides again?}

fantastic, euh? this is the main restaurant in the garden

it wasn't open when we visited, but i will be gathering up my friends 

 in typical hong kong style you are requested to not walk on the grass

one last glance of the perfection pavilion on the walk out...

{i've already ordered this one to frame}

xox, 

c

p.s. if you are more interested in the garden details check out the link. chinese are gardens are not just thrown together. the nan lian garden was built based on the jiangshouju garden of the tang dynasty. every care was taken to ensure serenity within a busy city.

show and tell...

ok, so sunday was not the best day to check out jat's incline for the awesome 360 degree views.
after i endured the white knuckle grip on the door handles all the way up. apparently, there was not a large investment in guard rails on the steep drive. so you'll just have to enjoy some of the items i found last week that i thought were just fabulous...

* have you heard of tim flach? his last exhibition was in china in september. his portfolio is incredible, especially if you like animals. his books would make great christmas gifts.

* i love a huge personalized mug. wandersketch makes the coolest custom coasters and teacups. if only they shipped to hong kong.

* i am horrible at baking pies. i just cannot seem to get the crust right. maybe after reviewing these guidelines i may just get it right this year.

* do you have a lego lover like me? check out the large legos riding the escalator here in hong kong times square.


i also write for sigma kappa and you can read my post about our days in hong kong there.

xox,
c 

south china seas...

Over the weekend we embarked on a day cruise to a remote island for some much needed r&r. I was a little trepidacious after the recent ferry boat tragedy, but here in Hong Kong they are so through. the maritime boat met us before we went too far away from the Sai Kung coast. They came aboard checked for life jackets, number of people on board and all the necessary paperwork. It was so beautiful that this is one of the few pics I remembered to snap. but who can blame me once we popped the bubbly, met new friends, relaxed, my iPhone was the last thing on my mind. Well, I did manage to remember to snap one of our fresh from the ocean seafood lunch binge.

Here in Hong Kong someties the best meals are eaten on plastic lawn chairs and ricketly old tables especially with new made friends. It didn't hurt that it was the best calamari I have ever had.

xox...
Christine

show and tell...

yes, sigh, this is Hong Kong. all weekend she took my breath away. every new view makes me wonder. where am I? and then the next view is as spectacular as the last.
how they mix malls with 'labels' right next to a traditional Chinese tea house is genius.


show & tell time...

i just added this 'insane' luggage to my birthday list. hope the hubby reads this.

if you haven't seen Jerry Seinfeld's web series, comedians in cars getting coffee- well you should...

the movie Liberal Arts was filmed at Kenyon College which used to be our favorite stomping grounds. Josh Radnor who is an Kenyon alumni wrote, directed and stars in in the movie. Allison Janey, another alumni, also stars as a professor. Liberal Arts was screened at the Sundance film festival. see the trailer here.

these nails are killer. i'm partial to the golden studs, gold greek key or you guessed it just gold. wonder if i can find them in Hong Kong?

christine