Chef of Bourke’s, new Hong Kong wine bar, on avoiding the burnout of fine-dining kitchens

Chef of Bourke’s, new Hong Kong wine bar, on avoiding the burnout of fine-dining kitchens

“Being hospitable and courteous is our way of welcoming you into our home, because we’re feeding you,” says Tara Margarita, head chef of Bourke’s, a new wine bar and restaurant in Hong Kong Island’s bustling SoHo area. “It’s plain, simple, human love, and that’s all I’ve wanted to do.” Inspired by the liveliness of Bourke … Read more

Mouthing Off | Why Hong Kong’s organic food labelling system has a big problem

Mouthing Off | Why Hong Kong’s organic food labelling system has a big problem

Can anyone really tell what is organic or not organic in Hong Kong? In the markets, I have seen veggies with a pen-written sign proclaiming their greens are “organic”. In the supermarket, there is fruit in cellophane wrap with generic “organic” stickers without any certification or proof. Can I truly trust the vendor? Is it … Read more

How to eat a hairy crab, with a step-by-step guide from a top Hong Kong chef

How to eat a hairy crab, with a step-by-step guide from a top Hong Kong chef

Hairy crabs, also known as mitten crabs, are a coveted autumnal dish in Hong Kong and mainland China. Known for the fragrant orange fat stored in their body cavities, the small crustaceans, With their thin legs and bulging round bodies, can be quite daunting to eat if you have not tackled one before. Fret not. … Read more

Making food replicas a popular activity in Japan for tourists hungry for the local culture

Making food replicas a popular activity in Japan for tourists hungry for the local culture

At a workshop in Tokyo, a dozen or so tourists watched as green and white wax was poured into warm water. As the liquid turned into a sheet, they were asked to slowly pull it up and roll it, gasping at its transformation into lettuce. Hands-on lessons in the art of creating food replicas have … Read more

First Hong Kong Fashion Fest aims to put city on haute couture design map

First Hong Kong Fashion Fest aims to put city on haute couture design map

Is Hong Kong’s fashion design industry having a moment? Hot on the heels of this month’s Chanel Cruise 2024/25 show at the Hong Kong Design Institute – attended by the likes of French model Caroline de Maigret and Spanish actress Penélope Cruz – the city is to host the first “Hong Kong Fashion Fest” from … Read more

Tony Blair’s ‘Prince of Darkness’ tipped to be UK’s man in DC

Tony Blair’s ‘Prince of Darkness’ tipped to be UK’s man in DC

WASHINGTON — The hot tip to become the next U.K. ambassador to Washington is anti-Brexit and supports more cooperation with China. Best of luck with the MAGA crowd, Peter Mandelson. A veteran political operator who helped transform Britain’s center-left Labour movement in the 1990s and return it to power after almost two decades, Mandelson now … Read more

How British-born Chinese singer Mui Zyu is taking back her heritage, one song at a time

How British-born Chinese singer Mui Zyu is taking back her heritage, one song at a time

Singer-songwriter Eva Liu Wei-kuen, who was born in Belfast, in Northern Ireland, and raised in the suburbs of the UK, grew up much like other Britain-born Chinese children. What she has done with her Hong Kong heritage, however, is a little different. In September, under her artist name Mui Zyu, she released an EP, titled … Read more

Hyogo’s Finest: Gourmet in Japan

Hyogo’s Finest: Gourmet in Japan

[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Hyogo Prefecture, nestled between verdant mountains and pristine seas, offers a culinary adventure that extends far beyond its famous Kobe beef. With premium seafood like Kasumi red snow crab, Akashi sea bream, and Awaji conger eel, it’s no wonder that food enthusiasts flock … Read more

Why your Chinese wedding invite has a cake voucher included, and traditional types of cake

Why your Chinese wedding invite has a cake voucher included, and traditional types of cake

A Chinese wedding has many of the trappings of a Western marriage and in addition rituals, traditions and matters of etiquette to follow. In our series on Chinese weddings, we break these down and tell you how to get everything right. When you receive an invitation to a Chinese wedding, there is often an extra … Read more

Shenzhen’s soaring R&D spending rivals Beijing, dwarfs Hong Kong amid China’s tech drive

Shenzhen’s soaring R&D spending rivals Beijing, dwarfs Hong Kong amid China’s tech drive

China’s southern tech hub Shenzhen spent a record amount on research and development (R&D) last year, rivalling Beijing’s level and vastly exceeding that of neighbouring Hong Kong to cement its position as a national research mecca. Shenzhen’s R&D expenditure jumped to 223.66 billion yuan (US$30.93 billion) in 2023, surpassing the 200-billion-yuan mark for the first … Read more