Wing On Department Store Cooking Demo & Central Wet Market

On Friday 6 June 2008, went to Wing On Department store and came across a Chinese Cooking class demonstration. Although, the class was conducted in Cantonese a lady kindly translated some of the cooking techniques. Tried some Pork Spare Ribs cooked in Bean Sauce and Salted Plums which was absolutely delicious. Crystal sugar was placed in a pressure cooker and melted over the stove top then black bean sauce, smashed salted plums, Shaoxing rice wine and chopped pork spare ribs were added and pressure cooked for about 13 minutes. After the pork was cooked, the sauce was thickened with a little cornflour, water and soy sauce so as not to dilute the taste. The sauce was left to simmer for a couple of minutes then was served with assorted grains of steamed rice.

After this demonstration, I walked to the Peel Street wet market to buy some ginger, coriander, garlic and cabbage so that I could make some dumplings on the weekend. A huge clump of ginger, small bunch of coriander, 3 cloves of garlic and a white cabbage cost a total of $16 Hong Kong Dollars. Practiced some of my very limited Cantonese and was rewarded with lovely smiles from the vendors.

Continued on to Gage Street as I was on a mission to find out where I could buy dumpling wrappers, as I can't seem to find them in the Wellcome or Park'nShop supermarkets. Found a fresh noodle shop near a much visited fruit stall that I go to and bought a small bundle of wrappers for $3 Hong Kong Dollars.

After this, I then walked to Wellington Street to visit my favourite Chinese grocery store "Wing Woo". A little old man runs a store that looks at least 100 years old. There is a tiny song bird in a wooden cage hanging to the front of the shop and heshan sacks of rice piled high to the back of the shop. Green and red preserved vegetables are displayed in a bucket and assorted duck, chicken and quail eggs are displayed along the front of his shop. This shop is jam packed full of character and history and this is why I love it. Bought some black sweet vinegar to go with the dumplings and some chilli soy sauce for stir-frys.

Today, Saturday 7 June 2008 I made the dumplings and they turned out absolutely perfect except for the fact that I didn't buy enough dumpling wrappers. Now need to make another trip to get more so that I can use the rest of the meat filling.
Copyright © 2008 - 2009 All Rights Reserved

Cat Street (Upper Lascar Row) & Hollywood Road

Took random photos of Cat Street (Upper Lascar Row) & Hollywood Road. Walked from Pottinger Street to Lyndhurst Terrrace then strolled along Hollywood Road past antique shops and Man Mo Temple. Spent time looking at the real and fake antiques which included clocks, jewellery, coins, statues, bone carvings and general bric a brac. Cat Street was once famous for seamen's lodging houses and brothels, and it was a hangout for criminals and the like.
Copyright © 2008 - 2009 All Rights Reserved

Canon Digital SLR

Attended a Canon Digital SLR course today to try and learn how to take fabulous shots using manual mode on the camera. The course was very informative and lots of fun. © Photos All Rights Reserved.

Aberdeen (Shek Pai Wan)

Today, I attended a tour led by Rehana Sheikh. Caught City Bus 260 from Admiralty to the first stop after the Aberdeen tunnel, waited for everyone to arrive, then crossed the road and caught another bus to the Aberdeen waterfront. Walked along the promenade towards the Ferry Piers and the Fish Market which was still under renovation.

Rehana provided us with the following information.

"...Named after the Earl of Aberdeen, secretary of state for the colonies in 1848. To the Chinese it is 'Heung Keung Tsai'.

Buses from Admiralty: 37A, 37B, 37X, 95C, 91, 90B, 40P, 72, 71. Just after passing the fly over on Wong Chuk Hang Road, press the bell in the bus and get off by an overhead pedestrian bridge.

Not much is left of the old Aberdeen other than a few temples, the graveyard, some herbalists and doctors. Even the fishing methods and boat designs have changed over time.

Stroll along the pier where the fishing trawlers in black and red are moored, side by side, with the fishing nets hanging on the sides. See the house-boats with a sleeping cat and tail wagging dog, home to many fishermen known as "Tanka" or boat people, who led a rough life being confined to these boats. They are now almost extinct.

You will see "sampans" little boats, either ferrying people for a few dollars or random merchandise around the harbour. You can bargain but the cost is usually $50 per person.

Across the narrow typhoon shelter is the fishing island of Ap Lie Chau 'Duck's Tongue Island' connected by a busy bridge and dense with high rise housing estates, the most well known being South Horizons. The Jumbo Floating restaurant, Marina Club, Aberdeen Boat Club are nearby.

Walk onwards and you will see ferries to Lamma and sitting out areas and the whole-sale fish market with the catch of the day. Trucks load up fresh fish twice a day and transport it to various restaurants and markets.

Veer away from the market on to the main road where buses ply routes to all parts of Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Territories.

Cross over on the overhead bridge to the hustling, bustling residential and commercial area with pet shops, bakeries, restaurants, temples, supermarkets, bus terminus, housing estates, sitting out areas, shopping arcades, post office, local doctors and herbalists. A graveyard covers the mountain nearby. Walk uphill from the main town area to th Aberdeen Country Park all the way to the Peak, Mid-Levels and Wanchai.

Suggested reading 'Egg Woman's Daughter, A Tanka Memoir' by Mary Chan Ma-Lai..." Copyright © 2008 - 2009 All Rights Reserved