Binge - A Local Guide to Hong Kong Food and Dai Pai Dongs

Quite frankly when I want to check out a place to eat in Hong Kong, I go straight to Open Rice on my iPhone. But if you prefer a printed version that is handy in your bag then pick up the WOM Guide for Foodies. It joins the Michelin Guide and the Miele Guide in the local market which testifies to the fact that Hong Kong has obviously many good eats.

The 6th edition of the Hong Kong’s most loved and bestseller dining guide for 2011 offers honest, fun and witty reviews of the city’s most loved restaurants by over 15,000 Wommers who are Hong Kongers who log into www.WOMguide.com and share their dining experiences. A bit like Open Rice but in print, I guess.

What's worth having comes FREE with this year’s guide and it is a special booklet entitled Hong Kong’s REAL Dai Pai Dongs, affectionately produced by the WOM guide team in celebration of Hong Kong’s love affair with traditional food stalls. Highlighting the city’s real Dai Pai Dongs - the ones that have been issued with government licenses (or Dai Pai), the booklet includes ratings by the WOM guide team, signature dishes and an icon indicating if they have air-conditioning, as well as user friendly maps.

WOM guide 2011 for foodies is categorized into 27 WOM choice listings, each based on the most popular or hard to make dining occasions and food specialty – the criteria that Hong Kongers usually base their dining decisions on. It covers the city’s wide array of restaurants, from the most loved local eateries to the best fine dining establishments in town.

Check out 'Idol Status' restaurants which are restaurants with a tremendous following, "Hole in the Wall' restaurants with amazing food but not so amazing décor, 'Forever and ever' those that have been around forever and are not likely to close anytime soon, 'Big Group' places that cater to parties, 'Dim Sum, Moo!', 'Breakfast' and 'Brunch' and 'Out of Towners'. Over 250 restaurants are selected by the WOM guide team based on their popularity and reviews.

You can expect to find out if a restaurant is: good for business dining, a romantic dining location, serves large groups, pet friends, good for kids, has al fresco seating, takes food orders past 11pm, takes reservations, has valet parking, offers delivery and/or takeout, does not accept credit cards, and, very importantly, do they charge a corkage fee. Available at any leading bookshop in Hong Kong for HK$168.

- Elaine

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This Weekend - Warehouse Sale to Help the Needy

If you’ve not a lot planned tomorrow, do a good deed and go the the "Every ONE Can” warehouse sale at 39 Keppel Road #01-02/04, Tanjong Pagar Distripark tomorrow, 16 October, from 10am to 6pm. This is organized by FoodXervices Inc Pte Ltd, a leading food distributor in Singapore, and ONE (SINGAPORE). Buy essential items like rice, noodles, tuna, bread, toilet paper, and proceeds will go to Evercare Welfare Centre (EWC), a volunteer welfare organisation that assists needy individuals and families in the Tiong Bahru area.

“While the economy has turned around, there are still those who find it difficult to put food on their tables. As we are in the food business, FoodXervices Inc is doing what we can to help those in need,” said Nichol Ng, Managing Director of FoodXervices Inc. They hope to fill two whole trucks with food supplies.

Shoppers can also pick up groceries at wholesale prices for their own use, including FoodXervices’ home grown chestnut ice cream, KooriMo. In fact, half the proceeds from ice cream sales will go to the charity drive as well. If you’re not into going down physically, do your bit by buying online at http://www.foodxervices.com/
 
Meanwhile, yes, we know the picture is a little 'Auntie', but charity doesn't have to be glamorous to be a worth doing, right?!

- Ee Waun

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Buys – Naughty, Boozy Atomizers For A Spritz Of Glitz

You want to bring your bling to the extremes of fabuliciousness? Then you must have Laura Santinni’s alcoholic atomizers which she says, takes “the glamour of the boudoir to the table”. These tantalizing little bottles contain potent potions of alcoholic liquor with edible metals. One pump onto your food or drink and you'll turn from Ho-Hum Hostess to Madame With The Mostest. 

'Devil’s Breath' is a transformational mist of brandy liqueur with chilli and edible 23 carat gold flakes. Sweet yet fiery, a little spray turns steaks, pasta and chocolate mousse into tantalizing temptations, and makes a hot chocolate or coffee devilishly tempting. 'Angel Mist and Broken Halos' is no more angelic, combining heady grappa and edible silver flakes. Mist freshly shucked oysters or a trembling panna cotta with this wisp of wickedness, and dinner will never be the same again. There’s plenty more you can do – spray a cocktail with this breath of lusciousness, zip it onto carpaccio, sashimi or canapés…Sip with Champagne, perfectly matched with red stilletoes and racy teddy under a respectable outfit of perfect prudishness.

Santinni says you can bring the boudoir to the table, and SimplyFab says you can bring them right back into your scarlet chambers once again. With a simple push of a finger, what else can these little elixirs do to spice up the fun and games? Oooh – We can’t wait to find out!

And just in case you think the booze comes from less-than-luscious sources, rest, assured and inspired, that they are in fact produced by Distilleria Bottega, an award-winning Italian distillery that have been producing grappa for three generations, and based in the Prosecco area near Venice.

These culinary naughties are available at Selfridges in London, Birmingham, Manchester Trafford & Manchester Exchange Square or online at www.selfridges.com (tel: 0800 123 400) Each 100ml bottle costs £17.99 and contains a giddy 38% alcohol.

Just say it – “I Want!”

- Ee Waun

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