MY IDEA OF BEST MUSIC .... ENJOY!

MIRROR!

Note this name, it will soon become the "Talk of the Town" among foodies. Fergus and I were invited to a splendid dinner at this brand new concept restaurant located in Wanchai. The brainchild of 3 friends ie a Chef, a Designer and a Hotel Operator, its operating philosophy revolves around VATS ie to be the Best in Value, Ambience, Taste & Service. Mirror's goal is "to offer their guests with an unforgettable dining experience" and they did precisely that last night, in a big way.

One of the partners is Jeremy Biasiol the Executive Chef. The Biasiol name is of Italian origins even though Jeremy, who hails from Lyon, is as French they come. Offered a job by Alain Ducasse at 17 his culinary career has spiralled up since. Not unlike other extremely successful chefs of global repute, Jeremy has worked with a litany of Michelin restaurants in the key cities, and of course award winning chefs including; Paul Bocuse, Georges Blanc, Le Mere Brazier, Pierre Orsi and Ducasse with whom he spent 11 years.

The menu was classic French, complete with meticulous attention and flavor layering as taught in cooking schools. The discipline was unmistakenly loud, and clear, a real joy for discerning diners who, in addition to tastes, care about how their food is prepared. While the tasting menu was pervasive, the following were just brilliant ... so look out for them.

* Mirror salad, especially the aubergine puree, in truffles vinaigrette
* Frog legs in a thin cream of garlic & watercress veloute
* Roast scallops with crayfish & cauliflower sauce

Jeremy has been in Hong Kong for almost two years, and thanks to a thorough baptism by his local partners, he talks like a HK belonger. He was teaching at a cooking school and the team of young men behind the pass is made up of his best pupils. Knowing what I know now about the hardships of a cooking career ladder, I hope they know how terribly fortunate they are, at more or less the same age as their boss when he started with Ducass. Watching them work, and watching those smiles despite the sweat & stress, I think they know, I am sure they do.

MIRROR : 6F Tiffan Tower 197-199 Wanchai Road Wanchai (852) 2573 7288

NINGBO

Earlier this year I was invited to join the Board of a listed company in the pharmaceutical business, as an Independant Non-Executive Director. The company has manufacturing operations in Ningbo, and I had the chance to visit the city. Unlike the metropolis of Shanghai, Ningbo has kept her old-world charm while speeding on the fast lane. Rapid growth and urban development have not (not yet is probably more appropriate) swallowed the old life style of the city, as shown here at Moon Lake, right in the middle of town. Chinese cities are moving so fast these days residents must find it tough to cope. That said, from what I can see walking around Ningbo her sanity is alive, and well. I hope she will keep it that way, as it will be such a pity to lose her charming characteristics to 'progress'.

KAYA : DAUGHTER #4

With daughter #2 & #3 leaving the nest daughter #4 is in her innate 'discovery mode' .... she knows she is now the jewel in our eyes. Whatever affection we missed from the girls (come to think of it we do not get too much of it anymore, as they grew older) Kaya will step right up to comfort us. When we are home she is always near by, and always ready to show her attention and love for us. Kaya turned 2 in May, and she is the USB in the family ie the "Ultimate Spoiled Brat". I am guilty as charged, and why not? Dora blames me for spoiling Kaya's sisters anyway, so what is one more?

DONOVAN'S 16-COURSE MARATHON

It does not seem possible that my Culinary Mentor, my ultimate Dai Si-Fu has left Hong Kong for almost 2 months. Chef Donovan Cooke is working 25-hour days getting his new restaurant 'The Atlantic' at the Crown Casino complex ready for soft opening by year end, and formally in early 2011. Judging from our last trip to Melbourne this will be a huge challenge for him. It will be the biggest deal in his career, without any doubt. The last Derby dinner he cooked for Club FED was a 16-course 'Marathon' or 'White Flag' ie 'I Surrender' Dinner, the fascinating menu that follows is for the record.

* White Pearl Oyster with blood orange, Campari, beetroot & coriander
* Jelly of Caviar with cauliflower cream
* Sea Urchin "Karamushi" with fennel foam
* Alaskan King Crab Leg with grilled pineapple & Iberico chorizo
* Slow Smoked Foie Gras with Earl Grey tea jelly
* Panfried Scallop with Boudin Noir & apple
* Olive Oil Confit of salmon with asparagus & leek in truffle sauce
* Slow Cooked John Dory Finger with saffron gnocchi & sage jus
* Monkfish Tail stuffed with foie gras, in red wine essence
* Roasted Boston Lobster "Tournedos" with Wagyu beef cheek in Bordelaise sauce
* Bresse Pigeon "En Vessie"
* Slow Roasted Kurobuta Pork Loin with green apple chutney
* Pauillac Lamb Saddle stuffed with confit tomatoes in marjoram sauce
* Strawberry & Rhubarb Consomme with basil & sago foam
* Citrus Scented Doughnut
* Valrhona Chocolate Souffle
* Nespresso Coffee, Fine Teas & Friandises

Way to go Si-Fu ... good luck at everything you do Down Under. I miss your cooking and your friendship, dearly!

911 : LEST WE FORGET

I am not an American but I feel for the country and for her people, both have not quite recovered from that fateful day 9 years ago. I say this not as a pedestrian, I was in NYC on 911 in 2001, and it changed me.

I was at a partners meeting with RRA that morning. I watched the second plane hit the Towers from our mid town office at the MetLife Building. I was scared to bits when we evacuated on to Park Avenue. I found out how nerve wrecking it must be in an air raid as I was running on the street while planes (USAF) were low flying over the city. I was stranded in the Benjamin on Lexington Avenue for 5 days. I was glued to the TV 24-7 in total disbelief as the horrors unfolded. I was in tears at the Armory downtown, where a Search Coordination Centre was set up. I still have this image of a bowling team in their uniform passing out pictures of a teammate, a fireman MIA. I was lucky to get on the first CX flight home. I could not control my emotions everytime I thought of that week. I cried every time I recounted my terrifying experience, months afterwards, for more than a year.

Al Queda may continue to wave the Jihad flag but what exactlly have they achieved, aside from intensified hatred and increasing intolerance as events of the past few days in NYC - over the mosque next to Ground Zero - will attest. Why would a religion promote extremism and violence? Where will this take us? How will it end? Will this ever end? These open questions on 911 are not philosophical arguments anymore, they are real, and they affect the daily lives of everyone around the globe.

911 may be a small incident compared to the evil of the Holocaust but nonetheless it must be kept alive, front and centre .....

LEST WE FORGET!

MEET OUR GRAND-CHILDREN

Dora & I will be grandparents soon, in November to be exact. Yes, I do mean "children" as Terri & Fergus will have twins, in fact a boy and a girl. The entire family is gearing up for this momentous occasion, with activities galore such as getting the baby room ready, picking names, interviewing & training nannies, and I am sure on the list somewhere, where to send them to play group, boarding school, college etc etc etc I remember reading 'The Hurried Child' (authored by John Holt I believe) in my Child Psychology class at Tufts and it is incredible how some of the observations then actually apply to us in Hong Kong, today. It is easy for me to offer off hand comments now but I can assure you Dora & I we were in that exact mode back in the 80's with our 3 princesses. Nothing changes, time in memorium, as far as this space is concerned. All being told .... what a wonderful milestone in our lives, what a joy to have the twins joining us, what excitement! Can one ask for more in life, I doubt it, and we cannot wait. GO TERRI!