ROMAN

If there is one Canto-Pop star that gels with my vintage and music preferences he would be Roman Tam, who lost his battle with liver cancer 10 years ago.  As I write there is a special 10th Anniversary exhibition at the Shatin Heritage Museum in his memory.  Any fan of Roman, and anyone who identifies with music in that era should make the effort, you will not be disappointed.

Roman could sing, dance and talk, all at the same time.  He was the proverbial all-rounded entertainer whose showmanship, on and off stage, was the envy of the music world, old and new. What gave him the definitive edge was training received from conservatories and dance schools in Guangzhou during his childhood, a solid and disciplined foundation he built on since landing in Hong Kong in the 1960's as a teenager.  I loved the way he articulated lyrics, the way he held every note right at its pitch, but above all the way he put tons of feelings in whatever he was asked to sing.  Remember 'Under the Lion Rock', the theme for the RTHK series, a real classic.  Roman was a true professional during his time, an idol whom his peers wish to emulate, and a maker of history many times over in his industry.  I often listen to his award winning CDs in the still of the night, alone, and enjoy being overwhelmed by the mood this magical voice still engenders.

The exihibition opens with a truly well deserved accolade " ... A Voice Hong Kong is Proud Of .....".   It is extremely well done, please do not miss it.   

CHESA @ THE PENN

Dora wanted to treat dinner at The Chesa, our favorite at the Penn.  It was just the two of us, with the expressed purpose to enjoy a trip down memory lane.  Our first dinner there, as a dating couple, was in 1981 when we had to 'save $' in order to enjoy an evening here.  Fast forward 32 years worries about costs are replaced by worries about body fat, that ultimate devil aka Body Mass Index. My excuse was ' ... it is my birthday, who wants to count at such an auspicious occasion?'   The Restaurant Manager is my vintage and our reminiscing added much more to the sentimental mood, and the still mesmerizing ambience.

I used to be critical of my late Father's habit of dining only at familiar restaurants, and ordering the same dishes over and over again. Without any question genes and heredity do run deep.  I am in exactly the same mode these days, while Dora and the girls wear the hat of proverbial critics, of me.

To me, one dines at The Chesa mainly for the following : cheese fondue, rosti, veal in cream sauce, rack of pink baby lamb, and to complete the feast ginger souffle (as shown) which I believe was created at the Penn many moons ago. It was a very satisfying way to start my 63rd year, alarming BMI notwithstanding.  

TAI WING WAH @ YUEN LONG

Right in the middle of Yuen Long old town is the Tai Wing Wah Restaurant, a landmark and a flagship of the rustic New Territory style cuisine made famous by Chef-Par-Excellence 'Hefty To To' .... who single-handedly put his baby on the culinary map.  Its menu is not for the faint hearted in our wimpy world of less oil and less salt, who needs it, except dietitians?  The epitome of decadence at this establishment is; a bowl of steaming hot fine grain rice, top with the equivalent of 'grand cru' in soya sauce, but the Piece de Reistance is warm and gluey lard (yes as in pork fat) to complete the flavor picture.  It is heaven on earth and any one who claims to know or like Cantonese food is bluffing without this baptism, indeed a unique taste and spiritual experience.  Be advised this specialty is only available at dinner!

Dora and I took Mom there for a nostalgia lunch and we had : Steamed Black Head in Preserved Lemon, Free Range Chicken braised in Black Fungus & Mushroom in a bronze pan, Deep Fried Prawns in Black Beans, Chili and Dried Citrus Skin plus a splattering of signature 60's-70's Dim-Sum at the incredible price of $18-24 per sizable plate. The item I chose to present with the blog is dessert, the Fluffy Cake with Patisserie Cream.  It is another house special, one that culminates the fine tradition and immense popularity of Tai Wing Wah ... not to be missed, and you must visit soon before the scene changes.  You are taking in history, a glorious rendition of New Territory culinary history when you patron this eatery.         

One last thing, sharing a large table is de rigueur so insisting on your own table is antisocial.  It is so much fun to sit with another group of patrons to exchange views on the menu, what is good, what is less good (nothing is bad here) and why ... all very humbling but truly educational for any honest foodie.

Tai Wing Wah Restaurant @ 2-6 On Ning Road Yuen Long NT
2476 9888

I TURNED 63 TODAY

Incredible as it may sound, at least to me, I turned 63 today.  I am now at the one-third mark of the 7th decade of my minute exisitence on this Lonely Planet. Where has all that time gone?

Instead of the usual celebratory dinners and excursions prevalent over the past years I decided to focus on two women closest to me this year, much to the astonishment of the rest of the family.  Who are they ... my Mother and my Wife.  I spent the first 30 years of my life with Mom, and the balance of 33 years with Dora.  With Mom's  memory fading a bit I harbor this fear that down the road she might not remember me, let alone my birthday and for selfish reasons (if nothing else) I need to invigorate that space.  As for Dora, our journey that lasted a third of a century is solid by any standards but it is only prudent to re-count, re-aquaint and re-commit. I reckon my 63rd is as good a time as any to do this with Mom & Dora, so, here I am. 

LO & BEHOLD

Asia's World City (sic) aka The City of Canines aka the HKSAR's own rendition of an American Classic, The Three Stooges!

Imagine them in Stooges costumes and wigs, from left to right : Moe Howard aka CY, Larry Fine aka Henry and of course Curly Howard aka Albert.  One of them will end up being our Mayor, our Prophet, our Definitive Ruler, our Benevolent Dictator, our Defender of the Basic Law, our Representative Shoe-Shiner to Central and, lastly (bad pun here) our Pied Piper to the Promised Land.

May the Grace of the Almight God be with us, and May there be Mercy upon us ....