16 Dec 2012 ~ 金輝海鮮酒家 Kam Fei Seafood Restaurant at Lei Yue Mun

Listening to: Peter Tosh ~ Walk & Don't Look Back (The Ritz, NYC, 9/29/81)

Thursday night we had our Workday Team Holiday dinner at   金輝海鮮酒家 Kam Fei Seafood Restaurant at Lei Yue Mun.

Guests select the seafood they want from stalls outside the restaurant.


We didn't eat outside, but if we had, this would have been our view.

We hadn't even had one drink poured and already the police were at our table, warning us of the dangers of drinking and driving. (Could the case of wine we brought with us tipped them off?) Luckily we could all report that we were taking taxis.

Tyson even was requested to undergo a breathalyzer...and passed.

I tried all the foods served except the crab and lobster. Unfortunately, I ended up within an hour of eating having an allergy attack...I'll spare you the details...but my co-workers made sure I got home ok and I saw a doctor on Friday for nausea, stomach cramps and puffy eyes. I think I'll stay away from all seafood for a while, which is too bad, because actually the food was delicious.

The greenish items on the plate are the right are Century Eggs. Read all about them here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Century_egg

This is a large crab, sliced thinly, and can be eaten like sushi or put in the hotpot.

A fish steamed with celery and carrots.

Another fish in a sauce...careful of the bones.

Clam with clear noodles and scallions.

Spicy unknown fish...

This is lobster baked in cheese. The Americans were aghast, but this is quite a famous dish.

Spicy fried squid.

Half a crab. (The proper way to eat is to pick it up and such out the meat...just be careful of the lungs.)

The team....Happy Holiday!

15 Dec 2012 ~ Monogamous

Listening to:   Mazzy Star ~ Blue Light


Last Monday night co-workers and I went to the Chinese Restaurant Monogamous. Who wouldn't want to go with a name like that? They specialize in Sichuan cuisine. Highly recommended to any visitor to HK, not only for an authentic atmosphere but also for exceptional food.

With all the red lanterns I just had to tell the story of us growing up playing cards and razzing my parents about their bedroom "red light".

We ate:

- Xioa Long Bao (Bamboo Steamed Pork Dumplings) - this is actually one food I know how to order!
- French Beans with Garlic
- Stir Fried Crispy Chicken in Spicy Sweet & Sour Sauce
- Mau Po Tofu

Here's a link to the website.

http://themonogamouschinese.com/

And to a Review.

http://hk.lifestyleasia.com/features/wine-and-dine/review-the-monogamous-chinese-restaurant-10774

Had a new bird visit my balcony. [Skye is doing well. I've called USDA San Diego to check up on her. She will be flown to San Francisco now on 31 Dec after many many many conversations with the pet relocation company.]

I got my hair cut today. Not that I really needed a hair cut, but I love the 20 minute head massage during the wash/rinse, so I figured, why not get one more before I leave HK? Now I may regret it.

Anyone remember how in 1990 I got my hair cut short and said "Never Again!"?

Well, "Never" has arrived.

I said I only wanted a trim, visually showed how much (not more than an inch), and yet my hairdresser went rogue.

I can't say I hate it but...who's that girl in the mirror?

13 Dec 2012 ~ Champagne Tasting

Listening to: Big Wave ~ Living Room (Only You)

Happy Birthday!

I went to a champagne & wine tasting a few weeks back.

I love how they just put unlimited bottles on the table and you get to serve yourself.
This event was held at the restaurant Lily & Bloom. The chef made food pairings to go with the champagne and wines.

Swordfish "fingers", salmon crostinis, deviled eggs...yum.

 

 

They also served "oyster shots"...oysters in champagne. At first I refused to try one, but of course by the end of the evening, I gave in. 

 

The next night I went out with co-workers for Peking Duck.

And I got to see a rainbow.

9 Dec 2012 ~ Carnival

Listening to:  Nine Inch Nails ~ The Big Come Down (Sacramento 12/12/2008)


A few weeks back I went to Lan Kwai Fong Carnival. Lan Kwai Fong is a district in Hong Kong known for it's late night bar and party atmosphere, so what better place.

Cotton Candy....

Games for children...this was always my favorite.

I tried the sangria but not in a foot long woman-shaped glass with a hot pink bikini.

Nor did I sample the roasted suckling pig.

The largest hamburger I've ever seen.

 

 

Talk a walk to see the Carnival for yourself.

 

http://youtu.be/octvEyxlhNM

 

 

Ran into a Partner former colleague at the Hard Rock Cafe.

 





5 Dec 2012 ~ Rocket Man

Listening to:  Elton John ~ Bennie and the Jets (Greatest Hits)


I went to see Elton John last night at the HK Convention & Exhibition Center for the 40th Anniversary Tour of Rocket Man. Had a center seat in about row 60.

Super cool! My sister gave me my first album for Xmas of 1977 and it was none other than Elton John's Greatest Hits...and to think he'd only been playing for 8 years at that point.

He still rocks and has a good voice...only played a few of his more sappy songs.

The show opened with a duet called "2Cellos" from Croatia. They have funky looking cellos and played songs such as Michael Jackson "Smooth Criminal", U2 "With or Without You", Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit", and AC/DC "Highway to Hell".

Was very curious what Elton would open with, but I was completely surprised that it was "The Bitch Is Back".

Two of the female back up singers are Stone sisters, as in Sly and the Family Stone.
The drummer and guitar player have played with him since 1969.

Here's some of the other highlights:

Benny and the Jets
Levon
Tiny Dancer
Believe
Mona Lisa Smiles and Madhatters
Philadelphia Freedom
Candle in the Wind
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Rocket Man
Hey Ahab (written with Levon Helm)
Honkey Cat
Daniel
Sun Going Down On me
Crocodile Rock
Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
This Is Your Song
Lion King (this was the only song i didn't recognize)

1 Dec 2012 ~ Customer Farewell

Listening to:  Otis Rush ~ I Can't Quit You Baby (Joe's Place, Boston, 4/5/1973)


Happy Birthday!

I had my last day with the customer I worked with for the past year.

Here I am with the Chief Human Resource Officer for AsiaPac. (We were presenters together at the conference in Las Vegas).

And here I am with the entire team I trained last year in October.