LUXOMME

Hello from Hong Kong!

 I've been in Asia for approximately 3 weeks now, and it's been a fabulous adventure so far. Although the heat and humidity were difficult at first, I think I'm finally beginning to slowly adjust. Of course, all the activities have help. My trip so far has mainly consisted of me eating, walking, sightseeing, then eating some more. One of my first meals here in +852 was at this delicious restaurant called Shanghai Popo.  One of Tiffany's friends was in Hong Kong at the same time we were, and found this restaurant on openrice, which is a popular food review site in HK.

I'm a bit of a sucker for Shanghai food, namely their nian gao and delicious dumplings. However, because of the heat outside, it's difficult to eat hot foods, so I opted for the tossed cold vegetarian noodles, while the other girls shared dan dan noodle and some xiao long baos. The noodles I had were delicately coated and deliciously springy. Best part were the vegetables, which is something I miss about Canada - mindbogglingly large bowls of hearty salads.

It's so nice to be back in this city after two years away. Although this trip is mainly work and errands, there are still pockets of times we have to enjoy ourselves. For those of you interested, this restaurant is located in iSquare and can be reached from the Tsim Tsa Tsui Metro. Menu can also be found in English, which is a lifesaver for Chinese-illiterate people like me.

naomi

Dinner with friends is always a delightful affair. 

Right before I left for vacation, I managed to snag a date with these two lovely people. We met in class during undergrad, and after surviving a project involving ginger and it's antibiotic properties, our bond was sealed. I hadn't seen either of them for a while, so we made plans to meet up at Moxies and quickly slipped into fervent conversation as if no time had passed at all.

Dinner itself consisted of a smorgasbord of indulgent things, a gummy frog cocktail (random), tangy and juicy gyoza, a light mango quinoa topped with grilled chicken, savory pasta, and my favorite, a fresh burger stuffed to the brim. In between bites, we caught each other up as to the goings of our life, and promised to see each other more this Summer. 

Taking advantage of our time together, we stayed until the place was about to close, before moving onto our next destination, which was an adventure in itself. There's something so comforting about re-connecting with people and the assurance that despite the time that has passed, not much has changed. I'm definitely looking forward to more adventures with these two.

naomi

One of the great thing about where I work is that it is located right smack in the middle of the exciting and happening part of the city. Everything is a short walk away, and on this particularly sunny and gorgeous day, my colleagues and I finished our morning early and decided to grab lunch together before heading back.

Winnipeg is not known for being the most Asian food friendly place. There's not many options, but one of the more popular 'snack' places is this quaint little place called Kawaii Crepe. Here they serve a variety of Japanese inspired crepes, both sweet and savory, and a delicious selection of bubbletea or fresh squeezed lemonade, all for affordable prices.

You order up front and watch as they assemble your crepe right in front of you, which is a show it itself. Even though I probably should not, I've toyed with the idea of downing two in one go because they're just that amazing. Just don't get the whole wheat version because hey - that takes the fun out of this delightfully indulgent meal. 

Maybe don't eat two though, they're actually quite big.

naomi

My parents recently came back from a quick trip to Toronto and brought back for me a delicious platter of sushi, one of my loves. I devoured it with them for lunch, and saved a few pieces for dinner. My favorite is this piece of creamy uni placed delicately on top of a bed of rice. Seriously yummy.

Good sushi places are few and far between, but my go-to spot is a place that Tiffany introduced me to a few years back. Akane  is located in Richmond Hill. A small mom and pop restaurant with great attention to detail and the friendliest staff ever. If you are there for take-out, they will often offer you green tea and a spicy salmon hand roll -on the house- while you wait. If that isn't great service, I don't know what is.

This meal was the perfect prelude to my upcoming adventures, where I will hopefully consume more uni than one should ever try. Excited to bring you all along with me!

naomi