Dry run/dress rehearsal

Thanks to Olivia and Joe for spending an afternoon with me in KL, and for a gentle introduction to the trials and tribulations of looking after a little girl. Your dear Chloe was a lovely, adorable guinea pig for my clumsy attempts at superficial childcare... and if I can lose anywhere near as much weight running after my own daughter as Oli has running after hers, well, I'll be in really good shape!

Prenatal Classes

Bubs and Babes have now attended two of these classes, three and a half hours each. The first one was more hands-on, as you can see from the picture. Babes, of course, is an old hand at this, and had a good laugh at my expense. I, well, took a while to learn how to a) fold the cloth nappies that the hospital will use, before b) putting 'em on the baby (who didn't look too happy about my efforts). Didn't do too badly, I suppose, but I think I need quite a lot more practice... there'll be no shortage of opportunities in a couple of months...

Not-so-private-kitchens in Hong Kong

When in Hong Kong, do as the Beijingers do: order Peking Duck. And so we did, at Hunan Garden in Exchange Square with Jui Kian and Choo Lye, and it was yummy! When in Hong Kong, also enjoy the local desserts. And so we did, heading off to Happy Valley after Hunan Garden for durian puffs, mango and assorted other goodies. Finally when in Hong Kong, also head for yum cha. And so we did, at West Villa in Causeway Bay with Julie and Roger. The yum cha was good, but the almond bun right at the end was absolutely divine!

Life in Hong Kong

I thought I'd break up the stretch of food-related posts with a (very) brief snapshot of what our friends get up to in Hong Kong. For starters, the Nintendo Wii is a crowd favourite. Even Babes got into it, almost falling on Roger while playing tenpin bowling. But here we see Roger and Willy in a full-blooded, no-holds-barred bout of boxing. And here's the real reason why Babes and I went to Hong Kong lah, to take feeding lessons from these cool mothers. Thanks to Joose, Katelyn, Julie and Jamie for showing us how it's done. And Julie and Roger, a huge THANK YOU for your amazing hospitality at your luxurious boutique hotel!

Hong Kong private kitchens, Part Two

The following night, we went to a very well-known place with Julie, Roger, Willy and Joose: Da Ping Huo, one of the first private kitchens around. In many ways, it's quite the opposite of the previous night's Club Qing. Rather spacious, it comes across as more like a restaurant. The minimalist decor too, contrasts sharply with the other's warm wooden feel. And the food? Spicy and strong Sichuan compared to the more subtle Cantonese flavours. Different, but just as good! Plus a touch of theatre, with the chef herself coming out at the end of the meal to serenade diners.
Inspired by these private kitchens, Bubs and Babes (well, Bubs anyway, as Babes doesn't know about this yet) will be opening an eatery in our townhouse. Perhaps Babes does the cooking, while I entertain diners with Broadway or Sinatra numbers. Or Babes performs for them while I prepare such culinary delights as Exotic Wok-tossed Basmati (aka Fried Rice) or Jade Treasures Splashed with Aphrodisiac Essence (aka Lettuce with Oyster Sauce). But like the mysterious Zingara Cucina which is causing such a buzz in Melbourne (dunno real or not, maybe bluff people one), reservations will be by invitation only...

Our first Hong Kong private kitchen

Michelle, Kaz, Jackie and James took us to Club Qing, a private kitchen in the heart of Lan Kwai Fong. We enjoyed a 13-course combination of dishes and teas, including Chilled Black Sesame Tofu Pudding with Crab Meat, Dried Scallop Soup with Jelly Fungus (both pictured above, I think!) and Baked Prawns with Lemongrass. Absolutely delicious! It's a beautifully decorated place with lots of antique furniture, nice and intimate too as befits a private kitchen. All in all, a perfect introduction to the world of private kitchens!

Dad's delicious cooking

My Ipoh trip (while Babes was in Kuching and Sibu with the rest of the Ting family) included some of the usual highlights: Char Kuay Teow and Sar Hor Fun. Unfortunately, my regular Sar Hor Fun and Wan Tan Mee places were both closed! In retrospect, the best Ipoh meal I had this trip was at home... thanks to Dad for the fantastic hoe chien (oyster omelette) and steamed pomfret.

Mark and Patsze's Hospitality

First stop on our holiday was Singapore, where we stayed with Mark and Patsze. Their hospitality extended to pet entertainment (courtesy of Patsze's beagle, Oliver), an abundance of food and beverages, as well as Mark's laundry service which included the delicate handling of the Ting Sisters', well, delicates. Thanks to our lovely hosts for taking such good care of all of us, and all the best in Hong Kong!

We're back!

After two weeks in Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia, Bubs and Babes are back in Melbourne. So you can expect more posts (possibly mostly food-related!) in the days to come. A big thank you to everyone who spent time with us, dined with us, put us up (and put up with us), drove us around etc. Thanks ESPECIALLY to Jason and Yee Li for rushing home to get my passport while I kept 20+ other Aeroline passengers waiting...