Food

A very exciting day for us, our new Sainsburys Local opened at Kew Bridge. Such an anticipated event, we had barely climbed out of bed before we dashed over. Still bleary eyed and pyjama clad we stumbled around the aisles and marvelled at the, (actually quite good), range of products. We bought eggs, bacon, prosecco and other such essentials of modern living. Then the paralympic torch turned up. Wowsers! 2012 09 28 08

  Yeah, the name wasn’t exactly selling it to me. Contrary to popular opinion, I don’t insist on sushi for every meal. In this case I had a blueberry fritter from Tim Hortons. It was disgusting. But at least I knew what I was letting myself in for. No disillusionment there.

  For 5 of those Canadian dollars you can try not one, not two, but three fabulous hand crafted Junmai Sakes at Masa Shiroki’s (micro) brewery, 1339 Railspur Alley on Granville Island in the heart of Vancouver. Made in a space the size of a small shop, they’re all quite lovely and surprisingly fruity. He’ll also educate you in any and all aspects of his noble art; how temperature affects the brewing process as well as the flavour come serving time, the different grades of sake, how to taste it and where the flavours come from (it’s all in the rice).

They certainly know how to do their coffee over here in New Zealand. I was served this giant latte in what was basically a soup bowl (hand for size reference) somewhere on the North shore near Auckland. It was a breakfast in itself. Which is all the more surprising since you consider the cafe culture is a recent invention in this country. Ten years ago you would be hard pressed to find such things.

For my last night in Hong Kong, I thought I’d do the street food experience. Right opposite my hotel (The Evergreen Hotel - cheap and decent wifi - essential for the modern traveller) was the Woonsung Street Temporary Cooked Food Hawker Bazaar (located here http://www.waybird.com/+9SHOIP0UA ) - a formidable sounding name and not the most high class dining experience you could imagine - but hey.

All at Kam Tin Long Sushi, their web site http://www.kamtinlongsushi.com/ and their location http://www.waybird.com/+9SHOIDYUG yum yum!    

  Not three words I expect to hear together, surely the idea of an Ovaltine ice cream (found at a 7 eleven in Repulse Bay) is bad enough, but to label it as a Nutrional Malt Cone? I stuck to the choclate bar… It was a Dove choclate bar, hopefully my skin will be nice and smooth now… Curious confectionary in Hong Kong!