bc magazine

HKPPA News Photo of the Year: The Pillar of Shame

The Hong Kong Press Photographers Association (HKPPA) has announced the winner of its annual “Focus on the Frontline” photo competition.

The 2021 winner is HK01‘s Liu Ngan Hung for his photo “The Pillar of Shame” depicting workers removing the Pillar of Shame from HKU. The statue remembers those murdered when the People’s Liberation Army opened fire on democracy protesters in Tian’anmen Square on 4 June 1989.

The “Focus On The Frontline” photo contest began in 1993 and has become one of the most prestigious awards for local photojournalists. Through the competition, the HKPPA looks for photographs that are important to Hong Kong’s history and which combine the elements of art and journalism.

Commenting on the winner “The jury thinks ‘The Pillar of Shame’ reflects the Hong Kong people’s sustained concern over June 4th, which is also a yearning and worries for the country’s democratisation. As workers removed the pillar in the twilight, it symbolises the freedoms of thought and expression once cherished in Hong Kong being dispossessed. The lighting condition and framing of the photograph gives it a baroque aesthetic, bringing tension to the work. The posture of workers lowering their heads to avoid being photographed and the darkness that envelopes the action are metaphorical, constructing a meaning that is more than the sum of all the visual elements in the image.”

Ming Pao’s Lam Oi Yee image of people drinking on a street, metres away from a fatal car accident came second in the Spot News category.

Very Hot Weather Warnings – But No Water

In recent weeks as temperatures have risen the government has issued almost daily Very Hot Weather Warnings.

Among the obvious, but welcome hot weather reminders is ‘Drink plenty of water’ which is sensible advice – except that the LCSD has closed all the public drinking fountains.

Far more people are likely to be injured or suffer from the heat than catch Covid-19 from the metal surface of a water fountain.

Hot Weather Warning

The Hong Kong Observatory has issued the Very Hot Weather Warning.

To prevent heatstroke, avoid prolonged activities outdoors.

If engaged in outdoor work or activities, wear a wide-brimmed hat and light-coloured, loose-fitting clothes. Stay in shaded areas as much as possible.

Drink plenty of water, and avoid beverages containing caffeine or alcohol.

If you feel sick, consult a doctor right away.

Megabites: Food & Restaurant News 8 June, 2017

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Carlo-Riva-Wanchai-1-June-2017/i-pXWLcGh

Carlo Riva

There’s a new steakhouse in Wanchai Carlo Riva. The 5,000+ square foot restaurant with an impressive looking open kitchen is spread over two floors at 1 Heard Street, with the upstairs offering several private rooms.

The menu features steak cuts from across the globe: US, Australian, New Zealand, Argentina, France and some fine US tomahawks. Also on the soft opening menu is a range of pasta and vegetarian dishes. And they’re baking their own bread, the brie chunks in black sesame seed flour is rather good! There’s a separate and extensive lunch menu, from $68 up, with unlimited chips.

Style wise, to quote one of the owners “It’s relaxed fine dining with good sized portions at reasonable prices” and we can’t argue with that. Currently there’s no corkage charge so BYOB and no service charge.

Carlo Riva: 1 Heard Street, Wanchai Tel: 3956 2388
Opening Hours: 12-3pm, 6-11pm www.facebook.com/CarloRivaHK/

Brydock Farm Anti-biotic Free Pork

There’s a burgeoning market among the affluent who want to buy and eat meat only from ‘ethically’ reared and ‘healthy’ animals. Looking to cater to that market in the UK and now available locally is Brydock Farms with their range of anti-biotic free pork. Television adverts want us to continue to think of farms as small family-run places. Those simply aren’t economic today, at Brydock’s Farm for example in Aberdeenshire they have 10,500 outdoor sows and produce 4,600 pigs a week.

What has also changed are the government regulations, these are now very strict in the UK and cover all aspects of food production including animal feed, transportation, welfare, they also track each individual animal from the farm through the slaughterhouse. You can read more about this at www.redtractor.org.uk which looks to ensure promote clearer labeling and ensure food originates from a trustworthy source. Not only are these regulations in-place to prevent disease, they also ensure that if a farm claims for example that it’s pigs are anti-biotic free they can be tracked and tested to confirm it’s true. Brydock Farms anti-biotic free pork can be found in the freezers of your local supermarkets.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Geyre-Grand-Opening-3-June-2017/i-7Vkvsf6

Organic Fusion Bar G.Eyre

Newly opened in Wanchai is Genie Chan’s ‘organic fusion bar’ G.Eyre. All the ingredients are claimed to be organically sourced, principally from Australia, but unlike many other recently opened ‘organic places’ it’s refreshingly very much not vegetarian.

Appertisers include stewed potatoes with black dates ($78), mussels w/cider ($108). Mains feature organic chicken, cod, salmon, prawns and ribs but sides dishes are extra. A range of light meals with quinoa and brown rice cater to the calorie counters among you including teriyaki tofu w/cucumbers (228 calories) and spicy American beef stew (325 calories). Coffees and flower teas range from $20-$42. There’s also various set lunches daily. A 10% service charge is added.

G.eyre: 69 Hennessy Road, Wanchai. Tel: 2818 6992.
Opening hours: 11:30am-10pm
www.g.eyreorganic.com.hk

Opened a new restaurant, running a promotion, launched a new food product. Send the information to [email protected]

Megabites: 8 November, 2014

Thanksgiving
A national holiday in the USA, Thanksgiving originated as a day of celebration of the previous years harvest. Local American stalwart Dan Ryan’s is offering a traditional 4 course menu for $398 + 10% featuring pumpkin soup, roast turkey with giblet gravy, candied yams, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie.
Dan Ryan’s Chicago Grill is located at Shop 28, LG2, Festival Walk, 80 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong (t: 2265 8811) and 112 Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty (t: 2845 4600).

Isola Reopens
A newly renovated and slightly remodeled Isola re-opened in IFC recently. At first glance you might not notice many of the new features, but take a look at the most important part of the restaurant… There’s a brand new kitchen, designed with the input of two-star Michelin Chef Marco Sacco and built in Italy. Yes, Isola is the latest eatery to partner up with an overseas Michelin star chef to add ‘prestige’ to it’s name… While Marco Satto will ‘oversee’ the gradual revamping of Isola’s menu – so don’t expect to see any of famous dishes on the menu quite yet – the new chef on the ground is Omar Agostini. At the media introduction of Marco Satto’s appointment there was little to taste, so we’ll have to wait and see what impact Marco and Omar bring to Isola, and it’s prime location with wonderful views across the harbour.

Great Idea
As part of their Christmas promotion Great in the basement of Pacific Place will be holding a series of food tastings and demonstrations loosely entitled “Comfort Foods for the Holidays”. The series of tastings and hands on activities starts on the 21 November from 3pm with the goal of inspiring and entertaining while learning more about food and how to prepare, cook and enjoy it.

A full list of the classes and tasting is posted in the store where you can sign-up in advance for those that interest you most. The list includes: Dressing a Whole Turkey (Demo), Pumpkin soup (Demo/Food Tasting), Making A Ginger Bread House from Scratch (Hands on instructional Class), Old Fashioned Christmas Cookies (Hands on instructional Class), Roasting Poultry (Hands on instructional Class), Christmas Pudding (Demo/Food Tasting), Composing a Cheese platter (Hands on instructional Class), Cooking with Cheese (Demo/Food Tasting), How to Carve a Turkey (Demo/Food Tasting), Understanding Craft Beer Instruction (Tasting).

Cooking videos
The Sheraton in Macau is posting cooking videos on it’s facebook page showing viewers how to enjoy the specialty dishes from the Sheraton Macao Hotel’s restaurants at home. Tied in with this are a series of weekly competitions and give-aways – check out their facebook page for more details www.facebook.com/SheratonMacau

If you have any food news please send it to [email protected]

Megabites: 1 February 2014

Alfresco Terrines and Pâtés
Almost two years on from an extensive renovation and rebranding the Causeway Bay Centre – the former Sanlitun – has still to imprint itself on many people’s dining radar. But if you enjoy sitting outside and especially if you have kids it’s worth a look as there’s extensive seating on the spacious walkways – all discretely labelled for general public use so you don’t have to actually buy anything to sit down, but expect some dirty looks if you don’t. A couple of reasons to sit-down at Divino Patio’s comfortable chairs are it’s Italian Aperitivo Buffet and this month’s Terrines and Pâtés promotion. The free (upon purchase of a drink) Aperitivo Buffet is typical of the type you’d find in bars across Italy and is full of nibbles including cheese bites, pizza squares, salmon bites, vegetables in tempura, grissini wrapped with salumi’s, polpette (meat balls), fried fish, pork belly and is available nightly from 5:30-8:30.

February’s Terrines and Pâtés promotion includes a country style pâté flavoured with guerande “fleur d sel” at HK$118 per 100 grams; Foie gras terrine and yellow wild mushrooms at HK$138/100grams; a traditional duck pâté at HK$168/100g; and a free range chicken breast and fresh tarragon terrine at HK$128/100g. The pates are served with toasted farm bread, gherkins and garden salad and are paired with a selection of wines and beer from the Italian artisan microbrewery 32 Via dei Birrai.
Divino Patio: Shop !1, 1/F Brim 28 Causeway Bay Centre, 28 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Tel: 2877 3552

Fondue
Locally fondue has in recent years come to mean dipping marshmallows and other confectionary in chocolate and while that’s nice and incredibly sweet the more traditional dipping medium is cheese (An aside, marshmallows and jelly beans dipped in cheese… intriguingly tasty idea….). Nightly through February 28 Divino in Central is offering three delicious cheese fondues to share with friends, Fonduta Svizzera ($300/person) comprising 1⁄2 Gruyere and 1⁄2 Vacherine Fribourgeois with a hint of Kirch wine; Fonduta Alla Valdostana ($280/person) using fontina cheese and Fonduta al Gorgonzola ($250/person) which as the name implies, uses gorgonzola. All are served with a selection of toasted bread cubes and fresh vegetables – including lightly poached Brussel sprouts and pumpkin both of which are delicious when dipped and coated in cheese, especially the gorgonzola. Remember to scrape the bowl, the slightly burnt cheese that sticks to the bowl is a crispy oft forgotten delight. All three fonduta are offered paired with wine or Italian artisan beers.
DiVino: G/F, 73 Wyndham Street, Central, Tel: 2167 8883

A Chinese New Year Option
It’s Chinese New Year, the weather’s sunny and you’re stuck for something to do… Why not check out Ocean Park or Disneyland both have a variety of restaurants offering CNY specials and a wealth of other activities to make for an enjoyable day-out. And with the mainland hordes staying north of the border visiting their relatives crowds should be light and meal prices are not too extravagant.