USMEF Great American BBQ 2025

A feast for the taste buds! The Great American BBQ, hosted and sponsored by the Texas Beef Council, USMEF and the USDA, took place at the KCC on 4 November 2025.

A cornucopia of US beef-themed dishes complemented by US wines, US spirits and US cheese ensured members of the food industry a tasty and fun night off as restaurateurs, food producers, and food distributors relaxed together… Simply the Best!

IMG_9188

IMG_9220

IMG_9233

IMG_9254

IMG_9227

IMG_9251

IMG_9236

IMG_9194

Click on any photo for the full gallery of images

IMG_9211

Happy Birthday bc

Happy Birthday to us!

Thirty-one, yes 31, years ago today, bc magazine debuted on the streets of Hong Kong.

Much has changed over the last 30+ years, especially since Covid… Lan Kwai Fong and Wanchai are now (sadly) unrecognisable from the vibrant social melting pots of years past.

What does the future hold? It seems unlikely the “work hard, party harder” culture will return. And that feels sad, maybe something new will replace it but ‘connecting’ via social media is vastly different than meeting in person… And yes the world has moved online, but personal connections are still where it matters.

A lot of people – staff, friends, advertisers and readers have been involved over the years, thank you for your continued support and strength.

Carpe Diem!

USMEF Great American BBQ 2024

An idyllic autumn Hong Kong evening played host to this year’s USMEF Great American BBQ at the Kowloon Cricket Club on 29 November 2024.

Hosted and sponsored by the Texas Beef Council, USMEF and USDA, the BBQ promotes and showcases US beef and Hong Kong’s talented chefs. There’s beef cooked straight, smoked, dry-aged, Tawan hotpot style, burgers, and sausages to name a few of the different ways… A feast for the taste buds!

Click on any photo for the full gallery of images

FUJI0796

FUJI0799

IMG_8866

IMG_8873

FUJI0798

IMG_8892

FUJI0826

 

Choices, Choices, Choices…

Choices, choices, choices… The HKTB‘s Wine & Dine Festival is back with over 300 booths full of food and drink to explore savour and hopefully enjoy.

Everyone will have their own preferences and ideas as to how to explore the festival. My approach is what can I do and taste here which I probably can’t/wouldn’t away from the festival. And that mostly means food! There are so many wine and spirits shops in Hong Kong that you can buy a bottle of pretty much anything you want to sample away from the festival.

IMG_E7232

The Cutest drink

Honestly, to tease and please your tastebuds head to the Culinary Stars area first to sample dishes from some of Hong Kong’s finest restaurants including The Aubery, Fisholic, Hong Kong CuisineAn ChoiThe Baker and The Bottleman and The Grand HK which is showcasing their new Bakery.

Where Wine and Dine Shines…

When you go out to a restaurant you can enjoy one version of a dish. At the festival, several restaurants are, for example, offering Siu Mai – so you can buy from several booths and taste and compare them at the same time. Exploring how each chef views and thinks of such a basic staple and much-loved Hong Kong dish. The different flavours and textures are profound, surprising and delicious and will spoil you for your basic everyday version.

IMG_7146

IMG_7158

IMG_E7144

IMG_7275

IMG_7176

What Not to Miss!

The Vietnamese egg coffee at An Choi – as good, if not better than you’ll find on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City.

IMG_7290

To the left of the entrance is the ‘hotel zone’ where some of Hong Kong fancy hotels are showcasing the favourite dishes from their restaurants. It’s also one of the areas where you can find vegetarian food.

IMG_7282

There’s US and Argentinan Beef to enjoy.

IMG_7201

Near the Star Fery entrance is the French zone with some lovely cheeses – a nice way to start or something to enjoy later with a glass of wine or a cocktail.

IMG_7227

Don’t forget to take pictures of your food

IMG_7272

There are two live music stages, both of which have chairs, when you a rest.

Cheers and Enjoy!

Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival
Date: 23-27 October, 2024
Venue: Central Harbourfront Event Space
Tickets: $400, $290, $240
Notes:
23 October 2024 (Wednesday), 7:30–11pm
24–25 October 2024 (Thursday – Friday), 4–11pm
26–27 October 2024 (Saturday – Sunday), 12–11pm

All images copyright bc magazine / simon durrant – all rights reserved

Wine & Dine Festival 2024 – Opening Night

HKTB‘s Wine & Dine Festival 2024 buzzed with excitement and anticipation as booth owners—first-timers and old hands—rushed to finalize their preparations. Suddenly, it was 6:30 p.m., and the doors were open…

FUJI0286

IMG_7277

Click on any image to see the full gallery

FUJI0302

FUJI0250

FUJI0249

FUJI0260

FUJI0322

FUJI0269

Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival
Date: 23-27 October, 2024
Venue: Central Harbourfront Event Space
Tickets: $400, $290, $240
Notes:
23 October 2024 (Wednesday), 7:30–11pm
24–25 October 2024 (Thursday – Friday), 4–11pm
26–27 October 2024 (Saturday – Sunday), 12–11pm

All images copyright bc magazine / simon durrant – all rights reserved

30th Anniversary, bc magazine

Happy Birthday to us!

Thirty, yes 30, years ago today, bc magazine debuted on the streets of Hong Kong.

Much has changed over the last 30 years, especially in the last couple Lan Kwai Fong and Wanchai are now unrecognisable from the vibrant social melting pots of the past.

And while you can’t fight change. It does feel a bit sad that many people today seem to care more about a ‘like’ from an invisible unknown digital stranger than engaging with the real people around them.

The melting pot of people around us is after all what makes/made Hong Kong ‘Asia’s World City.’ A place of magic where hard work and a bit of luck (or meeting the right person in a bar) anyone could achieve almost anything.

After all, I could never have imagined when asking two complete strangers in McDonalds if they wanted a job starting a magazine that it’d still be around 30 years later.

A lot of people – staff, friends, advertisers and readers have been involved over the years, thank you for your continued support and strength.

Carpe Diem!

Inter Miami CF v Hong Kong

Eight-time Ballon d’Or Winner Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF, the David Beckham co-owned US Football team, will take on Hong Kong as part of their first international tour. 

The match, part of the first Tatler XFest, is on 4 February at the Hong Kong Stadium and tickets priced from $880 up to $4,880 go on sale on 15 December.

Announcing the match Beckham said “Hong Kong has such a great sports scene. In partnership with Tatler, we are pleased to be able to bring the team to this fantastic city as part of Inter Miami’s debut game in Asia.”

Tatler XFEST – Inter Miami CF v Hong Kong
Date: 8pm, 4 February, 2024
Venue: Hong Kong Stadium
Tickets: $4,880, $880

bc is Twenty-Nine!

Happy Birthday to us!

Twenty-nine years ago on the 1st September 1994, bc magazine debuted on the streets of Hong Kong.

A lot of people – staff, friends, advertisers and readers have been involved over the years, thank you for your continued support and strength especially now. Stay safe.

Carpe Diem!