xi yan

Xi Yan epitomises for me modern Chinese cuisine. Subtle and innovative ways of combining flavours and creating new tastes. And at an affordable price for the non private dining option. Superb. the quality of food and service has certainly been upheld since the last time i dined in Hong Kong more than 13 months ago.

I'm waiting for Xi Yan Singapore to open other than their private dining option. It's fast becoming a must-go dining place for me in Hong Kong. I'll see if they're able to raise mid-priced dining in Singapore to the same culinary heights they did in Hong Kong.

I'm also very happy to see in Hong Kong a very wide range of mid priced Chinese restaurants from their private dining kitchens to normal restaurants and cafes. I think in general the restaurants here somehow don't have the same range. Maybe it's simply a function of the size of the market? I do however like to think it's the demanding Cantonese customer in Hong Kong that keeps the standards high.

What I also like is that people there value their own cuisine so highly that these restaurants can survive. Chinese food is most definitely not a cliche there as i suspect sometimes it becomes in Singapore where it's a lot more staid and tried and tested. And i don't even think of myself as a foodie.

Are You Wearing (Under) Pants?

I was carrying my 3 year old nephew out the door the other day while his daddy was putting on his shoes and was surprised to hear my nephew go, "Aunty xxx, are you wearing pants?" Glancing down at my shorts, I figured he didn't mean those and from the slightly embarrassed chortle that came from my brother-in-law I figured the little tyke was actually asking me if I was wearing underwear.

I responded, "You're lucky you're only 3 years old" so my brother in law explained he was trying to train his little boy into wearing underpants which my nephew was none too keen on. So our discussion continued down the driveway on the merits of wearing underwear.

Priceless moments of parenthood....in this case, aunthood.