Belinda Bath | stylebriefHongKong

Strawberry Fields

While they’re still in season, we went out to the Strawberry Farm in Tai Po and picked some strawberries. They were deliciously ripe and organic and we ended up with two full boxes! I made a healthy strawberry cordial with fresh basil and black peppercorns. Serve these up for guests mixed with sparkling mineral water – they also look very pretty at any gathering and kids especially love the taste. See recipe below.

Directions: We drove to the Strawberry Farm which is next door to the Tai Mei Tuk BBQ King on the right hand side off Ting Kok Road in Tai Po District (look for the big yellow sign showing strawberry picking on the right hand side just after the BBQ King). If you want to go by MTR then the closest MTR stop is Tai Po Market on the East Rail Line. From there, take KMB bus 75k or a green New Territories taxi. There are plenty of signs so it is easy to find.

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Buddha’s Hand Caprioska

Buddha's Hand Caprioska

2014-03-02 02:57:47

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Ingredients

60mls Vodka
60mls Buddha's Hand syrup
Zest from 1/2 Buddha's Hand
Mint leaves
Ice
Buddha Hand syrup
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
Zest from 1 or 2 Buddha hands. You can cut up the fingers and put them in as well.

Instructions

For the Caprioska
Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake.
Pour into a glass and add extra ice and top up with Soda Water.
For the Syrup
In a saucepan add sugar water and Zest. Stir over a moderate heat until sugar has melted and starts to simmer.
Take off heat and leave to seep for 1 hour.
Cool and strain into a sealed jar.

Notes

Mixture will keep in the fridge.

By Belinda Bath

stylebriefHongKong http://www.stylebriefhongkong.com/

Buddha’s Hand & Parmesan Cheese Biscuits

Buddha's Hand & Parmesan Cheese Biscuits

2014-03-02 02:48:00

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Ingredients

250g butter, chilled
2 cups SR flour
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 heaped tablespoons of grated zest from Buddha's Hand (lemon zest can be used as a subsitute)
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 cup of lemon juice
Salt & pepper

Instructions

Preheat oven to 175 degrees celcius.
Put all ingredients into a food processor and blend until mixture has come together and formed a dough, don't over work it.
Tip mixture out onto a floured surface and knead into a ball. Divide into two.
Form the dough into two logs and wrap in cling film. Place in the fridge until hard.
Slice the logs into 1/2 cm rounds. Place on a tray lined with baking paper and put back in the oven for around 10 minutes or until golden brown.
Cool on a wire rack.

Notes

Serve with drinks.

By Belinda Bath

stylebriefHongKong http://www.stylebriefhongkong.com/

Buddha’s Hand

At the moment the Buddha’s Hand Citron plant is in season. They have a fresh, lemony aroma and the flavour is subtle without any juice. Unlike a lemon there is no juicy flesh so slice them lengthwise and use only the rind. They are used to flavour lemon liqueurs, specialty vodkas and to add a fresh and lemon scent to beauty products. Even the scent of a room can also be reinvigorated by hanging them around the home. They’re one of the oldest members of the citrus family and a native of China so if you want to experiment with some original flavour in the kitchen or add some colour to the fruit bowl seek out these lovely bright yellow things at the Flower Market in Kowloon or search for them at fruit and vegetables markets around Hong Kong.

All about organics

Word spreads fast when a new delicatessen enters the organic vegan scene. In a no-through road in Sai Ying Pun, right next door to Peggy Chan’s restaurant Grassroots Pantry, is Chan’s latest venture Prune Organic Deli and Workshop. Chan’s delicious vegetarian menu is nourishing and yummy, and now devotees of Grassroots Pantry can learn a lot about cooking vegetables with maximum taste and style. It was just as much the need for more space to hold the increasing demand on their food products, as well as to allow a flow of casual foot traffic through the neighbourhood that saw Prune eventuate. “We are now able to serve an incredibly nourishing breakfast menu which is personally my favourite meal of the day,” Peggy says.

Prune is a warm and earthy environment which is packed most mornings of the week with people devouring all sorts of healthy things such as home-made oats, raw Bircher muesli, and invigorating juices and smoothies with reassuring names like The Enricher and The Cleanse. There’s always bags of smoked tahini kale chips, seasonal jams, gluten-free and vegan fresh baked goods plus home-made tomato sauce, and there are workshops here that involve many dishes with a vegetarian twist, preparation of raw food and its benefits, plus practical household kitchen advice. Peggy also invites guest chefs and hosts gardening and holistic workshops.

Prune Organic Deli and Workshop, 14 Fuk Sau Lane, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong. Tel: (+852) 2873 3353.

Catherine Preston Jewellery Design

We love warm-natured Cat Preston of Catherine Preston Jewellery Design. And her striking hand-made pieces inlaid with colourful semiprecious stones are within reach – think elegant, perfect for every day jewels in silver and gold that can go into edgy evening parties and big events. The designer settled in Hong Kong 18 months ago after 10 years in Singapore and a two-year stint in Chicago. Cat is also masterful at giving old pieces new shape (she meticulously re-worked a pair of antique garnet and enamel clip-ons, which Belinda’s grandmother had brought back from India in the 1940s), into wearable pierced ones.

DONT MISS OUT: Looking for something special for Valentine’s Day? Then be one of the first 10 stylebrief readers to tell Cat you saw her interview here and she will take 15 percent off the price of a piece in the collection at her atelier on The Peak.

Temples to visit for Year of the Horse

If you don’t know what to do for Chinese New Year, think about visiting one of Hong Kong’s elegant temples. People here go to temples during Chinese New Year to pray for good luck and as part of a ritual to begin their Lunar New Year well. In my first years in Hong Kong, I lived a short walk from Man Mo temple on Hollywood Road. It always felt so peaceful in there, with large incense coils hanging and amazing lanterns hanging everywhere. These days I love going into the Lin Fa Kung temple in Tai Hang. Even though this is a smaller place, its decorations are beautiful.

Stamps and Chops

With Chinese New Year starting on January 31st this year maybe it’s time to get a chop, or a stamp made. Some of the best places to get one are just off Pedder Street in Central (turn down a lane way next to the MTR exit on Pedder Street and you’ll be there). Obviously the word horse will feature a lot this year, along with love, long life and money. From a choice of marble, jade or stone, the craftsmen will carve out your Chinese name or the Chinese characters of your choice. Present a double happiness stamp as a gift – it’s a lovely meaningful way to show appreciation for friendship and support each year.

Grange Interiors

Scottish-born Catherine Taylor opened Grange Interiors in One Island South, Aberdeen, in May 2013; to tap into the incredible charm and talent of designers and creatives who come mainly from Europe and the United Kingdom. Everything at Grange is hand-picked by Catherine and she has the amazing knack for finding true artisans that are not yet in Hong Kong while also sourcing some pretty beautiful antique lights, silverware and linens. The wallpapers and fabrics by Timorous Beasties are incredible and can change any apartments feel. French ceramacist Fabienne Tassi’s hand-thrown white pieces are to die-for: clean, simple and well-priced. If you want help with interiors, or advice on pillows, fabrics or wall-coverings, Catherine is great for this. This area is getting better for eateries so once you’ve visited Catherine’s store pop into Percy’s inside the Lane Crawford store, or if vegetarian is more your thing head to MUM for lunch, their set-lunches are delicious.

What made you start Grange Interiors? I had an urge to own my own business, my Mum and Dad had their own business, so it was how I grew up. It also gives me more flexibility with a family. I came across some quirky independent designers from the UK that I used when I refurbished our 200 year old Georgian townhouse in Edinburgh and wanted to bring them to Hong Kong. I really admire their talent and many of their products still have an element made-by-hand.

Some of the things you might do in a day? It is like stirring a cooking pot… there is always a little bit of each area that needs attention. I will spend sometime in the shop meeting customers, then talk with designers/suppliers and place new orders, which often involves coming up with the most efficient shipping method. I am in awe of the designers, they are so talented and creative. I will also keep in contact with local magazines and let them know the new arrivals etc to feature.

Describe your style?

Classic with a twist, often a touch of something from our travels. I like symmetry and therefore enjoy the Georgian period. I also enjoy the Art Deco period and mixing styles, some vintage pieces with new.

I’mperfect Xchange

Walk into Oil Street Art Space, North Point, and you’ll find I’mperfect Xchange. We live in a culture absorbed with the attainment of perfection. For designers, Hung Lam and Eddy Yu, their project called I’mperfect is doing a lot of good through creative collaborations that focus on the acceptance of imperfection. Which raises communal awareness related to the link between sustainable uses of resources and the living of a simple, more harmonious life. I’mperfect Xchange has a barter system when it comes to their transactions. Bring a can of food, or safely sealed produce, and this will get you an edible plant, such as basil or thyme. In addition, at Oil, the in-house organic farmer is great for collecting gardening knowledge. All food collected is taken directly to those in the community who are in need.