#consuming it like a three star michelin five course meal

[lo-cinno]

@cxlrose

love languages

✧ ɴᴏᴛᴇꜱ: hsr debut post, hope this does well. i'm only at chapter 2 part 1 so pls bare we me. (gn!reader), aeons can walk among mortals for this

✧ ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: bloom in the dark — emorie

✧ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀꜱ: blade, dan heng, jing yuan, luocha, march 7th, nanook, yaoshi

✧ ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢꜱ: some angst & hint at character death in blade's because i'm still figuring out how to write anything but angst for a character whose main objective is that he wants to die, i had way too much fun making the aeons eldritch

✧ giving: gifts

As much as Blade loved you, as much as he treasured the memories he shared with you and as much as he'd hate to cause you pain or grief; you were all too familiar with his predicament. You had been ever since you agreed to stay by his side, to love him for as long as you had together. That was the price you'd pay for loving a man who considered himself dead in spirits already. A shell of who he once was.

Part of him felt guilty for indulging you; how could he call himself yours when he'd take the exit from his cursed immortality if it presented itself before him tomorrow? How could he promise you his heart if he couldn't promise you a future?

He knew there was a chance he might outlive you by centuries. He knew there was a chance he'd say goodbye to you in a month. Still, you were willing to be with him, through all the uncertainty.

So he gifts you things to remember him by, should he part from you too soon for your liking. Some of them were expensive; after all he had more than enough life behind him to no longer be bound by material limits. Some of them were simple trinkets or flowers he preserved using glycerine. All of them held meaning but the overarching message was: "We were born in different times. If it were for the natural order of things, we never would have even met. I've been suffering since long before I met you. And yet, curiously, despite all; I treasure every moment I had with you. I'm glad to have loved you."

✧ receiving: physical touch

One thing Blade would have never expected when he met you; but was more than glad to realize, was that you could make him forget his anger and pain, even if it was for just a while; even if it always inevitably returned.

He loved falling asleep in your arms. It was the closest thing to the peace and salvation he craved that he could currently have. For just a few hours, he was content. He had forgotten what that felt like.

He loved the feeling of your fingers carding through his long, dark hair. And you loved the smile you so rarely saw on his face when you did this. Blade's breathing would calm and he'd nuzzle your neck as he was being held in your arms.

Blade also loves waking up in the middle of the night, feeling you shift in bed beside him and pressing a few lazy kisses to his lips before he fell back asleep.

He loves the way you tend to his scars, how you seem to wash the pain off his body with your caring touch; despite feeling guilty for how he has made you worry again. You'd end up disinfecting and bandaging his wounds and sometimes he had to chuckle at how you treated him as if he was fragile, despite having likely seen more hardships than you could ever imagine.

✧ giving: acts of service

Dan Heng doesn't really know how to express his love for you at first so he defaults to helping you out however he can.

He helps you with little jobs around the Astral Express and loves to team up with you for any missions or chores that fall on both of your plates.

Especially with all the knowledge he gathered from the archives and basically living in there; he's more than ready to help you figure out any mysteries you encounter on your journey with the Astral Express.

If he needs to explain anything to you or answer a question you have about stuff like the Aeons or any factions you encountered, he'll often pull you onto his lap at the desk and show you important info about it in a book or online. "I hope I could answer your questions. Did this help you?", he then asks you, looking into your eyes. "Yup!", you shoot him a smile and give him a quick kiss to the lips which leaves him blushing and just staring at you for a while.

"Hey, Astral Express to Dan Heng, you still there?", you chuckle and wave your hand in front of his eyes. He just blinks like, twice and then picks you up bridal style: "Come on, let's figure out that task Himeko gave you." He's just trying to distract from the fact that you flustered him.

Sometimes he tries to cook for you. The emphasis is on tries. You'll walk into the train kitchen and he'll be there stirring something in the frying pan and glancing at a recipe. "What are you doing there, love?", you ask and kiss his cheek. "I'm making lunch for you", he states and you hug him. "Aww, that's so sweet of you!", you press a few appreciative kisses to his lips, "wait why does it smell burnt?" "What-"

✧ receiving: quality time

Dan Heng is what we call 'a good listener'. He's not the best conversationalist but he likes to hear you talk and he remembers stuff you told him that even you have forgotten about until he one day just brings it up out of nowhere.

He loves to spend the time between trailblazing expeditions just hanging out with you. You check your phone and receive a text from him like "Hey, want to come over to my room? 🫀"

"?" "March told me that I should add a heart to my messages to make you feel more loved. Did I not do it correctly?" "Dan Heng, sweetie, no..."

You enter his room and he has made you two cups of coffee, the only thing he's actually good at "cooking". The two of you have decided to watch a movie and lay down on Dan Heng's mattress. "I can feel the bones in my back snapping in half, how do you sleep on this?", you raise your eyebrow. "I don't think it's that bad", he mumbles, seeming lost in thought.

While watching the movie, he has his arms wrapped around you. His only opinion about it is "it was good".

Also enjoys playing board games with you, specifically card games. You're pretty equally matched so there's no telling who wins this round. When he wins, you ask him what he wants as a reward and he just gives you a soft smile and tells you a kiss will do.

✧ giving: physical touch

Jing Yuan is a fairly affectionate man behind closed doors. He doesn't leave for work without giving you as many goodbye kisses as you want and doesn't let go of you throughout the whole night while he sleeps. You could get up and grab a glass of water from the kitchen, as soon as you return, Jing Yuan wraps his arms around you once more; even when he's in deep sleep.

He enjoys just sitting idly with you, both of you doing your own things and he's just holding your hand or has a hand resting on your thigh. He also loves when you lean your head on his shoulder and as soon as he feels you do that, he turns his head to place a kiss on your forehead.

Sometimes you'll be reading a book while sitting between his legs and he ends up pressing multiple kisses to your cheek or trailing them down your neck. He smiles against your skin everytime he does this. He's not always seeking to touch you but he has his clingy 10 minutes where he wants attention and sometimes that happens to interfere with whatever it is you're doing at the current moment.

Most of the time you can't resist indulging him and just kissing him for a while, burying your hands in his hair or cupping his cheeks gently.

✧ receiving: quality time

Jing Yuan loves those days on the Xianzhou Luofu that are so peaceful that he gets to spend the entire day with you. You decide to take a nap during noon, falling asleep in his arms, listening to his steady heartbeat. You feel Jing Yuan press a few soft kisses to your forehead while you're dozing off.

When you awake, he's no longer next to you. You get up and find him in the kitchen, preparing a late lunch for the two of you. You wrap your arms around his waist from behind and glance at the frying pan to see him fry some eggs.

You hear a chirping sound and fish a small finch out of your boyfriend's hair. "Don't worry you, we're not grilling your brethren", you whisper softly and put the bird on the windowsill, "fly free, my little friend." The bird lifts off. You raise an eyebrow at Jing Yuan. "Was this the last one?"

He chuckles. "Should be." This at least gives him an excuse to take a bath with you and maybe you'll volunteer to wash his hair. He loves the feeling of your fingers brushing through his hair and just relaxing and letting you pamper him. "You know, if that's what you want, you can just ask right?", you remind him, "you don't need to call your woodland friends for help." Jing Yuan just laughs and gently guides your chin closer to his face so he can kiss you softly.

He enjoys playing chess against you, though you tend to suggest to play a die-based game instead so you can win by having good luck, because Jing Yuan has several centuries of chess practice under his belt. "You know that still doesn't mean you'll win", he watches you unpack the Ludo game with an amused expression. "I have good luck, I got you after all", you say confidently. "Well I've heard an old saying from a distant planet that when you luck out in love it means you have bad luck when it comes to games", he argues and crosses his arms with a smile on his face. You roll your eyes and he responds by kissing your lips.

Sometimes he watches you play chess against Yanqing. "Does it hurt to lose to an 8 year old?", he teases you. "Silence, Jing Yuan, you taught him this stuff." Your lover lets out a laugh. "And yet he still has so much to learn before he can beat me."

✧ giving: words of affirmation

When Luocha loves you, he doesn't hesitate to tell you. After all, his companion in the coffin consistently reminds him that life is short and he better have no regrets, should misfortune strike him tomorrow. Luocha adores you and in his mind, there's nothing stopping him from letting you know.

He's also a bit of a smooth-talker to you and you only. He never gets overbearing with his flirting, but you can expect a few cheesy compliments followed by a kiss to your hand. He'll pick you up for your date, takes your hand in his and leads it to his lips. "You're as beautiful today as the first time I saw you", he smiles and whispers against your skin.

Getting together with Luocha could take ages if you insist in knowing why he's being so suspicious first; but once you do he's ironically an open book for you. He has shared his greatest secret with you and you've given your hearts to one another, so why should he hold back now from telling you what's on his mind?

Sometimes his words are on the nose, such as cupping your cheeks and telling you that he loves you with all his heart or that he wants you to traverse the stars with him from now on. Sometimes the love he has for you is put into telling you how he remembers certain areas around the Xianzhou Luofu as "that place where you surprised me with a bouquet of flowers when we met up for tea" or "that shop where you almost made the coffin fall over". You learn with time that there are a lot of things he associates with you and your memories together.

✧ receiving: physical touch

Luocha loves your affections. He's the least grumpy man ever in the morning. You could wake him up at 3am for kisses and he'd be down for it. He loves when he wakes up and the first thing he feels is your lips on his cheeks or your fingers running through his long blond hair or your fingertips drawing circles on his bare shoulders.

He pulls you into his chest and you can hear his heartbeat while he holds you close. He lifts your chin up and his lips meet yours before he even opens his eyes. He kisses you softly, his tongue circling around yours as he tries to pull you even closer. "Good morning, my love", his voice sounds raspy before he presses a kiss to your cheek.

Luocha loves to take a walk through the city and hold your hand in his while doing so. He doesn't say it but he definitely melts if you stop your walk for a minute just to give him a hug or kiss him gently.

One time you get caught in the rain and Luocha finds shelter for the two of you under a secluded pavillion. You are cold so he wraps his jacket around you and holds you in his arms until the skies clear. He presses a kiss to the top of your head. "Are you still cold, my dear?", his voice sounds so soft and he gently squeezes your shoulder. You shake your head. He lets out a chuckle. "That's good, then", he replies before resting his head on top of yours and closing his eyes for a while.

He enjoys resting his head in your lap while you run your fingers through his hair. You might be busy with something else, not noticing how he smiles up at you like you're the most beautiful thing he's ever seen (you are). He eventually closes his eyes and rests his cheek against your stomach.

✧ giving: words of affirmation

March 7th talks quite a lot, especially if you were to ask Dan Heng about it. So if she's in love with you; her feelings are bound to slip out with her words. It wasn't hard for you to become aware of her crush on you because she just accidentally blurted it out one day. She was so happy when you told her you felt the same; even if this conversation was the furthest thing from planned.

March loves to explore the civilizations you travel to on the Astral Express and buying lots of souvenirs and clothes from there. So sometimes she'll drag you from shop to shop and often finds things she thinks would look good on you. No matter if you're wearing a fancy suit / dress or a 5 credit neon green "I survived the Belabogeyman attack" shirt from a shady souvenir shop, she hypes you up like you're on the front cover of a popular magazin.

"Aw look, you're so cute", she squeals and hugs you from the side, trying and failing to lift you up. There's at least 5 people in the shop staring at you and the shopkeeper glares at March, silently reminding her to keep her voice at an acceptable volume for a public building. "Oops... sorry", she cringes slightly and then turns to you again with a bright smile, "you should totally get this!"

Everytime you enter her room after a trip you find a new photo you took together on her wall. "Look at your smile on this one", she holds one of them up, "it makes me happy whenever I look at it."

Dan Heng told her to stop talking about you all the time so now she talks with you about you.

Definitely tells you she loves you plenty of times.

✧ receiving: gifts

March loves gifts. She's the kind of person who can't wait to open her birthday presents so you guys have to hide them from her every year; preferably somewhere where she can't reach or won't find them.

So when she receives gifts from you for no special occasion, she's gushing so much.

She loves flowers and chocolates. She definitely has a sweet tooth but will still share the chocolates with you. She is very interested in the meaning of the flowers you gift to her so if you can tell her about that, she'll be all the more happy. She loves romantic gestures like this. She has mostly read about them in romance novels and she's more than thrilled to finally receive them herself.

March also adores jewelry, whether you bought something for her or crafted it yourself. She'll wear it everyday and she's very proud whenever someone asks about it.

She posts about the gifts she receives in her status online as well. She'll be like "y/n got me this! 💓💓💓"

She dm's the pictures to Dan Heng as well and he leaves her on read.

When you gift her something, she gives you a hug and a kiss on the cheek before opening it. Once she opened it, she smiles at you brightly and kisses you on the lips. "Thank you so much for this!", she takes your hand into hers and squeezes it.

Receiving gifts from you makes her so happy. But being loved by you makes you feel like every day is her birthday either way. And for you, every day was March 7th.

✧ giving: quality time

Loving an Aeon wasn't the easiest endeavor. Especially not Nanook. But somehow you had touched the destructive god's heart and for the first time since they became what they were today, there was a life they wanted to treasure and protect.

They don't understand much about the human world as it was today, having mostly spent their time on a different plane of existence. It was only when they connected with you and took an interest in you; that they decided to walk among them for a while, to be able to spend time with you. At first their bitterness became apparent every day they spent with you, only scoffing at the people they saw going about their daily life and the things that they had built; which all would be wiped away by destruction if Nanook were to have their way.

But you took that as a challenge. You wanted to see if you could find something they liked about life, unaware that you had become that very phenomenon.

You made it your favorite pastime to show them all sorts of things from the material world and see their reaction to them. "What do you think of this painting?", you ask them, holding up a work of art you got from a market. "I'm not too fond of the sound it makes and the cosmic essence it depicts", they respond with a deadpan expression and you just look at them in confusion, "right, I forgot you can only perceive three dimensions."

Nanook, despite not letting it show, enjoys spending time with you; even though it could be challenging sometimes considering they were an Aeon and you were not. Sometimes they would ask you about things you couldn't see and other times they struggled to discern what things they saw you could pass through and which ones you considered "a wall".

✧ receiving: physical touch

Nanook loves your touch, much as they would like you to never notice that. They're not used to any physical sensations so they're very sensitive. They're unable to form coherent sentences when you so much as press a kiss to their lips. According to them it was very difficult to convey their thoughts in your way of speech when you were "trying to overwhelm them like this"

Giving Nanook affection also proved to be a challenge in more ways than one. The first time you tried to rest your head on their chest, your cheek touched the golden essence flowing out of them and you could perceive what you could only describe as the worst sensory overload anyone has ever experienced; a colorful mix of incoherent screaming and the faint sound of explosions; the feeling of all-encompassing despair and grief.

"What was THAT?", you stared at Nanook in shock, panting. "The entirety of traces left behind by destroyed worlds and ending lives from at least the last couple millenia", they answered very casually. You sighed and held your head, now suffering from a migraine. "At least it doesn't disintegrate me", you took a deep breath and started rummaging through your closet. "Only if I want it to", Nanook explained. "Charming", you whisper to yourself in a sarcastic way and toss them a shirt, "put this on."

Kisses are such a novelty to them. They're like "what was that?"

"Affection." "Do it again."

One time you pressed several kisses to their shoulder and Nanook just slow-blinked at you for like 5 minutes, before resting their head on your shoulder.

✧ giving: gifts

Yaoshi loves to bestow "blessings" upon you. Though, you have to teach them at first what you would consider an acceptable present.

The first one is immortality if you want it. Yaoshi would love nothing more than for you to be by their side forever.

Their next attempts at gift-giving left you feeling a little lost. They manifest before you, excitedly grabbing your cheeks and your waist and your shoulders with their hands and pulling you into a kiss. "My dearest, I made you a creature", they exclaim and reveal a Frankenstein-esque abomination the size of a volleyball. You can't quite discern what it actually is but it looks like an abstract mixture of a hamster, frog and a dragon. "Uh...thank you?", you try to be as polite as possible, unsure what to do with the creature as it spits a smaller version of itself onto your bedroom floor and then disintegrates. "It reincarnates out of itself", Yaoshi explains. "I can see that", you nod with wide eyes, patting Yaoshi's head.

One day, Yaoshi guides your spaceship to a distant location. "This is a planet I renovated for you", they join you as you land and explain their thoughts behind all the different new kinds of flowers they created specifically for you. "You're my greatest inspiration", they kiss your cheek and wrap their arms around you.

You eventually sit them down and calmly explain to them that one planet is more than enough and that you definitely do not need another creature. You teach them about your customs of giving gifts and they listen attentively. Maybe a bouquet of flowers would do next time.

✧ receiving: quality time

Yaoshi wants you to stay by their side forever. They perceive the passage of time very differently from you, yet they treasure and vividly remember every second by your side. Your bond of love is a sacred one in their eyes and they want to feel as close as possible to you.

They especially love talking to you and learning about your experiences that are so vastly different from their own. Despite being so intertwined with life itself; Yaoshi learns so much about life just from being with you. They never would have imagined you could give them so many new perspectives on the universe just by sharing your thoughts and beliefs with them.

Yaoshi always listens to you attentively and you see a sense of childlike wonder in their eyes when you speak about the way you experience the world, the things you value and the memories you treasure.

"Isn't it marvelous; how we see the world through such different lenses and are entirely different entities, yet we love each other so deeply and unconditionally", their voice sounds soft as they pull you onto their lap, holding you with their six arms and planting kisses on the back of your neck repeatedly.

Unlike Nanook, Yaoshi is very clingy. Quality Time with you always involves touching you in some way, be it kissing you repeatedly or holding you tightly within their embrace. Sometimes they sing you to sleep with a gentle voice, running their fingertips over your shoulder.

[k-i-s-m-e-t]

The Fox, The Wolf

Fandom: 19 days Rating: Mature Status: In Progress 1/? Warnings: None Pairing: TianShan Words: 1,792

Summary: Sometimes you find success, sometimes it comes for you.

“Aaaannnd cut! That’s a wrap! Thank you everyone!” 

Clapping and cheers rang out as the overhead lights brightened. “Finally,” Mo thought rising from the couch, yanking at the too tight tie he wore. Not even bothering to say goodbye to the interviewer, he headed for the studio’s exit. She’d been too intrusive anyways, focusing only on personal questions rather than about his restaurant. Despite having sat through several of these exclusive-style interviews he still wasn’t used to it. Didn’t want to be. 

At this point though, he didn’t have much of a choice. A few months ago a celebrity chef had dined at his establishment unbeknownst to him. The chef had been incredibly impressed with the food, calling it a culinary experience to die for. He’d name dropped the restaurant, The Fox, on his show & posted a lavish review on his website, photo of Mo included. Since then it’d been nonstop television appearances & interviews. Mo’s phone rang constantly - to the point he’d had to hire a PR rep. The Fox was booked for reservations months in advance and the waiting list extended into next year. He was appreciative of course, the bills were guaranteed to be paid. Fame be damned though, he was tired of it. 

He nodded politely as he passed crew members on his way to the elevator. Leaning heavily on the call button it dinged promptly, doors sliding open. He pressed the button for lobby, silently hoping for a solo ride. He sighed in relief as the doors closed, only to scowl immediately in distaste when a flurry of blond hair managed to slide through at the last second making them snap open harshly at the obstruction. 

“Jeez would it kill you to wait for me for once? You didn’t hear me calling you?” Jian Yi huffed, leaning against the wall to catch his breath. 

“You probably weren’t loud enough,” Mo responded, pulling out his cell phone to check his email. 

“Yea well we came together how did you think I’d get back?” 

“I didn’t think anything to be honest.” 

Jian Yi rolled his eyes in annoyance. 

“Anyways, the interview went well, it’ll appear between prime time shows on the Food Network.”

“Fascinating,” Mo offered. Checking his messages, he saw his head chef had sent photos of tonight’s entrees for his approval. Squinting at the screen he approved three of them, rejecting the fourth and suggesting an alternative. 

“I’m sure everyone will be eager to hear about who I’m not dating and my skin care routine.” 

“She was trying to be friendly.” 

“She was being nosey as fuck.” 

“Guan Shan, everyone knows you’re an excellent restauranteur, they want to know more about the man behind the business.” 

“Yea well I’m not interested in them,” Mo said, stepping out of the elevator into the lobby. 

“I suggest you spend more time focusing on doing your job as well. You’re supposed to be representing the restaurant not setting me up on dates.” 

Jian Yi smiled shaking his head tiredly. 

“Whatever you say man.” 

In the lobby they rendezvoused at the front desk, the cheerful attendant retrieving their coats from check. Outside the air was brisk, mid-day sunlight filtered through the clouds. Horns honked as the city bustled around them, streets crowded with the lunch rush headed back to work, retreating from the cold. Mo pulled his coat tighter around him, hands shoved firmly in his pockets. He huffed out a breath, slight fog briefly materializing before him then vanishing. 

Despite his sour exterior this time of year always made him feel lively. There would be parties to cater for, new recipes to try. He’d be having the annual staff meeting with his kitchen team soon to discuss seasonal meals and get their suggestions. The team was a slapdash mix of talented individuals from all walks of life and he fed off their energy, fond of each and every one of them. They’d all been considered carefully before being invited to work for him. Concern tilted toward their talent & compatibility with each other rather than their appearance or background. 

“Hey!” Jian Yi called, snapping him out of his reverie. 

“Let’s get going. We have a meeting at two.” He’d already hailed a taxi and it was idling at the curb. 

“M’ coming,” Mo mumbled, shifting back into work mode and sliding into the car. Jian Yi rattled off directions as the taxi merged into traffic, then pulled out his planner, discussing talking points for their next meeting. Mo only half listened, mind drifting to his kitchen, hands twitching in his pockets. 

An hour later they sat restlessly around a conference table waiting for their remaining meeting attendees, an investor and his financial advisor that wanted to partner with The Fox. Mo was silently fuming that the men were late. Jian Yi curiously had nothing to say for once, but his eyes would dart to the door every time there was a noise in the hall. Despite the lack of conversation, he was still driving Mo crazy. Consumed by a tic he kept alternating between clicking his pen and jiggling his foot until his chair squeaked. Gathering himself to thoroughly cuss him out, Mo’s interrupted when finally they heard muted conversation and made out shapes beyond the frosted glass of the walls. 

“Be sociable,” Jian Yi whispered harshly, rolling his eyes at Mo’s blank stare. 

The door opened to reveal a serious but attractive man with brown hair and grey-blue eyes. 

“My apologies,” he said stepping into the room, voice warm but carrying authority. He bowed respectfully. “Mr. He and I were caught in traffic.” 

“My name is Zhan Zheng Xi,” he said politely extending a hand. “You must be Guan-“ 

“He’s Guan Shan,” Jian Yi cut in jumping from his seat to grasp the extended hand. “I’m Jian Yi, it’s great to meet you,” he gushed winking. 

Zhan nodded, eyeing the extended hand that Jian Yi was still holding. 

“Uh,” Jian hastily retracted his hand. “This is Guan Shan, he’s the owner of The Fox.” 

Mo rose in greeting, side-eyeing Jian Yi. 

“Thank you for taking the time to meet with us. Does Mr. He plan on joining us this year.” He looked pointedly at the ajar door. He could see the back of the other man as he finished a cheeky conversation with the building secretary. 

The man perked at his name, finally ending the conversation. He strode into the room with purpose, shutting the door neatly behind him, like he hadn’t just made them wait an extra five minutes. 

“I apologize gentleman, she was an old friend, wanted to catch up.” 

“Fast friends? It’s almost like you met her today,” Mo remarked. 

As soon as he’d walked in the room Mo had firmly decided he didn’t like him. Shaking his hand only confirmed his distaste. 

“Please call me He Tian,” he’d said, managing to caress Mo’s palm with his fingertips, eyes sparkling in amusement. The bastard was charismatic and handsome as fuck. Fit, his slacks tight in all the right places, Mo could see the flex of his biceps beneath his dress shirt as he shook Jian Yi’s hand. Did he mention that he was handsome? Dark hair and grey eyes that looked sharp but playful yet seductive. Mo could already imagine him fucking him over the conference table. It fueled his loathing. 

Pleasantries exchanged, Zhan joined the table as He Tian set up his presentation. Midway through, Mo had to admit the man was well spoken & intelligent. His plan for investing in The Fox was intuitive and forward thinking. He Tian had an extensive resume of businesses in which he’d spear-headed their development and expansion - all prestigious in their respective industries. He was lateral, with dealings that weren’t centered in one industry: finance, manufacturing, healthcare and media were all areas he had his hands in. Retail was a route he was eager to get into. 

Mo couldn’t understand why he would be interested in The Fox. It wasn’t a restaurant chain, nor was it exactly in the Michelin star exclusiveness of someone of He Tian’s status. Though honestly a Michelin star was something Mo yearned for. With He Tian heading the business direction of The Fox, it seemed a possibility. According to He Tian, The Fox had serious potential and he could see a bright future ahead of it. Pondering deeply on that note Mo’s jolted when something brushed up his leg and into his lap. Jerking his head up, he saw Jian Yi gazing dreamily off to his left. Following his line of sight, he landed on Zhan who was diligently taking meeting notes, eyes focused on He Tian. 

He looked down into his lap, a yellow dress sock clad foot ground against his balls making him choke. Mo glared at Jian Yi across the table, whipping out his cell phone. 

[sent 2:29 PM] 

To: Jian Yi 

Can you get your fucking foot off my goddamn dick!!!! 

Jian Yi’s phone buzzed lightly on the table. Glancing at it in irritation, he stole another look at Zhan before snatching it up. He swiped the screen, checking the message. Mo watched in satisfaction as he read the text, eyes widening before he snatched his foot back like he’d been burned. Face turning tomato red, he pulled out his planner avoiding eye contact for the rest of the meeting. 

Once He Tian concluded they discussed for a bit. Mo offered every ‘what if’ he could muster, but He Tian countered him at every turn, sound and confident in his business plan. Mo briefly acquiesced, asking for a few days to think before he made a final decision. He wanted to discuss the possibilities with his team and his mother as he valued their input. Wrapping up, He Tian held him in a smoldering gaze thanking him for his time, and that he looked forward to their next meeting. 

The over-confident bastard. 

His mind was still whirling by the time they made it down to the curb. Jian Yi hailed a cab for him but beat a hasty retreat, calling over his shoulder that he’d stop by the restaurant tomorrow, cheeks still a vivid pink. Mo let him go, appreciating the solo ride home. The cabbie thankfully made no effort to talk to him and he got comfortable in the back seat. His weight rested against the door, warm air from the heater made him drowsy. He gazed out the window deep in thought, watching the city speed by, cars and buildings tinted with gold from the late afternoon sun. He turned He Tian’s words over in his head. This would be a big step for The Fox, the payoff insurmountable… but, he wondered, can The Fox trust this newfound wolf? 

Hi :) I do have a plan to continue & I’m working on Ch. 2!

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[tripstations]

Bath holidays: Where are the best hotels in Bath? Top accommodation revealed | Short & City breaks | Travel

Bath is the World Heritage Site mainly built from gorgeous local, golden-coloured Bath Stone (Image: Getty Images/The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa/ The Queensbury)

Bath is a city where I have decided I could quite easily live. For starters, it’s beautiful. Not only is the World Heritage Site mainly built from gorgeous local, golden-coloured Bath Stone, it’s also surrounded by rolling green hills which are visible from the town as you look up. It’s also easily walkable yet crammed with culture and, importantly for me, easy to get to from neighbouring Bristol, London, and Birmingham. This makes it an ideal choice for a weekend break. If you’re after an indulgent UK holiday and looking to treat yourself, these are three of the top hotels to stay in – The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, The Queensbury and No.15 Great Pulteney.

Bath holidays: Where are the best hotels in Bath? Top accommodation revealed

Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa

The problem with staying at The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa is that you may never want to actually leave it. A wall of elegance practically smashes into you as you walk in and there’s an instant feeling you’ll get looked after.

Located in the middle of the famous and iconic Royal Crescent, the hotel actually stretches far beyond the buildings you see on entrance. An acre of stunning gardens lies behind, offering an oasis of tranquillity after a day of sightseeing. Further accommodation and the restaurant as well as the spa are found at the other end of the garden making for a very quiet night’s sleep indeed.

Our room is the Lord Nelson Suite – the famous military figure once stayed in Bath – and busts and paintings of the great man adorn the room as a nod to the theme amid the grey neutral tones. Ornate lamps and colourful cushions add a pop of colour.

In the spacious living room area – separated off from the bedroom with a curtain – is a fireplace and a bookcase filled with a variety of interesting tomes, creating a homely touch amid the luxury. French windows open out onto a spacious balcony which looks over the garden and the odd guest below. One can feel very regal from such a position – although no Romeo (or Knightley, Darcy or Tilney for that matter) came a-calling, alas (remember, there’s always the Jane Austen Centre…)

When we are first shown to our room there’s a brief moment when we think we’re told there’s complimentary cheese which would make it officially the world’s best establishment, but it transpires the lady actually said complimentary teas which, for a Briton, is still pretty exciting. We order one immediately. It’s only a few moments we realise one explanation for our sense of peace – Classic FM is playing from bedside speakers and it’s the addition I never realised I needed – my life finally has a soundtrack.

The little touches don’t stop there, pillow spray is provided with the turndown service, newspapers are offered and there’s an umbrella in the wardrobe complete with a tag letting you know what you can do in Bath in the rain. Furthermore, there’s also a car parking spot for every room should you need it.

Bath holidays: The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa is in in the middle of the iconic Royal Crescent (Image: Getty Images)

Meanwhile, the stylish bathroom provides his n’ her sinks, sumptuous products by British perfumer Floris plus a bath and shower – the controls for which are conveniently placed the opposite side from the water flow which means never getting wet until you’ve got in, which is a surprising bonus.

We dine in the hotel’s Dower House Restaurant and our table benefits from a view of the secluded garden as the spring evening draws in. The friendly and knowledgeable waiters prove invaluable in helping me decide on my order (it all looks so good) and the sommelier suggests a delightful Sauvignon Blanc.

Turmeric and black pepper bread sets a promising tone for the meal before I tuck into my starter of slow cooked duck egg. It’s huge, rich and creamy and pairs well with the salty Morteau sausage, and crunchy leeks and chicken crisp – all in all, superb.

This is followed by roasted seabass, served with two perky scallops prettily presented with beetroot, tasty morsels of smoked eel, hay baked potato, smoked roe cream and horseradish. The portions may seem small at first but I soon have “elegant sufficiency” as my grandmother used to say and decide on a brief hiatus ahead of dessert.

This is wise and dessert is, unsurprisingly, also delicious. I opt for rhubarb and orange tart with ginger ice cream, the tangy favours of which all perfectly complement each other. My friend goes for the cheese board – well there had to be cheese somewhere didn’t there? This is presented by a rather handsome waiter who informs us he is responsible for buying the cheeses in, and his enthusiasm is palpable as he explains each one to us. One nugget we learn is that the ash in the rind of goat’s cheese is supposed to aid digestion – but after the feast we’ve had I’m not sure there’s much hope for us.

We heave ourselves up and take a turn around the garden before retiring for the night, thoroughly pampered and satisfied.

The next morning we make the most of The Spa & Bath House. I do a few lengths in the 12m heated pool (where the glistening blue tiles shimmer like a mermaid’s tail), try out the Vitality Pool and sauna before heading for a massage.

The spa’s primary partner brand is Elemental Herbology whose products are based around the Five Element theory from traditional Chinese medicine. My therapist considers my skin type, lifestyle, environment and season and opts for Earth for balance. I have chosen a Deep Muscle Melt full-body massage which uses the oils as well as hot stones – although the spa menu offers so many other wonderful-looking options it is hard to decide. My therapist’s small hands dig deep into my muscles and work through knots on my back in what makes for a very stress-relieving and relaxing hour before I return to my room, take tea on the balcony and prepare to leave this haven of luxury.

Double Deluxe rooms at The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa start from £330 on a B&B basis. To book, please email info@royalcrescent.co.uk or call Spa Reception on 01225 823333

Bath holidays: An acre of stunning gardens lies behind the facade of The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa (Image: The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa)

The Queensbury

The Queensberry Hotel may not have the grand scale decadence of The Royal Crescent but this boutique hotel is every bit as lovely and is right the heart of the city, making it perfect for exploring Bath on your doorstep.

The hotel is both chic and trendy but not in a threatening way; the interior design is particularly exciting. The bathroom in our room boasts a wall decorated entirely with goldfish-covered wallpaper, the orange and blue tones of which inject a quirky edge into the accommodation as does the gold grouting between the white tiles. There’s also a free standing bath in there and fabulous White Company products. It’s all rather like staying at the house of a particularly fashionable friend.

One little touch I particularly like is the little, dim bathroom lights that automatically come on into dark should you need to make your way to the toilet in the night. All hotels please take heed of this! A marvellous concept and a rousing thumbs up to whoever’s idea it was. What’s more, Classic FM is also playing when we enter here, too which is proving a charming theme of my stay so far.

It’s the Michelin-starred restaurant in this delightful townhouse which is the true gem of the establishment, however. If you’re after an excellent meal, the 3 AA Rosette Olive Tree restaurant is the ideal spot – it’s certainly the best one I’ve had in a long time.

I go all out and order the larger of the two tasting menus, otherwise known as the ‘Chris Cleghorn Seven’, with paired wines. Things start exceedingly well with a cheese-filled profiterole appetiser – an ingenious morsel of pleasure – before a raw Orkney scallop is presented in its pretty shell for a starter. It’s succulent and juicy thanks to the tangy pink grapefruit granita along with a kick from the horseradish. This is paired with a Galician Rías Baixas white wine before I’m served a Lebanese rosé with my second course of burrata – not that this is the Italian cheese as I’ve ever known it. This is burrata ice cream, churned and frozen but still creamy with the saltiness of green olives with tomatoes and a basil sauce.

Bath holidays: The Queensberry Hotel is both chic and trendy but not in a threatening way (Image: The Queensberry )

Onto the first of the mains – Turbot on the bone which is like consuming a cloud it’s so soft and tender, pairing perfectly with the crunch of asparagus and buttery sauce, along with shrimp, salted lemon and sherry. To go with this is is the best Chardonnay I’ve ever tasted – an Astrolabe Province Marlborough Chardonnay 2015 which knocked my socks off; both nutty and creamy it went hand in hand with the turbot perfectly.

We move onto the second main of oh-so-succulent Woolley Park Farm duck served with duck liver on a tiny sliver of toast along with barbecued beetroot, sea beet, hazelnut and blackcurrant – all paired with a rich South African merlot.

The first dessert is a soft Tor cheese with soaked golden raisins and chicory with a Jurançon 2016 rosé before moving onto a (highly unusual but incredibly delicious) tobacco-flavoured ice cream which comes with chunks of aero-style chocolate and a chocolate parfait – rounded off with a divine Graham’s 2013 port.

By this point, I’m frankly sozzled and stuffed. I squeeze in a yummy raspberry and ice cream concoction before I throw in the towel. No way can I face the proffered coffee and petit fours although I have no doubt they’re just as delectable as everything else in the feast. We began our meal at 8.15pm and it is now 12.30pm. It’s definitely time to leave. Any plans we have of going out are shattered – as are we.

Our waiter throughout the evening has been the charming Jake who we find out is a mere 22. This appears to be a theme of the restaurant – most of the servers look as though they could be about to sit their A-Levels – but this doesn’t seem to affect the running of the place. Jake himself is incredibly knowledgeable and seems to know all there is to know about the wines he studiously explains to us. I also overhear him taking care to find out the needs and desires of the couple next to us so he can advise them suitably.

The restaurant appears to be doing a roaring trade and is filled with customers, creating a buzzy atmosphere for the Saturday night. This is particularly impressive given how unassuming The Olive Tree is from the outside – but it really is a true gem worth checking out. Not to be missed!

Hotel prices start from £145 for a classic double room. To book go to https://ift.tt/1pEhACZ

Bath holidays: The Michelin-starred Olive Tree is a true gem worth checking out. Not to be missed! (Image: The Queensbury)

No 15 Great Pulteney

Great Pulteney Street is the widest and grandest in the city of Bath so it stands to reason that No 15 Great Pulteney is also rather grand. It is also, however, completely bonkers.

This eccentric hotel –  self-proclaimedly “luxury for the curious” – is packed full of character which one might never guess judging from its chic Georgian townhouse exterior in complete uniformity with the entire street. Inside, the decor is so quirky it leaves your scratching your head. There’s a collection of kaleidoscopes in the hallway, a bizarre selection of dog figurines on one stairway and military memorabilia crowding the bottom of a staircase. The latter even features a soldier mannequin which, when first I spot it out of the corner of my eye, nearly makes me jump out of my skin. You have been warned!

In fact, no staircase in the same here: one has models of anthropomorphised pigs, another old cameras and a third huge perfume bottles. The thought that must have gone into the design is mind-boggling.

Our room on the top floor is lovely and while not so ostensibly idiosyncratic as the communal areas, there’s still something undeniably Bohemian. Our lamp shade drips in beads, mirrors with weaved frames sit above the bed’s headboard and a large, black sheep serves as a chair. These quirks don’t stop the hotel form providing all the mod cons, however, judging by the Dyson hairdryer and fan plus enormous TV with Sky.

From our window, we can see the roofs of all the stunning Georgian houses on the streets, the famous rugby grounds and even the abbey if I crane my head – all backed by the glorious Somerset countryside.

Bath holidays: No 15 Great Pulteney is an eccentric hotel – “luxury for the curious” (Image: No 15 Great Pulteney)

Bath holidays: The Dispensary comes complete with extensive wooden drawers labelled for herbs (Image: No 15 Great Pulteney)

An inventive addition to the hotel’s set-up is The Larder which peckish guests can raid whenever they want. While I am there it stocks help-yourself supplies of milk, ice cream, yoghurts, water, cans of fizzy drinks, old fashioned sweets plus flapjacks and brownies. It’s gloriously like a tuck shop and my inner schoolgirl lights up with the glee at the idea of plundering it for free (before my adult self remembers my straining jeans).

Before dinner, we head for a drink at the hotel’s Bar 15 which promises ‘creative liquid libations.’ I opt for a classic No 15 Champagne cocktail and settle back to see what eccentric delights reside in the bar. I am not disappointed. Our table is utterly bedecked with blue beads and jewellery and topped with glass, the huge paintings on the wall come to life with bizarre protrusions and little 3D editions of classic novels such as The Water Babies feature enchanting cut-outs of characters on the front covers.

I’m more taken with the restaurant, however. Aptly named The Dispensary, the room goes the whole hog with the theme, complete with extensive wooden drawers labelled for herbs, antiquated glass bottles of all colours lined again the wall and even old talcum powder containers.

There’s a nod to the actual function of the restaurant as well thanks to such features as a stove, complete with cast iron pots and a wall boasting every type of whisk you could possibly imagine.

The food is tasty too. I enjoy a starter of hake goujons – which are fresh and delicious – before a crispy duck salad washed down with a South African Cabernet Sauvignon. I finish with an utterly indulgent sticky toffee pudding (with top-notch fudge sauce) and a paired dessert wine.

Prices from £115 for a Cosy Double room. 01225 807015; https://ift.tt/32Cc7ce

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Napa cottages for rent offering full menu of deluxe amenities

Napa Valley is an incredible tourist attraction that lures tourist from all over the globe. It is a premier wine destination and apart from wineries and vineyards, there is also no shortage of natural wonders, parks, theatres, museums, spas, shops, ranches etc. It is a compact region and has small and beautiful towns.

Here is a list of things you can do during your stay in Napa Valley:

Visit Castello di Amorosa

This is one of the most famous wineries in entire Napa Valley and people from all over the globe don’t miss the chance to visit this winery on their trip here. This winery is an exquisite replica of an Italian Renaissance Castle and also has a bridge, torture room and dungeon. You can go for the one hour guided tour of this winery. You can sample their delicious wines and also learn insights about the process of wine making.  

Explore the history

You can explore the rich and diverse history of the valley on your trip. To learn about the history, you can go to the museums like Napa Valley Museum Yountville, St. Helena, Robert Lewis Stevenson Museum and Sharpsteen Museum. You can also visit the Old Faithful Geyser and the Petrified Forest if you want to know more about the geological history.

Napa Art Walk and its galleries

Napa houses a lot of art galleries where you can find everything from contemporary to inspirational pieces. Walk along the streets of downtown Napa where you can see the sculptures that is referred to as the Napa Art Walk. You are sure to have a great and fun time while watching the outdoor display of Northern California artists.

Hot air balloon ride

On your visit, soar above the beautiful vineyards of Napa Valley in a hot air balloon. Wake up early and enjoy the most amazing views amidst the glorious sunrise and crisp and fresh air. This ride offers a once in a lifetime experience that will be worth cherishing whole life.

Enjoy the quality wine and food

Being a wine region, it's obvious that the region is drenched in winemaking and viticulture talent. This valley has unparalleled resources be it technical and financial. Napa Valley offers the best to the consumers. It also serves as a foodie heaven. There are many phenomenal restaurants in the city. Whether you dine at a Michelin star restaurant or prefer an outdoor diner, you'll be highly satisfied. It is considered to be a capital food crime to not have a memorable meal on your trip to Napa Valley.  

Napa Valley Wine Train

One of the best ways to witness the valley is through the Napa Valley Wine Train. On the three-hour long ride, it takes you to some of the most amazing and historic wineries. You can gaze at the beautiful scenery from large windows and try the mouth-watering gourmet food prepared in the three on-board kitchens of the train.

Silverado open air car and the Tasting car are the most popular car options that give its guests the opportunity to sample more than three dozen boutique wines.

Tours and sight seeing

Napa Valley is considered a gem in California and is just an hour’s drive from the city of San Francisco. Along the way you can see majestic mountains and five official towns of Napa region: Yountville, St. Helena, Calistoga, American Canyon and of course Napa. There are many vineyards along the way too.

Explore Oxbow market

Oxbow market is named after the unique bend of the Napa River. This 40,000 square foot space is filled with the Napa’s best food vendors selling everything from local delicacies to three course meals as well as houses various coffee, brewery and gift shops.

The market also has a scenic outdoor deck where the tourists can enjoy their afternoon meal overlooking the Napa River. This lovely place offers tremendous options to enjoy with your friends and family.

On your trip to Napa Valley, if you are planning to stay in private luxurious cottages, then you can be at Aurora Park Cottages. This peaceful oasis offers Napa Cottages for Rent tucked into the scenic hillside of downtown Calistoga. These cottages offer a relaxing retreat with charming decor and luxury beds for a tranquil wine country getaway. Walk to downtown Calistoga’s shops and restaurants, discover their healing hot springs, and enjoy wine tasting adventures at heavenly wineries. Make the most out of your trip exploring and as the sun sets in come and relax with a full menu of deluxe amenities and services at your private cottage.

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COVID-19 crisis: What’s in store for the hospitality industry?

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COVID-19 crisis: What’s in store for the hospitality industry?

What happens next? Honestly, no one knows.

One thousand people, including chefs, restaurateurs and journalists, recently connected over a Zoom conference, hosted by the Basque Culinary Centre, to discuss the future of gastronomy: Only to find that no one has answers.

Yet, despite the unprecedented uncertainty COVID-19 has brought to the hospitality industry, with thousands of workers losing jobs overnight, the mood was one of feisty determination to stay relevant in a world that needs gastronomy: perhaps now more than ever.

“We are in a political and economic crisis. In a country like Brazil, it is impossible to lock down favelas — people are more worried about their jobs than the virus,” says Chef David Hertz, speaking from Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil. David co-founded Gastromotiva, an NGO that empowers socially-vulnerable communities through kitchen vocational training.

Discussing how chefs around the world are now using their resources and skills to feed the vulnerable, he adds, “It is time to focus on the essentials, and practice generosity. Solidarity kitchens — this is our response to COVID-19. We have to get involved now more than ever.”

David explains that in Brazil, restaurants are pivoting to stay relevant by housing people and feeding the hungry in their neighbourhoods. “Everyone is afraid. We don’t know what comes next. But this is a movement of chefs fighting for changes that need to be made so restaurants can survive.” Gastromotiva is also helping students who live in the favelas to cook nutritious meals for their communities from their homes by connecting them to food banks, which in turn are funded by donations. “We have never had so much philanthropy in Brazil,” says David.

From San Fransisco, Chef, author and consultant Anthony says the pandemic has showed how the food system is fundamentally broken. Stating that the current economic model leaves workers vulnerable and is environmentally destructive, he says the pandemic reminds the industry about the need to “incorporate resilience and social responsibility into our business models.”

In Ghana too, COVID-19 has exposed the fragility of the hospitality industry. Chef Elijah Amoo Addo, who runs Food For All Africa, a community food support centre, logs on from Accra to emphasise that the pandemic has “proven the importance of what we have been talking about the food supply chain for the past five years.” His mission has been to find ways to redistribute excess stock from farmers, suppliers and restaurants to orphanages, hospitals and schools, then train cooks to make delicious meals out of this, thus preventing food waste.

“In Ghana, over 40% of the work force is in hospitality. When restaurants closed, we found ourselves feeding those who weeks ago were feeding others: chefs, waiters, dish washers… This is how fragile our industry is. And it took just a week after the lockdown,” says Elijah.

He adds that suppliers and farms are now helping the cooks and restaurants that helped them.

“As chefs, we usually feed those who can pay for the food and our skills,” he says, adding, “I believe it is time we realise that one of the guiding principles of our profession is to serve society as well with our skills.”

Silvia Rozas getting gourmet meals ready for delivery to hospital staff   | Photo Credit: Birraria La Corte

By doing this, people in the industry are finding work again, and professional kitchens are stirring back to life, as influential chefs find ways to connect philanthropists, producers, farmers and cooks to feed people impacted by the pandemic.

Chef Diego Guerrero, whose Madrid restaurant DSTAgE has two Michelin stars, for instance, is collaborating in the World Central Kitchen Project, which supports small, independent restaurants. The project works with them to supply meals to food-insecure families, isolated seniors and healthcare workers in COVID-19 hotspots. Donations support these meals as well as the cooks and staff who put them together.

Diego has closed DSTAgE, and is putting his energy into helping volunteers: his professional skills are vital to plating up thousands of meals with basic ingredients, making them tasty and nutritious. “This is an emergency,” he says, adding, “I am certain that gastronomy has transformative potential. In situations like this, food is essential.”

Meanwhile, in Venice, Chefs Sylvia Rozas and Marco Zambon are working with small producers, helping them preserve harvests by making products that can be consumed later, like preserves and jams.

Their venture began when they cooked a three-course meal for 50 workers at the San Giovanni e Paolo Hospital in Venice on Easter Sunday, inspiring them to find sustainable ways to to help. “Chefs and restaurants have the ability to influence the general population,” says Sylvia, adding, “It is our role to recover tradition and local culture by offering delicious yet healthy food.” The two use a boat to move produce from farmers and fishermen to restaurants, in their efforts to be “a bridge.”

Says Sylvia, “The important thing for us has been to remain active, and to continue fighting so that together we can move forward.”

Culinary Prize

Nominations are open until July 1, Wednesday, for the 2020 Basque Culinary World Prize, celebrating chefs who transform society through gastronomy. This year’s Prize will include a significant focus on chefs who have addressed the impact of the pandemic on the culinary industry and wider society. Nominations must be made through https://www.basqueculinary worldprize.com/

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By Joy Pecknold

Date January 24, 2018

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The vaguest recommendation I obtain earlier than leaving for Hong Kong can be the soundest: “Eat all of the issues.” To dine at a special institution (14,000 ultimately depend) for every meal daily would take greater than 14 years, and by then there could be new ones. On Hong Kong Airways, I get a teaser. For enterprise class, the Vancouver route serves dishes from award-winning Dynasty Seafood, which some say presents the most effective dim sum exterior of China. The every day flight arrives round 5 p.m., simply in dinner time.

On Hong Kong Island, Central is town’s coronary heart and the apparent place to begin exploring. I get my bearings in probably the most whimsical method: with a morning street-art tour led by Unintentional Artwork. Round corners and down again alleys, Banksy, Shepard Fairey and Invader have left their marks. You’re feeling graffiti’s impermanence most acutely, although, when viewing one of many final remaining calligraphy works by the late Tsang Tsou-choi (a.ok.a. “the King of Kowloon”) on Hong Kong’s mainland.

One in all solely 4 remaining items of paintings by the King of Kowloon. Images by way of Getty/PHILIPPE LOPEZ

Additionally in Central, there’s PMQ. Quick for “Police Married Quarters,” a nod to the buildings’ previous life, it supplies inexpensive studio and retail areas for native designers. (Different cities, take be aware.) On the fourth ground of Block A, there’s Central Saint Martins grad Chailie Ho; a whiz with silk, she focuses on scarves and slinky attire. Throughout a courtyard, in Block B, Hugo Yeung and Belinda Chang run their jewelry studio, Obellery, showcasing their very own works (Yeung favours weighty geometric shapes, whereas Chang performs rather a lot with pearls) in addition to items by native and worldwide artists. Ho, Yeung and Chang additionally routinely run workshops to share their abilities with neophytes. There’s meals at PMQ, too, together with three bakeries and Michelin-star chef Jason Atherton’s Aberdeen Street Social.

A five-minute stroll down Hollywood Street is Man Mo Temple. Devoted to the Taoist God of Literature (Man) and the God of Battle (Mo), it’s particularly common amongst college students—and their mother and father, hoping for prime take a look at scores—but in addition for anybody searching for respite from the bustle. Incense wafts from all sides, even from above, the place coils of it slough off ash like clouds of snow. These in search of steerage can shake a can of numbered sticks, which correspond to fortunes; throw down a pair of crescent-shaped picket blocks for solutions to easy sure or no questions; or attempt each, which is what I do as a result of I’m uncertain about almost every little thing.

Departing from the Tai Po Market rail station, 20 kilometres northwest of Sai Kung, Hong Kong Foodie Tasting Tours information curious epicureans on progressive meals. The primary course is cheong enjoyable, steamed rice noodles that soften in my mouth, at Chan Hon Kee. There’s not a lot time to stroll that off earlier than I arrive at Yat Lok Barbecue Restaurant with its window of glistening roasted geese, that are the factor to attempt. (Anthony Bourdain’s a fan.) There’s additionally a spot for snake soup, nevertheless it’s not in season in the mean time, and, admittedly, I’m relieved. Macau-style sweets present a much-needed palate cleanse earlier than I head to the market complicated for deep-fried cuttlefish balls, steamed mullet fish and crab. Consumed on a stool exterior as nightfall turns to nighttime, a refreshing black sesame tofu dessert from Jiu Guo Xiang Lin caps off my four-hour feast. That is after I study probably the most helpful Cantonese phrase: ho bau (translation: “very full”).

See Joy Pecknold‘s high 5 Hong Kong must-eats down under or get extra journey inspo here.

The Sky Boss

A hen’s-eye view is the aspect dish for each course at this Cantonese restaurant on the Kowloon aspect of Hong Kong—it’s positioned on the 101st ground of the Worldwide Commerce Centre.

Lee Lo Mei

The interpretation of its Cantonese title is vulgar, however the meals is something however, with creative interpretations of native avenue meals, together with a ginger soup dessert that comes as an edible ball.

Yum Cha

The steamed custard buns at this dim sum spot have emoji-esque faces that make it a must-visit—if just for the Instagram fodder.

T’ang Courtroom

The Langham’s contribution to Cantonese eating is being one in all solely 4 such eating places on the planet to obtain three Michelin stars. Served in a golden crab-shaped dish, the baked seafood rice is as picturesque as it’s delectable.

Grassroots Pantry

Opened by a former Montrealer, this plant-based restaurant has cold-pressed juices and vegan mains to make sure that every day vegetable necessities are met—after which some.

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One Writer Tries to Eat her Way Through Hong Kong’s 14,000 Restaurants By Joy Pecknold Date January 24, 2018 icon-facebook icon-twitter The vaguest recommendation I obtain earlier than leaving for Hong Kong can be the soundest: “Eat all of the issues.” To dine at a special institution (14,000 ultimately depend) for every meal daily would take greater than 14 years, and by then there could be new ones.

[bewitchingkitchen]

Back in November we were in New York City and took stepson Dr.A and his beautiful partner to a special dinner at Aquavit. Funny story here. I admit to having a virtual crush on Marcus Samuelsson the chef behind it. So when Phil surprised me with the news of our upcoming dining adventure, I almost passed out. Would Mr. Samuelsson come to our table to say hello? Would I be able to survive that without making a complete fool of myself? Then, the shock. Marcus has left the restaurant many years ago. I must be living in a cave or something. Well, it’s quite clear that I don’t follow the restaurant scene that closely.  The current chef is Emma Bengtsson, a 33 year Swedish chef who is one of only three women to run a restaurant with 2 Michelin stars. No wonder our meal was memorable! Seriously, the food was spectacular. Absolutely top-notch, one of those evenings to be remembered forever. I include at the end of this post a little slide show. One item I fell in love at the first bite was their Danish Rye bread. They brought it in a small basket, three types of bread, the Danish Rye definitely not a heavy contestant for its looks. With no high expectations,  I tried a bite. Then I saw Phil’s expression when he took a bite of his little roll. Our eyes locked, and a symphony started to play in our minds… It was moist, it was dense, but not heavy. It had this incredibly sweet/savory  complex taste, like nothing I ever had before. I  simply had to try and make it at home. Once we flew back, I started obsessively searching for recipes, even wrote the restaurant (no reply, unfortunately), and finally settled on a recipe by Planet Earth’s Baking Goddess Extraordinaire, Karen.

  RUGBRØD – DANISH RYE (from Karen’s Kitchen Stories)

for the Rye Sour – (prepare 12 to 15 hours prior to the final dough) 300 g whole rye flour 245 g water 55 g sourdough starter at 100% hydration

Combine the ingredients in a medium bowl with a dough whisk or large spoon until you have a fully incorporated dough. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit for 12 to 15 hours.

for the Levain 103 g bread flour 103 g water 14 g sourdough starter

Combine the ingredients in a medium bowl and mix until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and let ferment for 8 to 10 hours.

for the soaker 75 g rye chops 150 g water

Mix the ingredients in a small bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let sit overnight at room temperature.

for the Final Dough 130 g bread flour 200 g whole rye flour 180 g water 2.5 g instant yeast 16 g salt All of the soaker All of the rye sour All of the levain 15 g black strap molasses 4.5 g whole fennel seeds, coarsely ground

In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix all of the ingredients with the dough hook on slow for about 4 minutes, then increase the speed to medium, and mix for an additional 3 to 4 minutes. The dough will be very sticky.

Heat the oven to 475 F.

Spray a 13 inch Pullman pan with spray oil, and sprinkle it with rye flour. Scrape the dough into the pan and smooth the top. Sprinkle the top with whole rye flour. Cover the dough with the lid of the pan, and let rise for 45 to 60 minutes, until the dough reaches about 1 inch below the top of the pan.

Bake the loaf at 475 F with the lid on for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 400 F and continue baking for 15 more minutes with the lid on.

Remove the lid and reduce the oven temperature to 325 F. Bake for an additional 45 minutes, until the bread reaches about 205 F internally (check with an instant thermometer).

Remove the bread from the pan and cool on a wire rack. Let the bread sit for 24 to 48 hours to cure before slicing (this is important to avoid a gummy crumb)

ENJOY!

to print the recipe, click here

Comments: Danish Rye is the most beloved bread in Denmark, consumed by everyone particularly at breakfast, but pretty much whenever the mood strikes. I suspect if I lived in Denmark I could survive on it alone. Ok, maybe some butter. A little cheese. Some smoked salmon, but the pièce de resistance would be the bread. I realize that it doesn’t look like much. A brownish, tight crumbed, dense-looking loaf of bread. Looks can be so deceiving! This is the kind of bread that speaks to your soul, each bite a little different, it plays with your taste buds in magical ways. Trust me, you need to bring it to your life if you’ve never tried it.  Plus, it’s pretty straightforward to make. You do not need the special pan with the lid, actually. Many recipes will bake it in a regular loaf type pan, and the bread will end up with a little crack on top. Nothing wrong with that.  Make sure to plan ahead, Danish Rye must sit for at least 24 hours before slicing. Rye is a temperamental flour, with a tendency to develop a gummy texture.

The important question is – did it match the Aquavit concoction? Let’s say it’s pretty close, close enough to make me thrilled about this baking project. I still would love to have their recipe, but so far, no cigar. So my plan is to continue assembling examples in books and blogs, and try a few more. The bread freezes beautifully in thin slices, by the way.  Removing from the freezer, in a few minutes it can go into a low oven to bring it back to life. It is quite simply put, a fantastic loaf of bread. Phil went nuts for it, in fact he now insists that at any given time we must have at least 4 slices in the freezer. Just in case. And of course, I am more than happy to make sure he is happy!

One very tasty lunch!

For those interested, a little slide show of the great evening we spent at Aquavit, NYC

November 2016

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ONE YEAR AGO: The Best Sourdough Recipe

TWO YEARS AGO: Mini-Quiches with Duxelles and Baby Broccoli

THREE YEARS AGO: Quinoa and Sweet Potato Cakes

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FIVE YEARS AGO: Citrus-crusted Tilapia Filets

SIX YEARS AGO: Bran Muffins, not just for Hippies

SEVEN YEARS AGO: Flourless Chocolate Cake

DANISH RYE BREAD Back in November we were in New York City and took stepson Dr.A and his beautiful partner to a special dinner at…