Vive la France
There’s lots of great wet and produce markets spread across the SAR – but what about the vegetables they don’t sell… That’s where supermarkets can step in. As part of the Le French GourMay Great in Pacific Place is running a French food promotion through May. As well as some wonderfully tasty new products they’ve signed up with a new fresh produce consolidator to bring an expanded range of fresh seasonal European vegetables. Among those new on the shelf in May are yellow, red and white carrots – yes, you did read that correctly, not all carrots are orange. A fresh multi-coloured carrot salad is easy on the eye, healthy and very tasty. Other vegetables that come in colours you’re not used to seeing include beetroot and tomatoes. Locally we’ve got used to seeing and eating cherry and ‘regular’ tomatoes but there are many different varieties of tomatoes – Great had sixteen different types the day we were exploring. All with different colours, shapes, textures and flavours, mixing a few different varieties can enhance any ‘dull’ tomato salad.

France is renowned for it’s cheese and among the new varieties in the Great cheese room is the delicious Bleu de Severac ($95/100g) which could be confused with a Roquefort cheese as is made from unpasteurised ewes’ milk and follows the identical method of production. The only difference is that it’s not matured in the prestigious cellars of Combalou. The uncooked, unpressed soft cheese with veins of blue mould is firm, creamy and smooth with a sublime tangy, slightly spicy/acidic flavour.

For many years now Hong Kong has gone rouge, blanc et blue in May. Originally Le French May was about raising awareness and appreciation of French music, art and culture, but 8 years ago Le French GourMay was launched to enhance the appreciation of French food and wine – perfect for a city full of hedonists. Check out the website to explore the wide range of promotions and dinging offers www.frenchgourmay.com

CheesebyTom
In Europe cheese is an everyday food item and it’s common to have several types in the fridge all the time. Locally however cheese, like ice-cream, has been and continues to be priced as a luxury item. Architect/Entrepreneur Tom Higgins is looking to change that with his new cheese delivery website www.cheesebytom.com The Lamma based site currently offers Brie, Double Gloucester, Emmental, Cheddar, Gruyere and Manchego and delivers across Lamma and also to Hong Kong island once a week. We ordered the Cheddar ($35/250g) and the Brie ($50/250g) both are good solid very edible cheeses, perfect to be enjoyed at anytime. Yes, you can find finer cheeses around but cheesebytom returns cheese to everyday item it should be – at a price accessible to all HongKongers.

Tsim Sha Tsui East
TST East is one of those areas just off the main arteries that’s thronged with tourists who sleep there and office workers – consequently there’s a lot of restaurants and bars with many places offering outdoor seating and views of across the harbour. Among those is the Italian restaurant Spasso (Empire Centre, 68 Mody Road. Tel: 2730 8027) who celebrate the start of summer with a new promotional menu and the ‘opening’ of their terrace.

Also in the area is the wonderful Middle Eastern restaurant Ra (Wing On Plaza, Tel:  2721 3600) which offers a mix of Moroccan and Egyptian cuisine and for those who like it some of the best shisha in Hong Kong. A perfectly relaxing way to spend an evening.