Education | Lifestyle | Home | Activities
November 2016
Super mums The wonder women balancing work and family, and making a success of both
Contents
W
e all witnessed Wonder Woman kick Doomsday’s butt with her badass Amazonian fighting skills in Batman vs Superman this summer. While the men needed a super spear to take out their adversary, these women, just like Wonder Woman, can take on anything without the help of a kryptonite clad weapon. From packing school lunches to setting up businesses, we discuss it all. On the topic of packed lunches, turn to page 34 to find some tasty treats that your kids will love and won’t leave them buzzing with sugar!
6 Meet our super mums, the ladies balancing successful careers and a busy home life
20 Creativity for kids
24 A home in the hills
Hannah Hodson, Editor hannah.hodson@timeout.com.hk
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Around Town Feature Education Activities Home Health & Wellness Food Shopping Holiday The Guide Where to find us
34 Healthy snacks
Publisher Desiree Au I General Manager Agee Leung I Editor in Chief Douglas Parkes I Editor Hannah Hodson I Marketing & Advertising Director Karman So I Art Direction and Designers Phoebe Cheng, Jessica Li, Stanley Chung I Photographer Calvin Sit I Sub Editor George Major I Contributors Corina Chan, Kate Davies, Rachel Lau, Zach Santos, Tiffany Tong, Christie Tse I
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This is a supplement published by Rubicon Communications and Time Out Hong Kong (Suite 1002, Wanchai Commercial Centre, 194-204 Johnston Road, Hong Kong) in collaboration with Time Out International Limited, London, UK. Printed by Apex Print Limited. No contents or photos can be reproduced without permission. Time Out is the registered trademark of Time Out Group Limited, London, UK. The right to use the trademark, name and logo of Time Out is licensed from Time Out Group Limited, London, UK.
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The
NOV
essentials
Don’t miss this month’s top events!
GROSSOLOGY Until Wed Nov 2
THE WORLD OF TIM BURTON Nov 5-Jan 23
THE SPARTAN RACE Sun Nov 6
HONG KONG ART WEEK Until Nov 9
Hong Kong Science Museum, 2 Science Museum Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui; hk.science.museum. $30, $10 on Wed. Hong Kong Science Museum’s horde of creepy-crawlies is sure to captivate the kids. Grossolgy explores the world of dung beetles, blood sucking flies and more. The exhibition introduces children to the important role that these critters play in our ecosystem. Bring your family to experience the interactive exhibits and discover how important ‘gross’ creatures really are.
ArtisTree, 1/F, Cornwall Place, Taikoo Place, 979 King’s Rd, Quarry Bay; theworldoftimburton.hk. $180 Mon-Fri, $220 Sat-Sun. If Halloween is over too quickly and your family is left craving another dose of creepy weirdness, this might be just the thing. Fans of Tim Burton – eccentric master of the endearingly kitsch and the grotesquely endearing – can see work from the director/producer/ writer’s personal archive in this multimedia exhibition.
Kam Tin Country Club, Yuen Long; spartanrace.hk. $790-$1,190. We all benefit from getting outside and having fun in the mud and rain every once in a while and there’s no better opportunity to do so than the Spartan Race. With its origins in the mountains of Vermont, this obstacle course of rope climbs, barbed wire and fire promises a thrilling day out. There’s even a kids’ race, so the whole family can muck in.
Various locations; hk-aga.org. Take the kids to explore Hong Kong’s buzzing contemporary art scene as Hong Kong Art Week takes over the city. There are over 100 exhibitions and events taking place over the course of the week including gallery walks, an art treasure hunt and a family art day, plus talks and symposiums with artists and curators. It’s a must for all culture vultures from Sai Ying Pun to the Southside.
THE GREAT BRITISH FOOD FESTIVAL Nov 8-13
A CONCISE HISTORY OF FUTURE Nov 4-6 Hong Kong City Hall, 5 Edinburgh Pl, 2370 1044; newvisionfestival.gov.hk. $280. Reframe Theatre’s latest production is a fractured, nonlinear narrative following two characters on opposing journeys through a country where displaced populations, rivalries between cities and tension between generations are threatening to boil over into civil war. Part of the biennial New Vision Arts Festival. FREE
PINK SEASON – OUT IN THE OPEN Sat Nov 5
Bistro One, 16 Beach Rd, Repulse Bay; pinkseason.hk. 2pm-midnight. Free. Now in its 16th year, Pink Season’s five-week run of art, cultural, sport and social events comes to a close with Out in the Open. Spend an afternoon on the beach with your loved ones enjoying free food, volleyball and the kids’ corner, then stick around for an evening of live music and celebration.
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FREE
Tamar Park, Harcourt Rd, Admiralty; bestofbritish.hk. The Great British Food Festival promises a fusion of traditional British comfort food and classic Hong Kong cuisine. Where else can you get the chance to sample Dim Sum Yorkshire Pudding? As well as great grub, there will be delicious drinks on offer to compliment the food, sourced from some of the UK’s and Hong Kong’s top chefs.
SAI KUNG SUNDAY MARKET Sun Nov 6
FREE
Hong Kong Academy, 33 Wai Man Rd, Sai Kung; saikungmarkets.com. Get your weekly shopping sorted and support local businesses while you’re at it by taking the family to Sai Kung’s child friendly Sunday Market. It’s the perfect chance to grab some early Christmas gifts before the seasonal rush, or simply choose a treat for yourself from the panoply of food, clothing, accessories, arts and crafts on offer.
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FREE
SOUTH ASIAN SOCIETY CULTURAL EVENT ‘16 Wed Nov 9 Global Lounge, G/F, Fong Shu Chuen Amenities Centre, Hong Kong University, Pokfulam Rd; fb.com/HKU.southasiansociety. Tickets: $50. Join HKU’s South Asian Society for their annual cultural event. Celebrating Hong Kong’s diverse South Asian communities, the day promises fantastic opportunities for the family to indulge in food tasting, try out henna tattoos, check out dance performances and play games.
Around Town DON’T MISS
FREE
Let It Snow Photo Sessions Nov 5, 6, 25-27
42 Wong Chuk Hang Rd, Wong Chuk Hang; melanie-adamson.com. From $880. The perfect opportunity to get some adorable photos of your little ones before they grow out of their Christmas sweaters – Melanie Adamson is offering special promotional rates on winter-themed photo shoots. So get some photos that you’ll be able to cherish forever, and don’t forget your mittens and scarves!
LAMMA FUN DAY BEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL FREE Sat Nov 12 Tai Wan To Beach, Lamma Island; fb.com/LammaFunDay. 11am-10pm. Hong Kong’s longest-running music festival returns for a day on the beach packed with arts and crafts, top-notch food and of course, a ton of live music to enjoy. It’s free entry, there’s a licensed bar so you can refresh yourself between songs and the proceeds will go towards helping child welfare projects in Nepal. What’s not to love?
RUG LANE VINTAGE AND SECONDHAND CLOTHING MARKETS Sat Nov 12 Ethos Gallery, 99 Hill Rd, Kennedy Town. ruglane.com. 1.30pm-4.30pm. $40 (adv), $50 (door). Rummage through the racks and discover that perfect vintage piece for your winter wardrobe. The inaugural Rug Lane Vintage and Secondhand Market is a chance to mingle with fellow fashion lovers, catch some music and enjoy a free beer. A bargain never goes out of fashion.
DISCOVERY BAY SUNDAY MARKET Sun Nov 13
FREE
Discovery Bay Main Plaza, Discovery Bay, handmadehongkong.com. Is there any more satisfying way to shop than buying beautiful handmade goods directly from
the artist? DB’s holiday season Sunday Market is the place to go to pick up one-of-a-kind gifts and to get to know some of Hong Kong’s ingenious makers and designers. Clothes, bags, home accessories, paper craft and children’s toys will all be on sale.
TONG CHONG STREET MARKET WORKSHOP Sun Nov 13 Tong Chong St, Taikoo Plce, Tai Koo, taikooplace.com. 3pm-4pm. $50. In continuation with their healthy eating workshops this market workshop at Tong Chong Street Market is called ‘What’s in a label?’ During the hour long workshop a variety of speakers will explain the meanings behind words and logos used in packaged produce. Participants in the workshops will be treated to a gluten free and organic products at the end of the workshop.
This one’s for mums and dads! Hong Kong’s biggest celebration of barley, water and hops has more IPAs, porters and pilsners on offer than you could hope to sample in a single day. Luckily, Beertopia lasts for two. Just be sure to line your stomach with a bite from one of the 20 or so local eateries that will be on site too.
MIND MOUTH AND MOVEMENT Wed Nov 16 Various locations, bit.ly/ mindmouthmovement. Tickets $715-1,400 (readers get 15 percent off with the code TOHK). World famous child psychologist Dr Porter is in Hong Kong with expert guest speakers and seminars on parenting, children's health and nutrition. Events are held at at Island Christian Academy and Chinese International School.
Anna and Elsa, along with old favourites Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Not to mention Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Snow White and more. This celebration of Disney magic has more classic stories and characters than we’ve got room for here – it’s a treat for all generations to enjoy together.
THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY ON ICE Dec 8-Dec 11
BEERTOPIA Fri Nov 18 & Sat Nov 19
HKCEC, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai; hkticketing.com. $280-$680. Take the family on a dazzling adventure with Dory, Nemo,
Central Harbourfront, Lung Wo Rd; beertopiahk.com. $285-$495.
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Around Town
MY LIFE AS...
FIRST LOOK
A pet sitter
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Mannang Kong is completely at home around different sorts of animals, having grown up with them all her life. We chat with her about how she became a cat and dog sitter for Royal Pets and what exactly the role involves. What made you choose this particular career path? How long have you been dog and cat sitting? I’ve been doing this job for the past couple of years, but I’ve always loved working with animals. As a child, my family always had cats and dogs, so I guess you could say I’m a natural around animals. As well as taking care of cats and dogs, I also train them. I learnt this skill from my uncle who’s a dog trainer.
What made you want to work with animals on a daily basis? I’ve always had a love for animals, due to growing up around them. I find it really rewarding to keep them happy, entertained and well groomed. Do you have many animals yourself? Yes! I have dogs, a rabbit, a cat, a fish and a hamster. I’m certainly kept very busy! How can owners ensure their pets are getting enough time outside? Space is very limited in Hong Kong… Make sure that you take lots of trips to country parks. Hong Kong has many beautiful trails, so you can always change up your walk and see another side of Hong Kong. Royal Pets royal-pets-hk.com
What’s a typical working day like? It changes regularly! I can be taking care of a client’s cat in the morning and taking another client’s dog for a long walk in the evening. The job certainly keeps me active, which is great.
HK PHIL’S HOLIDAY: A MAGICAL CHRISTMAS
And what's the most challenging part of the job? I love my job, so even the challenging parts are a joy. I guess, making sure that the pets are well entertained throughout the day can be a challenge.
G
et into the Christmas spirit with a little help from our friends at the Hong Kong Philharmonic. Think sing-a-longs, carols and even snow! Kicking off the Phil’s festive season is Holiday: A Magical Christmas. Vivian Ip is conducting the orchestra, leading them through everyone’s favourite carols including We Wish You a Merry Christmas and Joy to the World. In addition to the sing-a-long, Harry Wong (pictured) is set to introduce a little bit of magic to proceedings. The audience is sure to be in awe of some of his tricks – including making it snow! After the Christmas spectacular your kids are certain to want more. Thankfully, two concerts have already been lined up for June and the holidays, so be sure to mark them on your calendar now! The first of the summer concerts treats audiences to classic tales from around the world, such as Peter and the Wolf. Three beautiful classic pieces of music will be played alongside dramatic performances. The second summer concert is a little bit quirky, but heaps of fun. Combining sport and music, audiences will be able to witness ping pong being played to the tune of classical music. Watch out for stray balls! For more information visit hkphil.org. timeout.com/hk
THE BULLETIN
What’s your favourite dessert?
Next issue: What are you hoping Santa brings you this Christmas? letters@timeout.com.hk.
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Feature
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Feature
Super mums Not all superheroes wear capes. Working mums do it all and they do so without a murmur of complaint. They’re our favourite kind of superhero. Hannah Hodson chats to 10 women who are at the top of their respective fields and who have got there while raising a family. Photography by Calvin Sit. Art direction by Phoebe Cheng. Special thanks to Indigo Living
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Feature
Stephanie Kelly Born in New Zealand, Stephanie Kelly lived in London and Singapore before settling in Hong Kong four years ago. As well as the director of the Affordable Art Fair, she is mum to two daughters.
Mimi Brown
The founder of Spring Workshop, Mimi Brown arrived in Hong Kong in 2005 and has an 11-year-old son and a seven-year-old daughter.
Mimi Brown
Stephanie Kelly
You’re originally from California, so what made you leave the sun and surf behind?
How did you get involved with the Affordable Art Fair? I bought my first artwork at the Affordable Art Fair in London and loved the fun, relaxed vibe and the ethos that anyone can be an art collector. When my now husband and I were planning our wedding from Hong Kong, we wanted art rather than another toaster. So I emailed Affordable Art Fair about setting up a gift registry and ended up getting a job.
My Turkish husband and I had a baby in New York and were looking for a far-flung adventure. We called up friends to ask them about their various hometowns around the world. Our friends in Hong Kong gave us the best report by far, so we moved without even visiting first.
What’s the story behind Spring Workshop? How was the organisation born?
How do you balance your work with being a mum? Balancing work, family and social commitments is a daily exercise in flexibility. Some days you feel like a Cirque du Soleil performer and others more like a clown trying to juggle too many balls. To keep all the balls in the air I rely on my helper and husband, especially during busy times.
After a few years of getting involved with the extraordinary people in the Hong Kong cultural family through non-profits like Asia Art Archive and Para Site Art Space, I felt a strong pull to make something of my own. Spring Workshop is a manifestation of my passion for the artists, the audiences and the non-profit organisations in this city. It’s an experiment in engagement, support and community whose aim is to challenge the way we all relate to art. Everyone is welcome and we’ll do our best to give you an experience.
What’s your favourite part of your job? Every day I meet diverse and interesting people, whether passionate gallerists looking to grow their business globally, highly creative artists who make you re-think how you look at the world, or corporate partners who want to bring creativity into their business. And of course my fun colleagues!
How do you manage to run Spring Workshop and be a mum at the same time?
What key piece of advice would you give to a young mum trying to balance a career with family?
One of the reasons I started Spring was for my kids, so I try to involve them whenever possible so that work and family aren’t completely separate. Both my kids have been to all of our children’s workshops and several adult programmes where they get exposed to ideas and people beyond the usual kid’s realm. I also schedule their Chinese lessons at the office so that I can glimpse them during the day – we know it’s three o’clock when we hear my daughter coming down the hall, cartwheeling.
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To feel confident at work and ensure that everything is happy at home by focusing on putting in place support systems such as home help, shared calendars and communication groups. Steal and share ideas from mum’s groups and maintain a constant conversation about flexibility with work. But most of all, be kind to yourself and realise you are doing a great job.
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WINTER CAMPS & CLINICS ENROLLING NOW AT www.esf.org.hk
INSPIRING FUTURES
ESF Sports
Open to ESF & Non ESF Students
Winter Camps & Clinics
ENROL ONLINE
WINTER CAMPS & CLINICS 13 - 30 December 2016
ESF Sports will host a number of sports camps and clinics across Hong Kong. With access to top quality facilities and our expert team of coaches, your child will have fun while developing sporting abilities!
TERM 2
Multi Sports Camp - starts at age 2! Basketball Clinic Football Clinic Netball Clinic Gymnastics Clinic Tennis Clinic
3 January to 1 April 2017 The role and power of sport in the development of young children cannot be overestimated. ESF Sports deliver a whole range of fun, challenging and structured sports programmes designed to foster a love of sport that will last a lifetime.
• • • •
Basketball Football Netball Swimming
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Multi Sports Gymnastics Kung Fu Tennis
sports@esf.org.hk F
ESF SPORTS
Tel: 2711 1280
www.esf.org.hk
Feature
Marie Claire Lim Moore
Marie Claire Lim Moore formerly worked at Citibank and is now the development director at nonprofit organisation The Women’s Foundation (TWF). Born to parents from the Philippines, she was raised in Canada and the US. After four years in Singapore, she moved to Hong Kong in 2015 with her husband and three kids.
What’s your favourite part of your role at The Women’s Foundation? There is no such thing as an average day, which is part of what makes it so fun. One morning I can be heads down working on a grant application, then I can be introducing iconic figures like private equity legend Henry Kravis over lunch and meeting with TWF Male Allies in the afternoon.
You’re also an author. What inspired you to write Don’t Forget The Soap and Don’t Forget The Parsley? I’ve always wanted to document my parents’ story as new immigrants to Canada and the US. However, only when I had kids of my own did I have the inspiration and discipline to get it done. I wrote both books during maternity leave when I was expecting my second and third child.
In 2014 you received a 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World Award. What did this mean to you personally? It meant the world to me. If there are two things I’m most proud of it’s my family and my Filipino roots.
What sort of values do you try to instill in your children and how do you go about this? Humility. I know how fortunate my kids are and it’s important they stay grounded. Having my parents around certainly helps with this! They help me try to instill immigrant values even while my kids live the expat experience.
Rumiko Hasegawa
Andrea Fessler
You’re Japanese and your husband is American. What brought the two of you to Hong Kong?
You made a pretty big leap going from a legal career to founding Premiere Performances. What made you decide to do this?
Goldman Sachs transferred me. I had been working in the Tokyo office since 1992 and was the first working mother on the trading floor in the Tokyo office. We were very fortunate, as I wanted my daughter to experience living in Asia outside of Japan and to study Mandarin.
Since retiring from Goldman Sachs you’ve set up More Than Musical. How did the idea come about? Many of my local friends were telling me how they found Western opera too foreign to even try listening to. And many found it very intimidating to go to a big theatre and sit for over three hours listening to an unfamiliar story. So my founding partner and I decided to present opera in a way that would better suit a general audience’s lifestyle by making it more compact and hosting events at intimate venues such as a bar.
A couple of classical music concerts I attended triggered a childhood memory of an organisation in Vancouver that specialised in solo recitals and chamber music, especially of rising stars. I thought that someone should start a similar organisation here in Hong Kong, and eventually I realised that someone could be me! For two years, I continued to work as a lawyer and run Premiere Performances. Then I was restructured out of a job and never looked back.
Rumiko Hasegawa
Do you have a background in music? Not really. I was forced to study the piano for 10 years but I hated every minute of it. As soon as I quit I joined the school choir and discovered how much more fun it is to make music with other people.
Have you always been into opera?
What are your top tips to get kids involved in music?
I was only a karaoke singer singing Madonna’s Material Girl until recently. I was introduced to opera in Tokyo about 10 years ago by a friend, another working mother, and became totally hooked. This provided a diversion from being just a working mother.
There’re lots of kids studying musical instruments in Hong Kong, but not a lot of love of music being taught. Studying music shouldn’t only be about exams and competitions. Allow them to choose which instrument they play and get them involved with playing chamber music.
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Originally from Tokyo, Rumiko Hasegawa has lived in Hong Kong with her husband and 19year-old daughter since 2010. A former partner at Goldman Sachs, she is also the founder of More Than Musical.
Andrea Fessler
Canadian by birth, Andrea Fessler is the founder of Premiere Performances Hong Kong and has lived here since 2004 with her husband and three daughters.
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Feature
Tara Joseph Tara Joseph has lived all over the world, with much of her youth spent in Nepal. She had been in and out of Hong Kong for years but settled in the city in 2002. The chief correspondent for Reuters in Asia, she is mother to two daughters aged 10 and 14.
Kristie Lu Stout
Originally from Philadelphia, Kristie Lu Stout’s mother is from Taiwan and her father is of Pennsylvanian German stock. She settled in Hong Kong 15 years ago to pursue a career in journalism. Today she is a CNN anchor and correspondent, and mum to a nine-year-old daughter.
Kristie Lu Stout
Tara Joseph
What brought you to Hong Kong?
Given your role at Reuters, you must have to travel a lot. Are you given much notice before needing to jet off?
I believe we are the sum of our choices. And our choices include what opportunities we take and what opportunities we turn down. I was offered many opportunities to break into journalism in the United States but I rejected them because they didn’t reflect my interest in China. I waited for the right moment and that moment came when a CNN producer saw me give a talk on the subject of the Internet in China at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Hong Kong. She later invited me to appear on air as an analyst. After my appearance, the network approached me to join them and I’ve been with CNN in Hong Kong ever since.
I’m lucky that in my current role I can pitch story ideas to London and New York, then plan my own trips. So unless there’s a breaking story, I can prepare and organise for times that suit the family. That said, I often miss precious weekends at home which means I fall behind in family matters. When I’m on an assignment, I think only of the job at hand. I’m entirely devoted to work when I’m out in the field.
Have women’s roles in media and journalism changed during your time in the industry?
You must have to work some rather long hours. How do you balance work with family life?
Yes. There are many more women in senior roles in the media. Taking maternity leave and having family occasions to think about are no longer taboo. When I started in journalism, senior women were few and far between. Now, top jobs are open to women who can endure balancing motherhood and a career.
It’s less work/life balance and more work/life integration. I remember at the height of the Occupy Movement in Hong Kong, I had an interview in the morning, then picked up cupcakes for my daughter’s birthday, dropped them off at school, went to the newsroom for live reports and then finally reached the harbourfront to anchor live on location in the evening. It’s hectic, but everyone’s needs are eventually met.
Having come so far, what key piece of advice would you give to a young mum trying to manage that balance? Treat yourself with some respect and gentility. Too often I see working mums beating themselves up about not having enough time or feeling tired and overwhelmed. It makes sense to take a step back every once in awhile and to give yourself a breather. Do something that you enjoy for yourself. You’ll be amazed at how that can put things back into perspective. All too often, the biggest problem working mothers face is good old-fashioned exhaustion. Once we get tired, it’s hard to keep things in perspective.
What sort of values do you look to instill in your daughter? My husband and I want to instill a lifelong love of learning in our daughter. Raised in a home full of books, we rejoice when we see her grab a book off the shelf and embrace reading in English or Chinese. We also actively encourage her to be caring. After all, knowledge is not an end to itself. It should be coupled with empathy and compassion.
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Feature
Ann Cha
Ann Cha
You set up Punch Detox in 2010 while pregnant with your third child. That must have been really challenging! What other difficulties did you face?
Born in Hong Kong to a Chinese father and a Thai mother, Ann Cha has lived all around the world, in Bankok, Paris and New York. She returned to our SAR in 2004 and within five years she met and married her husband, cofounded Punch Detox and had three children.
Before we officially launched our website, we spent most of our time and efforts trying to ensure our product would exceed our own standards. For two years we held focus groups, taste tests and cleanse trials. We tweaked the recipes and measured nutritional values, then had more than 200 people try each juice before we affixed our stamp of approval. The process was arduous, but it was worthwhile to get it right at the start.
What’s the best thing about your job? Knowing that we’ve made a difference in people’s lives definitely keeps me motivated. We’ve got one customer who had been on steroid medication for years because of a skin condition and after just one three-day cleanse, her skin cleared and she was able to get off meds.
Angela Cheng Matsuzawa Angela Cheng Matsuzawa was born and raised in Hong Kong but went to high school and university in America. After working for a number of companies in the US, she and her fiancé moved to Hong Kong 12 years ago. Now married and with eight-year-old twin boys, she calls Hong Kong home and is the co-founder of Punch Detox.
What’s your family’s favourite meal? At the moment, our family’s favourite meal is a bolognaise sauce I make with the kids, using grassfed beef, organic pork and carrots, tomatoes, onions and celery grown on our rooftop. We chop everything together. At dinner, everyone gets to choose whether they put the sauce over rice or a pasta of their choice.
What’s an average day look like for you? The team and I look after many different clients, both individuals and families who are relocating to Hong Kong. We look after all aspects of their relocation from their visas to school places for their children and, of course, their home.
How did you get into working in real estate? My father was a teacher here and we were fortunate enough to have housing. I didn’t actually know what a real estate agent was until I moved to London. I spoke to a recruiter who asked three questions – Was I inquisitive? Did I like people? Did I like houses. I answered yes to all three!
How does your experience growing up differs to that of your son's? I think our experiences will be similar. I want my son to feel like Hong Kong is home but also be open to other cultures and beliefs. Hong Kong is somewhere where he has independence and yet is relatively safe.
Do you think Hong Kong is an easy city to raise a family?
Stella Abraham Born and raised in Hong Kong, Stella Abraham knows the city like the back of her hand. Having worked in both the US and UK, she came home permanently in 2010. She is mum to a 13-year-old son and is the head of the residential leasing and relocation team at JLL.
Every city has its pros and cons. Housing is probably the most challenging part of raising a family, particularly if you come from somewhere where your house and garden are a priority. Hong Kong offers different aspects of a great city. A big house isn’t one of them. However it has a culture, buzz and vibe that other places just don’t.
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Angela Cheng Matsuzawa How did the idea for Punch Detox come about? A year after I had the twins, I was still very much not myself, so I decided that it was time to prioritise fitness. Ann, my business partner, had just moved back to Hong Kong, so we decided to try a personal, introductory detox programme that combined eating real food and yoga. This was over seven years ago. Detoxes were unheard of then. We were so eager to learn that we took classes from HKU and earned a diploma in nutrition.
What do you pack for your twins to take to school? A lot of dulled down Chinese dishes with less sugar and salt. We also do some Japanese dishes, such as onigiris. I also love to get them involved. I do menu planning with them at the beginning of each month and sometimes I’ll make the lunch with them.
Have you always been into healthy eating? Not at all. For me, it was really after the detox programme that I changed the way I looked at food. I used to work a lot and ate out a lot. Here’s where the detox helps – it resets your palate. It’s much easier to stop drinking Diet Coke when it tastes like plastic to you. But of course, you have to live in the real world with other people, with dinner appointments and gatherings. So knowing how to balance is key.
Education
The city’s top instructors tell us why debating can be of huge benefit to children
D
ebates have been a hot topic for some weeks now, thanks to the presidential elections in the U-S of A. Rebuttals littered with insults, personal digs and the odd outburst from Donald Trump have provided netizens with enough memes and amusing YouTube videos to last a lifetime. However, this is not the best example of good old-fashioned debating. With that in mind, Hannah Hodson talks with three of Hong Kong’s top debate instructors to give you the lowdown on how it’s really done and what the benefits are!
KH Cheng
KH Cheng is the chair of the Hong Kong Schools’ Debating and Public Speaking Community and the head of English at St Stephen’s College. Growing up in Hong Kong did you have the chance to take part in debates at school? I debated at school, but not with the same degree of rigor as school children nowadays do. There were only a handful of competitions back in the 1990s, whereas committed debaters now can go to a tournament almost every single weekend. How has the debate scene changed since you were at school? Back then, we only had policy debates where we dived into the nitty-gritty of the clauses and annexes of policy papers. Today’s debaters will also debate hypothetical motions like ‘Assuming the technology exists, this house would resurrect teenagers who have committed suicide’. A motion like this would be unfathomable two decades ago. How do you think debating has helped you in your career? I head the department of English at St Stephen’s College. Debating skills are highly relevant to the everyday work that we do in the classroom. The ability to
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debunk assumptions, challenge premises and determine the relevance and limitations of references is certainly what theory of knowledge (ToK) classes are about. The habit of reading extensively from credible sources and researching on complex world issues provides students the perfect foundation for their selfdirected projects, like the writing of their extended essay (EE). Debating enables me to understand thinking skills in a more holistic manner. It has definitely made me a better curriculum leader across academic disciplines. How have you seen this skill help children that you teach? Juniors love debates because of the community that they grow up with. Many of them become friends with each other after competing in tournaments together. The seniors who choose to use the precious spare time in their busy schedule to debate are genuinely passionate about ideals like justice, fairness and morality. Many of them adopt a liberal-progressive worldview, but some would pivot to conservatism after college. But I would say the majority of our senior debaters are leaning towards centrist-leftist in how they view controversial issues. The further you advance in debates, the more you have to ask yourself where you actually stand.
Education
Mona Chu
Mona Chu coaches debating teams at secondary schools and runs private workshops for different age groups. How have you seen debating help children? It boosts their confidence and ability to express themselves. I know it sounds cliché but it does. A lot of the time, students don’t struggle with English; they struggle with what to say in English. When there is an urge to express a well-considered argument it’s surprising how much effort a student makes to ensure his or her point gets across. Language rarely is the issue. What’s your favourite motion for debate? It changes, depending on how creative students get. Recently, a student argued that ‘we should all become vegetarians’ because ‘Pixar told us animals have feelings, so do furniture and toys’. Theories aside, this swayed the class into voting for the motion, which I found very amusing. Are there any particular reasons why debating skills are especially important for kids in Hong Kong?
Yes! Our education system rushes students to provide an answer to questions too complex for them. As a result, students are quick to assert their views in ways they think will impress adults. When asked how they came to such conclusions, though, many shy away from answering – cushioned in their cosy bubble and comfortably dismissing alternative views from others. At a formative age when beliefs are still being shaped, this practice is particularly unhealthy. It kills curiosity and breeds dogma. Are there any ways that parents can introduce healthy debate in to the family home? Absolutely. An open environment for kids to explore different ideas with their parents is the most ideal. It also facilitates understanding from both parties. Just be sure not to escalate the competitive side of things – my dad and I verbally debated on literally everything during my most active years as a debater. It gets tiring sometimes.
Dinnertime debate
Test out these topics around the dinner table and get your kids arguing… the good way!
“Should children get pocket money?” “How much homework should children get each week?” “Should children choose their own bedtimes?” “Are school uniforms a good idea?” “Are video games good for you?”
Greg Forse
Greg Forse was born in Hong Kong and is now the head coach of Hong Kong’s National Debate Team. When were you first introduced to debating? I began debating for my secondary school, Island School, during my last four years there. I also had the honour of representing Hong Kong at the 2005 World Championships in Canada. Do you coach outside of Island School? Yes, I’m one of the few professional debate coaches in Hong Kong, outside of school staff. I’m also the head coach of the Hong Kong National Debating Team and my role as such is to train the team that represents Hong Kong at the World Championships. What are the benefits of debating? The benefits of debating are almost too numerous to mention, but I would draw attention to a couple of main things. The first of these is the ability to think critically and from multiple points of view. This is a skill that is crucially lacking from much of the education system in Hong Kong. The overwhelming trend, which I have noticed in students who
begin debating, is that they initially look for the ‘correct’ answer and are often quite confused when they are told that there isn’t one. Debating gives the participants a certain point of view which they must adhere to and therefore removes – to some degree – the tyranny of one’s own opinion. Secondly, debating places a heavy responsibility on the participants to understand the world around them. Most debate motions are couched very heavily in the context of the real world and therefore understanding that world is a pre-requisite for success. The enjoyment of arguments and investigation of the world is an added and important bonus.
“Should kids have their own mobile phones?”
Are there any particular benefits of debating for students in Hong Kong? Many students I work with spend much of their time on things such as dictation, rote learning and standardised exams. As a result, much of their creative thinking and the ability to approach a problem from different angles is neglected. In my experience, beginner debaters in Hong Kong tend to produce virtually carbon copies of the same arguments as each other. After some practice and being exposed to the culture of debating, I often notice this sharply begins to change as their arguments become more diverse and the logical methods by which the students think begin to develop in different ways and with different priorities.
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Education
EDUCATION LISTINGS KIDS LEARNING CENTRES
Ace Academy
Ace Academy nurtures a child’s growth through suitable training as analysed by child psychologists. Turning weakness into strength, the small class setting enables interactive “happy” learning via an understanding of child psychology. Room 301, Summit Insurance Bldg, 789-793 Nathan Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2381 1777; ace.edu.hk.
Padooki’s English Learning Centre
Conveniently located in the City Garden Shopping Centre, the 2007-founded English learning centre covers all major aspects of English language learning over the course of approximately 12 months. With a strong belief in students’ enthusiasm for learning, Padooki’s learning experience is of a highly interactive nature, enjoyable for kids one and all. 80-82, 1/F City Garden Shopping Centre, 233 Electric Rd, North Point, 2578 2922; padookis.edu.hk.
Cana Elite Education Centre
Founded by passionate teachers who have had British, American and Canadian education experience, Cana values excellence in providing high quality tutorial lessons and international
The Stage is Set for Our 18th Anniversary!
Weekly Term-Time Drama Workshops With qualified, experienced leaders and unrivalled resources, we offer the best in drama and theatrical education for our members. Join us for weekly drama workshops for ages 3 to 18 that takes place in venues across Hong Kong and Kowloon including:
(852) 2547 9114
(852) 2547 9799
Info@FaustWorld.com
Sheung Wan
Discovery Bay
Mid Levels
Stanley
Kowloon Tong
Pok Fu Lam
Repulse Bay
The Peak
www.FaustWorld.com
FaustHongKong
Faust International Ltd. 5th Floor, Nan Dao Commercial Building, 359 & 361 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan
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FaustHK
Top 10
Best After-School Activity
Winner
2014, 2015, 2016
Hong Kong
Summer Activities for Kids
Best
After-School Activities for Tots to Teens
Education examination preparatory courses in the IB diploma, GCE and GCSE. University application consultation and assistance services are also offered. 201, 203-205, 135 Bonham Strand Trade Ctr, 135 Bonham Strand, Sheung Wan, 2302 6500; canaelite.com.
Monkey Tree Learning Centre
Founded in 2009, Monkey Tree is well established with 40 different locations all over Hong Kong. Fostering an environment where East meets West, the Centre capitalises on the idea that kids aged 3-12 should learn in a fun, festive and interactive way. Various locations inc. Room 2801, 28/F, Citicorp Centre, 18 Whitfield Road, Causeway Bay, 3563 6771, monkeytree.com.hk.
KidsTalent Learning Centre
An English learning centre in Kowloon, KidsTalent aims to capitalise upon a child’s
golden learning age, unlock hidden potential and develop a keen and enthusiastic learning attitude. With clients from both local and international schools, the centre pushes the boundaries of learning and nurtures great thinkers at a very young age. Unit 906, 9/F, Summit Insurance Bldg, 789 Nathan Rd, Prince Edward, 6210 1201; kidstalent.com.hk.
Speak & Spell
With teachers from an array of teaching and child psychology backgrounds, Speak&Spell, an English learning centre in Kowloon, has catered to a large clientele from reputable kindergartens and schools since 1996. Placing their kids’ interests as a top priority, lesson plans are personalised and native English is taught in a comfortable, interactive and effective learning environment. 270 Prince Edward Rd W, Kowloon Tong, 2337 1018; speaknspell.edu.hk.
Hahaha Banana Utopia
Hahaha Banana Utopia’s native English teachers specialize in ABA methods, which are applicable to all children, including those with special needs. They help boost children’s self-esteem and motivate them to chase after their dreams. Unit 221, 2/F, Yue Xia Plaza, San Po Kong, 5181 7500; fb.com/Hahaha-Banana-Utopia.
Why Choose Our School?
As part of an international family of 43 schools, and exposure to our unique Global Campus, we give your child access to unparalleled learning experiences and resources. Taught by outstanding teachers, and underpinned by our Be Ambitious philosophy, we empower students to succeed both inside and outside of the classroom. This, combined with our exclusive collaborations with two of the worlds most prestigious organisations, The Juilliard School, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), means your child will be engaged, challenged, and inspired throughout their educational journey with us.
Applications now being accepted
HK Island campus (Nursery, Reception, Year 1-3) Lam Tin campus (Year 1-13) Contact the Admissions Team to reserve your place on one of our weekly Parent Information Sessions.
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www.nais.hk
admissions@nais.hk
+852 3958 1488
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Activities
The visual arts aren’t often the priority in Hong Kong schools. Kate Davies chats to three women seeking to change this and learns why art classes benefit kids
LAURA SIMONSEN
A
s Picasso said ‘every child is an artist, the problem is staying an artist when you grow up’. As we get older our ability to imagine and create is often lost in the pursuit of grades and academic achievements. Gail Deayton, Maggie Chiu and Grace PinedaCamacho are three women determined to change this by making art an equal player on the educational playing field.
big picture The
ton Gail Deayr/director, Hong Kong Art Tutoring Artist and
founde
In Hong Kong there is a heavy emphasis on academic subjects, what do older kids – aged 10 and up – get out of studying art?
Studying art enables students to be holistic learners. As they go through the design cycle in art the student constantly has to organise and consider elements such as composition, scale, dimension, material and technique alongside more conceptual and complex elements from the world around us. Apart from the personal gratification, enjoyment and relaxation that art provides, it also gives students the opportunity to interact with various materials in a tactile environment. This might sound obvious. However, practical skills that are vital to many aspects of our lives risk being forgotten as more and more hours are spent connecting with a keyboard. In addition, art allows students to build their confidence as they create objects and images, whilst taking risks in the process.
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Do you think practicing art and having an appreciation for the subject helps pre-teens and teens in other subjects too?
Contrary to popular belief, art is highly academic. Students have to work with an informed approach where they constantly have to analyse their work and the work of others. Art forces us to look at the world around us – artists are constantly influenced by economics, history, music, politics, the environment, human rights and many other areas in life. The transferable skills gained through the study of art are clearly evident.
Kids naturally become increasingly selfaware as they grow older and may think they are no good at art, do you think it’s a waste of time to pursue it if they have that mindset?
Good art teachers will offer a broad and balanced curriculum. They will expose their students to a wide and diverse range of disciplines such as printmaking, sculpture and design as well as drawing and painting. Too many people think that they aren't good at art because they think that art is only drawing and painting. Like learning how to play an instrument, drawing and painting can be taught and with practice everyone can succeed. Offering a range of disciplines allows students to succeed in various areas and takes away the pressure to be skilful at drawing. The IB, GCSE, A-Level and BTEC curriculums all emphasise the need to be creative, open thinkers. Students need to be able to explain why they made certain decisions in their work and what experiments they made. Personally, I prefer to have a student who’s creative but struggles with the execution of the piece, rather than someone who's skilful but not creative. The two things are very different. Hong Kong Art Tutoring 21/F, Chu Kee Bldg, 435 Kings Rd, North Point, 9722 8353; hkarttutoring.com.
Activities
You emphasise a ‘don’t worry about the mess’ approach to art. Why is that important?
Maggie Chiu
MessyJam Creative director,
What made you decide to set up Messy Jam?
My passion for art was inspired during my first creative session when I was three. I totally understood the joy of being able to express myself through creating things so it occurred to me that I was destined to be a designer. I started MessyJam after one of my best friends gave birth and it made me want to spread happiness to young people with art the way it did when I was younger.
Creation should be something without boundaries. For kids under six-years-old, their little fingers are the best tools they have to express themselves with, so I always ask them to start creating by putting colours on their little palms and then let them make a mess. The kids then get very excited as they rarely get the permission to make such a mess and so they often consider me as part of the make-things-messy-team! Without hearing ‘No! No! No!’ they have the freedom to share a lot of their crazy ideas and stories during the creation progress.
What skills can a child learn from taking up art at a young age?
There is no right or wrong when it comes to art and creating. Kids can learn how to problem-solve through creativity and
Grace Pineda-Camacho Founder, Pitter Painter
Your company, Pitter Painter, was born out of a life-long passion for art. What is it about art that has stuck with you all these years and continued to inspire you?
Art, and painting in particular, is a form of self-expression. I see or hear things every day and a picture pops into my head and I’m moved to paint it or do a project for our little artists. The children themselves are an amazing source of inspiration too. They have an open, creative energy and it inspires me to experiment and be fearless in my own art. We’ve taken that spirit of possibility in creating projects for our little artists.
You’ve experienced how children process art both as a teacher and as a parent, what do you think art gives them? Teaching art to kids is inspiring. We teach art
art in a non-judgmental environment. They can learn how to create new colours or how to make different textures when painting. Sometimes in my classes they get to paint on something besides canvas, such as glass or wood. With new surfaces they need to think about new things, like preventing the paint from coming off.
From what age do you think a child responds to art? I think we all have a sense of what art is from when we are babies. To introduce art and creating to kids is just like introducing a friend to them who can help them express their thoughts and feelings, all their ups and downs, throughout their entire life. They can just grab a pen, a stick, a drop of coffee... and transform their current mood into an art piece. I think having the opportunity to create is the greatest gift given to little people.
Messy Jam 1/F, Sing Kui Commercial Bldg, 27 Des Voeux Rd W, Sheung Wan, 9366 9836; messy-jam.com.
concepts in the course of doing projects, always in a playful way so the kids absorb it naturally. It’s amazing when they start talking about using basic shapes to start a drawing, color mixing and lights and darks. They develop their fine motor skills and become confident when they draw and paint. They learn to take a new project in their own direction, infuse it with their personal ideas and make it their own. No matter how complicated a project initially seems our children develop a can-do attitude.
Why do you think this type of creativity is so important to nurture in children?
Our little artists take what they learn and do on the canvas and apply it to everyday life. They develop confidence in their ideas and a sense of ownership and pride in their work. We love hearing how their paintings are framed for display in their homes or given to mum and dad as presents.
What is one key message you’d like to share with parents who are unsure whether art at a young age is beneficial or not?
It’s never too young to start making art. The key is to be in a class that's developmentally
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appropriate and makes it all feel like play. The kids develop their fine motor skills and that helps in their writing skills later on. Art nurtures creativity, confidence and a mindset of possibility. Pitter Painter Various locations, 6273 6764; pitterpainterhk.com.
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Activities
ACTIVITIES LISTINGS Aqua-bound Centre
If you’re trying to find a relaxing place for your kids to paddleboard, look no further than Aqua-bound Centre at Stanley Main Beach. The centre offers both classes and rentals per hour. Not only does paddleboarding teach kids a sense of balance, but it also teaches self-discipline, as it’s an individual activity with no teammates to hide behind. Enjoy the beautiful coastline of Stanley as you exercise together. Stanley Main Beach, Stanley, 8211 3876; aquabound.com.hk. Class times and prices vary.
Ages 3-5 First Step Ballet School Getting on stage is less about technique and more about trusting yourself. FSBS believes that positive encouragement prompts self-confidence, which is the indispensable key to the power of dance. RAD syllabus is taught at various levels.
Unit 501-2, 102 Austin Rd, Jordan, 2736 8380; firstepballet.com. Class times and prices vary.
The Little Gym
Channel your kids’ energy into fun exercises at The Little Gym, where they can roll around, do tumbles and play on the balance beam as they try their hand at gymnastics. The Little Gym is designed as a three-dimensional learning scheme that allows kids to get moving, get a brain boost and learn to be a model citizen. Suite 601, 6/F, World Commerce Centre, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2368 8777; thelittlegym. com. Class times and prices vary.
Penguin Hockey Club Dragon Bowling Centre
Striiiiike! Your little one’s going to be knocking down pins with perfect precision after taking classes at the Dragon Bowling Centre! Perfect for a family outing, bowling is a fun sport that’s easy for toddlers to get to grips with. The centre offers both professional and leisure training classes. Various locations inc 2/F, Oi Man Shopping Ctr, 60 Chung Hau St, Ho Man Tin, 2116 1536; dragonbowling.com. Class times and prices vary.
Chill at the rinkside restos and watch your kids play the 'coolest' sport at Hong Kong’s first and only international size ice rink Mega Ice. The Club offers private and group classes to new and experienced junior players. Simply visit Mega Ice in person to register. Walk-in classes are occasionally available. Unit 1, 10/F, MegaBox, 38 Wang Chiu Rd, Kowloon Bay, 2709 4020; megaice.com.hk. Class times and prices vary.
MEET THE COACH
John Leung Badminton coach at Harrow School You used to play badminton professionally. When were you first introduced to the sport? I was invited to an after-school badminton club when I was eight years old. You've coached the England Junior National team, so how does coaching at Harrow Hong Kong differ from coaching a professional team? Overall, in Hong Kong students do not travel abroad to join international tournaments often, but lots of tournaments take place between schools in the city. Also, the mode of training in the UK and in Hong Kong is different. Here we put more emphasis on individual training than in the UK. Badminton is one of the seven core sports at Harrow Hong Kong which students can have extra time to focus on and develop during curriculum time. What’s your favourite thing about your job? Seeing the students develop partnerships and become team players.
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What sort of values do you try to instil in the children that you train? To learn and practice sportsmanship including court etiquette, honesty, fair play in training and going the extra mile to excel. How many different sports are offered at Harrow Hong Kong? The Senior School runs a wide variety of sports aiming to open areas of interest for each individual pupil. Among these 31 different sports, 22 are played competitively throughout the year. The School then focuses its attention onto seven core sports, which it shows particular strength and ambition in. These are rugby, football, netball, swimming, tennis, badminton and basketball. Lower School students receive a one-hour session during the week, delivered by specialists. Harrow International School 38 Tsing Ying Rd, Tuen Mun, 2824 9099; harrowschool.hk
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AGA Hong Kong Junior Golf Training Programme
Australian Golf Academy (AGA) is the only academy in Hong Kong that issues recognised certificates to little ones participating in professional golf training. The comprehensive programme, catering to toddlers, hones multiple developmental skills including motor skills as well as sensory development. 2/F Olympian City I, 2271 4953; juniorgolf.com.hk. Class times and prices vary.
Little Yogis
Perfect for children’s physical and mental well-being, Little Yogis offers yoga classes for kids from 3 months to 12 years old. This playdate with a (literal) twist helps kids improve concentration while movements enhance their strength and flexibility. With a healthy cooking session following the yoga class, your kids will be resilient to life's challenges in no time. 1606-07, One Island South, 2 Heung Yip Rd, Wong Chuk Hang, 2562 3688; littleyogishk.com. Class time and prices vary. Trial class $250-$300.
Activities
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Home
Smoke and
mirrors
This home in Kau To Shan seamlessly blends outdoor and indoor living. Steve Leung, the designer behind the space, tells Hannah Hodson how he made it work
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Home
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Home
H
aving won the Andrew Martin International Interior Design Award 13 times along with numerous other interior design awards, Steve Leung is one of the city’s most esteemed interior designers. Recognised for minimalist designs with contemporary Asian influences, Leung’s work can be seen everywhere from Yuan at The Atlantis Palm in Dubai to the Shangri-La in London. How would you describe your aesthetic? We do not really stick to a particular kind of design style, but I would say we are an advocate of contemporary style. Many would describe our aesthetic as minimalism, but to us minimalism is a kind of attitude. One of the main purposes of design is to improve people's quality of life and that's why we believe in the importance of human scale. As such, a living space should be minimal, elegant and functional incorporating project-specific elements to create an environment that people will enjoy living in. How would you describe the look and feel of Number 47 Lai Ping Road? We took inspiration from the world of fashion. In this house, there is an Italian influence and an understated luxury, epitomised by fine craftsmanship and texture. A contemporary approach is adopted for this house, offering the hosts an ideal abode of comfort and luxury. We've specially selected several types of premium quality natural stone to add touches of luxurious elegance to the house. A luxury ambience is created by the careful selection of branded furniture, including Bottega Veneta, timeout.com/hk
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Home Poliform, Minotti and others. The balcony and rooftop garden allow the hosts to enjoy the extensive natural environment of Kau To Shan and to appreciate the landscape itself as an elegant piece of art. What were the challenges with creating this home? This was a relatively straightforward project. The main challenge was the development of different design schemes which had an individual flair, whilst at the same time applying a common aesthetic to all the houses we designed for this project. Very often the differences are subtle. The design language varies between the schemes using different accent colours, tonalities and textures. Where did you source the furniture from? Most of the furniture was sourced from Europe. Key items are branded, with the remainder custom-designed by us and manufactured locally to our specification. What's your favourite part of this home? Our design is multi-layered and we invest a lot of time in developing bespoke details. For this house we created a staircase screen and balustrades for the staircase lobby, which provide a unique transition between spaces as you move from floor to floor. We also designed custom-made light
fittings for the dining and bar area. These perfectly suit the space. This is the benefit of designing from scratch. Finally we were particularly pleased that every inch of space is maximised. For example, the first floor landing zone was developed to create an intimate study space bounded by the staircase balustrades. What techniques did you use to make the outside view blend with the interiors? Taking the mountains as an abstract concept we see layers of texture and contrast, which add depth to our scheme. We also employ a neutral colour palette, which in some way reflects what happens outside in the natural landscape. For the outdoor area how have you ensured that the materials are durable and will withstand the elements? The exterior materials are specified expressly for their outdoor usage qualities – in particular granite and limestone. The furniture is supplied by specialist outdoor manufacturers and these items, including the upholstery finishes, are tried and tested to make sure they can stand up against the elements. Steve Leung Designers 30/F, Manhattan Plce, 32 Wang Tai Rd, Kowloon Bay, 2527 1600; steveleung.com.
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The expert Stella Abraham, the Head of Residential Leasing and Relocation at JLL answers your questions I have signed a lease which requires me to return the flat to its owner in its original condition but I've made significant decorative upgrades since moving in. These are in very good condition, and can be used by the next tenant. Do I have the right to negotiate to waive this clause? Unfortunately, you don’t have the right to negotiate this clause as your tenancy agreement is a written and binding contract. I would suggest that you discuss your decorative upgrades with your landlord or your landlord’s representative. Some landlords are open to keeping upgrades if they perceive them to be a beneficial addition to the apartment. Some, however, might not agree and will insist that you return the unit to its original state. In the future, always ask your landlord if they are open to considering upgrades before you make any decorative changes to the apartment in question, especially as it could be costly to return the unit back to its original condition. Good luck! For more housing help visit jll.com.
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Home
HOMEWARE
Toss up! Add some flair to your greens with the help of these salad accessories Inside handforged copper salad servers $375. Inside, Shop 246, Landmark Prince's Bldg, 10 Chater Rd, Central, 2537 6298; inside.com.hk.
Indigo horn salad servers $449. Indigo, 6/F, Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing St, Ap Lei Chau, 2555 0540; indigo-living.com.
H&M metal bowl Atier De Villatte medium salad bowl $1,880. Lane Crawford, Podium 3, IFC mall, 8 Finance St, Central, 2118 2288; lanecrawford.com.hk.
$79.90. H&M, Shop G01, G/F, Hang Lung Ctr, 2-20 Patterson St, Causeway Bay, 2337 3400; hm.com.
Tree bamboo spoon and spatula $95 each. Tree, 28/F, Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing St, Ap Lei Chau, 2870 1582; tree.com.hk.
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Health & Wellness
one more time W
High-intensity interval training is a quick workout that produces results. Hannah Hodson finds out more. Illustration by Ron Chiu
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e’ve all tried or at least heard of magical workouts that supposedly tone your body and slim you down in a matter of weeks. There was the vibrating belt in the ’60s, Jane Fonda’s aerobics videos in the ’80s and more recently, Nintendo’s Wii Fit. All good fun, but who actually noticed any results? Fortunately, dubious fitness fads have been replaced by a rigorously researched muscle-pumping workout that actually works – Hiit. An abbreviation of ‘highintensity interval training’, Hiit does exactly what it says on the tin and benefits both aerobic and anaerobic fitness. Training sessions revolve around short, intense bursts of exercise followed by short, occasionally active recovery spells. The high intensity exercises can be anything from sumo squats to burpees to tricep dips and generally last about 45 seconds. During the recovery time it’s recommended that you walk on the spot, but if you’ve worked flat out for 45 seconds a sneaky lie down is always okay – provided you can make it back up again! The workout was the hot new fitness trend of 2014 but it remains the number one choice for gym bunnies across the city and its brevity makes it the ideal workout for hectic Hongkongers.
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Health & Wellness
Five reasons to love Hiit 1. No equipment needed You don’t even need to leave your house to get a killer workout. Turn up the speakers, grab yourself a bottle of water and you’re good to go.
Hit up these studios for the ultimate high intensity workout F45 Training Various locations inc Heng Shan Centre, 145 Queen's Rd E, Wan Chai, 6990 2403; f45training.hk. Flex Studio 3/F, Man Cheung Bldg, 15-17 Wyndham St, Central, 2813 2399; flexhk.com. Hit45 1/F, Abdoolally Hse, 20 Stanley St, Central, 2724 4226, hit45hk.com. The Hit Room Units 13 and 14, LG/F, Office Bldg, Block 2, Discovery Bay North Plaza, 96 Siena Ave, Discovery Bay, 6621 7410; thehitroom.com.
2. It’s portable There’re no excuses to skip your workout. Whether you’re on a business trip or on holiday, Hiit can be done anywhere. 3. Adaptable If you’re easily bored then this is the workout for you. Change up your routine and target different areas for a whole new workout. 4. Calories burned Just 10 minutes of Hiit burns more calories than 30 minutes on a treadmill. 5. Anyone can do it Whatever your fitness, Hiit can work for you. You can start on 10 jumping jacks and a few lunges but you can steadily work your way up to a full-on 45-minute session.
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Health & Wellness
IN THE KNOW The team at Hit45
Shayna Nanik
Hannah Hodson chats to Shayna Nanik about lifestyle changes and taking on Hong Kong’s fitness scene
B
orn and raised in Hong Kong, Shayna Nanik is one of the city’s youngest gym founders. At the age of just 22 she is leading the way for health conscious Hongkongers and those looking to make positive lifestyle changes. But her journey into the world of weights and burpees wasn't quite what you might expect. “Growing up as a child, I was never really healthy,” reveals Nanik. “I was brought up in a household with lots of unhealthy foods. It was easy to just grab a packet of biscuits and snack.” Turning 18, however, proved to be a turning point. “I noticed my weight increasing when I was about 18-years-old and I felt really tired all the time,” she says. “I started with lifting weights, introducing cardio and changing up my diet by introducing more vegetables and lean meats.”
It really is all at your own pace. I was that intimidated person at first, so I know what it feels like At this point, most of us would be pleased with the results and celebrate with a cocktail or two. That’s not the case for Nanik. “I studied at the London College of Fashion; I was doing a degree in fashion marketing. I loved it at first, but once I started going to the gym, fitness became my passion and I wanted to learn more fast,” she tells us, before adding, “I went to a gym in London called Barry’s and learnt a lot. That inspired me to take a course and get my certificate.” timeout.com/hk
Favourite cheat meal: "I don’t usually eat really unhealthy foods, so a typically cheat meal would be some frozen yoghurt with a few unhealthy toppings!" Favourite activewear brand: "I love both Lululemon and Adidas." Favourite workout: "A mix of interval running and lifting weights."
The brains behind Hit45 Shayna Nanik
After graduating from university in the UK and learning all she could from London’s fitness elite, Nanik decided to return home and set her sights on adding something completely new to Hong Kong’s fitness scene. “I really wanted to just go for it. I sat on the idea for a couple years because I was too scared of all the challenges,” Nanik explains. “The competition from rival gyms was definitely a challenge. I always focus on what I’m doing and do it to the best of my ability, but Hong Kong’s fitness industry is competitive and I found that really hard.” 32
What song gets you in the mood for a workout? "Anything by Kanye!"
Today, the gym runs its 45-minute sessions seven days a week and has a dedicated following from all ranges of abilities. “It really is all at your own pace. We’re helpful and understanding,” she insists, gently. “I was that intimidated person at first, so I know what it feels like. I was unfit, I was slightly big, so you really have nothing to worry about. You have to start somewhere and everyone at Hit45 will always encourage you.” Hit45 1/F, Abdolally Hse, 20 Stanley St, Central, 2724 4226; hit45hk.com.
Food
Food 2
Snack ATTACK
Our favourite treats have been given a healthy twist and they taste as delicious as ever. Hannah Hodson’s scoured the city for the most scrumptious snacks which will leave you as fit as a fiddle. Photography by Calvin Sit. Art direction by Phoebe Cheng
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Food 5
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nacks – naughty but oh-so-nice! The treats that make us say ‘oh, go on then’, ‘just a little bit’ and ‘I really shouldn’t.’ But what if we told you that these goodies could actually be healthy? 1
Crisps
Coconut has taken over the health food world and we’re not just talking about water. These toasted coconut chips from Jax Coco have been given an exotic twist with the addition of chili and lime. They’re completely gluten free, 100 per cent vegan and taste absolutely delicious! $14.90. Green Common, 222 Queen’s Rd E, Wan Chai, 2263 3153; greencommon.com. 2
Chocolate
The brainchild of two Australian sisters, Raiz The Bar chocolate is jam-packed with good stuff. Ethically
sourced and sustainably grown cacao from Indonesia goes into their 75 percent cold pressed cacao bars, many of which contain extra super foods such as acai and chia seeds. $68. Spice Box Organics, G/F, Shop K, Fook Moon Bldg, 72 Third St, Central, 2568 2728; raizthebar.com. 3
Ice Cream
Low in sugar and high in protein, this ice cream is practically one of your five-a-day. Using raw coconut sugar, Ice N Lean ice cream is the perfect post hike treat. Our favourite flavour is salted caramel, which uses a fruit called lucuma to create that gorgeous caramel flavour. They also stock chocolate paleo pieces – movie night nibbles just got healthy! $45. City Super, shop 1041-1049, IFC Mall, 8 Finance St, Central, 2736 3866; icenlean.com. 35
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Nibbles
Not content with one snack? Sign up to Chewswize! These guys deliver a box of five snacks to your home or office once a week. You can even choose what goes into it, from lightly salted corn nuts to banana chips. They’ve even got kids’ boxes, so you can get the whole family snacking well. $88 per month. 8197 1032; chewswize.com. 5
Veggie crisps
Gluten free, completely free of preservatives and with no added sugar, these crisps tick all the boxes when it comes to healthy snacks. The bright purple beetroot crisps from Greenday are a great alternative to most salt and sugar filled crisps on the market. $36.50. Green Common, 222 Queen’s Rd E, Wan Chai, 2263 3153; greencommon.com. timeout.com/hk
Food
COOK AT HOME
Avocado quinoa Packed with both superfoods and flavour, this salad is the ultimate crowd pleaser. The recipe, courtesy of the chefs at Pizza Express, makes a great lunch or a nice addition to a family dinner
Ingredients (serves 3-4) • 50g quinoa • 120g roasted pumpkin • 6 Cherry tomatoes • 20g dried cranberries, • Small handfull of fresh parsley • 1 sprig of fresh thyme• • 1 avocado • Half a lemon • 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil •A pinch of salt
Instructions
To cook quinoa: Heat up 50g of quinoa and 100ml of water in a pan. Bring the water to boil and then reduce to a simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Cool down. 1
Sophia Cheung, product and quality manager at Pizza Express 4
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Cut the avocado into chunky pieces and then add the quinoa salad.
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Cut the roasted pumpkin into small pieces and halve the cherry tomatoes. Mix with cooked quinoa.
3 Finely chop the fresh parsley and thyme, add the herb into the quinoa mix. Add in dried cranberries.
Dress the quinoa salad with extra virgin olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Season with a pinch of salt.
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2
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Toss everything together and serve in a salad bowl.
Shopping
Shopping
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Cos Printed Leather Sneakers $1,150. 74 Queen's Rd C, Central, 3580 7938; cosstores.com.
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Salvatore Ferragamo Giolly Flower Sneakers $6,600. Shop 303, 3/F, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, 2845 2718; ferragamo.com.
Footnotes A busy day around town is the perfect excuse for donning stylish sneakers. Put your best foot forward in these trendy trainers and you'll hit both the style and comfort notes!
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Ted Baker Jokei Printed Trainer $1,350. Shop 22116, 2/F, Gateway Arcade, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2377 9710; tedbaker.com.
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Shopping Arkk Raven Sneaker $990. Kapok, 3 Sun St, Wan Chai, 2858 8170; ka-pok.com.
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Adidas Stan Smith $999. 36 Queen's Rd C, Central, 2868 2360; adidas.com.hk.
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Brooks Heritage Shoes
Givenchy Runner
$690. Escapade, 1/F, 19 Leighton Rd, Causeway Bay, 2891 1855; escapade.com.hk.
$7,590. Shop 2060, 2/F, IFC mall, 8 Finance St, Central, 2234 7033; givenchy.com.
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Shopping
SHOPPING NEWS
Rumi x Eco Pouches Hong Kong’s much-loved eco-friendly activewear brand has launched two new multi-functional pouches. In keeping with their support of sustainability, the pouches are made out of recycled PET bottles. The Inhale pouch, which comes in green, is made of green bottles and the Exhale pouch is made out of clear bottles and is water resistant. Kapok, 3 Sun St, Wan Chai, 2520 0114; ka-pok.com.
are completely water resistant – perfect if you’re hitting the slopes for a spot of skiing. Harvey Nichols, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, 2268 8787; molo.com.
Kipling Sanna Print
Molo Outerwear Off to cooler locales this winter? Make sure all your little ones are kept snug and cozy in Molo’s new winter collection. Reflective strips feature on various parts of the clothing, helping your child stand out during dark winter days. And the jackets, ski pants and snow suits feature bright and bold designs and timeout.com/hk
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Iconic bag brand Kipling is collaborating with ’50s-style Finnish artist Sanna Mander to create a limited edition Sanna collection. The print is featured on a number of different types of bag, making it perfect for a variety of occasions. 3/F, Sogo Department Store, 555 Hennessy Rd, Causeway Bay, 2831 8981; kipling.com.hk.
Shopping
Chloe Festive 2016 Get into the festive spirit and keep it stylish with Chloe’s brand new collection. The range includes dainty stilettos featuring darling bows, signature bags with gold embellishment and Christmassy jumpers, too. Shop 2081A, IFC mall, 8 Finance St, Central, 2234 7820; chloe.com.
Simone Rocha x Matches Fashion
Rains Thermal 2016 With the awful weather that Hong Kong has suffered this year one needs to be prepared! Rains’ new collection of jackets feature its signature minimalist aesthetic along with innovative rainwear fabrics designed to keep you dry as a bone. Kapok, Shop HG10-HG12, G/F, PMQ, 35 Aberdeen St, Sheung Wan, 2858 8170; ka-pok.com.
Pedder Red Boots It’s now boot season and, lucky us, Pedder Red is stocking some particularly delightful ones. Keep your toes toasty in these of-theseason embellished booties or grab a pair of over-the-knee statement boots. Shop 2345, Harbour City, 3-27 Canton Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2118 0130; pedderred.com.
With endless social engagements on the horizon during the holiday season, you’ll want to make sure your outfits are on point. Do yourself a favour and check out Simone Rocha’s six piece capsule collection for Matches Fashion. With red featuring in every item, they’re the perfect items to add to your Christmas wardrobe. matchesfashion.com.
Carat London Stella Collection Diamonds are forever, and with that in mind why not make an investment? Treat yourself to one of the gorgeous pieces from Carat London’s Stella Collection. The rings, bracelets and necklaces are all inspired by beautiful starry nights. Shop 1062, IFC mall, 8 Finance St, Central, 2234 7372; caratlondon.com. 41
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Holiday
Holiday
Snowed under Skiing and snowboarding are two of the most exciting activities a family can do together. Check out these nearby destinations in Asia for a guaranteed white Christmas
Snow capped peaks A couple enjoy the scenery at Club Med Hokkaido
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he humidity’s dropped and jumpers and jeans are slowly being dug out of the wardrobe. It can only mean one thing: winter is coming! Although we’ll get a few chilly weeks here in the fragrant harbour, we’re a little too close to the equator for snow capped mountains and sledging. So, for a white Christmas hop on a short flight to one of these destinations and hit the piste with the entire clan.
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Club Med Hokkaido, Japan
Whether you’re new to the slopes or an Olympic level skier, Hokkaido is the place for you. The mountains near Mount Sahoro offer 17 trails covered in top quality powder and from Club Med you can ski directly in and out. Families staying at the resort are offered an all inclusive holiday, which includes all-day ski passes and access to seven ski lifts and gondola – be sure to pack a camera, the views are spectacular! Newbies to either skiing or snowboarding, or those in need of a little refresher, can take classes at the Club Med Ski and Snowboard school where internationally trained instructors can teach you all there is to know. While the skiing is spectacular, the après ski opportunities are just as enticing. Relaxed family meals can be enjoyed at the hotel’s main restaurant, Daichi, which serves up 42
themed buffets that are sure to satiate all palates. For a slightly more special dinner, head to Mina Mina, the resort’s acclaimed hot pot restaurant, which serves the perfect meal to end a long day of outdoor adventure. A whole week or more of skiing may sound like fun, but legs are bound to get a little worn out. Fortunately, the resort is home to an indoor heated swimming pool, a Jacuzzi and a spa, so some much needed pampering is never too far away. For a day trip outside of the resort, try your hand at horseback riding. The excursions are out of this world – picture galloping through snow covered fields with nothing but stunning scenery surrounding you. Afterwards, finish the day off with a trip to the Kuttari Onsen hot springs, the perfect remedy for achy muscles. clubmed.com
Holiday Yongpyong, South Korea
Who’d have thought ski slopes this good were only four hours away from the 852? With over three quarters of the country covered in mountains, it’s no surprise that South Korea is a top spot for snow sports and is set to host the Winter Olympics in 2018. Pyeongchang might be the choice of the pros but our favourite ski spot for families has to be Yongpyong, which has 28 slopes for all abilities. The resort is a three-hour drive from Seoul, but don’t worry, the scenery is magnificent, so the journey feels much shorter. yongpyong.com.kr.
Bogd Khan, Mongolia
For a more exotic ski trip, hit the slopes in Mongolia. Sky Resort, the nation’s first ski resort, opened in 2009 and boasts six kilometres of pure white tracks. Located in the foothills of Bogd Khan Mountain, the hotel is just a stone’s throw away from the nation’s capital, Ulaanbaatar, which you can see from the top of the mountain. Bogd Khan provides perfect conditions for both cross-country skiing and downhill action. For those after a spot of relaxed family fun, there’s a 140m long slope specially for sledging. skyresort.mn.
Beidahu, China
For a winter wonderland on the Mainland, head to Beidahu in the northeastern province of Jilin. Home of the Winter Asian Games 2007, the resort is stunning. Tucked away in one of China’s most beautiful national parks – Songhuahu National Park – the slopes are perfect for all abilities. The Club Med resort also boasts numerous kid’s activities – including painting, dancing, puppet shows, arts and crafts lessons and boards games – to ensure the kids won’t ever be bored. And that means more time for you to get up to what you want. Everyone’s a winner! The premium all inclusive package provides you and your family with lift passes and lessons, accomodation, gourmet meals and snacks and an open bar. If that doesn't sound like a hassle free, fun filled holiday, we don't know what does. Start looking up flights ASAP! clubmed.com. 43
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Cakeeta
The Guide We track down Hong Kong’s top cake bakers
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hanksgiving and Christmas are both around the corner, offering two equally fabulous excuses to eat cake. With that in mind, Corina Chan chats to some of Hong Kong’s top independent bakers about everything from baking disasters to how to get that professional look.
Crafty Cakes
What made you want to get into baking?
When I was little, my mum used to make special cakes for my birthdays. So after I had my son I wanted to do the same. The joy and satisfaction that I get when I create a cake is hard to explain.
What’s your most unique creation that you are most proud of?
My most unique cake has to be my son’s fourth birthday cake. He had a fascination with clocks and so I made a cake that was a working clock. I placed the cake on the table and the guests all thought it was a real clock and was part of the decor. When it was time to cut the cake they were shocked to realise that the clock was the cake. That was fun!
What’s your top tip for people who want to make their cakes look professional?
Cover your cake board! Placing a beautiful cake on an ugly or plain cake board is like a gourmet restaurant using plastic cutlery. A colour
co-ordinated cake board makes the finished product look professional.
What’s the most challenging part of baking? The biggest challenge is the humid Hong Kong weather. Fondant doesn’t like humidity and becomes a nightmare to work with. So when I’m working on a cake the AC has to be on at all times. Cakeeta fb.com/cakeeta.
Cynthia’s Cakes What inspired you to start making cakes?
Baking had always been my hobby and I used to bake cakes for every family celebration. Two years ago, I made a cake for a friend's birthday and was surprised to get so many compliments. Someone at the party said to me, "You are an artist, why don't you bake professionally?" I discussed it with my other half and realised that very few people get a chance to do what they enjoy, so I should definitely give it a try. Within a week I got my first cake order and it was a huge success.
How did you get into cake baking?
I grew up in my mum's kitchen with my sisters all cooking together. Our focus has always been the love of good food made from natural, fresh and healthy ingredients. Today my daughters share this passion with me. We love to plan our meals, try new
What do you enjoy most about baking?
Baking awakens my creativity and imagination. It makes me happy to create cakes knowing that I can make other people's special moments very sweet.
What’s your favourite cake to make?
What’s your favourite flavour combination?
My favourite cakes to decorate are the handmade rose cakes. I use all natural ingredients to make a homemade frosting that has the perfect consistency for shaping roses. My other favourite is cheesecake. It's not as picture perfect as the roses but the flavour is really special. Using all natural ingredients allows for many flavour variations such as lemon meringue or Oreo and chocolate mousse cheesecake.
Every flavour has its own unique character. I like classic flavours. Everyone loves chocolate, vanilla sponge with vanilla buttercream and red velvet with cream cheese. My personal favourite is chocolate with raspberry cream.
What’s your top tip for people who want to make their cakes look professional?
Go nuts! Cake decorating is an art and art doesn’t have to be perfect. Be innovative and try new things.
Cynthia's Cakes 6292 8466; fb.com/cynthiascakes8.
Crafty Cakes fb.com/craftycakeshkg.
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recipes and host dinner parties in our home with friends.
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Sweet Tooth Fairies Prish Pops
What made you want to start up a cake business?
The love of baking brought the three of us together. Grace loves creating something beautiful, meaningful and tasty from scratch. Paridhi got into making cakes when she quit her full time job and had access to great ingredients in London. And Jessica turned her hobby into her career thanks to motivation from friends and family.
What’s the most unique cake you’ve ever made?
From a design perspective and simply because I love sculpting and modeling, I liked my Eiffel Tower and rum bottle cakes. What I loved about the Eiffel Tower cake was the research and the effort required to make it to scale. I felt like an architect for a brief while. I enjoy customising my cakes and conceiving the design elements while keeping in mind the client. For the rum bottle cake, I loved the personal touches, it had the birthday boy’s favorite song and his girlfriend’s nickname on the cake board. It’s all about telling a story in the form of a cake.
We’ve all had our fair share of bakery fails. Can you tell us a little bit about yours?
Oh dear! I remember that day very well. Once, I had to deliver a fairly tall designer bag themed cake to The Peak. Even after telling the cabbie to
go slow, he gunned it on those twisty roads and the cake fell on its back. I tried to fix it as best as I could, but it wasn’t the same. However, the client was understanding and still served the cake.
With other fantastic bakers around town, what makes you guys stand out?
What’s your top tip for people who want to make their cakes look professional?
Practice, be patient and give it time. Making cakes look pretty requires patience and attention to detail.
Sweet Tooth Fairies Unit 19, 8/F, Block A, Hoi Luen Industrial Ctr, 55 Hoi Yuen Rd, Kwun Tong, 8199 9687; fb.com/sweettoothfairies.
We offer a unique experience for our customers. We understand the client’s requirements, be they dietary or design and create a product that is fully customised and memorable. We also offer workshops that encourage learning, sharing and creativity as well as bonding among participants.
What do you envision for the future of Prish Pops? I'm looking forward to bolder projects and new design challenges. I would also like to cater to larger events and maybe collaborate with interesting cafes.
Prish Pops Queen’s Terrace, Queen’s St, Sheung Wan, 9773 5508; fb.com/ prishpops.
Cheline’s Cakes What made you take up bakery in the beginning?
I design and make cake toppers for my home décor company, Little Days. The process of researching cake toppers on Instagram led me down a rabbit hole of cake design and cake decorators. I became hooked on watching cake-making videos! Then my daughter broke her leg and I found myself homebound with a two-year-old, so I started baking in the evenings to unwind.
What’s the cake that you’re most proud of? One of my friends insisted that I try my hand at his wedding
cake. I was really hesitant at first because I’d only made cakes for smaller parties. I ended up creating a 12lb two-tier rainbow cake plus a three-tier white chocolate cake for his special day. I couldn’t believe that I actually pulled it off!
What’s your favourite flavour combination? My Spoil Me cake. It’s a chocolate cake filled with dark chocolate ganache, covered in my homemade salted caramel drip. I top it with crushed Maltesers! Cheline's Cakes fb.com/ chelinescakes.
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THE GUIDE LISTINGS More great cake specialists to check out! The Mandarin Cake Shop
The Mandarin Cake Shop has been offering the most decadent cakes, chocolates and pastries for 25 years. Think velvety double milk chocolate mousse cake coupled with The Mandarin’s signature opera cake. 5 Connaught Rd, Central, 2825 4008; mandarinoriental.com.
Ms B’s Cakery One of the finest cakeries in Asia, Ms B’s sources the best natural ingredients to make extravagant cakes that are true works of art. From a light chiffon cake to the most decadent rainbow cake, these mesmerising creations will knock you off your feet. Spoil your kids on a special occasion with one of Ms B’s cakes for an experience they’ll always remember. 39 Gough St, Central, 2815 8303; msbscakery.hk.
Ali Oli Bakery
Catering to all needs with hundreds of designs and flavours including wedding cakes, anniversary cakes, baby shower cakes and themed birthday cakes, Ali Oli Bakery is a one-stop cake heaven. And if that isn’t enticing enough, check out their speciality digital cakes. Yes, you can print your favourite image on the cake! G/F, 11 Sha Tsui Path, Sai Kung, 2792 2655; alioli.com.hk.
Cova
Are you a chocolate fanatic? Then indulge yourself in Cova’s range of offerings, classic Sachertorte, rich dark chocolate sponge cake and chocolate banana cream cake. Expect to be blown away by the quality of Cova’s velvety chocolate goodness. And there’s more – Cova’s cheese temptations collection and tropical extravagances are just as hard to resist. Lee Garden One, Shop 101103, 1/F, The Lee Gardens, 33 Hysan Ave, Causeway Bay, 2907 3399; cova.com.hk.
Sift
Why opt for an ordinary cake when you can have your own bespoke cupcake tower? Sourcing the world’s finest ingredients such as Valrhona chocolate, French butter and fresh fruit puree, Sift promises top quality cupcakes that are bound to satisfy even the toughest of dessert critics. Whether it’s for your significant other timeout.com/hk
Le Salon de Thé de Joël Robuchon
With a wide collection of handcrafted cakes including a sponge cake collection, French collection and festive collection, this cake heaven will have you and your family coming back for more. Shop 315, The Landmark, 15 Queen’s Rd C, Central, 2166 9088; robuchon.hk.
on a special anniversary or a birthday treat for your kids, Sift’s delights will surely be the cherry on top of the special day. G/F, Dominion Centre, 49-53 Queen’s Rd E, Wan Chai, 2528 0084; siftdesserts.com.
Penney Pang Designer Cakes
Having won multiple awards and medals in Hong Kong, London and Singapore for her wedding cakes and handcrafted sugar flowers, Penny Pang is no stranger to the cake-design industry. Her delicate craftsmanship and boundless creativity is evident in her bespoke cake designs, ranging from the oriental-themed butter cake to the contemporary wedding cake with delicate sugar butterfly embellishments. With her services in high demand, expect nothing but sublime perfection from Penney Pang’s designer cakes. Unit 1103, 19 Shing Yip St, Kwun Tong; penneypang.com.
Phoenix Sweet Devoted to redefining the craft of edible arts, Phoenix Sweet’s little creations really do taste as good as they look. Think earl grey cake covered with chocolate ganache! Shop S103, PMQ, 35 Aberdeen St, Central, 2104 9798; phoenixsweets.com.
Sugarcoat
Olivia Chan of Sugarcoat boasts an impressive breadth of experience in the cake design world – having launched an online cake business in Manila and worked for London’s leading bridal cake company, Peggy Porschen. Chan’s distinctive eye for beautiful cakes and desserts is reflected in her bespoke edible works of art, which cater to all occasions, from weddings to birthdays to baby showers. sugarcoat.com. 46
Tea Saloon by Another Fine Day
Looking for something special? This Mid-Levelsbased cake boutique offers the most tantalising bespoke creations from the cutest Totoro or Barbie themed cake to the most whimsical Aladdin-inspired magic lamp cake. 80-82 Peel St, Central, 2525 8257; fb.com/teasaloonbyanotherfineday.
WHERE TO FIND US Grab your free copy every month!
Island South 3 South Bay Close, Repulse Bay 12 Shouson Hill Road 51 Deep Water Bay Road Aegean Terrace Art Loop Belleview Place Canadian International School of Hong Kong Capelli Hair Salon Repulse Bay Delaney's Pokfulam EL Charro Flex Studio, Island South Honey Court Hong Kong Country Club Hong Kong International School ilBelPaese, Pok Fu Lam Kellet School, Pok Fu Lam Preparatory Larvotto Maggie and Rose Manhattan Tower Parkview International Pre-School, Tai Tam Red Hill Peak Rogal Garden Safari Kid International Preschools, Pok Fu Lam Scenic Villas Sense of Touch, Cyberport Spa Sense of Touch, Repulse Bay Spa Sense of Touch, Sai Ying Pun Spa Shouson Peak South Bay Garden Sunshine House International Pre-school, Chi Fu Sunshine House International Pre-school, Pok Fu Lam Sylvan Learning, Repulse Bay Sylvan Learning, Wong Chuk Hang Tai Tam Garden The American Club Hong Kong, The Country Club The Lily The Pulse Victoria Education Organsations, South Horizons Victoria Recreation Club
MacDonnell House Minerva House Olympian Man Robinson Garden Apartment Roc Ye Court Strawberry Hill The Peak Galleria Villa Elegance Villa Verde Woodland Garden
Central and Western COLLIERS Hong Kong Flex Studio, Central Feather & Bone, Central Hong Kong Institute of Languages ilBelPaese, Sheung Wan Sense of Touch, Central Spa The American Club Hong Kong, The Town Club The Sail at Victoria Victoria Education Organsations, Belcher Wilderness International Kindergarten
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Mid-Levels and The Peak
Island East
31 Robinson Road 62B Robinson Road 62D Robinson Road 98-100 Robinson Road Breezy Court British Council Greenland Graden ilBelPaese, Caine Road Island School
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Discovery Bay / Ma Wan and Tung Chung Discovery College ESF International Kindergarten, Tung Chung ilBelPaese, Discovery Bay Sense of Touch, Discovery Bay Spa Sense of Touch @ Visionnaire Club Sunshine House International Pre-school, Discovery Bay Sunshine House International Pre-school, Tung Chung
Sai Kung / East Kowloon / Tseung Kwan O Dragon Lake Villa Escapade Sports, Clearwater Bay ESF Abacus International Kindergarten Kellet School, Kowloon Bay Prep and Senior Mills International Preschool Nord Anglia International School Rainbow Villa Sense of Touch, Sai Kung Spa Sense of Touch, Tseung Kwan O Spa Sunshine House International Pre-school, Clearwater Bay The Giverny Victoria Recreation Club
West Kowloon / TST / Ho Man Tin / Kowloon Tong Aristle Gifted Institute Ltd, Tsim Sha Tsui Aristle Gifted Institute Ltd, West Kowloon Hillwood Vista Joy Garden Parkview International Pre-School, Austin The Long Beach The Palace Victoria Education Organsations, Harbour Green Victoria Education Organsations, Ho Man Tin West9Zone Wing On Lodge
Other areas American School Hong Kong Crown Relocations Gold Coast Piazza Gold Coast Residents' Clubhouse Harrow International School Hong Kong The Country Club at Hong Lok Yuen