Good deeds may be alive and well in Hong Kong in the run-up to the Lunar New Year, even if they are being battered by the economy.
This year's Helping Hand Cookie Campaign is behind target on cookie sales for the first time in its 15-year history. The campaign, which raises money to help the elderly, hopes to sell 50,000 cookies by the time the lucky draw takes place on February 6.
The chocolate chip cookies are made by Lucullus and sell for $35. Helping Hand will deliver for minimum orders of 30 cookies. Cookies can also be bought from the organisation at 1/F 12 Borrett Road, Hong Kong.
Packets are numbered for the lucky draw. Prizes include a gold bar worth $60,000, two round-trip tickets to London and hotel accommodation for $35,014, and round-trip air tickets for two to Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia. Call 2522-4494 for information.
Fine wine boutique Lyndhurst Terrace takes a step up the style stakes with the opening of a new wine boutique, The Vine Wines, and an accompanying connoisseurs' group, L'Embleme Club. There is also a tasting room upstairs. The idea, according to general manager Jenny Tong, is to foster and promote a wine-drinking culture, and to provide space and atmosphere for people to gather. The store stocks mostly French labels, although it has bottles from Chile, South Africa, the United States and Canada. Prices range from $60 to $20,000; the most popular range is from $100 to $700. The Vine Wines is at Shops 4-5, Lyndhurst Tower, 11 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central. Tel: 2526-3133. e-mail: vinewine*netvigator.com Seafood splash The Hotel Nikko has touched on a topical spot - pollution-free seafood - in promoting its annual New Zealand Food Fair from February 6 to March 7. Menu highlights are squab on bok choy, Nelson scallops and East Coast scampi, grilled Akaroa salmon, and a range of lamb and venison dishes. The hotel's four restaurants will all offer Kiwi cuisine menus, and New Zealand wines. The guest chef is Takashi Shigeeda, executive chef at the Burma Motor Lodge in Wellington. This is Shigeeda's fourth tour of the Nikko's New Zealand promotion. Reservations: Les Celebrites 2313-4221, Toh Lee 2313-4225, Cafe Serena 2313-4222, and Sagano 2313-4215.
Detox thistle tonic A hot tip doing the rounds among those who indulge too much is . . . milk thistle. The herb has long been popular in Europe as a liver tonic, although it has been receiving a much-better rap recently since it began hitting the health pages of women's magazines.