Tuck into some holiday reading
IF you're scratching your head wondering what to read on holiday, here's what some people in the food and wine business have just finished, are currently reading or hope to bring along on theirs.
If Hongkong has an adverse affect on your reading habits, don't feel too guilty. You're not alone.
Annie Wong, Towngas Centre, senior home economist. ''I read whatever I find in the plane. Otherwise, I sleep. My favourite type of holiday is very busy, so I never read.'' Michelle Garnaut, restaurateur: ''I'm taking Wild Swans by Jung Chang and, for the Trans Siberian-Express portion [of my holiday], Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina.'' Yat Wei, food columnist, Ming Pao Weekly: A Discussion on Chinese Food by Wang Shih Jing [in Chinese].
''I'm going to Ningbo in June, so I'm reading up on regional food.'' Karin Joffe, executive chef, California: Runners' World magazine. ''I'm reading about heel injuries. I've got one.'' Diane Boulton, Pacific Wine Cellars: ''A French phrase book. I'll be in France for three weeks and don't speak a word.'' Bonnie Gokson, Joyce Cafe. From Normal to Healthy by Georg Kuhlewind. ''About habits, emotions, mood swings and the subconscious. Very practical.'' Patricia Moussempes, Baker's Dozen. ''Books and magazines on slimming.'' Steven Wong, of Steven Outside Catering Services Ltd. ''On holiday, if I read at all, it's news magazines, like Time.'' Alexis Gavriloff, general manager, Oliver's. ''Books on cowries[sea shells with a colourful, high-gloss shell] or orchids. I grow them.'' John Cheah, director of food and beverage, Hyatt Regency Hongkong. ''I'm reading about porcelain from the late Ming/ early Ching dynasties. Antiques is my hobby.'' Adrian Ort, manager of catering services, Cathay Pacific: ''For work, a book on food hygiene. For myself, Wild Swans by Jung Chang.'' Jurg ''Mr Chocolate'' Meier, Euro Gourmet Ltd. The Tunnels of Ho Chi Min.
''A fascinating book about a system of tunnels 600-kilometres long and their role in the Vietnam War.'' Richard Feldman, restaurant consultant: ''I read trash, but good trash. When You Look Like Your Passport Photo, It's Time To Go Home by Erma Bombeck. And mine does.'' Laura Budlong, Force 8 Cellars: The Alchemy of Finance, by George Soros. ''I've read the first page many times. But this holiday [in France], I'm really going to read it.'' Annabel Zimmern, food consultant: The Macintosh User's Manual.
''My new computer is driving me crazy. This manual takes some wading through.'' Barry Kalb, restaurateur: The Last Lion by William Manchester, a three-volume biography of Winston Churchill. ''Churchill was quite a tippler. Ate well, drank lots of champagne, port and brandy.'' Florian Trento, executive chef, The Peninsula: Stephen King's Needful Things. ''I like fantasy stuff. A cookbook on the plane is not exciting.'' Paul Nash, maitre'd, Petrus and Cyrano, Island Shangri-La. Michael Caine's biography.