1 Naked Naturals products are made in New Zealand from ingredients that are organic 'wherever possible'. The chunky basil with feta and cashews tastes strongly of the fresh herb and is delicious as a dip for crackers or tossed with pasta. The smooth, slow-roasted garlic aioli is more subtle than you'd expect; it's good as a vegetable dip or spread for sandwiches. They sell for HK$47 (150 grams) from ThreeSixty (The Landmark, Central, tel: 2111 4480; Elements, 1 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2196 8066). 2 Taiwanese tie dan ('iron eggs') look unappetising. The eggs - from chicken or quail - are simmered in a mixture of soy sauce, sugar and spices then dried. The process is then repeated, making them dense and chewy. The bite-size quail eggs are an especially tasty snack but don't eat too many at once; as with all eggs, they're high in cholesterol. They sell for about HK$30 for a pack of 30 quail eggs or 10 chicken eggs at shops such as Apita (tel: 2885 0331) and Great (tel: 2918 9986). 3 Fresh buffalo-milk mozzarella is an expensive indulgence at about HK$45 per 100 grams (a regular-sized piece will set you back about HK$130). For everyday eating, try the Cantare brand of award-winning (gold medal in the 2004 World Championship Cheese Contest) fresh mozzarella. The cheese is made in California from whole cows' milk. It's firmer than the best mozzarella di bufala but it's tender, with a subtle milky-sweet taste. It's available as perle (grape size) and bocconcino (about the size of a chicken egg) for HK$47 for 227 grams from Oliver's (tel: 2810 7710). 4 Everyday kitchen gadgets that are attractive as well as useful make cooking more enjoyable. This refillable gas torch - for caramelising sugar on creme brulee, for instance - is available in red, pink and black. It's HK$280 from City'super (Times Square, Causeway Bay, tel: 2506 2888; New Town Plaza, Sha Tin, tel: 2603 3488; Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2375 8222; IFC Mall, Central, tel: 2234 7128).
