COUNTING down the last 1,000 days until the hand-over of Hong Kong to China, restaurant and bar The Time Is Always Now has launched a nightly auction of unusual lots. Specially designed silver medals, vintage champagne, hand-painted T-shirts and many other items will be up for the bidding and 15 per cent of the proceeds of each sale will be donated to charity. So if you're popping in for a drink or a bite to eat, make sure you get there in time to tip the auctioneer a wink - the fun starts at 7 pm every evening in Wyndham Street, Central.
FOR anyone who loves Indian food but is also watching their weight, this tasty low-calorie sambal complements almost all Indian meals and will liven up plain grilled meats, too. To serve four to six people, dice 250 gm of tomatoes and a small onion. Add 4 tbsp chopped, fresh coriander or parsley, 2 tbsp lemon juice, half tsp of cayenne pepper and half tsp of ground cumin. Mix all the ingredients and chill before serving. Calories per 28 gm: 21.
HAVING been bombarded for years by marketing campaigns selling Horlicks as the ultimate bedtime drink, it's no surprise that we have come to associate this well-known malty, milky concoction with winding down and getting a good night's sleep. What an eye-opener then, to discover that in Africa this traditional winter warmer is actually marketed as a wake-up drink! So, depending on where in the world you live, Horlicks either gives you a kick start to the day or knocks you out for the night. Confused? Don't despair: according to some malt fans, a sprinkle of Horlicks is just the thing to top vanilla ice-cream - whether it's morning, noon or night! COMING up later this month, celebrity chef and author Martin Yan will be demonstrating his stir-frying skills at the Metropole Hotel on October 18 as part of the hotel's Best of USA cooking show, with proceeds going to the Hong Kong Association of the Blind. The 3rd Annual New Zealand Wine and Food Festival kicks off on October 17 until October 21, featuring events at restaurants, clubs and hotels as well as wine tastings and gourmet dinners. The festival is organised by Wine'N'Things. Call 880-9722 for more information.
