Wok Star Eleanor Hoh

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Eleanor Hoh

Hong Kong Gifts for Wok Star Wannabes

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One of the best things about visiting Hong Kong apart from seeing my mom of course is picking up great gifts for Wok Star Wannabes and friends.

While I want street vendors to make money since their merchandize are so cheap already, I didn’t appreciate them treating me like a ‘tourist’! I know my Chinese vocabulary and accent is not up to par (I took French and also left Hong Kong when I was 13 and went to boarding school in England) but jacking prices up 6 times just doesn’t sit well with me.

Children especially love eating with chopsticks. It makes eating Asian food so much more fun, exotic and enjoyable. I think these colorful chopsticks with brocade holders are a bit over the top with too much design but everyone loves getting them.

These cute baby Chinese New Year calendars were so adorable, I just had to grab a few.
Both chopsticks and calendars will make great door prizes in my Wok Star classes.

Here are a variety of beautiful Chinese New Year “red packets” handed out by banks and businesses. I wrote about this ritual in two Chinese New Year of Ox and Rat posts. As kids, we never got to keep our red packets with money cause my parents used to take ours to “regift”!
When you open my Wok Star Kit, you’re greeted with this lovely red packet holding a little buddha inside. Giving it’s tummy a rub a day will bring you luck!

I didn’t have success finding materials for my wok mitts this time but hopefully can pick them up locally.

HK Gifts for friends etc.
I can never resist getting these covers which can transform your generic tissue box into a gorgeous Asian one in a jiffy. I am so dying to “market” these on my website, I know you’ll love them as much as I do. It’s such a great gift idea for any occasion.


These little brocade bags are great for your makeup or just about any little knick knack. I’m not sure I want to part with any of them.

This lovely evening bag goes really well with my padded lightweight coat I got on my last trip.

More unusual bag and glass case or cell phone holder.

Tiny samplers of Chinese teas are also great gifts. I separate these out and only give one tin
out at a time.

My husband loves to snack on Sunflower seeds in their shells (I hate them messing up the car.) I got this because the packaging was so intriguing, umm, wonder what kind of “spiced”.

The ultimate, luxurious brocade toothpick holder with mirror. It was so cute, I had to have one.

Bet Louis Vuitton will want this monogrammed like they did with the rosewood chopsticks and holder for something like $499. They looked exactly like the same ones I got in Penang (well, without the monogram but at a price, I can do it, ha, ha)!

Take a look at this beautiful blog all about Chinoiserie Chic to see the LV box with chopsticks, not to be missed.

Do check back for lots more from my Hong Kong trip, next one Peking Duck, my all time favorite dish!

Hong Kong Fast Food (Updated)

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This is the first in a series of food journeys from my Hong Kong trip, so hope you’ll keep coming back for more. If you’ve been to Hong Kong, I’d love to hear about your experiences.

I found it very amusing how American fast food companies adapt their food to suit the Chinese culture. Here’s Circle K featuring a Chinese menu:

Big bamboo steamers full of dim sum were constantly replenished. She’s scooping noodles for a lunch order, notice her wearing a mask. Hygiene is quite strict in some places especially public transport. Broadcasts warning people to wear a mask and not touch your eyes. I even saw a few women’s masks with bows and designs to make them more personal and interesting?

The Lunch Menu is in the left corner of the window.

Always wondered why food courts don’t offer dim sum as an option. It’s perfect portions for snacking and come in small bites. Many buns have meat and veggies in them so it’s a meal. I’ve noticed their one dish meals have a lot more rice with very little protein. It’s not proportioned like before. Guess economy has something to do with it.

Lotus Leaf with steamed rice is a favorite of my husband’s, good ones have Chinese mushrooms, very fatty pork, Chinese sausage and yellow soy beans (HK $15 is about US $2.20!).

They even offer fish and meat balls.

Right next door, the stall offered Meatballs in sauce in two large stainless steel vats

and Low Mein (fried noodles) over a steamer of hot water.


This is the closest thing to Fast Food. Most often, at food courts, the food is cooked fresh when you order it! Since it’s fried in a big wok over very high heat, it only takes a few minutes. So, it just shows that once you have your food prepped, it’s a matter of minutes for the fry and your meal is ready!

We can accomplish the same thing in our home with a smaller, lightweight, cast iron wok over a 12,000 (previously had mistakenly said it was 20,000!, must have been jetlag, sorry) btu portable butane gas stove which can sit on top of your electric glass or coil top. Easy, convenient and practical. This is my personal setup at home.

Love to hear any stories of your food experiences in Hong Kong!

Akzent host Wok Star cooking class (Updated)

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Architect/owner, Cristina Raidt and Wok Star Eleanor at AKZENT showroom

AKZENT exclusively showcases Zeyko’s beautifully, handcrafted kitchens made in the Blackforest of Germany. Even though the showroom closed soon after this class (very sad), AKZENT is still operating! You can contact Cristina through her website and tell her Wok Star sent you. Cristina is a true Super Woman, she has 4 kids and still manage a Zeyko showroom in Costa Rica as well as helping her husband’s business. She is from Costa Rico and studied architecture in Germany in German (not her mother tongue!) Amazing, as an entrepreneur, I really appreciate what she’s accomplished.

Akzent, Coral Gables

Akzent
Handcrafted German kitchens, eco-friendly

Akzent – Country Pannacotta

Cristina Raidt, architect/owner
host
Wok Star Cooking Class with Eleanor Hoh
A perfect combination of socializing, entertaining, learning
a beautiful setting and lovely way to spend a Saturday afternoon…
Cristina and Peter Raidt checking me out!

Saturday, October 24 12pm-3pm
Akzent
40 Miracle Mile
Coral Gables, FL 33134

Akzent – Eiche

You’ll learn how to make quick, easy, weeknight,
one-dish meals with little cleanup!

This class is targeted towards:
– architects and designers (many who have attended are Wok Stars!)
– people who are into cooking and kitchens and
– busy professionals!

Enjoy Rainbow Lettuce Wrap Appetizer with Gancia Prosecco
Using fresh ingredients, a few seasonings and a sizzling, cast iron wok.
Wok Star’s failproof, NO-recipe technique that’s fun and creative.

A Wok Star Kit will get you started so you can Be A Wok Star!

4 dishes paired with
Gancia Prosecco (sponsored by The Other Wine and spirits)
and Fiji Water
Wok Star Eleanor laughs it up
Wok Star Eva wokin’ veggies for tilapia dish
(photo by Cristina)

Wok Star Eva got her Wok Star Kit and here are her comments:

I have been quite busy with the wok…My husband loves it. He even told me that he had been waiting for this kind of cooking for years!

Tonight was another great meal, salmon with eggplant, bok choy and cherry tomatoes in the sweet Currysimple sauce. Dinner was done in 10 minutes. It was delicious!

I made for them beef stir fry Sunday for lunch and my oldest even ate the asparragus and carrots. I couldn’t believe it!

Wok Star Eva and hot, flyin’ wok action!
Wok Star Eleanor cooking tilapia fish in brown bean sauce.
(photo by Cristina)

Visit class for details, menu and payment options.
Reservations and prepayment required
Plse commit NOW so you’re not disappointed
Class is filling up fast.

If you’re thinking of coming to a Wok Star Class or want to give a gift certificate(great for any occasion), these
photos from that class will give you an idea of what to expect. Angie Chen, studying to be an art director at The Miami Ad School kindly took them to share with us.

“This is my flickr link to Album “Wok Star Oct. 24”.
I really love to take pictures in your class and feel the energy from those people who love to cook!
Thank you for inviting me! Wish to join another amazing class as soon as possible :)”

Eleanor has appeared on CBS, NBC, Fox & Friends, Plum TV.
Radio interviews incl. Martha Stewart Living and WLRN.
Demonstrations incl. Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Epicure Market,
Coconut Grove Art Festival, Las Olas Wine and Food Festival.
Video review by Eating Well.
Class review by Jackie Sayet for New Times Short Order Blog
as well as numerous Miami food bloggers:
The Amateur Gastronomer
Mango and Lime
Miami Dish – view slide show and audio bite interview
The Mighty Blonde

Hope to see you there…
Wok Star Eleanor