Locofama

New Year for both the Western and Chinese calendar has ended and it’s time to payback some writing “debts” of the gastronomic experiences which I have acquired during the festive season. Well, actually, during Christmas to be more precise.

Amongst the busy schedules of shopping, sleeping and just getting some time off from work, I was able to get to meet up with some of my friends and colleagues, even if it meant sleeping a few hours less, for brunch.

The first one was Locofama which was hidden in an alley, Fuk Sau Lane, in Sai Wan. It was just past 1pm on Christmas Day and we originally planned to go to Soho and crash into any place that is opened for brunch (tea or whatever). But when we got there, a lot of restaurants told us that their last order was 2pm or they close around that time. So we gave up Soho and my friend suggested going to Sai Wan and seeing if we have any luck with Locofama.

Locofama, an organic diner which was opened in August 2013, was actually infamous for its poor quality of service, despite its wonderful reputation of serving wholesome and delicious organic food. It was around 2pm when we got there with just around 10 customers seated in the 30-seat diner. With rustic furnishings, an open kitchen and a sister organic mart next door, it was perfect for the sunny Christmas Day with its windows wide opened.

 Miracle Berry

My friend heard that Locofama was famous of its organic ingredients and coconut water, so we started our orders with  Miracle Berry (goji berries, red dates and coconut water) for me and an organic soymilk for her. As a coconut fan myself, I quite enjoy my drink. It was a refreshing combination and the coconut meat inside the drink was wonderful to nibble. Additionally, as a firm believer of the benefits of food from the Oriental perspective, the goji berries are perfect for the wiry eyes from hours of looking at electronic devices while the red dates can improve blood circulation, especially ladies with cold hands and feet like me. Meanwhile, for my friend's organic soymilk, it was just ordinary, glad we didn't have much expectations. Since we were pretty stuffed up from the Christmas feasts, we ordered something light to share.

Crab and truffle puff pastry

Oolong tea soba

First it was the Oolong tea soba with black sesame cream, wild mushrooms and basil ($88). The texture of the soba was quite alright, in which many places makes its too soggy nowadays. Sesame flavor filled the palate like any other sesame dressing, but I cannot taste any Oolong in it. Luckily, the mushrooms were very fresh and gave out its own unique aroma, or else it would become another salad-like-soba you get from a Western/fusion/Japanese deli.

Next in line was the puff pastry with crab vol-au-vent (black truffle cream and Atlantic crab; $108). The fillings were wonderful with the delightful truffle and crab flavours but unfortunately, the pastry was quite hard to chew. You can’t really the bite pastry into half  without forgoing your table manners. Additionally, the fillings were too watery. Some of the sauce would drip now the pastry when you bite it, probably they didn’t drain the fillings enough.   

Salmon poached egg

By the time now, my friend was stuffed; while I was very tempted to try its truffle salmon poached egg (Norwegian chilled smoked salmon, crouton, basil olive oil ; $28). And I am so glad I did! It was the best dish! The truffle scent was wondrous while the saltiness of the salmon gave a perfect balance to the perfectly poached egg. Dipping the egg with a toast was definitely a wonderful experience. In terms of its appearance, scent and flavours, its is surely my pick from Locofama.

The rumors about the service of Locofama, I think it can be true. My experience was on a public holiday in which it was half empty, and we still have trouble getting the attention from the staff. The intervals between our dishes was quite normal. Wonder what it would be like it when it has a full-house situation. Or perhaps it would be the best decision to avoid it completely. 
To wrap it all up, Locofama's food is just what I have in mind for an organic restaurant - flavours come from the quality of ingredient that it uses; and that did add a lot of points to their dishes. But from the good reviews it has gotten from the articles I've read on the internet, I thought it would be better. Maybe perhaps it is because most of them were written when the diner first opened up or during normal working days or something. And I must say, the quality of service wasn't that bad, at least the servers were quite friendly and helpful when I do get their attention. Last, but not least, I do appreciate the positive message they try to give to diners and publicizing the benefits of eating healthily and going organic.

Food: 3/5
Value: 3.5/5
Environment: 4/5
Service: 3/5

Locofama
Address: 11 Fuk Sau Lane, 852 Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong 
Tel: 2547 7668

Next up, Sunday roast at St Betty……

狂歡

是日立春，一年的第一個氣節，即一年之始。
人越大，時間真的過得越快。農曆新年也過了，2014年也過了兩個月，生活也好像從沒有停下來的感覺。也許是因為每天也有很多的事情發生、有很多的事情要做，生活被塞得沒滿滿的。 

2014年的一月被喜事包圍了，繼上年九月之後，又有一位好姊妹出嫁了，而且還是橫跨兩地、三個地方的世紀婚禮（應該是我一生人之中，最大型的婚禮，過去及未來的都包括在內），賓客合共約超過二千人吧。因為這場婚禮，我有機會去澳門及廈門兩地，也當作了一個小型的假期，讓我可以離開一下香港。在廈門過了三天，雖然大部份時間都只是留在酒店裡，沒有去什麼地方遊覽，但是有機會好好的睡覺、好好的獨處也是一種享受。

就如阿桑的歌曲《葉子》的歌詞中所道：『孤單，是一個人的狂歡；狂歡，是一群人的孤單。』因為宴會之中有很多很多的人，而休息的時候，只有一個人在房間裡，當中的冷清形成了很強烈的對比，才忽然記起，原來自己很久也沒有人一個人過了，也突然之間得到了一種自由的釋懷。家裡差不多二十四小時都有人，有時候還有種被監視的感覺；辦公室裡，出出入入都是人；一個人在街上走，繁華的街道上有無數的自由行令人心煩；冷清的地方，日間沒有時間去、晚上不敢去。 

在香港，根本沒有獨處的空間，同時令人感到孤獨非常。感覺就如一個啞巴一樣，有很多的指控卻沒有辦法說出一句，令人無奈、無助。我能夠有自己的房間其實已經比很多人很不錯，但是那無形的壓力真的令人吃不消。很懷念一個人的星期天，無憂無慮地聽著陳綺貞的歌在沙發上看書看到睡著的下午。我前世可能是一隻小鳥、吉普塞人、遊牧民族或什麼的，不喜歡被困、不想被人包圍至窒息。在廈門，只有短短的兩日半，卻可以做自己。對著鏡子唱歌、不修邊幅的躺著，動也不動的睡死、泡泡泡浴，找回了失去了很久的自由。另一方面，我有時間去反思，發現自己距離自己的夢想好像越來越遠了，要給自己多一點決心、少一點藉口，好好的努力。更加要享受當下，不論好、壞的經歷都是為了讓生活更加豐盛。 

寫著寫著，也快一千字了，原本這一篇文章是想寫一點對新一年的寄望，誰不知慰藉了連自己都不自覺的悲傷。 願馬年會帶來一番新的氣像，下次（希望是不久的將來）再寫我原本想寫的東西吧。

 祝君安好、身體健康、萬事勝意。

P.S.: 在youTube找阿桑的《葉子》來細味的時候才發現原來阿桑已經在2009年離世，享年34歲。真的很可惜，她的聲音帶一點點的滄桑，真的很特別。現送上我最愛的MV之中。希望大家會喜歡吧。

2013

The few days between the Christmas and the New Year holidays are usually the period when most people feel a bit confused. First of all, unless you are taking a long holiday break, going to work one day and then off the next day and then going back to the office two days after, obviously makes you confused of the dates and which day of the week it is. Second, among all the booze, parties, recovery sleep and the cold wintery weather, sometimes you don’t know what you are doing, where you are and what time of the day it is. Third, and the most important of all, you get frustrated because you start to reflect on what you did during the past year, and how little you have achieved when there are so much stuff which you can accomplish if you haven’t got addicted to a certain TV series, game or whatever that gives you short-lived and instant pleasure.

 Well, for me it has been more absurd, as I was on shift at the work the majority of December and before I knew it, it was just a day before Christmas Eve, aka my dad’s birthday, and I just have one day to do all my Christmas errands, which does not include getting myself freshened up for the festive season. The lost and hurried December is simply an epitome of what was going on with me during the past year. If 2012 was year of changes with new challenges, 2013 is a year where the changes are settling in to give you panic attacks, obstacles and uncertainties of yourself; and that is that exact moment when you also start to laid foundations to whatever you are trying to build up.

 Being a person of words, sometimes I find myself speechless when I face the various incidents of events, especially dealing with difficult people that don’t understand you or have an ego ten times of themselves. Actions are yet stronger than words, as I mentioned in last year’s article, I didn’t have any clear resolutions for 2013, but I do have some goals in mind that I want to achieve. After 365 days, there are both success and failures; and luckily, little regrets. As the days pass by, I find the voice in my heart stronger and stronger and know that I do have the potentials do what I like and good at.

Life might not always turn out what you want to be, and there is always oppositions since no one on earth would have the exactly same thought as you. That just leads to one move – listen to your inner voice. There are no right or wrong in decisions, there are just those that make you happy or regret.

 2013 is a year in which I am blessed with those who truly care about me. Those who surrounds me with love to keep me going; to listen to me weep when I can’t control myself or the situations I am facing; and to bare with my horrific jokes or insane random ideas. Without these special people, I’m utterly lost; yet, they always know how to found me.

More on 2014 later. Hope you all will have a prosperous year ahead.

Taste the Atmosphere

十一月的最後一個星期五，我們倆請了一天假期去了梅窩行山，目的地就是大東山爛頭營。去之前做了很多的資料搜集，五星分制，它只有兩顆星星的難度，誰不知原來是騙人的，行起來比想像中的難行多。幸而兩人都不放棄，去了我們想去的地方（其實只是我想去的，他陪我）就回頭了。雖然沒有行畢整段路，可是風景已經很精彩，也一起完成了一件事情。

為什麼去行山？近來，我們去了打泰拳，發現了自己的身體狀況比以前差了很多。深明青春一去不復返，曾經都是運動員的我們更加了解自己的體能比之前差太多了，真的要好好的鍛鍊一下。再者，十一月對他來說是一個很忙碌的月份，而對我來說是一個災難，親親大自然應該可以放鬆一下；至少，可以離開繁忙的都市，讓自己平靜一下。為什麼大東山爛頭營？都是因為要 taste the atmosphere。除了品嚐一下清新的空氣，就是想去看一看陳奕迅拍＜Taste the Atmosphere＞大碟開封面的地方，看看那一些金黃色的芒草。果然，真的可以看到香港的另外一面。

當日天朗氣清，我們先在梅窩乖巴士直抵400多米高的伯公坳，可是我們搭過了車站，巴士上完山也下了山。站與站的距離非常遠，只好等回頭的巴士來了再乘一個站去回伯公坳站。等巴士當中，有很多車經過，應該在想為什麼有兩個白痴在荒山野嶺的巴士站裡，不過巴士也很快到了。我們終於到了伯公坳站，心情也沒有什麼影響。下車，就看見了兩頭牛，好像歡迎我們似的。下午一時四十五分，我們背著鳳凰山，我們朝著大東山走。 

路一開始就已經是一級級蠻高、不規則的石級，除了很難行、難站穩之外，因為每一級都有點高，提腿的時候發現自己的大腿有一點點痺、抬腿是很累的。再加上自己心急、也慣了走路走得快，空中的空氣又乾又有一點涼，所以不消一會就氣喘了。他有見及此，就說他帶頭了，要我跟著他走。這也對，我習慣了衝衝衝，跑馬拉松的時候也是，很困難才能做到平均時速。我們就這樣慢慢走著，一時停下喝水、拍片。不知不覺，我們行了一個小時多了。這天雖然是工作天，但有很多人來行山。我們見到了一對情侶，就問他們還有多遠才完成整段路、還有多久到爛頭營。原來他們早上十一時在另外一面出發，已經行了5小時！一開始時的路牌寫著整段路只需2.75小時，原來都是騙人的！！！雖說他們說他們是走得很慢的，但是已經用了5小時吧！他們說到爛頭營大約只有不半個至一個小時的路。因為我們怕太陽下山，天黑了，路就更難走，所以我們決定到爛頭營就回頭。

離開的時候，太陽已經開始下山了。

他們也沒有說謊，我們行了約半個小時就到了。原來香港的風景可以那麼美。在這裡，看不到高樓大廈，只有山、海跟無盡的芒草。深秋柔和的太陽和微風、芒草的擺動、四周的寧靜，彷如我已不再置身香港。對這個城市，我歸屬感不多，住在銅鑼灣令我看到它繁華、便捷、消費和競爭的一面，很少感受到這裡的與世無爭。




時間已經來到三時多了，要回去了，否則就天黑了。最後，我們五時前已經在回程的巴士中，剛好趕上黑夜的來臨。

這一次行山之旅除了讓我看得見香港的另外一面之外，也讓我深深感受到步伐的重要性。

慣了一個人走，怎樣的走法也與人無尤、要自己負責。

如果兩個人決定要一起行的話，就必須去為另外一方去想怎樣的步伐才可以令到兩個人走得舒服、走得遠。在繁忙的生活中，你可有停下來看身邊的人是在身傍，在前面、還是在被你遠遠拋離在後面呢？

 

怎麼當我 急切傾訴 你不相信 戀愛好
你一早已 沒有眼淚消秏 我至給你問好

我慢你半步 請別逃 離別我你太早
我慢了半步 想不到
拿著交給我的激情 還給你感情 誰料天色已蒼老

換畫

如果古代女子必須要琴、琪、書、畫樣樣皆精，那麼我一定是奴婢或是花木蘭之類的女孩子。這是因為小時候母親大人並沒有讓我報讀那一些比較文靜的課外活動、興趣班；反而，我上的是體操、跑步、溜冰、游水，甚至是足球。不過我剛好在小五、小六的時間讓我遇一位好好的班主任帶我去欣賞「美」的世界。「德、智、體、群、美」在小學的校歌之中朗朗上口，但是又有多少的老師去花時間去培育小孩子在這方面的與趣呢?

小五的班主任除了是中文老師之外，還會教音樂和低年級英語，也是我們混合樂隊的帶隊老師。雖然我玩的只是牧童笛，但仍然有機會去演奏如<梁祝小提琴協奏曲>已經好不錯了。之後，隨著歲月的洗禮，慢慢去接觸其他的音樂種類和藝術範疇。中學時迷上了深雪的奇異世界，因一本《二姝夢》而去尋找畢卡索的作品、看《日月別消失》而墜入了神話、魔法的領域；再加上選修世界歷史、英國文學、不同的遊學之旅，令我對「美」有了個人的看法與觸覺，但直到早前我才真正發現原來處於一個充滿藝術與文化的環境之中是可以令人潛移默化，即使在沒有任何的特殊訓練，接觸多了就會印記於心裡、而形於手中。

此話何解?是因早前跟一班朋友去玩art jamming。這是我第二次去art jamming，但是兩次的題材都是一樣，是玫瑰花。第一次去畫的時候大概是兩年多前。那時在報館工作，有一位同事跟侄子報了art jamming，問我有沒有興趣一起去。沒有受到任何美術訓練的我多得那位美術部的同事的指點才能夠完成作品。只可惜，原本想畫玫瑰花的我失敗了，最後那一朵玫瑰花成為了，一朵貌似聖誕花的大紅花。那朵大紅花掛在房間裡的牆掛了兩年，我也換了工作。這次與新的同事一起去玩art jamming。跟上次一樣，我又再次挑戰畫玫瑰花了。我這兩年間仍然沒有學過什麼畫畫的技巧，反而收集了很多花的東西，也拍攝了很多不同花朵的照片。一去到畫室才開始才一些玫瑰花的素材作參考，起了草稿，之後就慢慢地畫起來了。畫的時候比我想像中順利，而且也快了很多，彷彿我很了解這花的構造，而可能是拍得多相片，也好像明白光是怎樣打在花瓣之上。花了個小時多，一幅很滿意的作品就誕生了。不過，令我感到驚訝的是，畫出來的東西有一點像我之前拍的相片。作品完成之後，大滿足，心情也很不錯 (當然也因為我那些很可愛的同伴為我帶來了很多歡樂)，在剩下的時間裡也弄了三幅小作品。原來，我也可以是一位畫家。

2012年於法國波爾多攝，真正的French Rose。

整個畫畫的過程之中，除了感到身心愉快之外，也感受到藝術創作真的有很大的魔力，也可以反映一個人的心。我想，現在的我應該是比兩年前的我變得專注一點、耐性多了一點，心在平和了一點，也少了那些憤世嫉俗。不過少了火並不等於甘願被社會或現實同化，而是將個人的執著、個性化作了正能量和理想。