Coffee Cupping ???

剛剛收到一個電郵，是Hunter Douglas Designer Club 同 Caffe Habitu 搞一個Coffee Cupping 的通知．令我想起月初“拉衫尾”跟一位好友參加了人生第一次Cupping，足足搞了三個小時，除了覺得新鮮有趣，見識了不少之外，也令我更加肯定自己是BB班水準．

 十多名參加者當中，有咖啡從業員，單品及紅酒愛好者，一般都頗年輕；導師是個正積極考取這專業資格的少年人．相比他們的認真，我倆實在有點hea!

由簡單的咖啡介紹，認識什麼是Cupping，基礎味道的分辨，如何在咖啡乾濕狀態下比較它的各種表現，以其平衡度決定評級．．．等等，實在是一門頗專業的學問．如果真的對咖啡品賞渴望有更深體會的朋友，我絕對推薦這些體驗講座．至於我自己呢？暫時還是想享受一下BB班的自由，hea住飲咖啡，畢竟專業是要認真對待的啊！

Just received an email from Hunter Douglas Designer Club, originally I thought it must be another new product launch or discount week...well, what a surprise of "Coffee Cupping" invitation! A talk presented by Caffe Habitu. This reminds me I did join one in early July, by a kind invitation from my friend, truly speaking, the very first time in my life. Thanks Julianna.

It took a total 3 hours time for this exercise, around 10 persons gathered in a small room full of coffee aroma, some were already a barista, some are red wine or coffee addict, fairly young but serious, compare with us two, ha ha ! a bit hea ! The lecturer was a young man who is going to have this professional qualification after some more examinations, cool!

Started by a brief introduction to coffee type & origin, followed by what is the meaning of Cupping, what are the basic aroma (up to at least 36 types), how to "feel" the behavior of coffee in dry & wet condition, what is the proper cupping manner, what are the concern of overall balance to dictate the final grading...etc, etc. A really professional era, I have to say.

If you do wish to taste "deeper" to your cup of coffee and know more in the coffee world, I shall highly recommend you to attend these Cupping gathering, which are quite hot and shall become more popular in Hong Kong now. 

And myself ? I tend to stay in my junior stage at this moment, to taste my "Hea" style coffee, because professional is professional, it must take time & heart to treat it sincerely.

久違了的煙仔檔 The Lost Cigarette Stall

也許真的有朋友從未見過這東西,已不記得這是那個年代的自家製作? 雖然我不吸煙, 但仍覺得這個小檔很精緻, 尤其當它放滿了五顏六色的煙仔盒時. 還記得當時比較盛行的有555, 萬寶路, 駱駝, 紅雙喜, 健牌, 還夾雜着一些可自行包裝的煙葉及煙紙...等.

當時的煙販檔沒有太多其它東西售賣, 似乎這小小的一盤生意巳經可養活一家. 煙仔盒上也沒有所謂的"吸煙危害健康"標貼, 是人民沒有這個意識呢? 還是根本煙民全都一早明白但他們需要的卻只是一刻鐘的自由自在, 於願足矣!

看着這個早巳身處填田區的木檔口,  對比着現今我們在街上看見大得足可比娓一間小型便利店的報紙+汽水+煙檔時, 應該驚歎生活的進步? 還是慨歎心靈的退步?!

I am sure there must be some people who don't ever have a chance to see this stuff in their life in H.K., a DIY cigarette stall...I wonder which century it belongs to? Although I am a non-smoker, as far as I've remembered, this tiny stall always attracts me, especially when it was fully displayed with colorful cigarette packages. 555, Marlboro, Camel, Double Happiness, Kent, even with some small yellowish paper for customers to fill in their favorite tobacco leaves, then roll up to form a interesting "tobacco stick".

Besides of the above + matches / lighter, there are not many variety of products you can find here, but it seems the hawker can still earn a living for their family through this small business. Also, you will not find any "Government Warning" of "SMOKING CAUSES XXXXX DISEASES" on the cigarette package, guess whether the smokers don't have any idea of health care or simply they are willing to exchange for a moment of mentally freedom?

This stall should have already been crashed in the landfill, compare to what we can see on the street now a day, those "full-function" newspaper stall , not only cigarette, but soft drinks, snacks, umbrella..etc, etc. what a tiny 7/11 they are. Should we amazed by our improvement of living ? or regret to our "black-hole" that can never be fulfilled deep into our heart!

May I have one, please?

In Tokyo after dark, you can easily meet this kind of tiny mobile cart, usually they were operated by one chef; oden, ramen, deep fry snack...are what they've sold. They are "heaven" for late night pals especially in Winter time.

Tiny light bulb in paper lantern spreading a warm atmosphere all over this small corner, steam rises from hot dishes; chatting with the chef or even have a drink of hot sake is the most relaxing moment. Or, if you want to enjoy your private minute..."be my guest", this lonely stranger will sincerely prepare your food behind the scene.

This may not be a perfect job for most of us, it earns little, lonely, working late night, no prospect in most people's eye...but it keep oneself survive with dignity.

Wherever there is free air in the country, we can have our choice, there is no need to live in others measure or in another way round, being follow the majority below pressure. Will it be only a dream? to some country, Yes! If we don't have to live in threat, we are so lucky...and it's always my pleasure to have another night here.

May God bless Hong Kong.

做個無悔的設計師

個題目好似沉重咗啲，不過適逢七一將至，實在不得不令我又再思考係呢十五年國家“領導”下，身為設計師嘅我哋，究竟做口咗啲咩？

設計需要有自由嘅土壤去作為基礎，如果冇，世上就唔會有創作空間，我唸呢樣大家都好明白．以往我哋呢類人多數都對政治冇咩興趣，無論係辦公室政治或者係社會上嘅政治，總覺得只要冇人限制我哋做咩同唸咩就得啦．．．真係冇？

“基本法廿三條”，“網絡廿三條”，電視新聞／報紙嘅選擇性報導，高鐵事件，領匯事件，谷歌事件，普選問題，人權問題，各式各樣嘅壟斷情況，禁呢樣禁嗰樣．．．幾時我哋變得咁無知，咩嘢都要“人”管，要“人”教，連辛苦搵番嚟嘅錢都強迫要比人扣起，係要你去“投資”！

你仲覺得我哋嘅自由土壤好穩陣？如果你覺得只要仲係設計行而又搵到食就懶理週圍發生緊咩事的話，又或者覺得用七一遊行去提醒國家我哋係有自由意志嘅人＝無聊搞事；咁我寧願任你話都要係香港仲有機會發聲嘅時候行出一步，做個無悔的設計師(香港人)．

心思 just a little bit more...

從來都覺得日本人對做便當很有心思，即使家庭主婦每天為家人預備上班或上課的便當，為了保持新鮮感及食慾，即使日復一日，她們仍能在飯面上做出各式各樣色彩繽紛而又有趣味的裝飾．上圖這個雖然有點商業味，但仍不失為一個精彩的設計．

對，是設計！我想，要用食材擺出這個畫面，其實不知不覺間已運用了平面及立體設計的技巧．只是在日常瑣事中，我們不太留意罷了．下次再遇到要處理一些慣常事務時，不妨加多少少心思，也許會有新的體驗？！

Lunchbox - to us, it's only a kind of daily supply : a piece of sandwich, some red green vegetable salad, rice, noodle and soup... but most of the Japanese housewife spend great effort to decorate them for their kid & husband; we can see from lots of the TV drama, it's a kind of proud for a man of having a wife who can prepare a delicious and pretty decorated lunchbox which is more superior among others.

Even it is only a routine work for a housewife, they just add a little bit more of creativity, they may not even recognize it is related to graphic & 3D design, but simply aim to refresh their family member's appetite..... the result is difference. 

It may apply to us, too; how about just step a little bit further, be a little bit more well thinking, or creative, may be we can turn a bore/messy work into a delicious "bei' don" (lunchbox)!

Before And After

There is a folder on my desktop which I've been keeping for a while, the original is a html shared by a friend whom I forgot who she is (sorry pal!) But the content inside is really amazing, although you may find something similar recently in the internet, those were done on the ground, these... are all onto an exterior of a building or wall; what the artist did not only enhance the overall environment, but create a virtual space for us to take a break with an applause to their creativity and superior technique.

Have your coffee ready, lets enjoy :)

Before

and After

Before

and After

Before

and After

Before

and After

 

Before

and After

Trompe l'oeil Murals by Eric Grohe

Farewell to Restaurant City

Restaurant City is going to close in the coming June, a lot of 'fans" feel disappointed or a little anger because they put so much effort into it, to build their dream cafe; some may even pay cash to buy their favor items.

I've checked my post and there was one in Mar 2010 "No risk no gain?"  talking about this game which I did enjoy playing with some more reason behind.

Now it comes to an end and what we've got finally?

Same piece of virtually land gives you the flexibility to build your favor moment...in the side walk cafe? at a busy night market? enjoy a big meal in a small Japanese inn? a never ending party in an icy cold castle? Lots of imaginations you can have.

If you told me that you've learned the clue to create your own cafe business, or how to fine tune your buying behavior, or how to make good use of your time avoid being a RC addict...congratulations.

To me, it's simply joy : because I love to layout, especially with such beautiful elements that the team created + Dream - the energy source in our life.  

Thank you! Restaurant City :)
         

Spring - a nap at the pool side cafe of Hyatt Regency Macau  

Summer - have a Tong Yum Kong at twilight moment in Phuket town

 

 

 

Autumn - enjoy an onsen spa in a Ryokan

Winter - 24/7 Halloween+Christmas party