茶碗蒸

While English cuisine has long been associated with the myth of being bland and boring, in my opinion that is precisely what it is – just a myth. Perhaps the strong colonial influence on the Kiwi diet has equipped me with realistic expectations of what can be found in England despite having never been there before, and thereby allowing me to make more informed decisions – such as steering away from the "quintessentially British" fish and chips, not only because we can enjoy ones that are just as "authentic" back home, but also because we know how hard it is to even find a decent one! However, educated guesses aside, the cultural melting pot that England (and London in particular) has gradually turned into has also introduced some innovative talents into the culinary scene and opened up a refreshing dimension to the definition of English cuisine that challenges the current stereotypical view. Though we had neither the insatiable appetite nor the inexhaustible wallet to trial every single restaurant that caught our fancy, we did thankfully have plenty of time to carry out some careful research and narrow down our options - unsurprisingly most of these final candidates ended up in London since we were staying there for the majority of the second half of the trip. A week was not long by any standards, but I dare say we did manage to get a taste of some of London's very finest.

Without a doubt, the most creative culinary experience we had in England was at the Modern Pantry franchise in London. I first heard about this popular dining spot from a Japanese documentary on London featuring the elegant actress Amami Yuki. The owner Anna Hansen not only has a Nelson connection (apparently she is a relative of Jens Hansen – the legendary ring maker for the LOTR film trilogy! What's more, she worked for a catering business on Hardy Street when she was a teen), but her adventurous approach to combining flavours across a wide variety of cultures had me immediately intrigued. Not willing to miss out on either one of her two restaurants, I decided to book in first for lunch at the original Clerkenwell restaurant, then for afternoon tea a couple of days later at the newer Finsbury Square location.

And by golly am I glad I did!

The food – where do I even start? The unique blend of flavours was pure genius and acted not only in harmony, but in synergy to propel the dishes to astonishing new heights. Although I loved every single dish we ordered, my favourite at the Clerkenwell restaurant was the sugar-cured New Caledonian prawn omelette – the balance of sweet and salt was perfectly accentuated by the freshness of the spring onion and coriander, and I simply couldn't shovel the whole plate into my mouth fast enough! I was also particularly excited to see the many asian(especially Japanese)-inspired twists that some of the dishes subtly incorporated – such as ponzu mayonnaise and yuzu tofu cream. While it's easy enough finding a steak in just about any restaurant in New Zealand, it certainly isn't everyday that you can enjoy it with a grilled miso and tamarind marinade or cassava chips! Even the feature cocktail was a fantastic surprise – "Palomita", with Stelacello Pompelmo liqueur, lemon, and Eau De Vie Mirabelle, was literally a burst of sweetened fresh air in a glass despite its suspicious green colour and the rather exotic concoction of difficult-to-pronounce ingredients.

However, if I was impressed by the food at Clerkenwell, I was totally blown away by the afternoon tea course at Finsbury. The setting of the Finsbury branch was actually a lot more spacious and comfortable, but what really overwhelmed us was again – the culinary expertise. Also far from traditional, the delicate morsels of mouth-watering creations were rather more like little lovingly wrapped presents that held things that you hadn't even known you wanted. From the warm poached quail egg on a bed of Kashmiri masala beetroot, carrot, potato and spring onion hash and drizzled with moromi miso and yuzu hollandaise, to the rich but divine chocolate, peanut butter and miso caramel shortbread, the anticipation built dramatically with the arrival of each course and yet each one somehow managed to upstage the dish that came before – either that or each course simply surprised us in a completely and delightfully different way. That was the other radical demonstration by the restaurant – rather than presenting all the savouries and sweets on tiered plates like you would expect for any traditional English afternoon tea, the Modern Pantry decided to serve theirs in a six-course degustation style that allowed for a choice of pairing specially-selected teas or – wait for it – CRAFT BEERS with each of their tasty creations. While I opted for the tea option, you can probably guess which option Dad pounced on in a heartbeat (and he's still raving about it I assure you). As if all that wasn't amazing enough, the fact that the lovely Modern Pantry staff could cater for Mum's vegetarian preferences amongst all these complicated combinations of ingredients was just the icing on the cake. The feta-filled pai tee with tamarind yoghurt and puffed wild rice? Astonishing.

Yet most importantly, I will never forget their clever take on the traditional English afternoon tea staple – the scone. The warm rush of euphoria that coursed through my veins as I took a bite of the lemon and ajowan scone with gooseberry jam and clotted cream, then washed it down with the 2014 Winter Qin Xin Oolong tea from Taiwan's very own Jade Mountain – sheer and utter bliss. I think this afternoon tea is the one, folks. If the world is ending tomorrow and you are looking for an afternoon tea that will send you off free from all the worldly burdens, I would look no further.

While the Modern Pantry clearly focused on keeping their creative juices flowing in the food department, other places chose elsewhere in the restaurant to keep their guests entertained. Bel Canto, an underground restaurant near Hyde Park was a hidden gem that boasted not only of beautiful food in the form of a two- or three-course "opera package" set menu that included a starter, main course, and dessert (all perfectly tasty but nothing particularly out of the ordinary), but also of spontaneous opera aria performances by all the waiting staff at the restaurant! All the performers were all, of course, vocally trained and possibly rising stars in the operatic world. Yet there was just something quite moving and surreal about listening to the arias (famous or not) in such an intimate setting as opposed to seeing them from twenty (or more) meters away as you would in a theatre. The duets worked particularly well under such conditions, the heart-wrenching longing and simmering passion were almost tangible as the tenor and soprano sang to each other across opposite ends of the restaurant before finally meeting at the end of a long table, but not until after a shy dance around each other amongst the spellbound audience. My favourite performance of the evening, though, was a bass singer from Turkey who sang a deeply thoughtful aria – it was possibly my first time to hear a solo bass performer sing an entire piece and his voice was like a delicious pool of warm honey, gradually drawing us into its depths with a tender intensity. However, the interactions of the Italian soprano with all the male guests also made "Habanera" from Carmen incredibly playful and endearing at the same time, not to mention the fun and unforgettable "Brindisi" from La Traviata in which we all joined in singing amidst the celebratory clinking of our complementary glasses of prosecco. The only downside of the evening was perhaps the fact that the dim lighting, obstrusive columns in the restaurant and constant motions of the singers made any record of photography or video challenging. However, in some ways this liberated us to immerse ourselves in the phenomenal acting and singing that was literally happening right before our eyes. It was, without a doubt, an exhilarating experience that I am unlikely to forget for quite some time.

As exceptional as these new generations of restaurants are at providing consistent momentum at the innovative front and setting new directions for the growing industry of London cuisine, these pioneers would no doubt have had a longer and rougher journey had there not existed a rich heritage of English culinary traditions to draw on. The inspiring twist the Modern Pantry incorporated into their afternoon tea, for example, would not have been half as astounding had we not known what a traditional English high tea consisted of. It was all the more logical, then, for us to also book in for a "proper" high tea experience with all its fine trimmings in the heart of England, where this elegant ritual had possibly become one of British Empire's more civilized means of conquering the world.

But of course, conquering the world is never that easy. Especially when there is always such heated debate about which afternoon tea style, setting, menu, and provider is the most authentic. Our first hurdle, then, was to select one experience out of the thousands available in London to induct us into the world of English tea taking. In the end, my impression of Claridge's Hotel from reading Sarah-Kate Lynch's "On top of everything" and promising reviews online that highlighted its status as not only the "Queen of Afternoon Tea" – having pocketed the prestigious Tea Guild Best Afternoon Tea award in 2006, 2011 and 2012, but also as a less touristy alternative to the legendary Ritz hotel where sitting through an afternoon was rather like being ushered into an audience with the Queen – all strictly-enforced dress code, self-consciously hushed chatter, and impeccably polished silverware.

In addition to an extraordinarily long tea list paired with the classic combinations of finger savouries and pastries Claridge's claims to only make from top-notch ingredients, the splendid Art Deco décor of the hotel - particularly in Thierry Despont's Foyer where the afternoon tea takes place – is also a unique feature that sets the Claridge's afternoon tea apart from the likes of the Savoy or Goring. Despite a humble beginning in 1856 under the ownership of William and Marianne Claridge, the hotel was redesigned in the late 1920s to cater for the public's entertainment needs post WWI and the building was adorned with the "bold lines and sweeping curves" of the popular Art Deco style, giving it the characteristic "air of timeless elegance" seen today. Indeed, even the abundance of stunning photos circulating on the Internet failed to prepare me for the dazzling sense of awe as I stepped through the threshold of the main hotel entrance and felt my jaw drop, instantly losing all air of regality that I had managed to muster for the doorman. The soft golden lighting illuminating the sharply geometric glass screens and pristine checkered marble floor felt absolutely surreal – especially accompanied by the mellow whispers of a violin floating out from the afternoon tea lounge. It was difficult not to immediately think of the rather romantic depictions of the era in The Great Gatsby, and half-expecting Daisy to greet us with a fluttering feather in her hair and a luscious string of pearls at her throat. The magic was then complete with the mint-and-ivory striped bone china that has become a signature of Claridge's and it was not hard to see why – its simplicity was a perfect touch of humble elegance amidst all the rich glamour, allowing the delicate morsels of food and steaming swirls of tea they presented to shine from the glorious efforts of the Executive Chef, Martyn Nail. The warm dream-like quality of the space was unmistakable, and I had to consciously shake myself out of a dazed stupour on more than one occasion so as to not lose myself in the flood of light that was powerful enough to help wash away the darkness of the Great War.

True to its reputation, all the food was beyond delicious – although my preference was perhaps with the savoury sandwiches (who could have thought a plain cucumber sandwich – when paired with buttermilk and chamomile – could taste so sublime?). Of course - as with any traditional English afternoon teas - I believe the true test lay with the scones. Well, needless to say, both Claridge's freshly baked plain and raisin scones were faultless – especially when smothered in curls of Cornish clotted cream along with another of Claridge's signature – the divinely fragrant Marco Polo gelée. It was also my very first time to be served a palate cleanser at an afternoon tea - some lovely refreshing berry popsicles! It really was such a shame that our Asian stomach had such limited tolerability for refined sugar that it prevented us from finishing all four of the sweet pastries – particularly since they were specially designed as part of the "Wimbledon seasonal afternoon tea package" that was mandatory during the period of our visit to celebrate the said tennis tournament being held at the same time (and with an understandably eye-watering price tag to go with it). However, there was not a moment's hesitation as our waiting staff swiftly took away the chocolate cakes and returned with a lovely packaged box, along with three beautiful baskets of complimentary flowers to take home as souvenirs. Although the flowers were equally swiftly re-gifted to the helpful elderly staff member at the hotel who guided us through the Tube map (we couldn't imagine the customs staff at Taiwan would be very pleased to find they had let that slip through their watchful eyes), the memory of this thrillingly sophisticated high tea experience was one we would be taking away (back to the civilian world) with a relishing fondness unrivalled by any other.

Returning to the modern scene, another restaurant that excelled at incorporating great food with stunning setting was Duck and Waffle. Situated on the 40th floor of 110 Bishopsgate building close to Liverpool Street Station, the 24-hour restaurant and bar boasts of a stunning panoramic view over London that constantly shifts according to times of the day and atmospheric conditions. Although we were not assigned a window seat, the fine weather conditions made up for this and we were able to admire the stretch of metropolitan scenery below with perfect clarity. In fact, we should probably be thankful that we managed to reserve a table at all judging from the bustling popularity of the place and its fame amongst both locals and tourists that I had gathered from online reviews - hardly surprising, for the food they served was also nothing short of spectacular.

Most of the dishes included in the menu at Duck and Waffle encouraged the format of shared dining - where a number of options are ordered and each plate is divided amongst the guests. I can't imagine too many people would have any complaints about this, because the description of each dish was simply bursting with so many intriguing details that to simply narrow the choices down to one per person would take most of the two-hour time slot allocated to each table. Take the Spicy Ox Cheek Doughnut for example. I think I have good reason to believe it would be pretty damn hard to find ox cheek paired with apricot jam and paprika sugar AND fried in a crunchy batter that melted in your mouth anywhere else, and that was just one out of twelve equally tasty-sounding options in the "Small Plates"/entree section! Although I think for the more substantial "For the table" or main dishes section of the menu at least, the problem of indecisiveness might be marginally better - surely no one would be skipping the restaurant's signature dish from which it obtained its name. The dish Duck & Waffle was as simple as its name suggested - warm waffles and duck leg confit topped with a fried duck egg and a drizzle of mustard maple syrup. But God help me, it was to die for. I can't even begin to describe the sublime harmony they created in my mouth - so rich with fresh flavours and yet striking a delicate balance between sweet and savoury, as well as velvety and crispy. The same could be said for the Torrejas we ordered for dessert - the soft crunch of the maple caramel apples moulded magically with the smooth texture of the cinnamon ice-cream. As comatised as my stomach was after the meal, my heart at least was kept singing long after we stepped back into the chill of the late evening air.

Fantastic food, brilliant music, and unforgettable company. I don't think any first trips to England can claim to pack so much luxury into two short weeks and an ending on a more inspiring note. I cannot wait until my next oppotunity to step on British soil and build on these wonderful memories, knowledge, and experiences. Until next time, ladies and gentlemen!

"Travel does what good novelists also do to the life of everyday, placing it like a picture in a frame or a gem in its setting, so that the intrinsic qualities are made more clear. Travel does this with the very stuff that everyday life is made of, giving to it the sharp contour and meaning of art."

- Dame Freya Stark (1893-1993, British travel writer)

I have a feeling I am going to struggle a bit putting together the highlights of this section of the trip after separating from the tour group – just because there is simply a mountain of fascinating sights I would so much like to share. Yet somehow I doubt it would be just as interesting for you if you had to plough through it all on a tiny screen and try to imagine the colourful tastes and sounds by squinting at black and white texts - when you could venture out there and immerse yourself in the full experience. That is why I have decided to sort some of the most memorable spots we visited into several key themes that I consider essential for a (first-time) trip to England.

Religion

I think it would be extremely difficult to talk about the history of England, or any country in Europe for the matter, without probing the subject of religion. Although religion may seem to play a much more minor role in many people’s lives now compared to a few centuries ago, its role in shaping the current face of society is unmistakable. And in some parts of England, the presence of religion over time can be felt even more clearly than others. The city of York, I think, is one of these places.

York was our first stop after going our separate ways from the tour group, and I immediately fell in love with its maze of medieval architecture and shadow of history that seemed to seep out from every weathered brick and stone. Despite the tourist crowds that seemed to either fill up all the loveliest shops on the main streets or deliberately pause in the most inconvenient of places to take photos, there were corners of the city that hinted at a past of neglect and bloodshed – many of it a result of the Reformation beginning in 16^th century with King Henry VIII's establishment of the Church of England in place of Catholicism, and the consequent Dissolution of the Monasteries that eventually led to public revolt (including the Pilgrimage of Grace that actually began in York in 1536). This past could not have been felt more distinctly than the site of St. Mary's Abbey, or rather what is left of it. Situated in the peaceful surroundings of the Museum Gardens, the crumbling ruins of the Abbey was prominent enough to find and yet deteriorated enough to make it hard to picture its past glory as one of the most important abbeys in England, with a size that apparently rivaled that of the still-standing York Minster. Nowadays it would perhaps be easier to comprehend its role in crafting York's reputation as one of the most haunted cities in England (although sadly the Ghost Tour we took part in did not include St. Mary's in its route!). A reputation that is, mind you, the last thing on my mind as we took a morning stroll along the York City Walls and was met with a breathtaking view of immaculate gardens bathing under the golden rays and set against the majestic backdrop of York Minster, the distant bells of which completed a picture of film-like European fantasy. It was truly as if I had stepped back in time, with neither the brilliant promises of the Enlightenment nor the threatening claws of the World Wars in sight.

From how the beginning of the Reformation in England had largely been attributed to King Henry VIII, it probably won't come as a surprise to learn of the complex and indivisible relationship between religion and monarch. The two were, and remains to this day, like two sides of a coin – with all British monarchs automatically inheriting the title of Supreme Governor of the Church of England since Queen Elizabeth I's reign. But the relationship of course extends beyond the adoption of a mere title – the tradition of all coronation ceremonies taking place in a church, Westminster Abbey, ever since that of William the Conqueror in 1066 serves as yet another example of the interdependence between these two pillars that were once all that was needed to hold up a nation (before the Government came along). Just imagine my wonder at seeing the very wooden Coronation Chair that has been used by all the famous Kings and Queens ever since 1308!! Not to mention paying our respects at the memorials and monuments belonging to the likes of Queen Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots, G.F. Handel, Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Ernest Rutherford… just to name a few! Although I was already aware prior to the visit that many monarchs and people with significant historical achievements or status were interred at the Abbey, I was still astounded by the number that was interred there – a staggering 3300! With that in mind, I just couldn't help but wonder… if William and Kate ever felt a slight chill while saying their wedding vows inside such an enormous tomb? (But then again, with England's long history of civilization I'm sure every inch of soil is bound to have seen some deaths in the past)

On a side note - we actually managed to visit the Abbey quite a few times over the week we were in London! First time for the Evensong service (where Mum and I actually couldn't see anything as we were placed behind the rood screen so a bit of a let down!), the second time for the vigil in commemoration of the 100^th anniversary of the Battle of Somme (when I naively thought we would also be free to wander around other areas of the Abbey and be able to make the most of the late hour when there would be fewer tourists – but of course everywhere apart from the nave was closed off!), and finally our final attempt as regular tourists (at least we had London Passes… but still impossible to avoid the dreaded queues!)

History

Needless to say, although religion ultimately intertwines with the course of English history, the latter revolves around far more than that – particularly after the English Civil War between 1642 and 1651 that saw a fall-out between the Royalists and Parliamentarians and set the foundation for such a strong democratic parliamentary system in the UK (and perhaps its curious relationship with the Royal House) today. After hearing Mum mention her admiration for the demonstration of democracy since seeing a UK Parliamentary debate on TV, and after having seen "The Iron Lady" myself to reinforce this impression, I was very excited to find out that the public (including tourists) actually had the opportunity to sit in the public gallery of either of the two Houses at specified time periods of the week to listen in on the debates or activities that were being held. What I didn't count on, unfortunately, was the absolute carnage and flood of local English residents into the galleries after the Brexit Referendum took place (23^rd June). So the initial plan of visiting the galleries on the day we arrived in London from York (27^th June) turned out to be wishful thinking – in fact, just fighting through the hordes of international media reporters outside Westminster Palace was challenging enough as it was.

Not willing to give up such a rare opportunity (all the more anticipated by the flurry of post-Brexit activity), we turned up again the next day at the visitor's entrance at Cromwell Green and this time was successfully admitted to the House of Commons. However, after enduring through security, waiting for our turn in St. Stephen's Hall, and getting lost in the Central Lobby it came perhaps as a bit of a disappointment when we were met with the rather dull presentation of the Finance Bill in the Commons Chamber. All things considered though, just being able to catch a glimpse of the architectural wonders inside the Palace that have seen countless world-changing decisions take place, and getting the chance to experience the impressive degree of transparency and cultural sophistication the UK Parliament had to offer, was well worth the time and effort.

As much as politics feed into the river of history, however, one must not forget there would hardly BE any evidence of history without the development of written language and more importantly, knowledge. And I think few other places in the world could boast of as impressive a collection of human knowledge as the British Library (and of course, the British Museum  - where we also visited but since everyone else has most certainly included that on their to-write or to-visit list, I might be excused for saving my breath). Perhaps my new identity as a Library Studies student has particularly motivated me to nominate a visit to this site, but I think even for someone who isn't pursuing a potential career in libraries – or even hold an interest in books or documentation for that matter – seeing the permanent exhibition of the most famous treasures held at the Library is a trip well worth making.

Just think – the music manuscripts created by the very hands of Ludwig van Beethoven and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the elegantly scripted letters penned by Lord Horatio Nelson and Queen Elizabeth I, the original Magna Carta that laid foundations for the obligations to which the English Monarch are still bound today (in impressively miniscule handwriting I must add), the powerful photograph and journal entry documenting the last days of Captain Scott's doomed expedition to the South Pole, and the faded diagram that literally illustrated the world-changing discovery of penicillin from a page of Alexander Fleming's notebook in 1928 – and hundreds of other equally valuable documents that we normally only ever read about in books, all displayed right before our eyes, here in this very same room. As you can imagine - words could not even begin to describe how overwhelmed I was as I stood for hours in front of each glass cabinet in utter disbelief and relish, trying to comprehend that these people were real, how they changed the world was real, and how their legacies and stories have transcended the incredible trial of time to become so embedded in the modern era even though their creators’ flesh and bones may have long since wasted away. It was an absolutely enlightening and moving experience that I would no doubt be repeating, and I simply can't wait to see what other great traces of history would be added to future collections.

Performing Arts

It is often said that the city of London remains as one of the most famous, and yet also one of the most merciless stages for theatre performances. Not only did many acclaimed English acting professionals make their humble beginnings from atop one of the myriads of stages scattered throughout the city, but the standard of performance is so high that the audiences have come to expect nothing short of perfection. Unfortunately, due to inevitable time constraints, we could not enjoy as many shows as we would have liked (and for some shows it was simply a matter of unlucky timing – such as "War Horse", which 焦老師 so enthusiastically recommended, had completed its last show earlier in the year but which I thankfully got the opportunity to see in Rialto cinema later in Auckland), but all three musicals that I managed to see at the West End – "Wicked", "Aladdin", and "Kinky Boots" were fabulously entertaining and far exceeded my expectations (which were already high to start with!).

For a huge Disney fan such as myself, Aladdin was unsurprisingly the most anticipated show out of the three – especially since it only opened in West End in the very same month we were in London. Apart from the dazzlingly innovative sets and rich vibrant costumes that seemed to transport the entire theatre into the world of the beloved classic, there were new songs and characters (I assume to fill in the obvious gaps left by Apu and Magic Carpet) that added an element of fun and surprise to the performance even for someone who already knew the original story inside out. However, I was definitely most impressed by the brilliantly realistic special effects when the Cave of Wonders emerged, and the (possibly) improvised stand-up comedies that Trevor Dion Nicholas wittily and flawlessly pulled off. Clearly everyone else in the theatre agreed with me on the second point, because the particularly thunderous cheering and applause when he took his bow at the curtain call almost brought the roof of Prince Edward Theatre down! I admit I was a tiny bit disappointed in the "A Whole New World" magic carpet ride scene though – most probably a result of ridiculously high expectations. Don't get me wrong, the starry sky effect was breathtakingly gorgeous (literally! Judging from the ripples of gasping all around me) – but I kept finding myself half-expecting some cloud, horses, and a sphinx to whoosh past onstage too… not demanding at all, I say!

But surely, one cannot think of England, of London, or even of theatre, and NOT think of William Shakespeare, arguable the greatest playwright of all time. Even though I would not call myself a huge Shakespeare fan, I did want to experience what it felt like to see a play in a theatre that Shakespeare most likely had in his mind when he created his literary masterpieces. Despite the fact that the theatre currently standing in London is not the same one that Shakespeare himself had set foot in (the original had unfortunately burned down in 1613, fourteen years after it was first built – the current one is located approximately 230m from the site of the original theatre and opened in 1994), the reconstruction was apparently based on careful scholarly inquiries over the last two centuries and can be considered more or less a realistic representation of the original "Shakespeare's Globe" (but with enhanced safety and comfort of course).

The play I picked to see was Macbeth – simply because I knew how famous this one was and how I shamefully still hadn't gotten round to knowing the story, and also because A Midsummer Night's Dream, which was the other play in the Globe’s summer programme at the time we were in London, seemed even less like Mum and Dad's cup of tea XD And oh my, what an experience! The simple but effective music accompaniment using voice, cello, and percussion was absolutely out of this world, not to mention the incredible acting by the cast that depicted the blood-thirsty struggle of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth with power and fate (despite not being able to comprehend half of their lines in Shakespearean prose and verse – luckily we looked up the story beforehand!). In spite of the occasional spits of rain and absolutely freezing cold temperature (heaven knows how those groundlings survived the evening shivering on their feet for 3 hours in the packed courtyard with their hastily purchased raincoats from the souvenir shop), the dark gloomy weather did perhaps set the perfect scene for such a twisted and electrifying tale. It is also worth noting that the brilliantly ferocious actress portraying Lady Macbeth was Tara Fitzgerald, who also played the meek and considerably plain Selyse Baratheon in the wildly popular TV series Game of Thrones. This just proves 焦老師's point that regardless of one's acting experience or the degree of recognition an actor has received,  the challenges of live theatre are always real and serve as an important channel for self-improvement.

And that, my lads, is a wrap for my highlights tour of the second half of our epic England adventure.

But… what about the food, you ask? Blimey of course I have not forgotten! Despite the notorious reputation of English cuisine, the rebellious determination to prove this wrong perhaps came as part of the food obsession that has stemmed from the Chan Family DNA. So I would like to extend my warmest invitation to you all to join me for an upcoming feast of unprecedented style, and you will see why I have saved the best for last.