Messi's Explanation Fails to Sway Fans

Messi's video failed to change opinions

This morning my social media feed had a video of Argentine football star Lionel Messi trying to explain what happened in Hong Kong in his own words.

In the two-minute grainy video posted on Weibo, Messi explained in Spanish with English and Chinese subtitles he had an inflamed adductor [groin] muscle that prevented him from playing, and added that he did take part in a training session before the match.

HKers still bitter about his lack of enthusiasm

"I tried to train and made an effort for all those who'd come to watch training," he said. "I did all I could. I also went along to the football clinic with all the kids. But I really couldn't play. I felt discomfort and there was a risk it'd get worse."

But then a few days later he felt well enough to play in Japan, and Messi claimed there was no politics involved in the decision.

Finally he went on to express his affection for China and hoped to see his fans there again.

"Since the start of my career, I've had a very close and special relationship with China. I've done a lot of things in China -- interviews, games and events," he said.

"As always, I send good wishes to everyone in China who I've always had and continue to have special affection for. I hope to see you again soon. A big hug and take care. Ciao!"

The video message did not placate anyone.

Some commenters observed Messi didn't even apologise, and reiterated he could have done more interaction with the fans if he wasn't able to play on the pitch.

Messi has been shut out of games in China

Hongkongers were particularly irked the video was on Weibo, making it aimed towards a mainland Chinese audience. Did he not care about his Hong Kong fans... or are they just chopped liver?

Regardless, the damage is done. He and the Argentine national squad were scheduled to tour China March 18-26, but on February 10 the Beijing Football Association said it had "no plans at the moment to host any matches involving Messi".

Game over.

Are Sino-Canadian Relations Thawing?

Joly and Wang met in Munich

China seems to be extending Canada an olive branch, as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

Wang said the two countries were "not rivals, let alone enemies", an interesting development in the tense relationship between China and Canada particularly since the Meng Wanzhou incident that involved the incarceration of the two Michaels, Kovrig and Spavor.

Discussions between Joly (left) and Wang

In addition, Canada accuses China of meddling in its elections in 2019 and 2021, and Ottawa expelled Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei last May over allegations of intimidating Conservative MP Michael Chong. 

That then led Beijing to expel Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, a consul of the Consulate General of Canada in Shanghai.

Wang told Joly the "current difficult situation... is not what China wants to see", according to a Chinese foreign ministry readout released on Sunday.

"The two sides are not rivals, let alone enemies, and should become cooperative partners," he said.

Wang urged Canada to "stop hyping the 'China threat theory' and stop spreading false information about so-called China interference in domestic affairs".

Perhaps he's referring to the public inquiry into foreign interference by countries like China, India and Russia that started in September last year. In interim report is expected at the end of February, and a final report at the end of the year. 

While it's a positive sign to see China willing to restart relations with Canada again, it can't have its cake and eat it too.

Where is Navalny's Body?

Navalny is being remembered for his activism

People are mourning the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny around the world. Those in Russia are gathering and laying flowers but face the risk of being arrested. The 47-year-old who died in a penal colony in the Arctic circle will not be forgotten.

However, his body cannot be found, nor the cause of death.

His mother Lyudmila Navalnaya, together with members of Navalny's team made the trek to the town of Kharp, 1,900 kilometres northeast of Moscow where he died, but his body was not in the prison.

Lyudmila is escorted by Navalny's lawyer

They were told to go to the morgue in a nearby city of Salekhard, about over an hour's drive from Kharp.

But alas the morgue was closed. Navalny's lawyer called the morgue and was told his body was not there either.

She then went to Salekhard's Investigative Committee office, where she was told the exact cause of her son's death was not clear, and Lyudmila could not receive the body until an examination was completed.

"It is obvious that they are lying and doing everything they can to avoid handing over the body," said Kira Yarmysh, Navalny's spokesperson. She added Navalny's team "demand that Alexei Navalny's body be handed over to his family immediately."

It feels eerie similar to what happened to Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo after he died in 2017 of liver cancer. A funeral was hastily arranged with his wife and family in attendance though they were heavily surveilled. Then his body was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea, apparently by the family's request.

Will Navalny's body turn up eventually? A grieving mother should not have to look for her son...

Remembering Navalny's Words

Navalny leaves a message for Russians in 2022 documentary

If Russian state media is to be believed, then Vladimir Putin's fiercest critic, Aleksei Navalny is dead at 47.

He was imprisoned in a penal colony in the Russian Arctic circle when Navalny apparently took a walk and collapsed; prison officials said they could not revive him.

Even Navalny's wife Yulia Navalnaya was not sure whether to believe the news or not, but made an impromptu statement in Munich, saying Putin's government would be "brought to justice".

While Navalny's spirit to keep fighting was still strong, perhaps his body could not physically continue. It's a shocking end to Putin's formidable opponent, who had survived an assassination attempt and numerous stints in jail. 

The Academy Award-winning documentary Navalny will surely be revived in theatres and in the film we are reminded of his message to the Russian people.

"If they decide to kill me, it means that we are incredibly strong. We need to utlize this power to not give up... We don't realise how strong we are. The only thing for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing. So don't be inactive."

Another leading Russian opposition activist and former oil tycoon is Mikhail B Khodorkovsky, who spent 10 years in prison. He says Putin's adversaries now need to unite and harness Navalny's legacy. Navalny's death, he said, showed that rather than consolidate around a single leader, Putin opponents needed to form a coalition to fight against the Kremlin.

"A coalition as a system is far more stable," Khodorkovsky said. "If one person goes, others will remain and new people will appear."

The fight continues...

Cha Chaan Teng Offers Taste of Home

A giant fluffy pineapple bun that's made on the premises

Hongkongers missing the taste of home can now to go to Ho Yuen Cafe, opened by the second-generation owner. The mural on the wall has Lion Rock in the centre, flanked by Hong Kong on the left and Vancouver on the right.

Over 60 years ago her father opened Ho Yuen, a cha chaan teng in Tsz Wan Shan, but in the 1980s the family immigrated to Vancouver and so he shut Ho Yuen. However, in Vancouver he opened two other Ho Yuen businesses in Richmond and Coquitlam. 

The interior is bright and cheery with Lion Rock

By 1996 her father retired, and the family returned to Hong Kong where she worked in marketing in the fitness industry. She met her husband, a personal trainer and they had a son.

She decided to go back to her cha chaan teng roots and in 2014 she revived the Ho Yuen brand by opening in Wong Tai Sin, and later Ho Yuen Bakery.

When Hong Kong invited tenders for food trucks, Ho Yuen Express was born and it was a baptism by fire, spending HK$1 million on the food truck and modifying it, and then quickly learning how some locations like Disneyland were better than others, like Kwun Tong.

In 2020 she moved back to Vancouver because of her special-needs son. And in the last few years she took her time looking at locations to open Ho Yuen Cafe.

The location is not high traffic at all -- it's in an industrial area near a park where people walk their dogs. Nevertheless, the bright cafe has large windows and a big kitchen where staff make everything in-house from the char siu to cookie-base egg tarts and pineapple buns. 

Satay beef noodles is another signature item here

One of the signature items is the pineapple bun which is really large and fluffy, complete with a giant slab of butter inside, and a cup of hot milk tea to wash it down.

If that's not enough carbs, a bowl of satay beef with instant noodles is delicious. The noodles have slices of tenderised beef and it's not too spicy, and the soup is comforting.

The owner is already thinking of expanding the brand down the west coast to Seattle and California, and it will be interesting to see if she can spread the culture of cha chaan tengs in North America.

Ho Yuen Cafe

113 - 1750 West 75th Avenue

Vancouver

Hello Hong Kong on a Budget

The Peak Tram welcomed guests at the party

Last night the Hong Kong Tourism Board and the Hong Kong Economic Office held at Chinese New Year party at the Shangri-La in Vancouver.

They invited about 60 people to the festivities, though there wasn't much action when I arrived after 6pm. It turns out everyone had flocked to eat food! The spread? Sushi, tacos, bites like beef nestled inside Yorkshire pudding, vegetarian samosas, deep-fried shrimp, and pork belly skewers.

What about serving things that are Hong Kong-related, like milk tea, char siu bao, spring rolls and malai goh or steamed Chinese cake? 

Mo and Lim with the kendama players

After people had eaten some food and imbibed some drinks, there was a speech from Emily Mo, director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Toronto. She spoke of how vibrant Hong Kong is, how 33 million people visited the city in the past year, and how it was holding mega events and mentioned sports first off. Everyone's minds must have probably thought of Messi right away. Guess she didn't think to modify her speech.

Mo also talked about how Hong Kong was busy doing business, particularly with the Middle East... 

Then Michael Lim, director, Americas for the HKTB spoke, trying really hard to sell Hong Kong as they destination to head to for 2024, and reiterated how there were over 80 events planned for the first few months of the year. 

A new "Hello Hong Kong" video was shown, a gweilo meeting up with a local girl and how they hang out in various places in the city. No words are said until the end when he says, "Hello". 

Lim also mentioned the "Night Vibes" campaign and said that if anyone was going to come to Hong Kong in the next few months should go get their free HK$100 coupon -- at the visitors centres. 

And what was the entertainment?

Hey use these props for Instagram pics!

The Hong Kong Freestyle Kendama Association!

Literally called "sword" and "ball", it's actually a Japanese game where players do different tricks with the ball and wooden piece that has a spike, and other carved areas to rest the ball on. 

The quartet of players showed off their talents, though one or two dropped the ball a few times. Probably nerves. Or jetlag.

And the lucky draw?

Kendama sets! And the other prizes? Macarons from Laduree! How Hong Kong!

Guess airlines like Cathay Pacific and Air Canada couldn't afford to spring any tickets... surely HKTB could have sprung some Night Vibes coupons?

As soon as the lucky draw was over, most people left. The swag handed out?

A beige piece of fabric that unfolded to reveal a set of wooden cutlery -- knife, fork, spoon, chopsticks, a straw and a straw pipe cleaner. 

Bamboo utensils, how useful...

How is this representative of the vibrant Hong Kong they had promoted? 

A totally lost opportunity to brand Hong Kong and make it a more memorable event from the food to the swag. 

Mini HK Foodie Enclave in Vancouver

Lobster bisque cappuccino was delish

I discovered a Hong Kong alumnae group in the wilds of East Vancouver today.

A friend who is studying hospitality and restaurant business management at La Salle Vancouver asked me to come dine at the Bistro, the student-run restaurant on campus.

Very tender duck breast as the main course

It's a small restaurant, but cosy, and I had a view of the kitchen where my friend prepared food.

She and her fellow students had to come up with a culinary concept, the menu and pricing. They designed a three-course menu for C$25, and an extra C$3 for a non-alcoholic drink.

When I walked in the door, a red head woman warmly greeted me and showed me to a table. We got to chatting and when she said she worked in Hong Kong for a long time, including a restaurant I knew, I realised I remembered her!

What a small world! She left Hong Kong in 2018 and was looking for a place to settle. She decided to be in a city where there were lots of Asian people and so it was Vancouver. 

Lunch was fantastic -- a citrusy refreshing drink, followed by lobster bisque cappuccino, served in a cup with a bit of froth on top and underneath the bisque had a lot of flavour, served hot and had perfectly cooked chunks of lobster in it.

Decadent chocolate pavlova and raspberry sorbet

Soon after the main course arrived, featuring two pieces of duck breast that were very tender, with an assortment of grilled vegetables, like Brussel sprouts, half a shallot, potato and segmented oranges in an orange sauce, and a squash puree. 

Finally for dessert, a first for me -- chocolate pavlova with a scoop of raspberry sorbet and strawberry, blueberry and raspberry. 

Afterwards the red head invited me into the kitchen to see my friend and she introduced me to her culinary instructor who had also worked in Hong Kong!

She had worked at a restaurant in the JW Marriott in Admiralty that I remembered and it was so nice to meet people with these Hong Kong connections!

While La Salle Vancouver is a bit far to drive to, it isn't when you're meeting like-minded people! 

AG Finds ArriveCan App a Waste of Money

Hogan could not find out the true cost of the ArriveCan app

Remember during the Covid-19 pandemic when some governments developed apps for displaying your vaccination status and for travel?

It turns out the ArriveCan app was not only full of holes in terms of being easily hacked into, but also its true cost is not clear because of the Canadian government's poor record keeping.

In a scathing report out today, Auditor General Karen Hogan found the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), and Public Services and Procurement Canada "repeatedly failed to follow good management practices in the contracting, development and implementation of the ArriveCan application."

All travellers to Canada had to use the app

"This is probably the first example that I've seen such a glaring disregard for some of the most basic and fundamental policies and rules," Hogan told the House public accounts committee today.

She said there were many omissions in record keeping and said she was "deeply concerned".

"We didn't find records to accurately show how much was spent on what, who did the work, or how and why contracting decisions were made -- and that paper trail should have existed," Hogan said.

While CBSA said developing the app cost around C$54 million, the auditor general estimates it was possibly higher at C$59.5 million -- based on the information she was given.

"We found that financial records were not well-maintained by the Canadian Border Services Agency. We were unable to determine a precise cost for the ArriveCan application because of [the agency's] poor documentation and weak controls," the report said.

In addition, C$12.2 million of the estimated C$54 million could have been spent on something other than the app, so the actual cost of developing the app could be lower.

Poilievre blasted the Trudeau government

Part of the reason for the ballooned costs is that CBSA relied on third-party contractors, and the auditor general's report says if there was less reliance on them then the app would have cost much less. 

However, the agency defended its move, saying the app needed to be rolled out as soon as possible during the pandemic.

"The CBSA was working as quickly as possible to replace a paper process that was not meeting public health needs and was also impacting the border with significant wait times that disrupted the essential flow of people and goods," the statement said.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticised the government over the app's cost and blamed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of "wasting [taxpayers'] money." He promised to cut back on third-party outsourcing if his party formed the next government after the next election.

"Public servants do the work more accountably and they do it more affordably," Poilievre told the media outside the House of Commons on Monday.

Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said ArriveCan's "contracting process was unacceptable" and said the government had already taken corrective measures.

"The Trudeau government accepts that taxpayers' money needs to be treated with the utmost respect. in no way are we going to defend this particular contracting process," he said. 

Another white elephant that was a waste of money that the government won't get back... I used the app when I moved back in April 2022 and then it was unnecessary to use it again the next time I traveled the month after!

Chinese New Year Italian Style

Roasted beet salad at Fiore Famiglia in Vancouver

For Chinese New Year we decided to ring in the Year of the Dragon by eating Italian food! 

With three of us we thought it would be easier to eat Western food than Chinese, and besides the Chinese restaurants would be so busy.

Lovely plating of roasted butternut squash salad

We went to a neighbourhood restaurant that we haven't been to, called Fiore Famiglia on Trafalgar Street and 16th Avenue. 

It was previously Sweet Obsession serving savoury food as well as its signature desserts. But then the restaurant closed down and just served desserts next door.

I had no problems booking a table and when we arrived, Fiore Famiglia was already bustling inside. The restaurant had a bar area in another room, while the dining room is just as I had remembered it, and the kitchen to the right of the entrance. 

We were soon seated and the waitress asked if we'd like water or hot water. Someone knows their clientele.

For Lunar New Year the restaurant even created a special menu featuring dishes like Calabrian chilli dan dan noodles with eggplant, pine nuts and balsamic vinegar, braised Taiwanese beef ravioli, and shredded hoisin duck pizza with fermented black bean sauce, tomato sauce, mozzarella, scallions and crispy garlic.

Enjoyed the springy crust of this pizza!

As it was our first time here, we opted to stick with the regular menu.

The roasted beet salad tempted me, and I enjoyed the pickled yellow and red beets mixed with arugula, whipped ricotta, and chopped pistachios for a crunchy texture. 

Another salad featured roasted butternut squash, combined with mixed greens, pickled apple slices, and goat cheese, with some squash cream. 

Meanwhile the generous portion of artichoke dip was a bit on the bland side, which we could spread on floppy bread slices that were soaked in butter. It would have been better if they were toasted.

As we waited for our mains we were impressed to see a constant stream of people coming in. A couple was turned away because the restaurant was booked full for the evening, others were ushered into the bar area to wait for their tables.

A hearty portion of bolognese pasta

The waitress had recommended some dishes so I tried the Rossa pizza with a topping of homemade Italian sausage, artichoke hearts, roasted red pepper, mozzarella and gremolata. 

I really liked the crust -- springy and yet it held up the topping, and you could taste the bits of salt. Even reheating the pizza the next day, the crust kept its moisture.

Caesarecce bolognese was very hearty, with veal, beef and pork ragu, grana padano, and gremolata, while the linguine al pesto had artichoke hearts as well -- there's a theme here -- and sundried tomatoes and grana padano.

Although we were full, we couldn't resist trying dessert!

The olive oil cake featured four small slices of the moist cake with dollops of meringue, while the classic Italian pudding with housemade caramel was a sweet finish. I liked the lemon meringue because it had a crunchy texture on the bottom from the short bread crumble, then a thick layer of lemon curd, and then topped with torched meringue. 

Great to know Fiore Famiglia is a great place to eat and we'll be back again. Ciao!

Deliciously tart lemon meringue dessert

Fiore Famiglia

2603 West 16th Avenue

Vancouver, BC

604 558 2603

Hong Kong's Fortunes in Neutral Position

Lau holding fortune No. 15, a neutral one for the sixth year

Hong Kong's Year of the Dragon will not be a good one, according to the fortune Heung Yee Kuk Chairman Kenneth Lau Ip-keung picked out on Sunday, the second day of Chinese New Year.

The "neutral" No. 15 stick reads: "Holding an axe and entering a forest, looking for something not yet obtained. Wasting good material and losing one's strength, offering oneself and waiting for the arrival of spring."

Lau drew the stick at Che Kung Temple

In other words: "When you're in the forest with an axe, there are many trees to chop down. This is exactly what the government has to do, to choose appropriate policies," said Lau. "Spring will come but the government should not waste time and resources."

Or maybe it's time someone else shakes the cylinder full of bamboo fortune sticks and shakes a better one out? Lau has drawn "neutral" sticks in the past six years.

Happy Lunar New Year

Happy New Year of the Dragon!

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

This year is the Wood Dragon, and it is the only mythical creature on the animal zodiac. The Dragon has the characteristics of dominance, ambition, authority, dignity and aggression.

Some famous dragons include Russian President Vladimir Putin, tycoon Li Ka-shing, and billionaire Jack Ma Yun, retired from Alibaba, as well as the late Deng Xiaoping and martial arts legend Bruce Lee.

While fortune tellers are predicting a tough year ahead for Hong Kong's economy, we hope the city's Lion Rock spirit will help residents be resilient and weather the rough times ahead. 

Chinese New Year Western Style

The dragon winding its way through the crowd

Last night I was invited to a Chinese New Year party held at a popular restaurant in downtown Vancouver. When I got there after 6pm it was already heaving with people and I barely knew anyone.

Nevertheless it was fascinating to people-watch during the hour that I was there.

Many women took advantage of the theme to wear cheongsams with heels, warmed by the mobile heaters, or something red, from sweaters to slip dresses and one woman even wore a body-hugging hooded floor-length red dress, something Grace Jones would wear with shades.

Two acrobats posed on spinning hoops

Some men wore Chinese jackets, mostly the tacky satin embroidered kind found in Chinatown.

The music was definitely not Chinese, but it was pumping dance music with a strong beat from a DJ and so I was surprised to see a Chinese woman carrying a one-year-old boy around and then later some girls, five to seven years old with red decorations in their hair looking up to see a scantily-clad acrobat twirling around from a hoop suspended from the ceiling.

What were these kids doing here on a school night?

Perhaps their parents are regulars at this restaurant? These people congregated in groups and had already commandeered tables where they had plates of food and glasses of wine -- red of course.

Ah yes the food. We were in a restaurant, after all.

But this is a Western restaurant and nothing Chinese about the food, with queues for every thing to eat and drink.

There were freshly-shucked briny oysters -- and amazingly I didn't get sick -- as well as tons of sushi, and two stations where giant parmesan cheese wheels were melted to coat penne pasta. There was also a queue for roast beef and mini Yorkshire pudding complete with three different mustards to choose from and gravy poured from a teapot.

Freshly shucked and briny oysters

And then there were glasses that from a distance looked like dessert. When I got one, it was under a heat lamp and when I dug my spoon into it I soon realised it wasn't sweet -- it was beef stew topped with mashed potato.

However the Peking duck spring roll was good, stuffed with meat and vermicelli, while dessert of mandarin mousse in what looked like a mini mandarin orange was a nice finish.

I felt badly for the servers who had to hold heavy trays with one hand and put their other arms around glasses and plates to prevent people from knocking them over. What a tough night.

Just after 7pm the drumming and clashing of the cymbals began and there was actually a glow-in-the-dark dragon weaving around the crowded restaurant. Quite appropriate since it was pretty dark in the place and the dancers had to try and wind their way around people and food. 

An hour was enough time spent there to take in the revelry and see Vancouverites turn out for a Chinese New Year party. Next time wear red red red! And heels heels heels!

Conspiracy Theories of Messi Missing the Match

More than 1,000 complaints made to the Consumer Council

The Messi mess continues to fuel the headlines and now some believe there is a conspiracy theory that "black hands" were involved in making Hong Kong look bad.

A lawmaker is threatening to take event organiser Tatler Asia to court if it doesn't give a proper explanation as to why football superstar Lionel Messi did not play on Sunday in Hong Kong.

Bill Tang Ka-piu gave the ultimatum outside the Small Claims Tribunal in West Kowloon, adding more than a dozen people were ready to file their claims and issue refunds to those who paid more than HK$3,000 (US$384) for each of the tickets.

A lawmaker threatening to sue Tatler Asia

In addition, the Consumer Council has now logged 1,004 complaints (up from the 629 the day earlier) with claims totalling HK$6.9 million.

Tang hopes that by taking Tatler Asia to court, it will force the lifestyle platform to reveal the contract that it signed with Inter Miami with regards to Messi playing.

Chinese state media are now saying Messi not playing in Hong Kong was a foreign plot to embarrass the city. Ta Kung Pao says it's because the father of Inter Miami's owners was apparently a former anti-Castro CIA operative.

The Global Times questioned why Messi had no problem playing in Tokyo but sat out the game in Hong Kong and said Inter Miami gave an explanation that was "unconvincing for the public".

"One of the theories was that there were political motives behind his behaviour," it said in an opinion piece. "Hong Kong has intended to promote a mega-event economy and there might have been foreign forces that deliberately wanted Hong Kong to look bad.

"Judging from the development of the matter, one cannot rule out such a possibility."

So why should Hong Kong even bother to try to entice foreign performers, athletes, musicians and artists if there is a fear of "black hands" meddling in the city's affairs?

Back to square one... 

Consumer Watchdog Logs Over 600 Messi Complaints

Messi (pink hoodie) sits out the exhibition game in Hong Kong

The Lionel Messi debacle continues as the Hong Kong Consumer Council has received over 600 complaints about the Argentine footballer sitting out of the game over the weekend.

Of the 629 complaints, the total claims is about HK4.15 million. While the average claim was around HK$6,599, the highest amount was HK$24,224, and 527 complaints were from local residents.

Wong says council received 629 complaints

"Locals also tended to spend more than tourists on average, probably because the entire family went together," Gilly Wong Fung-han, the council's chief executive, told a radio program on Wednesday Hong Kong time.

"By looking at the amount for each case... you can really tell consumers were quite willing to spend for this football match."

The council was also waiting for organiser Tatler Asia to respond to mediation requests from ticket holders, and that the consumer watchdog had contacted the lifestyle platform.

In the run-up to the game, Messi was heavily promoted, leading fans to believe he would play, but he sat out the entire game, much to the frustration and anger of fans who are demanding a refund.

On Tuesday Messi broke his silence in Tokyo and said it was "a shame" that a thigh-muscle injury prevented him from playing in Hong Kong, and that he hoped to return "whenever he can".

Council waiting for Tatler Asia to respond

But the damage has been done, the star player not even making an effort to interact with fans, let alone shake hands with Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu.

This insane mess will never end until everyone lays their cards on the table and reveals all. In the meantime the blame game continues and it's hardly assuaging fans' indignation. Even if Messi returns, he won't be welcome in Hong Kong...

Sweet New Year Chocolates

Dark chocolate orange with fortune cookie bits

Lunar New Year is around the corner and social media has sucked me into buying some chocolate, though for a good cause.

It's a collaboration between local chocolatier Hype Chocolate and Foo Hung Curios, the gift shop in the Chinatown Storytelling Centre in Vancouver.

Interesting flavours with a Chinese twist

There are three flavours out: Milk chocolate with freeze-dried White Rabbit candy; Dark chocolate orange with fortune cookies; and White chocolate with Gold Mountain tea infused.

I bought the first two flavours at C$18 each and they are creative.

The milk chocolate complements the creaminess of the White Rabbit candy. It doesn't get stuck in your teeth either which is a good thing.

But we are loving the dark chocolate with a hint of orange and then the hard crunchiness of the fortune cookie bits. 

The latter even comes with two fortune slips, probably signifying that they used two fortune cookies per bar and didn't want to throw the pieces of paper in the garbage, but packaging-wise it's a bit weird.

My fortunes say: "Be yourself and you will always be in fashion", with the lucky numbers 2, 20, 32, 36, 37 and 44.

The other says: "You are thorough and very organised", and lucky numbers 19, 24, 26, 33, 40 and 41.

Nevertheless the chocolates are fun and different, and the bonus is that part of the proceeds goes to the Chinatown Storytelling Centre.

Milk chocolate, White Rabbit candy

The centre is the brainchild of Carol Lee, who has done a lot to promote the Chinatown neighbourhood by setting up businesses and landmarks, while networking with politicians to bring more attention to the area. She was awarded the Order of Canada in December. 

Hong Kong's Footie Fiasco

Messi (in pink hoodie) didn't even bother to suit up for game

Hong Kong has a lot of egg on its face after superstar football player Lionel Messi didn't even bother to play in a friendly match of Inter Miami against Hong Kong XI. It was so bad that 40,000 fans who had paid a lot of money to see their idol were booing and jeering, and some demanding refunds.

The event was organised by Tatler Asia and in a contract with the government there was a stipulation that Messi would play for 45 minutes on the pitch. But 10 minutes before the game officials were told he was sidelined because of an injury.

However, he seemed to be fine walking on and off the field, which angered fans, some of whom flew in from China and around Asia for the chance to see Messi play. The event was supposed to be one of several mega events to entice visitors to Hong Kong.

The match was organised by Tatler Asia

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung claimed the government did not know about Messi's injury or that he would be benched for the game.

"We immediately requested them to explore other remedies, such as Messi appearing in the field to interact with his fans and receiving the trophy," he said. "Unfortunately, as you all see, this did not work out."

What makes the debacle even bigger is that the government gave it "M mark status", meaning it was considered a major sporting event that deserved more official funding and official backing.

Tatler Asia received HK$15 million (US$1.92 million) for the event and another HK$1 million venue subsidy. Well Yeung says the government hasn't paid Tatler Asia yet, so the authorities will be grilling the company about who knew what when.

Inter Miami even cancelled its tour of the Kai Tak Sports Park on Monday. 

Beckham's rep has plunged since the debacle

It looks like Inter Miami pulled the wool over Hong Kong's eyes, and while the government blames Tatler Asia, officials didn't escape scathing criticism, and neither did the football club's co-owner and president David Beckham, who was booed in the stadium. 

Him plugging The Venetian and egg tarts was bad enough, but his reputation won't recover after this public relations mess.

Lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun described Sunday's incident as "outrageous" and that it hurt Hong Kong's reputation as a mega-events hub.

So... how's the pitch to Taylor Swift going?

Dine Out Vancouver Roundup

Hearty braised lamb shank at Shaughnessy Restaurant 

Tomorrow is the last day of Dine Out Vancouver. This year some 300 restaurants participated, as it helps drum up business after Christmas, when people are less inclined to go out. It didn't help that the first two days were challenged by the massive snowstorm...

I tried four restaurants this year, and overall the quality was pretty good, very good value, but it was sad to see some had hardly any diners when we went, while others were bustling.

Shaughnessy Restaurant at VanDusen was very quiet. When we arrived, the waiter knew right away about our reservation as they only had a handful of diners. This is disappointing, as it makes the atmosphere dull, and the food and service can only do so much.

Value for money cioppino at Seasons in the Park

For my main I had a generous portion of a Moroccan-inspired braised lamb shank with baked chickpeas. The meat fell off the bone and had a good amount of vegetables too. 

Thankfully I had a light dessert of strawberry sorbet, but it was more of a strawberry ice than sorbet. Perhaps it was because there were so few diners it was in the deep freezer.

In a complete contrast, Seasons in the Park was packed to the gills on a Sunday night. We had a 5.45pm reservation and when we sat down, a table next to us was being served dessert. This restaurant is very consistent and efficient, thanks to the vegetable sides being exactly the same on every item in the menu.

The cioppino was very good value for a set meal, the tomato-based broth was very flavourful with sweetness from the seafood including mussels, shrimp and fish. The duck confit was hearty and thankfully not dried out. However, the chocolate brownie dessert was too dense and rich -- even my sweet-tooth dad couldn't finish it!

A restaurant we hadn't tried before is Fable Diner on East Broadway and Main Street. It's a hipster diner where they play an 80s soundtrack that I enjoyed bopping to, though it was a bit quiet. Nevertheless, the creamy tomato soup didn't have cream, which made it even more delicious, while the salmon was slightly overcooked, but a nice portion that was just right. 

Memorable three-berry sorbet at Fable Diner

Here the three-berry sorbet was amazing -- shades of pink, soft and a taste of summer. The Oreo Mason jar cheesecake was deceivingly light and not too sweet either. 

Finally Dockside Restaurant in the Granville Island Hotel wasn't as busy as we thought, probably overlooked, but it's easily accessible and parking is not hard to find after 6pm. As I had a big lunch earlier in the day, I opted for a vegetarian main of grilled maitake mushrooms with kabocha squash puree and asparagus.

I also had the crab and fish cake as a starter that was sizeable. For dessert, the key lime cheesecake sounded fun, though when it arrived it has a layer of neon green that almost glowed in the dark. Nevertheless the cheesecake had a hint of lime and not heavy at all.

Dockside's Grilled maitake mushrooms

So there's my roundup for the year and glad to have participated. Dine Out Vancouver is a great initiative that encourages people to support restaurants, and at the same time gives these establishments an opportunity to have customers who haven't tried them before, and challenges chefs to think of new economical dishes that are also delicious.

Chinese New Year Gift Ideas

Impressive artistic work, but not appealing to buy

Many western companies are getting into the Lunar New Year spirit to cash in on Asian customers.

At Costco, Sunkist has boxed its oranges in a fancy burgundy-coloured box complete with a golden dragon on it, and it even has 龍年 2024 Year of the Dragon on it.

We needed to buy oranges, but cute packaging

The tagline says: "Citrus for Prosperity".

Today I went to Thomas Haas, a local chocolatier's shop. Among the special items this month along with chocolate hearts is a red dragon in white chocolate, gold chocolate coins and "bamboo". I didn't buy it, but a Caucasian woman did!

Picture of the Day: Burrard Street Bridge

Lovely view of the Burrard Street Bridge from Granville Island

This evening some friends and I had dinner at a restaurant in Granville Island and afterwards we took a quick stroll around the area. 

When we reached the edge of Burrard Inlet looking towards the Burrard Street Bridge I couldn't help but take a picture. It reminded me of when I used to take night shots along Victoria Harbour when I used to walk along a 10K route.

Today the weather held up -- the rain stopped in the morning and in the afternoon there were some blue sky patches before turning overcast again in the evening.

Nevertheless we enjoyed not only spending time together and catching up, but also enjoying the view.

Vancouver Has Highest Rents in Canada

Vancouver home ownership continues to be further out of reach

Vancouver continues to be the city where average rents are the highest in the country.

Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation comes out with an annual report that includes important data on rental figures that were just released today. CHMC says the average rent in Vancouver for a two-bedroom place is C$2,181 per month, Toronto is second with C$1,961, and Victoria close behind at C$1,839.

Montreal is a bargain at C$1,096, cheaper than St John's at C$1,198.

The city leads in the highest rents in Canada

This average is for all rental units, including those who have had the same tenant for years.

When it comes to new two-bedroom rental units, Vancouver is still on top at C$2,601, followed by Toronto at C$2,405, and Victoria at C$2,351. Kelowna is in fourth place at C$2,073.

Looking at the vacancy rate, Vancouver is the lowest in the country at 0.9 percent, and Halifax in second place at 1 percent, and Kelowna at 1.3 percent.

Why is this happening?

Because of high interest rates and inflation, home ownership is even further out of reach of people who want to buy and so they continue renting. They also want to avoid moving to another rental because that may mean higher rents. Another reason is high population growth last year which kept demand high and supply low.

While Vancouver is such a beautiful city, trying to afford to live here is a terrifying reality...