Tastes of Hong Kong
8 days & 7 nights
Hong Kong & Macau - designed for small groups
Join us on this Culinary Adventure to Hong Kong, one of Asia's most vibrant cities and without a doubt the Continent's gastronomic capital. We will spend a week in Hong Kong and have the opportunity of having five mornings being reserved for introductions to Chinese cuisines along with participative and hands-on learning. We will also learn about Chinese Teas and about matching Wines and Beers to Chinese food as well as being introduced to a number of Chinese exercise forms such as Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Reflexology. Gourmet dinners and City Sightseeing would complement this fascinating program.
Day 1 - Arrive Hong Kong - Dinner
On arrival at Hong Kong's Airport (HKG) guests will be met by Eastern Journeys and assisted with their luggage and transfers to their chosen hotel. Transfers can be arranged either by private limousine or by deluxe coach. The balance of the day has been left free as flight arrival times are not yet known.

This evening a Welcome Cocktail Party and Light Dinner will be hosted at the Hotel so as to allow Guests to meet each other and be advised of the week's program.
Day 2 - Hong Kong - Breakfast & Lunch
After breakfast at the hotel we embark on a City Orientation Tour and will take in the main sights on Hong Kong Island. First we will travel up to Hong Kong's famous Victoria Peak by the delightful Peak Tram for the stunning city views that it affords. From here we join our coach and travel to Aberdeen still an active fishing harbor where we will see the harbor from a traditional sampan. We then drive past Deep Water Bay and Repulse Bay two of Hong Kong's most popular beaches and exclusive residential areas before arriving at Stanley, famed for its daily market.

We offer lunch at the delightful Boathouse Restaurant overlooking the blue waters of the South China Sea. After lunch we will allow an hour or so for Guests to look around Stanley Market and then return to our Hotel. The balance of the afternoon and evening have been left free.
Day 3 - Hong Kong - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This morning after breakfast we head to Hong Kong's superb Chinese Cuisine Training Institute which is one of Asia's leading Culinary Academies for the training of Chinese chefs and we are fortunate to be permitted to use their excellent Demonstration Kitchen. On arrival we will be given an introduction to the facilities and a lecture on the key styles and schools of Chinese cuisine. After the introduction we will go straight to the kitchen where we focus on the dishes commonly found in Northern China. The class will teach us 3 typical dishes and after we finish our preparation and cooking we get to savor our efforts over lunch.

This afternoon our Chef will guide us through one of Hong Kong's traditional 'wet' markets and introduce us to the various ingredients that are commonly found in Chinese cuisine and also make suggestions as to what can be used as alternatives and which are more commonly found outside of Asia or specialist Asian grocery stores. Dinner is arranged this evening.
Day 4 - Hong Kong - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This morning we return, after breakfast, to the Chinese Cuisine Training Institute and enroute visit the wholesale Fish Market at Aberdeen, where chefs and buyers from Hong Kong's leading hotels, restaurants and fish stores come daily to purchase their fresh seafood. On arrival at the Academy we will be introduced to the dishes native to Hong Kong and Southern China, collectively called Cantonese cuisine. We will see how dramatically different southern dishes are from the northern ones we prepared the preceding day and again have a hands-on cooking experience. For lunch, we follow the Cantonese theme and head to a traditional restaurant for Dim Sum, the flavorsome small dumplings and small fried or steamed parcels of with fresh seafood, meat and vegetables so commonly eaten in Hong Kong for breakfast or lunch.

This afternoon we take a look at Traditional Chinese Medicine and are given an introduction on various typical health regimes that are commonly found in Hong Kong and China. We will be taught a series of breathing exercises (QiGong) that are believed to help us strengthen the energy flows within our bodies. There will also be an opportunity to experience the benefits of foot reflexology and medical massage on acu-points. After such a healthy afternoon a spectacular dinner is arranged this evening.
Day 5 - Macau - Breakfast & Lunch
After breakfast we head by fast ferry (1 hour) to Macau which was Europe's oldest settlement in East Asia and a Portuguese colony for over 400 years only reverting to Chinese sovereignty in December 1999. Macanese cuisine is a delicious blend of Portuguese, Chinese and African influences and very different to what you find in Hong Kong. This morning we visit one of Macau's leading restaurants for a Macanese cooking demonstration and then enjoy a traditional and relaxed lunch. This afternoon we will take time to visit some of Macau's leading sights and also make a stop at its interesting Wine Museum.

On our return to Hong Kong the evening has been left free for independent exploration and our staff will be happy to make restaurant, shopping or activity suggestions.
Day 6 - Hong Kong - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Every morning in Hong Kong and indeed throughout China people flock to the parks and open spaces to practice the ancient form of Tai Chi and today we have organized a Tai Chi Master to introduce us to these graceful movements that help to enhance balance, improve muscle tone, breathing and digestion. After breakfast and our Tai Chi lesson we return to the Academy to be introduced to the delights of the cooking style of Shanghai and Eastern China. After finishing our class we will enjoy lunch at the School's western restaurant.

This afternoon we will venture across the harbor to the Kowloon Peninsula and make visits to the interesting Wong Tai Sin Temple where we will be introduced to the three dominant local religions of Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. Thereafter we will make visits to three of Kowloon's most interesting markets, those selling Flowers, Birds and Jade. Dinner is offered this evening and we will arrange for a Wine and Beer tasting and a short lecture on how to match Wines and Beers with Chinese cuisine.
Day 7 - Hong Kong - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After a leisurely breakfast we make our final visit to the Academy where we will learn about and have the opportunity to cook spicy dishes from Sichuan in Western China. We will learn a number of dishes that will be easily replicable at home as well as being introduced to the wonderful array of Teas that China is so well known for. After a celebratory lunch at the Cuisine Institute all guests will be presented with their Certificates of Achievement.

We have left this afternoon free to allow for independent exploration in Hong Kong though will be happy to make suggestions for those looking for interesting ideas. A Farewell Dinner is offered this evening.


Day 8 - Depart Hong Kong - Breakfast
After breakfast the day has been left at leisure until it is time to transfer to the Airport for the journey home, or for onward flights for some of our suggested extension itineraries to China.