Christmas Abroad

[Continuing Series on HK  #4 of 10]

We celebrated Christmas twice here in HK... meaning we FEASTED twice!

First was with Matthew's Canadian relatives who happened to be vacationing in HK the same time we were...

Here we are with Auntie Eugenia/Uncle Roy (3-Goo-Jeh/Jeung) from Vancouver and Auntie Hannah/Uncle Fred (4-Goo-Jeh/Jeung) from Toronto.

Do you recognize them? Yes it's the same 3-Goo-Jeh/Jeung from Vancouver! Seriously, we have seen them three times within five months... that's probably more times than I've seen my parents back home. The blessing this time around was that we got to see Matthew's other aunt/uncle from Toronto, Auntie Hannah (who has the same name as my little daughter) and her husband. They are Matthew's dad's youngest sister or #4 sibling. They were unable to attend the wedding in November so it was great to be able to show them pictures during dinner.

Matthew's sister, Matthea and her family traveled with us to HK so they were part of the big reunion with relatives.

Our menu was definitely a 10 course meal..

Roast Pig

Stir fried squid with broccoli

The so delicious (and banned back home) shark fin soup

Dried Scallops over lettuce

Abalone, oyster, and mushroom over spinach

Abalone and mushroom over baby bok choy

Steamed black cod

Crispy Skin Chicken (sorry.. it was gone by the time I got my shot.. but the head is there for you to see)

Sweet Sticky Fried Rice (oh so so good!) It was my favorite!

Beautiful desserts that Matthea got from a HK bakery

Red bean soup with black sesame mochi balls

My nephew, Timothy, loves the spinach.. check out how he holds his chopsticks.. hey.. whatever works right?

Our Hannah M. with her Great-Aunt Hannah M.

On Christmas Day, we celebrated at Serenade Seafood Chinese Restaurant with old friends and new.

Our frequent travel companions from home, Sandy & Willie

Willie's sister, Wendy and her husband, Levan, who live in HK

Carolyn and Greg, friends of ours for 25+ years, who are currently living on the mainland

Shawna, Emily's classmate and Sandy & Willie's daughter, with Emily

Priscilla, Greg & Carolyn's daughter, and Hannah

Cory and Craig, Greg & Carolyn's sons, and Nathan and Marcus, Levan & Wendy's sons

We adults had our own table, and the kids had their own table.

We had to figure out what each utensil was for. Apparently the black chopsticks is used to get your food and the nice decorated chopstick is for you to eat your food.

Serenade is a very 'nice' restaurant; they cover your jacket behind your chair to protect it from any food dropping when they come serve it.

Here is our menu.. big thanks go to Willie who helped us translate and decide on what we should eat. It was so delicious and made Christmas very memorable!

Cold Cuts Chinese-style

Bird's nest soup: we had the choice between bird's nest or shark fin and Willie wanted to be environmentally-green so we opted for bird's nest

Lamb stew

Pea sprouts with dried scallops

Stir fried chicken, shrimp and broccoli

Deep fried milk and shrimp balls

 Dried Scallops over bok choy

E-Mein

Steamed black cod

Fu-Jian Fried Rice

Abalone over napa cabbage

Crispy Fried Chicken

Peking spare ribs (the kids ordered).. smaller than what I am used to back home

Red bean mochi ball soup for dessert

Mini Cheesecakes

Almond Cookies

We were so blessed to have spent Christmas 2012 together!

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