PANDA BREAD RECIPE: LESSONS AT A CUTE COOKING SCHOOL IN HONG KONG. RILAKKUMA BEAR, CAKE DECORATION LESSONS.
Cute cooking runs in La Carmina’s family — and here’s the proof! My cousin Amanda Yuen runs a Hong Kong cooking school, Princess Cake House, specializing in cute food and fun, decorated desserts. Sebastiano and I joined a class, where we learned how to make adorable panda bread, while chomping on Rilakkuma’s chocolate ear.
Seba’s yellow cat shirt: Hyoma, from the I.T. store.
La Carmina’s Goth-cute tank top: Black Peace Now, from Closet Child Tokyo
Pink and silver flower necklace: gifted from Soho Hearts
The workshop, located in Fo Tan, was bustling with about 40 students. My Rilakkuma bear apron matches Amanda’s chocolate bread creation.
Every weekend, the instructors teach students how to make adorable sweets, like panda bear bread.
Who came for the lesson? Seriously, everyone: kids, female friends, couples, a headhunter from the UK. Amanda won a cake decorating award in Japan, so she’s well qualified to teach.
Hazel demonstrates the steps while the students watch. Pop quiz: can you find Seba in this photo?
The layering of the black, white and green (matcha-flavored) dough…
… results in panda faces on every slice of bread. Kawaii!
As you may know, I wrote a cookbook, Cute Yummy Time (published by Penguin Books). It’s about how to make healthy food fun — by decorating it to look like cute characters! You can find more info here.
What a fun cooking school, with smiling objects everywhere. Using this wooden rolling pin, can you guess what I did to Seba?
Seba’s munching turned the cute bear’s face into a ghost. Using the torch, he made a creme brulee crust.
Amanda also baked dainty cakes and pastel macaroons. She let us eat whatever we wanted — and we did!
Whenever I travel to a new place, I enjoy taking cooking lessons; it’s a rewarding way to learn about the culture and pick up new foodie skills. And why not add some cuteness to the mix?
If you visit Hong Kong, I hope you’ll pay a visit to Princess Cake House. Cooking classes are held in Cantonese, but you can email them and ask for my cousin Amanda. She’ll make sure you don’t get lost in translation.
Have you ever taken a cooking lesson? Or tried cooking cute? My bento-decoration-inspired book is available to buy here.
PS: Seba and I have SO many photos to share… Milan, Rome, Venice, Florence with Luisa Via Roma. Plus two fashion design collaborations to be released this month. Patience please!
Song of the Day: Yelle – Safari Disco Club (French electro; you can stream the entire album.)
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HONG KONG TIMES SQUARE, LAFORET, ISLAND BEVERLEY: CAUSEWAY BAY SHOPS & MALLS. CIRCLE CONTACT LENS, COSPLAY.
Why does Laforet department store look so different? Because we’re no longer in Japan, Dorothy. This is Laforet’s Hong Kong cousin, located in Causeway Bay.
Unlike the Harajuku Laforet, this one doesn’t carry your favorite Gothic Lolita Punk brands. On the bright side, it’s packed with affordable (yes!) J-style streetwear, from gyaru to Goth.
Generally, all clothes and accessories are cheaper in Hong Kong than in Japan. So you should shop freely, my friends. What better excuse to buy a barely-there cosplay maid outfit?
Next door is Island Beverley, a complex of restaurants and shops. The wearables are a bit of a hodge-podge, but they’re cheap and cute.
The current trend? Glittery, kawaii iPhone covers. (Which one is your favorite?)
Also in Causeway Bay is Times Square, a ritzy multi-level mall. The basement is home to Lane Crawford (the Barney’s of Asia).
Most of the boutiques are international luxury brands (Lacoste, LeSportsac) — not my cup of tea. However, the Jessica store had cute ghosts that remind me of Peace Now.
The character says “Wah” like my special cat, Basil Farrow!
Let’s finish our Causeway Bay mall tour with Sogo, the comprehensive Japanese department store.
You can stock up on gift items, such as Sanrio stationery or Scottish Fold goodies (doesn’t this character look like my kitty?)
Love these animal purses for adults, and the sparkly shoes.
The cookware model is a genius at posing.
And that concludes our tour of Causeway Bay’s major malls! Don’t forget to visit my favorite one, World Trade Centre — full details and photos in this post.
Are you surprised at how popular Japanese goods are in Hong Kong? Which brands would you love to get your hands on?
Tip: when in Asia, do your shopping in HK. You’ll get the same items (or almost), at a much lower price.
PS: Seba and I are currently in Venice! We can hear the sea and Italian singing outside our window. Next stop, Rome, for a glam-tastic musical project with DNR… You can keep track of my Italy vogage on my Twitter.
Song of the Day: Duke Lake – Do You (Went to an Italo Disco club in Milan. My live is now complete.)
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LA CARMINA
