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>> I'M AN ACTOR AND STAND-UP
COMEDIAN. AND WHAT I LOVE TO DO
IS TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD
EATING FOOD THAT SLOWLY MAKES ME
CHUBBY. WHOA! SNAKE? AAH!
GIVE ME 7 PIG SNOUTS.
>> YOU CAN KIND OF MAKE YOUR
DREAMS COME TRUE HERE.
>> NO, NO! CAPTAIN SWEET!
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
>> FOREHEAD...YOU ARE LUCKY.
>> WOMEN TELL ME THEY LOVE MY
FOREHEAD.
I'M AZIZ ANSARI. AND HONG KONG
IS MY GETAWAY.
>> AND THE WORLD IS YOURS.
>> HONG KONG IS FULL OF
CONTRADICTIONS, A PLACE WHERE
THE MODERN AND THE
TRADITIONAL RUB UP AGAINST EACH
OTHER. ONE OF THE MOST DENSELY
POPULATED CITIES ON EARTH,
A WONDERLAND.
IF YOU WANT IT, THEY GOT IT.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE FOOD
IS DELICIOUS.
I'VE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO TRAVEL
TO TOKYO AND SHANGHAI.
BOTH HAVE AMAZING CUISINES.
SO WHEN I ASKED MY CHEF FRIENDS
WHERE I SHOULD EAT NEXT, THEY
ALL HAD THE SAME ANSWER--
HONG KONG.
FLYING IN FROM LOS ANGELES,
I ARRIVE AT THE HONG KONG
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
IN THE MORNING.
DO I HAVE JET LAG? NO. WHY?
BECAUSE I AM AN EXPERT TRAVELER.
THE WAY YOU AVOID JET LAG IS
SIMPLE. WHEN YOU GET ON
THE FLIGHT--FOR EXAMPLE, IN THIS
CASE, I GOT ON A FLIGHT IN
LOS ANGELES--I WENT AHEAD AND
SET MY TIME TO HONG KONG TIME.
SO I'M ALREADY ON THAT TIME,
BECAUSE I STAYED UP FOR A FEW
HOURS ON THE PLANE. YOU SEE
THESE OTHER CHUMPS, LIKE, "UGH,
I GUESS I'LL JUST GO TO SLEEP
NOW AND SLEEP THE WHOLE FLIGHT."
NO, DUMMY! YOU'RE GONNA BE
WIDE AWAKE AT 3:00 IN THE
MORNING IN HONG KONG. GO AHEAD
AND CHANGE YOUR CLOCK TO
HONG KONG TIME. IT'S THAT EASY.
IT'S THAT EASY.
>> HONG KONG APPARENTLY MEANS
"FRAGRANT HARBOR."
>> HONG KONG PEOPLE ARE REALLY,
REALLY FAST.
THEY EVEN WALK FAST.
>> KIND OF STRESSED OUT.
>> THEY'RE REALLY STRESSED OUT.
>> YEAH.
>> HONG KONG'S ALMOST LIKE
THE NEW YORK OF ASIA.
IT'S A HUGE MELTING POT
OF DIFFERENT CULTURES.
>> I THINK IT'S THE BEST CITY IN
THE WORLD.
>> OK. BRIEF GEOGRAPHY LESSON--
HONG KONG IS MADE UP OF
THE NEW TERRITORIES, KOWLOON,
HONG KONG ISLAND, AND OVER 200
OTHER ISLANDS. I'M STAYING AT
THE MANDARIN LANDMARK HOTEL
IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
ON HONG KONG ISLAND.
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST HIGH-END
HOTELS IN HONG KONG, WITH
A MODERN AESTHETIC...
HELLO! OH, I GOT IT. I GOT IT.
AND A STAFF THAT THINKS MORE
HIGHLY OF ME THAN I AM USED TO.
WAIT. OH, MY GOD. YOU GOT TO
COME SEE THIS. "POSITION/TITLE:
CELEBRITY."
UH, NO. UM...
SCREW IT. I'LL FIX THAT--
B-LIST. THERE WE GO.
>> THERE'S...
>> WHAT A NICE ROOM! WOW.
SOME TEA, MOCHI. COOL.
THIS TUB, IT'S A LITTLE BIT
SMALLER THAN WHAT I'M USED TO,
BUT I THINK IT'LL DO.
THEY PUT IN A TV AS I'VE
REQUESTED. I LOVE TO TAKE A BIG
CIRCULAR BATH AND WATCH RERUNS
OF "FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR."
SO THAT'LL BE EXCITING.
>> THE TRANSPORT SYSTEM IS VERY,
VERY EFFICIENT. THE MTI CAN TAKE
YOU TO DIFFERENT PLACES, OR
TAXIS, BY BUS, OR JUST BY TRAM.
>> FRESHLY BATHED, I TAKE THE
CITY'S EFFICIENT AND ZIPPY MASS
TRANSIT, TRAVELING UNDER
HONG KONG HARBOR TO THE KOWLOON
PENINSULA. I'M MEETING
THE UNSTOPPABLE DENNY, PART-TIME
GUIDE, FULL-TIME RACONTEUR.
HE IS THE MAN IN THE KNOW.
>> YOU ARE AZIZ.
>> DENNY, RIGHT?
>> YES. YES. NICE TO MEET YOU.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
>> I WAS TOLD YOU'D BE WEARING
YELLOW.
>> YELLOW MEANS MONEY,
GOOD LUCK.
>> OH, NICE. WHAT ABOUT DARK
BLUE AND PINK?
>> OH, YOU LOOK FABULOUS.
>> OH, GOOD. HA HA!
WE'RE DOING LUNCH AT
TIM HO WAN, ONE OF HIS FAVORITE
DIM SUM RESTAURANTS.
BASED ON THE LENGTH OF THE LINE
AND THE SCARCITY OF WHITE
PEOPLE, I KNOW THIS IS
THE PLACE.
>> THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST
DIM SUM IN TOWN. BEEN CALLED
THE WORLD'S CHEAPEST
ONE MICHELIN STAR RESTAURANT.
>> OOH, WOW. THAT'S COOL.
>> OK. TAKE SOME OF THAT,
SOME OF THAT,
SOMETHING WEIRD, LOVELY, NICE.
>> I TRUST YOU, DENNY.
>> HA HA! YOU REALLY TRUST ME?
HA HA! MY WIFE DOESN'T.
>> HA HA!
>> [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
SEE, IN MAINLAND CHINA, YOU
SPEAKS MANDARIN...
>> YES.
>> IN HERE WE SPEAKS CANTONESE.
>> GOT IT.
>> OK? AND LET ME TEACH YOU
A LITTLE WAY TO GO AROUND
HONG KONG, OK? OK,
"GOOD MORNING" IS
>> ZHAO [JO]...
>> ZHAO.
>> AND THE SUN.
>> ZHAO SHANG [JO SUN].
>> YEAH. ZHAO SHANG.
>> ZHAO SHANG.
>> YEAH. AND THEN "THANK YOU"
IS M'GOI.
>> M'GOI. THAT'S WHAT?
>> THANK YOU.
>> "THANK YOU."
>> SO EVERY TIME
WHEN YOU SEE A PERSON, YOU SAY,
"ZHAO SHANG," "M'GOI."
"ZHAO SHANG," "M'GOI."
"ZHAO SHANG," "M'GOI."
>> OK, LET'S GIVE IT A TEST.
>> ZHAO SHANG.
>> M'GOI.
>> ZHAO SHANG.
>> M'GOI.
>> SEE?
>> DONE.
FIRST UP, THE MOST DELICIOUS
BARBECUE PORK BUNS I'VE EVER
ENCOUNTERED.
OH, MY GOD.
>> DELICIOUS.
>> SO GOOD. THEN WE GOT SOME
DUMPLINGS, PORK WRAPPED IN
RICE NOODLES, SHRIMP SHUMAI.
IT'S ALL DELICIOUS AND
SURPRISINGLY LIGHT AND MILD.
>> YOU ARE IN HONG KONG NOW.
CANTONESE FOOD IS NOT THAT
SPICY.
>> NO?
>> IT STILL HAVE THE TASTE.
>> DENNY TESTS ME WITH
THE CHICKEN FEET.
>> DO NOT EAT THE BONES.
WE ONLY EAT THE SKINS, OK?
DON'T EAT THE BONES.
>> SKIN IS FOR BEGINNERS.
BONES ARE PURE CRUNCHY GOODNESS.
>> SO ARE YOU KIND OF LIKE
A FOOD PERSON, OR YOU JUST LOVE
AND ENJOY FOOD?
>> SURE. I TOUR A LOT.
I'M A COMEDIAN, SO I TOUR A LOT.
AND FROM TOURING, I GOT REALLY
INTO JUST EATING A LOT AND
JUST EXPLORING CUISINE WHEREVER
I'M TRAVELING. SO THAT KIND OF
BECAME MY GATEWAY INTO GETTING
INTO FOOD.
>> I THINK HONG KONG IS THE ONLY
PLACE THAT YOU CAN FIND ALL
DIFFERENT KINDS OF CHINESE
CUISINE--NORTHEAST, SOUTHWEST,
ALL THE WAY IN THIS SMALL,
LITTLE AREA.
>> YEAH.
>> AND I JUST HOPE YOU ENJOY
YOUR TIME IN HONG KONG...
>> I WILL.
I WILL CIRCLE BACK WITH DENNY
LATER. BUT FIRST, AN ERRAND.
I'M HEADED TO THE SOUTHERN PART
OF KOWLOON, A NEIGHBORHOOD
CALLED TSIM SHA TSUI.
IT'S WHERE ALL THE TAILORS
ARE LOCATED.
HI!
>> ZHAO SHANG.
>> M'GOI.
>> M'GOI. [CHUCKLES]
>> I'M STEPHEN.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
>> GOOD TO MEET YOU.
>> YEAH.
>> SIMPSON SIN TAILOR IS ONE
OF HONG KONG'S FAMOUS MAKERS
OF BESPOKE SUITS.
THESE FOLKS CAN *** OUT
A PERFECT SUIT IN 24 TO 48
HOURS FOR HALF OF WHAT YOU'D
PAY AT HOME.
>> HOW MANY SUITS YOU GOT?
>> I MEAN, HONESTLY, PROBABLY,
LIKE, 30, 40.
>> YOU NEED MORE.
>> SOMETIMES I JUST WEAR
TANK TOPS.
>> OHH.
>> JUST KIDDING.
>> HA HA!
>> HONG KONG FAMOUS--THAT'S
ONE OF THE THINGS IS TAILORED
SUITS. ALL THE TAILORS IN
HONG KONG MOSTLY ARE LEARNED
FROM RUSSIAN.
>> HOW DO I WANT TO FEEL
WHEN I'M WEARING THIS SUIT?
>> YEAH, RIGHT.
>> LIKE, MAYBE, LIKE, I JUST
FOUND OUT I GOT A HUGE REBATE
ON MY TAXES.
>> MM-HMM.
>> LIKE, THAT KIND OF FEELING
WHERE YOU'RE JUST LIKE
EXCITED IF IT'S ALL THAT.
>> SO FOR THAT, YOU NEED
SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE MODERN.
HERE YOU ARE.
>> I THINK THIS IS PRETTY COOL.
>> MEASURE YOU UP.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> IF YOU'RE IN HONG KONG,
YOU SHOULD TRY TO GET ONE
OF THE TAILOR-MADE SUITS THAT
FIT YOU BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS
BUILT DIFFERENT.
>> SO HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN
MAKING SUITS?
>> 47 YEARS.
>> WOW! I'M NOT EVEN THAT OLD.
>> SINCE 17. I LIKE MY JOB.
>> NO. THAT'S GREAT.
>> THAT'S WHY I'VE BEEN WORKING
SO LONG.
>> NO, THAT'S GOOD.
>> OTHERWISE, I'D TRY TO RETIRE.
>> THIS IS WHERE A SUIT GOES
FROM ORDINARY TO BESPOKE. IT'S
ALL ABOUT CUSTOMIZING. SO MANY
DETAILS. I LIVE FOR THIS.
WHENEVER YOU'RE GETTING A SUIT,
YOU CAN GET DIFFERENT TYPES
OF LAPELS.
>> YES, SIR.
>> THIS IS A PEAK LAPEL,
CORRECT?
>> THAT'S PEAK. RIGHT.
>> AND THIS IS A NOTCH LAPEL.
ANOTHER COOL THING IS WITH
A CUSTOM SUIT, YOU HAVE
FUNCTIONAL BUTTONS. DID I TELL
YOU MY SUIT CAN DO THIS?
AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE OPTIONS
ON THE POCKETS.
THIS IS A FLAP POCKET.
>> I THINK...
>> AND THEN...
>> WITH SMALL TICKET POCKETS
ON THE TOP HERE.
>> ON THE TOP.
>> IN BRITAIN, THEY USED TO GET
IT FOR THEIR TRAIN TICKET,
BUT NO ONE USES IT FOR
A TRAIN TICKET ANYMORE.
>> SO JUST FOR STYLE...RIGHT?
>> IT'S JUST FOR STYLE.
IF I HAD A TICKET TO SEE USHER,
COULD I PUT IT IN THE TICKET
POCKET?
>> SURE, DO. IT'S A REAL POCKET.
>> WHAT IF IT WAS A TICKET
TO GO SEE RIHANNA? COULD I PUT
THE TICKET IN THERE?
>> HOW BIG?
>> SAME SIZE TICKET.
>> SURE, DO.
>> WHAT IF IT WAS A TICKET
TO SEE BEYONCE?
>> THE ANSWER, I DON'T KNOW.
>> OK.
>> HA HA! I'M SORRY.
I CAN'T ANSWER THAT.
>> WE SETTLE ON A SLIM MODERN
STYLE--A SHORT JACKET WITH
A PEAK LAPEL AND FLAP POCKETS.
IT'S GONNA BE GREAT.
ALL RIGHT. LOOKS GOOD.
SUITS AND DIM SUM? UH, YEAH,
THINGS ARE GOING WELL.
TIME TO PUSH MY LUCK A BIT
FURTHER. ABOUT A HALF-HOUR
TAXI RIDE EAST ON THE OUTSKIRTS
OF HONG KONG IS AN ENORMOUS
RACETRACK.
[FANS SHOUTING
IN NATIVE LANGUAGE]
>> LOCALS TAKE THEIR HORSE
RACING SERIOUSLY AND THEIR
GAMBLING EVEN MORE SO.
TIME TO PLAY THE PONIES.
THE MASSIVE SHA TIN RACECOURSE
IN THE NEW TERRITORIES IS
HOLDING ITS ANNUAL DERBY,
AND I HAVE A GOOD FEELING
ABOUT WINNING SOME DOUGH, EVEN
THOUGH I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT
HORSES OR THIS RACE.
>> CHINESE PEOPLE SHOULD BE
ONE OF THE MOST SUPERSTITIOUS
PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD. AND YOU
CAN SEE, IN THE PAST COUPLE
DAYS, I WEAR THE COLOR YELLOW
BECAUSE THIS YEAR,
THE FENG SHUI MASTER SAID
MY LUCKY COLOR IS
YELLOW, ALTHOUGH I WALK LIKE
A BANANA--BUT I HOPE THAT
I CAN BE LUCKY.
>> DENNY, LUCKY YELLOW SHIRT
AND ALL, HAS A *** OF LOCAL
CURRENCY BURNING A HOLE IN
HIS POCKET. HE'S GONNA SHEPHERD
ME THROUGH THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE.
>> I MEAN, WE DO HAVE RACES--
DAY RACES EVERY WEEK.
>> YEAH?
W>> BUT THIS WEEK IS
THE HONG KONG DERBY.
THIS IS WHERE ALL THE MONEY
IN HONG KONG, IT'S ALREADY
CONCENTRATE IN ONE AFTERNOON.
>> CAN WE MAKE FUN OF THESE
GUYS DRINKING BEER IN THE STRAW?
WHO DRINKS BEER THROUGH A STRAW?
>> IT'S THE NEW COOL THING.
>> NEW COOL THING?
>> YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT?
HEY, YOU HAVE TO DO IT
HONG KONG STYLE.
>> HAVE YOU EVER SEEN SOMEONE
DOUBLE-FIST MILK TEA AND A BEER?
>> THIS IS MY FIRST TIME...
>> AND YOU'VE SEEN IT ALL.
>> ZHAO SHANG.
[DENNY SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE]
>> LENGLUI, ZHAO SHANG.
>> LENGLUI. YEAH. LENGLUI...
>> YEAH!
IF THERE IS ONE THING I KNOW
ABOUT PICKING A HORSE, IT'S
THAT YOU GOT TO FIND ONE
WITH A STRONG NAME.
CAPTAIN SWEET? WAIT. LET'S SEE
IF THERE'S ANOTHER NAME THAT'S
INTERESTING, THOUGH.
"CAPTAIN SWEET." IS THERE A LIST
OF ALL THE NAMES?
SIR, WHICH HORSE ARE YOU
BETTING ON?
>> NUMBER ONE.
>> AMBITIOUS DRAGON.
DO YOU GAMBLE A LOT?
>> NO. NOT QUITE...
>> "NOT QUITE."
I'M NOT GONNA LISTEN TO THIS.
>> ADMIRATION IS GOOD.
>> ADMIRATION? THAT'S BORING.
WHAT IF YOU'RE A CUTE GIRL
AND SOME GUY SAYS, "HI.
I'M CAPTAIN SWEET."
YOU'RE LIKE, "WHAT!
YOU'RE CAPTAIN SWEET?"
>> THAT'S NOT GONNA RACE...
>> NO. THAT'S IF YOU'RE LIKE...
[IN NASAL VOICE]
"HI. I'M ADMIRATION."
[REGULAR VOICE]
LET'S GO PUT SOME MONEY
ON CAPTAIN SWEET RIGHT NOW
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
RACE NUMBER 7...
I BET A HUGE 200 HONG KONG
DOLLARS ON NUMBER 4.
CAPTAIN SWEET.
THANK YOU.
DENNY BETS NUMBER 9.
ADMIRATION?
>> MY MORTGAGE, MY POCKET MONEY
ALL RELIES ON THIS.
>> DONE. I GOT A GOOD FEELING
ABOUT THIS.
>> YES. OK. THE HORSES ARE
GETTING IN THE GATE NOW.
EXCITED?
>> I AM.
>> MY HEART IS JUMPING.
[BELL RINGING]
YES! LET'S GO.
[CROWD SPEAKING EXCITEDLY]
>> LOOK AT CAPTAIN SWEET!
LOOK, HE'S IN THE LEAD.
CAPTAIN SWEET'S ALREADY IN
THE LEAD.
>> HEY, IT IS A LONG RACE.
COME ON. IT'S A LONG RACE.
>> IT'S A LONG RACE, BUT HE'S
ALREADY LEADING.
OK. WHERE?
>> COME ON...
>> BOTH OUR GUYS ARE KILLING IT
IN THE FRONT. HERE THEY COME.
NUMBER 9. LOOK AT CAPTAIN
SWEET. CAPTAIN SWEET!
I CALLED IT. CAPTAIN--
LOOK AT CAPTAIN SWEET GO.
LOOK AT CAPTAIN SWEET GO.
OH, NO! CAPTAIN SWEET!
NUMBER ONE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
NO, NO...
CAPTAIN SWEET, WHAT HAPPENED?
NUMBER ONE, AMBITIOUS DRAGON,
WINS THE RACE.
WHY DIDN'T I LISTEN TO THAT GUY?
>> I AM DEPRESSED. I AM SAD.
I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
>> TURNS OUT IT WAS DENNY'S
FAULT ALL ALONG.
[SARCASTICALLY] BIG SURPRISE.
>> WHY DID YOU PICK A NUMBER 4?
IN CANTONESE, 4 IS NOT
A GOOD NUMBER.
>> OK.
>> BECAUSE 4--
>> THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN VALUABLE
INFORMATION WHEN I SAID, "I'M
GONNA BET ON NUMBER 4," DENNY.
>> BECAUSE NUMBER 4,
WHEN YOU PRONOUNCE IT,
IT MEANS "DEATH," "DIE," "GONE."
>> WELL, WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME
THAT WHEN I PUT THE BET?
>> I THOUGHT--
YOU HAD SOME SPECIAL PSYCHIC
ENERGY INSIDE THERE.
>> IS THERE ANY NUMBER THAT
MEANS "DUMPLINGS,"
SHRIMP DUMPLINGS?
CUTTING OUR LOSSES, WE HEAD
OUT LOOKING FOR SOME FOOD
AT A DAI PAI ***,
OR OPEN-AIR FOOD STALL
CALLED CHAN KUN KEE, WHICH
IS NEAR THE TRACK.
IT'S A LOCAL SPOT KNOWN TO HAVE
FRESH SEAFOOD, WHICH IS ABOUT
ALL WE CAN AFFORD.
HI! HEY, CAN YOU COME HERE?
[DENNY SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE]
>> CAN YOU TRANSLATE FOR ME?
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE?
[DENNY TRANSLATING]
>> I'M HUNGRY.
WE ORDER WHAT THE KID
RECOMMENDS--RAZOR CLAMS.
>> OU LA LA.
>> WOW!
>> PEPPER SHRIMP THAT'S TOO
SPICY TO PEEL...
MY FINGERS!
COLD PIG KNUCKLES, WHICH
ARE A LITTLE STRANGE, BUT
WHEN EVERYONE IN THE PLACE IS
EATING IT, YOU KNOW IT CAN'T
BE WRONG...
GOOD.
AND A FANTASTIC CHICKEN DISH.
THIS CHICKEN TASTES WAY BETTER
THAN CHICKEN I HAVE IN
THE STATES.
>> YOU CAN NEVER TELL YOUR
FRIENDS TO FIND THIS PLACE.
THIS IS OUR--SHALL WE SAY--
SMALL, LITTLE HIDDEN TREASURE.
>> YEAH.
>> CANTONESE, YAM SENG.
>> YAM SENG.
>> YAM SENG.
>> SO, REMEMBER, I NEVER
TOLD YOU ABOUT THIS PLACE.
>> FOR FIRST-TIMERS TO COME TO
HONG KONG, THERE ARE STANDARD
THINGS THEY HAVE TO DO--
GO TO VICTORIA PEAK.
>> YOU WANT TO GO UP TO
THE PEAK? YOU TAKE A TRAM.
>> THERE IS A 2.6-KILOMETER
WALK. AND IF YOU ACTUALLY DO
THAT LITTLE HIKE THERE, YOU'RE
GONNA SEE ALL OF THE ANGLES
OF HONG KONG ISLAND.
>> THE VISIBILITY IS NOT GOOD
ALL THE TIME, BUT ON A GOOD DAY,
THE VIEW IS AMAZING.
>> THIS IS THE BEST PLACE TO
SEE THE VIEW.
>> THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT
THE WORLDWIDE COCKTAIL CRAZE
HAS HIT HONG KONG. THEY LOVE
THEIR COCKTAILS HERE, AND SO
DO I. 001 IS A SPEAKEASY NEAR
MY HOTEL THAT'S HIDDEN IN
THE GRAHAM STREET WET MARKET
BETWEEN A FRUIT STALL
AND A PAPER LANTERN SELLER.
IF YOU CAN FIND IT AND YOUR
ALIAS IS ACCEPTED, A LAND OF
UNSPEAKABLY DELICIOUS
COCKTAILS AWAITS.
NOW I AM ABSOLUTELY NOT SAYING
I HAVE JET LAG, BUT FOR SOME
REASON, IT'S THE MIDDLE OF
THE NIGHT AND I HAVE NO DESIRE
TO SLEEP.
>> HI.
>> HI.
>> HI. DO YOU HAVE
A RESERVATION?
>> YES. IT SHOULD BE UNDER
SIDNEY POITIER.
HELLO.
>> HI. I'M JAMES.
>> JAMES. GOOD TO MEET YOU.
THANKS FOR HAVING US AT
YOUR BAR.
>> IT'S OUR PLEASURE.
>> I GUESS I'LL TRY--I'LL DO
A WHISKEY COCKTAIL OF
YOUR CHOICE.
JAMES, OUR BARTENDER, SETS OUT
TO MAKE A COCKTAIL YOU CAN
NEVER GO WRONG WITH--
THE OLD FASHIONED.
>> WE USE TRIPLE-FREEZE ICE.
>> TRIPLE-FREEZE?
>> SO WE FREEZE THE ICE
AT MINUS 25 DEGREES.
>> WHOA.
>> SO IT'S VERY, VERY COLD.
AND OUR HOUSE-MADE
BRANDY SHERRY. PLEASE ENJOY IT.
>> I'M SURE I WILL.
>> HERE'S YOUR OLD FASHIONED.
>> SO MUCH CARE PUT INTO
EACH PIECE OF THE OLD FASHIONED.
I'M VERY IMPRESSED.
IT'S GREAT.
NEXT UP, I ORDER 001's
SIGNATURE COCKTAIL--AN EARL
GREY MARTINI USING EGG WHITE,
SIMPLE SYRUP, AND AN EARL GREY
INFUSED GIN.
JAMES, HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU
SHAKE THAT?
>> WE SHAKE IT FOR 20 SECONDS.
>> 20 SECONDS. AND HOW DO YOU
INFUSE THE EARL GREY INSIDE?
YOU JUST PUT A COUPLE OF
TEA BAGS IN?
>> IT'S VERY SECRET.
>> YOUR SECRET? I THINK YOU JUST
PUT SOME TEA BAGS IN THERE
AND LET IT SOAK FOR MAYBE
5 MINUTES.
>> NO.
>> YEAH, THAT'S WHAT YOU DO.
I CAN SEE THE SM--LOOK AT
THE SMILE. YOU SEE THE SMILE.
>> I ALWAYS SMILE.
>> THAT'S SO GOOD. I'M GONNA
WRITE THAT DOWN FOR MY OWN
PERSONAL SAKE.
NOW JAMES SETS ME UP WITH
A COCKTAIL HE CALLS
A MIDNIGHT MANHATTAN--
CHERRY AND VANILLA INFUSED
BOURBON.
>> AND BITTERS.
>> SWEET VERMOUTH, ICE,
AND STIR.
...14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
>> IF YOU WANT, YOU CAN HAVE IT
ON THE ROCKS OR JUST STRAIGHT UP
IN A MARTINI GLASS.
>> OH, I DON'T LIKE MARTINI
GLASSES.
>> THEY'RE SEXY.
>> NOT FOR DUDES.
>> OK.
>> THAT'S KIND OF LIKE DRINKING
A BEER THROUGH A STRAW.
CAN YOU TELL ME HOW MUCH OF
EVERYTHING YOU PUT IN IT?
>> NO. I'M SORRY. I CANNOT
TELL YOU.
>> YOU CAN'T TELL ME?
>> EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN STYLE.
>> UH-HUH.
>> OUR STYLE IS ALWAYS SECRET.
>> CAN YOU WHISPER THE SECRET
TO ME AND I PROMISE I WON'T
SAY IT TO THE CAMERA?
>> I'LL GET FIRED.
>> YOU'LL GET FIRED FOR
WHISPERING IT?
JAMES IS GETTING VERY UPSET
WITH ME TRYING TO DISCOVER
001's SECRETS. I'M GONNA OPEN UP
A RIVAL BAR, 002, WITH MY
SIGNATURE EARL GREY MARTINI.
>> 002's EARL GREY MARTINI
IS DIFFERENT FROM 001's
EARL GREY MARTINI.
>> NO, IT WON'T BE. I'LL FIGURE
IT OUT. I ALREADY KNOW HOW MANY
TIMES TO STIR AND EVERYTHING.
>> BUT YOU DON'T HAVE THE ICE.
>> I HAVE QUADRUPLE-FROZEN ICE.
>> HA HA!
>> IT NEVER DILUTES.
MY PLACE IS GONNA BE EVEN HARDER
TO FIND. YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO
GO THROUGH A SEWER.
>> WOW.
>> YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO LIFT UP
A SEWER, AND THEN YOU'LL DROP
DOWN. AND IT'LL BE, LIKE,
A POSH CLUB. YOU WON'T EVEN
KNOW. AND IT'LL BE LIKE,
"OH, YEAH, THAT PLACE IS
IN A FARMER'S MARKET? WHATEVER.
YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A SEWER
TO GET TO 002."
>> HA HA!
>> AND WITH THAT RANT, I'VE
HAD ENOUGH TO DRINK. SOMEONE
POINT ME TO MY HOTEL.
[WOMAN SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE]
>> WE HAVE FRENCH CUISINE,
CHINESE CUISINE, JAPANESE
CUISINE, AND SOMETIMES A FUSION
BETWEEN THE TWO.
>> CHINESE ISLAMIC FOOD,
WHICH I'VE NEVER SEEN
ANYWHERE ELSE.
>> AND YOU CAN FIND A LOT OF
WEIRD STUFF IN MONG KOK.
>> PRETTY MUCH FAST FOOD,
BUT THEY'RE NOT LIKE McDONALD'S
FAST FOOD. THEY'RE JUST
FAST-FAST FOOD.
>> YES, PLEASE. AFTER A DECENT
NIGHT'S SLEEP, IT'S TIME TO GET
BACK ON THE WAGON AND EAT.
[MAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]
>> SAY IT ONE MORE TIME.
>> HONG KONG...[INDISTINCT].
>> OK. I DON'T KNOW WHAT
HE SAID.
AT A CERTAIN POINT, YOU JUST
GO, "OK."
OH. NEVER MIND.
HE MAY HAVE SAID, "THOSE OTHER
PEOPLE ARE WAITING FOR A TAXI.
YOU'RE NEXT."
I JUST FIGURED IT OUT.
THANK YOU.
I'M ON MY WAY TO HAVE BREAKFAST
WITH CHINESE-CANADIAN
FOOD BLOGGER NICOLE FUNG.
NICOLE'S BLOG, "THAT FOOD CRAY,"
CHRONICLES HER EXPERIENCES
DEEP INTO THE CULINARY BELLY
OF HONG KONG,
EATING FOOD THAT IS "CRAY,"
AKA CRAZY.
BYE. THANK YOU. M'GOI.
WE ARE MEETING IN MONG KOK,
ONE OF THE MOST DENSELY
POPULATED NEIGHBORHOODS IN
THE WORLD.
BUNS.
THE KAM WAH CAFE, ONE OF HER
REGULAR HANGS, IS ONE OF
HONG KONG'S MOST FAMOUS
CHA CHAN TENG RESTAURANTS,
OR TEA HOUSES, WHERE LOCALS
GOBBLE DOWN BREAKFASTS THAT
RANGE FROM BOWLS OF SOUP TO
KAM WAH'S POPULAR
PINEAPPLE BUNS.
HOW LONG YOU BEEN DOING
THE BLOG?
>> I'VE BEEN DOING IT,
ACTUALLY, FOR A YEAR NOW.
>> AND WHAT'S, LIKE, THE CRAYEST
FOOD YOU'VE EATEN?
>> A REALLY WEIRD THING
THAT I'VE RECENTLY EATEN IS,
LIKE, BULL ***.
>> WHAT!
>> YEAH.
>> WAS IT GOOD?
>> NO. IT WAS KIND OF WEIRD.
>> UGH.
>> UM, YEAH.
>> WHOA. WHOA. WHOA.
I'M GLAD YOU TOOK ME FOR
PINEAPPLE BUNS INSTEAD OF
BULL ***.
SO, NICOLE, TELL ME ABOUT
BREAKFAST IN HONG KONG.
>> PEOPLE DON'T REALLY USUALLY
HAVE TIME FOR BREAKFAST.
SO THEY JUST KIND OF GRAB
SOMETHING ON THE GO.
SO PINEAPPLE BUNS ARE A PRETTY
EASY BREAKFAST ITEM.
>> OH, HERE WE GO. BUTTER!
>> YOU DO THE HONORS.
>> WHAT DO I DO?
>> JUST TAKE A BITE OUT OF IT.
YOU HAVE TO GET SOME OF
THE BUTTER, THOUGH. HA HA.
>> GOOD.
IT TURNS OUT THAT PINEAPPLE
BUNS DON'T HAVE PINEAPPLE
IN THEM. THEY JUST LOOK LIKE
A PINEAPPLE. KIND OF.
WELL, NEVER MIND THAT.
IT'S DELICIOUS. AND I START
RIPPING IT UP WITH MY HANDS,
WHICH CATCHES THE WATCHFUL EYE
OF OUR HOST, MRS. CHAN.
>> [SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE]
>> SHE'S TELLING US THAT IN
HONG KONG, WE SHOULDN'T BE
RIPPING THE BUN.
>> [EXAGGERATED GASP]
>> WE SHOULD BE, LIKE, JUST
EATING IT LIKE THAT. OTHERWISE,
IT KIND OF RUINS THE BUN.
SHE SAYS IF YOU WANT--
SHE'S GONNA CUT US A NEW ONE.
>> NO. NO. LET'S EAT IT.
>> SO WE CAN TRY--
>> OH, MY GOD. SUCH A DUMMY.
>> YOU CAN EAT IT THE WAY IT
SHOULD BE EATEN.
>> WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME
THAT, NICOLE?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
>> YOU'RE MAKING ME LOOK
FOOLISH.
>> SORRY.
>> NOW I'M THAT BROWN GUY
THAT RIPPED THE BUNS APART.
PICK A SIDE AND SLOWLY JUST
BITE IT. SLOWLY ON THE SIDE.
DON'T PUT--KEEP THE TOP.
THE TOP WILL BE FRONT. YES.
>> LIKE THIS.
>> YES.
>> UH, TURN IT ON THE SIDE.
>> WAIT.
>> YES. RIGHT.
>> LIKE THIS.
>> YES. SLOWLY, AND BITE IT.
>> DEFINITELY A DIFFERENT
EXPERIENCE.
MRS. CHAN IS KIND ENOUGH TO
STIR UP MY TEA AND SYRUP
MY FRENCH TOAST. I'VE NEVER MET
ANYONE WHO LOVES BUTTER
QUITE THIS MUCH.
>> CHINESE BUTTER.
>> OH, OK.
>> SO...YES.
>> YOU REALLY LIKE BUTTER.
>> YES...IT'S BUTTER.
>> GOOD.
NICOLE AND I HAVE A LOT OF
BUTTER TO WALK OFF, SO IT'S TIME
FOR A LITTLE SHOPPING.
PIG SNOUT!
YEAH, GIVE ME 7 PIG SNOUTS.
NICOLE AND I TAKE TO THE STREETS
OF THE MONG KOK DISTRICT.
>> AND THERE'S A LADIES' MARKET
JUST UP THE STREET HERE.
>> LADIES' MARKET? WHAT DOES
THAT MEAN?
SHE TELLS ME THAT THIS HUGELY
POPULAR OPEN-AIR MARKET HAS
A LITTLE OF EVERYTHING--
FLOWER SELLERS, CHEAP KNOCKOFFS,
A WHOLE ALLEY OF PET BIRDS.
OSAMA BIN LADEN PLAYING CARDS.
I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT'S A BIG
SELLER. NOW, LEBRON JAMES,
THIS, I MIGHT HAVE TO GRAB
A PACK. I'M GONNA HAGGLE.
ARE YOU READY FOR THIS?
HOW MUCH?
>> 20.
>> 20?
>> YES.
>> WHAT ABOUT 10?
>> 18.
>> 15?
>> YES!
>> 16.
>> 16? OK, I'LL TAKE IT.
BOOM. HAGGLING. THAT'S HOW
IT'S DONE.
>> THANK YOU. BYE-BYE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HONG KONG IS BASICALLY
ONE BIG SHOPPING MALL.
>> THERE ARE 7.2 MILLION OF US
CHEERING AND SHOUTING,
"COME AND SHOP!"
>> YOU CAN BUY FROM PEANUTS
TO A HOUSE ALL IN ABOUT 5
WALKING MINUTES' DISTANCE.
>> IT'S LUNCHTIME. AND NICOLE
AND I ARE GONNA TAKE
THE STAR FERRY ACROSS THE BAY
TO CENTRAL DISTRICT.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, "OCTOPUS"?
>> THEY HAVE THESE CARDS.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE A PREPAID
CREDIT CARD ALMOST.
>> AND IT'S CALLED AN OCTOPUS?
>> YEAH.
>> OH! YEAH. BECAUSE I SAW
A SIGN SAYING "OCTOPUS ARE
WELCOME."
AND I WAS LIKE, "WELL, I'M SURE
THEY'RE WELCOME, BUT I FEEL LIKE
THEY WOULD HAVE TROUBLE BEING
OUT OF THE WATER.
THE FERRY RIDE IS THE CHEAPEST
WAY ACROSS THE HARBOR.
IT TAKES ONLY 10 MINUTES AND HAS
MUCH BETTER VIEWS THAN
THE SUBWAY.
WE'RE GOING TO ONE OF NICOLE'S
FAVORITE NOODLE SHOPS IN
THE OLDER PART OF CENTRAL--
KAU KEE RESTAURANT.
IT IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR
PLACES TO GET BEEF BRISKET
NOODLES IN HONG KONG.
DURING THE LUNCH AND DINNER
RUSHES, THE LINE IS KNOWN TO BE
OUT THE DOOR.
OH, WOW. THANK YOU. M'GOI.
>> SO THAT ONE IS THE EGG NOODLE
AND THEN THAT ONE IS THE RICE
NOODLE.
>> AT LUNCH, KAU KEE DRAWS A BIG
CROWD FROM THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS
DISTRICT NEARBY.
>> YOU CAN SEE WHY PEOPLE
LINE UP FOR THIS STUFF.
>> I JUST GOT A TEXT FROM
MS. CHAN. SHE SAID WHAT SHE
LIKES TO DO IS TAKE A WHOLE
STICK OF BUTTER AND PUT IT
IN THE BOWL. SHE SAYS THAT MAKES
IT WAY BETTER.
AND SHE SAYS SHE DOESN'T LIKE
TO RIP THE NOODLES AT ALL.
YEAH. HONG KONG PEOPLE ARE
SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR FOOD.
>> WE HAVE OVER 10,000
RESTAURANTS IN HONG KONG FROM
STREET FOOD ALL THE WAY TO
THE POSH 3 MICHELIN-STAR
RESTAURANTS.
I REALLY THINK THAT YOU HAVE
TO TRY ONE OF THESE LOCAL
CUISINE, LIKE WONTON NOODLES,
MORE THAN JUST SNACKS--
LIKE ROAST GOOSE.
I MEAN, YOU DON'T NEED TO DO
THE FAMOUS BIG BRANDED
RESTAURANTS. THERE'S SMOKE
ON THE STREETS. YOU ALWAYS FIND
THE BEST CUISINE WHERE THEY
STILL DO THINGS TRADITIONAL WAY.
>> I'M 24 HOURS INTO MY GETAWAY,
AND I'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS
I WANT TO DO.
ONE OF THEM EVEN INVOLVES
EXERCISE.
PING PONG LESSON.
THIS IS THE WINNING SPORTS
COMPANY IN CAUSEWAY BAY--
A FAMILY RUN SHOP, A TEMPLE
OF PING PONG PARAPHERNALIA,
AND OLD STEREO EQUIPMENT.
AND THIS IS ERIC, ONE OF THE TOP
TABLE TENNIS PLAYERS
IN HONG KONG.
I'M HERE TO BECOME THE BEST
PING PONG PLAYER IN CHINA.
>> AH.
>> I HEAR ERIC'S PRETTY GOOD,
BUT APPARENTLY HIS DAD WAS
WORLD CHAMPION, SO THAT'S
A LITTLE INTIMIDATING.
HE STARTS ME OFF EASY, NOT
REALIZING WHAT A QUICK LEARNER
I AM.
>> SEE? IT'S YOUR HAND.
SO THIS IS NOT RACQUET.
YOU IMAGE, YES?
IMAGE THIS YOUR HAND.
>> I'M NOT SURE WHY ERIC'S
TALKING ALL THIS PHILOSOPHY.
I'M JUST HERE TO HIT STUFF.
>> DON'T USE MORE POWER.
DON'T SWING.
>> OK.
>> ALL RIGHT. TRY. 1...
2...
3...
>> ERIC, HAVE YOU EVER SEEN
ANYONE GET THIS GOOD THIS FAST?
>> YES.
>> OK. SO THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE
THAT HAVE. OK...
>> IN CHINA, FIRST 3 MONTHS,
EVERYONE CANNOT STAY ON
THE TABLE.
JUST STAY ON THE MIRROR
TO MAKE THIS ONE, THIS ONE...
>> THAT MOVEMENT.
>> YES.
>> WELL, I'M NOT GONNA SPEND
3 MONTHS IN FRONT OF A MIRROR,
BUT I'LL TRY 30 SECONDS.
>> AND GO HERE. ENOUGH.
>> CAN I ADD A "BOOM" SOUND?
>> YEAH, YOU CAN.
>> BOOM.
BOOM. BOOM.
[MAKES CRASHING SOUNDS]
>> GOOD STYLE.
>> DID YOU CATCH THAT?
HE JUST SAID, "GOOD STYLE."
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING
PING PONG?
>> OH, WHEN I WAS 6 YEARS OLD,
I PLAY. I DO NOW. I'M 44 NOW.
>> 38 YEARS.
>> YES.
>> WOW. WOW.
HOW MANY MORE YEARS DO I NEED
TO PLAY BEFORE I'M GOOD?
>> OH, MAYBE ONE YEARS.
>> ONE YEAR? I COULD PUT IN
A YEAR. ALL RIGHT.
LET'S KEEP GOING.
WHOA. ERIC, DID YOU GET SCARED?
>> NO!
>> YOU SHOULD HAVE.
>> HMM. TRY AGAIN.
>> OH, ERIC AND I COULD GO
BACK AND FORTH ALL DAY.
BUT OUTSIDE OF OUR PING PONG
BUBBLE, IT APPEARS THAT NIGHT
HAS FALLEN.
MY TRIP TO HONG KONG HAS BEEN
GOING PRETTY GREAT SO FAR.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IT'S OVER?
I'VE GOT SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT
MY FUTURE.
SO I'M MEETING UP WITH DENNY.
REMEMBER HIM? THE GUY WHO LED
ME HORRIBLY ASTRAY AT
THE RACETRACK.
WELL, THIS TIME, WE'RE
CONSULTING A PROFESSIONAL.
>> I MEAN, IT'S ALL--LOOK AT
ALL THE BOOTHS AROUND HERE.
THESE ARE ALL SMALLISH
FORTUNE TELLERS.
AND THEN HOW YOU WANT TO CHOOSE
ONE IS VERY SIMPLE.
WALK DOWN THE STREETS, YOU SEE
WHICH ONE YOU LIKE, THE FACE.
JUST WALK IN.
>> OK.
>> AS SIMPLE AS THAT.
>> LET'S SEE.
TEMPLE STREET MARKET IS LOADED
WITH WISE-LOOKING CHARACTERS
IN MAKESHIFT TENTS.
IT'S LIKE A PSYCHIC STREET FAIR.
WITH SO MANY TO CHOOSE FROM,
I JUST GOT TO GO WITH MY GUT.
SIMON CHAN.
>> YOU LIKE SIMON CHAN?
>> DEFINITELY.
>> WHY YOU LIKE SIMON CHAN?
>> LOOK AT THAT LOOK.
CAN YOU TELL ME THAT GUY DOESN'T
KNOW THE FUTURE?
LET'S DO IT.
>> OH, COME ON. OK.
[SIMON AND DENNY SPEAKING
FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
>> WELL, HE SAID THAT FROM
LOOKING AT YOUR FACE AND
YOUR PALM, YOUR WHOLE LIFE IS--
HE HAS UNDER--ALL OPEN.
>> HOW OLD ARE YOU?
>> I'M 30 YEARS OLD.
>> 30 YEARS OLD. LOOK,
YOU GIVE ME YOUR HAND.
LEFT HAND. OK.
>> LEFT HAND.
>> YEAH. FIRST, LEFT HAND.
>> DO YOU SEE ANYTHING ABOUT
MAYBE YESTERDAY I WAS GOING TO
GET SOME HORRIBLE GAMBLING
ADVICE...
>> YOU CAN SEE YOUR FINGERS
SHORTER THAN HAND. SO 20 YEARS
OLD TO 30 YEARS OLD, YOU CAN
GET A LOT OF MONEY.
BUT EASY COME, EASY GO.
>> OH, IT'S EASY COME, EASY GO.
>> UNDERSTAND? YOU DON'T LEND
THE MONEY, GIVE YOUR FRIENDS--
YOU LEND THE MONEY, GIVE TO YOUR
FRIENDS, NO RETURN.
>> I DON'T LEND ANY MONEY.
>> YEAH. YOUR FACE TELL ME,
NOW YOU ARE THIN,
BUT WHEN YOU GET MARRIED,
WANT CHILDREN,
YOU ARE FAT MAN. UNDERSTAND?
>> FAT MAN?
>> YEAH.
>> WHEN YOU GET MARRIED, YOUR
WIFE COOK PRETTY GOOD DINNER,
YOU GO BACK HOME AND EAT,
YOU'LL BECOME FAT.
>> I COULD HAVE PREDICTED THAT.
I KNOW I'M GONNA BE FAT.
>> COMING, YOUR HAIR TELL ME
31 TO 34, YOU CAN GET
A LOT OF MONEY.
>> 31 TO 34, I CAN GET A LOT OF
MONEY?
>> THE EYEBROWS TELL HIM
FROM 31 TO 34, YOU'LL GET
A LOT OF MONEY.
>> WHAT IF I HAVE BEEN SHAVING
MY EYEBROWS?
DOES THAT FACTOR IN?
>> [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
>> HE SAID THAT YOUR EYEBROWS
IS JUST, LIKE, SUPERB.
DON'T DO ANYTHING TO IT.
>> OK. I WON'T.
>> FOREHEAD. YOU ARE LUCKY.
[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
>> HE SAID THAT YOUR FOREHEAD
IS SO GOOD, THE OLDER YOU ARE,
THE BETTER YOU'LL BE.
>> WOMEN TELL ME THEY LOVE
MY FOREHEAD.
>> WE CALL IT YOUR MARRIAGE
LINE. WHEN YOU ARE 36, YOU CAN
GET MARRIED.
>> 36 GET MARRIED.
WHEN AM I GONNA MEET MY WIFE?
>> YOUR BIRTHDAY?
>> FEBRUARY 23rd.
>> FEBRUARY 19...?
>> '83.
SIMON CONSULTS HIS LITTLE
NOTEBOOK AND TELLS ME--I THINK--
THAT STARTING IN APRIL, I'LL BE
LUCKY IN LOVE FOR THE NEXT
5 YEARS. SO I'VE GOT THAT GOING
FOR ME.
>> UNDERSTAND?
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE EVERYTHING'S
GOING TO TAKE SHAPE IN APRIL.
ALL RIGHT. SIMON, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
SIMON, DO YOU LIKE SNAKE SOUP?
[SIMON SPEAKS FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
>> HE LOVES IT.
>> I'VE NEVER HAD IT. YOU WANT
TO GO WITH ME TOMORROW?
>> OK. I PROMISE YOU.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHY I BOTHERED
ASKING. SIMON ALREADY KNOWS
WE'RE HAVING SNAKE SOUP
TOMORROW. HE SAW IT IN MY HAND.
>> THE NIGHT LIFE HERE CAN GET
PRETTY CRAZY.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF PLACES YOU
CAN GO TO. IF YOU WANT TO GO
TO A DISCO, BARS...
>> L.K.F., LAN KWAI FONG,
IS A REAL NIGHTLIFE AREA
WHERE PEOPLE GET SMASHED,
PROBABLY SLEEP ON THE STREETS,
AND CLUB UNTIL, LIKE, 4:00
OR 5:00.
>> THE PARTY JUST KEEPS GOING.
YOU'LL SEE DAYLIGHT, AND SOME OF
THOSE PEOPLE, THEY GO RIGHT TO
WORK AFTERWARDS.
NEW YORK'S THE CITY THAT NEVER
SLEEPS? NO, HONG KONG IS REALLY
THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS.
>> IT'S MY LAST NIGHT IN
HONG KONG, SO TIME TO LIVE IT
UP. I'M ON MY WAY TO A HIGHLY
ACCLAIMED JAPANESE SEAFOOD
RESTAURANT LOCATED IN THE ULTRA
HIP AND ARTSY NOHO AREA.
RONIN WAS OPENED BY
LINDSAY JANG AND MATT ABERGEL,
FORMER CHEF OF MASA IN NEW YORK.
BOTH HAIL FROM CANADA AND ARE
JUST TWO OF THE MANY EX-PATS
WHO MOVED TO HONG KONG TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE GREAT BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST HERE.
AND THEY NAILED IT. RONIN IS ONE
OF THE HOTTEST MEAL TICKETS
IN TOWN.
HI.
>> DO YOU HAVE A RESERVATION?
>> YES...
THE ROOM IS SMALL WITH
ONLY 14 SEATS FOR DINING
AND 12 SPACES FOR STANDING.
SO GET HERE EARLY
OR MAKE RESERVATIONS.
I'M DINING WITH LOCAL BUSINESS
OWNER ALEX SHUM.
ALEX?
>> HEY. AZIZ.
>> AZIZ. GOOD TO MEET YOU.
ALEX IS A CHINESE-AMERICAN
EX-PAT WHO OWNS A POPULAR
HONG KONG BAR CALLED RACKS.
AND HE KNOWS HIS FOOD.
THIS RESTAURANT OBVIOUSLY HAS
A HUGE JAPANESE INFLUENCE.
CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE JAPANESE INFLUENCE
IN HONG KONG?
>> WELL, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ONE
OF THE FAVORITE FOODS OF
HONG KONG LOCALS. AND IF YOU
TRY TO TAKE JAPANESE FOOD AWAY
FROM HONG KONG PEOPLE, YOU'D
PROBABLY HAVE A RIOT
ON YOUR HANDS.
>> OUR MEAL BEGINS WITH
FRESH ROOT VEGETABLE CHIPS
AND FRIED SILVER FISH
WITH KIMCHI GASTRIQUE.
>> FRESH FROM THE MARKET.
>> THESE TWO THINGS ARE, LIKE,
THE BEST BAR SNACKS EVER.
IT'S SO GOOD!
OOH! FRESH LOCAL OYSTERS IN
AN AMAZING CUCUMBER LIME AND
MISO POTION.
THAT WAS AN AMAZING OYSTER.
WHOA!
NEXT UP IS SMOKED AND CANDIED
BELT FISH
WITH BLACK SUGAR MAYONNAISE.
THE FISH IS MARINATED IN SALT,
SUGAR, AND MOLASSES OVERNIGHT,
THEN SMOKED, THEN DIPPED IN
A TEMPURA AND FRIED.
THAT JUST SOUNDS GREAT.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S GET INTO THIS,
ALEX. DO YOU WANT A PIECE?
>> YES.
>> LINDSAY, COME ON. GET IN.
>> I'M SO HUNGRY.
>> GET IN ON THIS.
IT'S GOT THIS GREAT, LIKE,
SMOKINESS BUT ALSO SWEETNESS
TO IT. AND THAT MAYONNAISE
IS RIDICULOUS.
THEN SOME VERY, VERY
DELICIOUS SASHIMI.
WOW.
>> JUST GOT KNOCKED OVER
OR WHAT?
>> SO GOOD. DAMN.
THAT'S GREAT, RIGHT?
ALL FOLLOWED BY A RIDICULOUSLY
TASTY YELLOW SNAPPER.
AFTER BEING FILLETED, IT'S
MARINATED IN SAKE, GINGER,
AND SOY, THEN COATED IN POTATO
STARCH AND FRIED.
>> THIS IS A LOCAL PRODUCT,
TOO. WE'RE NOT TALKING
TRADITIONAL JAPANESE, RIGHT?
>> YEAH. IT IS A HONG KONG FISH.
OH, MY GOD.
THIS IS SO GOOD.
CHEERS.
I AM A LUCKY GUY. THIS MEAL
WAS AMAZING. AND NOW...
THE DRINKING PART OF THE EVENING
COMMENCES. ALEX TAKES ME TO
THE NEARBY THREE MONKEYS
RESTAURANT, WHERE WE MEET A FEW
FRIENDS--TWO LADIES NAMED
NATALIE AND A HONG KONG RAPPER
AND MUSIC PRODUCER NAMED
GOLD MOUNTAIN.
>> THAT WAS JUST...[INDISTINCT].
>> COCKTAILS ABOUND.
HAVE FUN IN THE CITY OF
THE PINEAPPLE BUN.
WHERE ARE YOU GUYS ALL FROM?
YOU SOUND LIKE EX-PATS?
>> [LONDON ACCENT]
OH, REALLY?
>> HA HA!
>> I'M SO SORRY.
>> I'M FROM CANADA.
>> I AM BORN AND RAISED
IN SWEDEN.
>> AND WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
>> [REGULAR VOICE]
I WAS BORN IN MICHIGAN, BUT
I GREW UP IN NEW YORK. THERE'S
A LOT OF INTERNATIONAL
PEOPLE HERE.
>> IT'S VERY MUCH A MELTING POT.
>> YEAH.
>> WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
>> I GREW UP IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
AND THEN I WENT TO COLLEGE
IN NEW YORK. AND NOW I LIVE
IN L.A.
>> I WAS GONNA SAY, YOU DON'T
HAVE THAT...
[IMITATES SOUTHERN U.S. ACCENT]
SOUTH CAROLINA ACCENT.
>> AND WHAT IS ABOUT HONG KONG
THAT, LIKE, REALLY KIND OF
MADE IT HAVE A HOLD ON YOU?
>> I THINK GOLD MOUNTAIN AND
THE GIRLS WOULD AGREE, IT'S LIKE
YOU CAN KIND OF MAKE YOUR
DREAMS COME TRUE HERE, YOU KNOW?
>> I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
A LAWYER, AND THEN I GOT DRUNK.
AND THEN I ENDED UP STAYING
HERE. AND THEN I BECAME
A RAPPER. I'M BEING HONEST HERE.
I'M BEING STRAIGHT-UP
HONEST HERE. MY ASIAN PARENTS
FLIPPED. YOU KNOW THAT.
>> YEAH. I CAN SEE YOUR PARENTS
TELLING THAT SAME STORY
IN A MUCH DIFFERENT TONE.
[DEADPAN]
HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A LAWYER,
THEN HE GOT DRUNK.
HE WENT TO HONG KONG, AND NOW
HE'S A RAPPER NAMED
GOLD MOUNTAIN.
>> I KNOW, RIGHT?
>> CHEERS.
>> THE PACE OF DRINK CONSUMPTION
PICKS UP. AND WE MOVE ON TO
THAT CLASSIC DRUNKEN TOPIC--
RACISM IN CHINA.
>> THE ONLY RACISM I'VE EVER
FELT HERE WAS FROM CHINESE
PEOPLE.
>> FROM CHINESE PEOPLE.
>> BECAUSE I'M NOT FROM
HERE-HERE. SO THEY'RE LIKE,
"YOU SPEAK ENGLISH," RIGHT...
>> WHAT IS YOUR ETHNICITY?
>> I'M CHINESE. YEAH?
>> YOU'RE CHINESE.
>> MY PARENTS ARE FROM HERE.
>> WAIT. HE SAID THE ONLY RACISM
YOU'VE FELT IS FROM OTHER
CHINESE PEOPLE TOWARDS YOU
BECAUSE YOU'RE AMERICAN.
>> TRUE.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH.
IT MEANS, LIKE, GHOST MAN.
IT'S WHAT PEOPLE USED TO CALL
WHITE PEOPLE BACK IN THE DAY.
>> OK, AND SO THEY CALLED
YOU THAT.
>> WELL, NO, NO.
THEY CALLED ME GWAI-ZAI.
>> WHICH MEANS...
>> WHICH MEANS "LITTLE GHOST."
>> LITTLE GHOST?
>> NOT EVEN A MAN.
>> NOT EVEN A MAN, RIGHT?
>> WHAT AN AMAZING RACIAL SLUR.
>> IT'S AMAZING, RIGHT?
>> WHAT AN AMAZING RACIAL SLUR--
"LITTLE GHOST."
>> LITTLE GHOST. AND THEY SMILE
WHEN THEY SAY IT. THAT'S
THE CHINESE WAY.
>> OR YOU GO, LIKE,
"HEY, YOU GOT FATTER."
>> THAT'S SO TRUE!
>> THAT'S A THING IN INDIAN
CULTURE, TOO. LIKE, I WOULD GO
SEE RELATIVES I HAVEN'T SEEN
IN YEARS. AND I'D GO TO INDIA.
AND THEY'LL JUST BE, LIKE,
"YOUR FACE GOT FAT." LIKE,
NO HESITATION. IS THAT A THING
IN JUST ASIAN CULTURE IN
GENERAL, BOTH CHINESE, INDIAN?
JUST KIND OF VERY DIRECT ABOUT
CRITICIZING PEOPLE'S APPEARANCE
AND STUFF? LIKE, IN THE STATES
AND STUFF, I FEEL LIKE YOU
WOULDN'T DARE DO A THING LIKE
THAT. YOU WOULD SAY IT BEHIND
SOMEONE'S BACK MAYBE, BUT YOU
WOULD NEVER, LIKE, GO UP TO
SOMEONE AND BE, LIKE, "YOUR
FACE LOOKS REALLY FAT."
OK, LET'S SAY CHEERS IN
CANTONESE. HOW DO WE DO THAT?
>> GOM [YUNG]...
>> GOM?
>> BUI?
>> GOM BUI. GOM BUI.
>> GOM BUI!
>> YOU GOT TO BE CAREFUL
BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT IT TO
SOUND LIKE, "YOUNG BOYS!"
THAT WOULD BE A BAD TOAST.
THAT WOULD BE REALLY BAD.
>> YES.
>> YOU JUST CHANGED THE WAY
I CHEERS FOR THE REST OF
MY LIFE!
>> GOM BUI, BUI, BUI.
>> ANOTHER REALLY COOL THING
TO DO WHILE YOU'RE IN HONG KONG
IS TO CHECK OUT THE BUDDHA.
SO YOU HAVE TO TAKE A CABLE CAR
OR, LIKE, A GONDOLA UP
TO SEE LANTAU ISLAND.
>> ONLY EXCEPT WHEN THE WIND
BLOW, TOO HOT, YOU CANNOT
GET THERE.
>> THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF
A WALK, AND THEN YOU JUST HAVE
TO TAKE THE STEPS UP TO
THE BUDDHA.
>> MY LAST MORNING IN HONG KONG.
I'M MEETING UP WITH MY FORTUNE
TELLING FRIEND, SIMON CHAN,
WHO KNOWS JUST WHAT I SHOULD
EAT TODAY.
SNAKE?
>> YEAH. GOOD TASTE.
UNDERSTAND?
>> OK.
2013 IS THE YEAR OF THE SNAKE
IN CHINESE ASTROLOGY. SIMON
IS CONFIDENT THAT A BOWL OF
LOCAL DELICACY, SNAKE SOUP, IS
EXACTLY WHAT I NEED.
WE HIT SHE WONG LAM, LOCATED IN
THE SHEUNG WAN DISTRICT.
THIS SNAKE SHOP HAS BEEN AROUND
FOR 110 YEARS.
WHOA!
>> THIS SHE WONG LAM.
YOU CAN SEE THE SNAKE.
>> AND WHAT'S IN ALL THOSE
DRAWERS? YUP.
AAH!
>> VERY GOOD TASTE.
GOOD FOR EATING.
GIVE YOU GOOD HARD BODY.
>> GOOD, HARD BODY.
>> YEAH. YOU ARE WARNING.
YOU HAVE POWER.
>> POWER.
>> YOU ARE WARNING.
>> SO LIKE, A SIX-PACK?
>> YEAH.
>> PEOPLE EAT--OR DRINK
SNAKE SOUP FOR HEALTH REASONS.
THEY BELIEVE THAT IT CAN GIVE
THEM GOOD HEALTH, STRENGTHEN
THEIR BODY.
>> PEOPLE EAT SNAKE SOUP MOSTLY
BECAUSE IT'S DELICIOUS,
ACTUALLY.
>> EW. PERSONALLY,
NO, I DON'T LIKE IT.
>> I'M NOT SURE WHETHER IT'S
THE PUNGENT AROMA OF STEWED
SNAKE OR THE GUY PLAYING WITH
LOOSE VIPERS ON HIS DESK,
BUT I DECIDE WE WON'T BE
DINING IN.
ALL RIGHT. HOW ABOUT WE GET
A SOUP TO GO? YOU GET SOME,
I'LL HAVE A BITE AND SEE
HOW IT GOES.
AAH. IF I'D NEVER EATEN CHICKEN
BEFORE AND THEN YOU WERE, LIKE,
"CHICKEN SOUP," I'D BE, LIKE,
"OH, THIS IS SO WEIRD."
IT'S THE SAME THING.
>> LET'S SEE. A LITTLE WILL MAKE
YOU: "GOOD TASTE."
YOU SEE. OK. YEAH?
GOOD TASTE? OK.
YEAH.
>> HA HA!
>> JUST OK.
STILL NOT GONNA? OK.
>> NO! I HAD SOME ALREADY.
>> SEE IT.
GOOD TASTE. YEAH.
>> THIS IS ME NOT EATING
SNAKE SOUP.
>> NO, NO, NO.
>> SIMON, DO I HAVE
A SIX-PACK YET?
>> IT'S OK.
>> HA HA!
I'M GRATEFUL TO SIMON FOR
SHARING THIS CULTURAL EXPERIENCE
WITH ME. BUT I CAN'T GET ON
A PLANE WITH ONLY TWO BITES
OF SNAKE SOUP IN MY BELLY.
THERE'S ONE MORE PLACE I GOT
TO TRY.
YAT LOK IS A BARBECUE RESTAURANT
THAT COMES HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
BY MY CHEF FRIENDS.
IT'S IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
NEAR MY HOTEL.
>> HELLO. OK...
>> OH, BROTHER. LOOKS SO GOOD.
YAT LOK SPECIALIZES IN A WIDE
VARIETY OF ROASTED MEATS.
I HEARD THE GOOSE IS THE THING
TO TRY HERE.
>> TASTES A LITTLE SWEET,
A LITTLE OILY MAYBE,
BUT WHEN YOU BITE, YOU'LL
LOVE THE OILY. ONCE A TIME
IS OK. NO EVERY DAY.
GOOSE AND DUCKS. TASTE ONE,
MAYBE YOU'LL LOVE IT.
>> HELLO!
>> HELLO, HELLO.
>> WOW. FIRST UP, GOOSE WITH
A SWEET APPLESAUCE.
OH, YEAH.
A LITTLE SAUCE.
THE SKIN IS SO GOOD.
NEXT, TWO TYPES OF PORK, THIS
TIME WITH THE MUSTARD SAUCE.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO
SIMON CHAN,
THIS MIGHT BE MORE MY SPEED.
OOH, LOOK AT THIS.
LOOK AT THIS PIECE.
UH-OH. WHAT HAPPENED HERE?
LOOKS LIKE I DIPPED MY PORK
IN THE APPLESAUCE.
I KNOW IT'S NOT APRIL, BUT I MAY
HAVE MET MY WIFE. IF I COULD
SOMEHOW TURN THE BITE OF THIS
WITH THAT SWEET FRUIT SAUCE
AND SOME RICE INTO A WOMAN,
I WOULD PROPOSE RIGHT NOW.
I HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME TO CHOW
DOWN A FEW MORE BITES, THEN BACK
TO THE HOTEL TO GRAB MY BAGS,
THEN OFF TO THE AIRPORT.
OH, YES. THERE IS A VERY SPECIAL
DELIVERY WAITING FOR ME AT
THE HOTEL.
SO I JUST GOT MY SUIT BACK
FROM SIMPSON SIN.
LET'S SEE HOW IT FITS.
PRETTY GOOD.
STYLIN' LIKE MY MAN, SIMON CHAN.
I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M AT
THE END OF MY GETAWAY.
I FEEL LIKE I'M JUST STARTING
TO GET THE HANG OF THIS PLACE.
IF YOU COME INTO HONG KONG,
GET YOUR FORTUNE READ, GO TO THE
HORSE RACE. TRY TO MEET UP WITH
DENNY IF YOU HAVE HIS CONTACT
INFO. WE CAN JUST PUT DENNY'S
CELL PHONE NUMBER UP THERE.
CALL DENNY.
GOT A FAKE NUMBER FOR MRS. CHAN.
THAT WAS RUDE.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND AND REALLY
TRY TO GO AFTER WHATEVER THE
LOCAL SPECIALTIES ARE BECAUSE
THEY'RE SPECIALTIES FOR
A REASON. EVEN SOME OF
THE THINGS THAT I MAYBE WASN'T
AS INTO, LIKE, SAY, THE SNAKE
SOUP, IT WAS STILL, LIKE,
A REALLY FUN EXPERIENCE.
AND I GOT TO SEE SIMON CHAN
JUST SCARF IT DOWN.
AS SOON AS SIMON GOT OFF CAMERA,
HE JUST WENT, "WAAH!"
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYONE CONSUME
SOUP LIKE THAT. THAT'S ANOTHER
THING--BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU'RE
OPENING DRAWERS. THERE COULD
BE SNAKES. "OH, LET ME GET MY
PASSPORT." COBRA. OOPS. WRONG
DRAWER. BE CAREFUL OF THAT.
I'M DEFINITELY GONNA MISS
SOME OF THE FOOD HERE.
I'M GONNA MISS THOSE BARBECUE
PORK BUNS, THAT SEAFOOD WE HAD
AT RONIN. THAT WAS SO GOOD.
I LEARNED SOME OF THOSE
COCKTAILS THAT THEY WERE
MAKING--THE EARL GREY MARTINI.
I GOOGLED THAT [BLEEP],
JAMES.
002 COMING LATER THIS YEAR.
CHECK A SEWER NEAR YOU.