City Snippets

被關上的碼頭
也幽禁着我們那年夏天吹過的黏膩海風
紫一抹紅一抹的晚霞
和唇上的的鹽巴 

快拆卸的掉漆小樓
將把你的生日快樂和意大利甜酒
和默念了很久很久的願望
永永久久散落在堆土機下

我指着建築中的高樓
問天秤如何攀往頂上
指頭卻沒聽懂你的話
自顧自在你襯衣下遊走

我一再打斷你的話
要你看看狹縫長出的花
問這被粉飾太平的牆上
最後可會種出漂亮無瑕的瓜

冷漬本地小圓茄

材料
本地圓茄 2個（約400克）
米糠油 1 茶匙
鰹魚昆布醬油 50毫升
味醂 1湯匙
水 200 毫升
鰹魚片 適量
紫菜飯素 適量

做法：

1. 1. 茄子洗淨抹乾，整個抹上米糠油。
   2. 視乎茄子大小，以焗爐以180 ℃ 烤焗20至30分鐘，按下去略軟即可。放涼備用。
   3. 鰹魚醬油、味醂與水混和煮沸，按口味加減醬油或水的份量
   4. 茄子切厚片放入密封盒子，倒入醬油，放涼後冷藏數小時。
   5. 撒上鰹魚片及紫菜飯素即可。

Behind the locked gate of the pier
held the sultry sea breeze we immersed in that one summer,
the setting sun painting the skies in amber in aubergine 
and briny taste left on our lips 

A small building of faded façade, soon torn down,
will bury your happy birthday and Italian sweet wine
along with the birthday wishes you made on and on
forever under the earth of a backhoe

I pointed at the tower crane topped a building 
and asked how it made its way up there  
my fingertips listened to none of your words
and glided around under your shirt

Again, I interrupted your words
wanted you to look at the pale flower growing from a slit
and asked whether on this wall painted with peace
will grow a beautiful flawless gourd they wanted to see

Cold Local Aubergine in Dashi

Ingredients:

Local round aubergines 2 pieces (about 400g)
Rice bran oil 1 teaspoon</span
Kombu bonito soy sauce 50ml
Mirin 1 tablespoon
Water 200 ml
Bonito flakes To taste
Seaweed furikake To taste

Steps:

1. Wash and dry the aubergines. Brush them thoroughly with oil.
2. Bake the aubergines at 180 ℃ for 20-30 minutes, depending on their size. If they are soft when you press them, they are ready. Let cool.  
3. To make the dashi, pour the soy sauce, mirin and water into a pot and bring it to a boil. Add more soy sauce or water to taste. 
4. Slice the aubergines in thick slices, put them into an airtight box, and pour in the dashi. Let cool, and then put the box into the fridge. Chill it for several hours.
5. Top the aubergines with bonito flakes and furikake. Ready to serve. 

Jo Liu

It’s raining outside, crisp and bleak. Three chubby sparrows took shelter on my balcony and I gave them the baguette bits left on my breakfast plate but they flew away. I stayed in, played Damien Rice on vinyl and made apple crumble. Repeat.

Instagram: foodialoguehk