Gweimui 's Hong Kong Wet Markets

Follow Christine to explore the wet markets in Hong Kong, appreciating their warm atmosphere and unique features plus getting a taste of French lifestyle. Contrary to the general impression that wet markets are smelly, dirty, and slippery, Christine finds that they are actually fun places to walk around and shop. As a French lady, Christine’s learning experience has not been without disappointments, such as being overcharged, given old veggies or pushed to buy more. Nonetheless, in Hong Kong, most sellers are generally very kind. Like in France, vendors remember the preferences of their regular clients. The kindness of many sellers help her overcome the fear of speaking Cantonese. They even take time to explain to her how to cook this and that. It is the warm atmosphere that she loves most. Christine finds it exciting to discover lots of new foodstuffs such as Chinese yam. She even discovers ingredients, such as lye water, a kind of alkaline solution that is not used in Western countries. Last but not least, this book helps us understand the real French lifestyle which often sounds so “elegant” and sometimes “mysterious” to most people, who are curious to know the answers to the following questions: Do French eat foie gras and escargots every day? Do they always have meals that last for ages? Do all French people have a wine cellar full of good bottles? … and a lot more. Be it foreigners or Chinese people, everybody can explore the wet markets and learn to appreciate their atmosphere and benefits. Using the English-Cantonese vocabulary list and the guide about market specificities, start your own journey right now!

Christine Cappio was born in Lyon, a city in east-central France. She went to Paris in 1983 to study Applied Arts in Ceramics, where she met a young Chinese man who later became her husband. She has been living in Hong Kong since her arrival in 1986.