Explore the Hong Kong-style human touch in-depth at the tea restaurant! Local artists paint the classic tea restaurant scenes to evoke nostalgic memories!

Although you can find cuisine from around the world in Hong Kong, sometimes nothing beats sitting in a cha chaan teng, sipping on a silk stocking milk tea and enjoying a freshly baked pineapple bun. It’s not just about the delicious Hong Kong-style food, but also about the unique human touch you can find in cha chaan tengs. Recently, the popular local coffee shop contrast has hosted an exhibition titled “Taste of Cha Chaan Teng” featuring artworks by artist Alison Hui and Hong Kong food culture scholar Samuel Hui, focusing on the culture of Hong Kong-style diners and cha chaan tengs. Through a series of paintings, they evoke the nostalgia for this part of Hong Kong’s food culture and human touch that has accompanied every Hong Konger’s growth.

As a unique dining culture in Hong Kong, there is always a cha chaan teng or tea restaurant nearby. Because of its convenience and affordable prices, these types of eateries have become a gathering place for the neighborhood. A small space brings chefs, bartenders, staff, and diners together, creating an irreplaceable sense of community. Alison is passionate about exploring architecture and culture around the world, but she is particularly enamored with the local dining culture that nurtured her in the city of Hong Kong.

Samuel, who is also passionate about local food culture, has worked in a tea restaurant for three months in the past to explore the “human touch”. He delved into the industry ecology and culture of Hong Kong’s tea restaurants, documenting interesting moments, which led to the collaboration for this exhibition.

In this exhibition, Alison showcases a variety of watercolor and marker paintings revolving around the theme of cha chaan teng, covering topics such as interior design, menus, food, specialty drinks, and terminology. This allows everyone to understand the thoughts behind the workers of cha chaan teng, and hopes that the audience will embark on their own flavorful journey with this understanding.

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Feel free to visit the exhibition and support this unique and irreplaceable local cha chaan teng culture!

“Flavorful Ice Room” Ice Room Cha Chaan Teng Cultural Exhibition
Date: From now until July 30
Time: 9:00 am to 6:30 pm
Location: Shop, G/F, Yee Sze Building, 512-518 Fuk Wing Street, Cheung Sha Wan

Image source and learn more: contrast, Alison Hui, caacaanteng