When we think of love, more often than not, we picture a romance between a man and a woman.  (Think of the last 10 Hollywood romantic comedies you've watched...)

Here is a different kind of love -- just as moving and every bit as powerful...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJMbk9dtpdY&feature=related

I will not attempt to use words to describe the video.  All I will say is this: next time you are having a bad day, feel like something daunting stands in you path, or simply need some inspiration, think of the extraordinary journey that this father and son have taken together.

For Team Hoyt's story, watch this next video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy8hOOvM0t0&feature=related

Best,

Dez

Dear Friends:

You know what they say?  "Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon."  It's no wonder that Valentine's Day and food often go hand in hand...it did for me this past week...on Dolce Vita!

First, I attended the Cuisine of the World Press Conference.  The event assembled together a team of chefs from different regions (Hong Kong, Japan, France, and Italy) to create the world's most impressive and exclusive meal.  The 13-course meal will be auctioned off for charity at a later date.

Food maestros from Hong Kong, Japan, France, and Italy.

Me briefing and interviewing team Hong Kong.

Later, Lisa S. and I dined at a French restaurant in Soho.  Although we didn't get to eat much of the 6-course Valentine's dinner (it's tv!), Lisa and I did polish off the dessert, which was this wonderful champagne jelly topped with fresh whipped cream and an assortment of berries.  Too bad I was too busy eating it and never got a photo of the actual dessert!

Our director Ryan setting up the shot.

Lisa cracking one of her jokes and me trying my best to stay composed.

Lisa and I with Kitty, one of our wonderful writers.

This was my first time working with Lisa and can I say she is every bit as sweet, charming, and hilarious as she is gorgeous.  On a few occasions, her barrage of witty comments almost made me "snarf" (that's when you laugh so hard food comes out your nose!).

Just want to let you all know that there is now a Chinese version of Dolce Vita on High Def Jade channel.  The show's Chinese name is "明珠生活".  In case you missed the shows when they aired, you can now watch both the English and Chinese versions on http://mytv.tvb.com.

Hope you all had a fun and romantic Valentine's Day.  For the singles out there, I hope you fall victim to Cupid's arrow soon enough!

Best,

Dez

親愛的朋友，

作天我代表TVB節目Dolce Vita「港生活 港享受」出席「原動力節目新編排」活動。TVB很多主持人都出席介紹了他們的節目。

在場又有很多美女，包括和我一起主持節目的李璧琦小姐、葉翠翠小姐、和八位「耳分高下」天使。我的心不斷boop boop跳！

Dear Friends,

Yesterday, I represented TVB program Dolce Vita at a program line-up launch event.  There were lots of TVB hosts there to introduce their various programs.

There were also lots of gorgeous girls present, including my co-host Ms. Becky Lee, Ms. Tracy Ip, and the eight angels from game show 「耳分高下」. I thought I had died and gone to heaven!

節目開始前...Before the show...

李璧琦和我在台上。Becky and I on stage.

我們把節目名稱和時間貼上背後的時間表。We taped the show name and time on to the schedule board in the back.

雖然photo看不見，我們後來再打巨鼓跟燒紙炮－很好玩！

Although you can't tell from the photos, we beat giant drums and fired off paper confetti crackers afterwards.  Lots of fun!

下次再見，

Dez

Dear Friends:

In January 29's episode of Dolce Vita, I interviewed renowned artist Lee Chi Ching (李志清).  Although Lee is best known as a comic book artist (Sun Zi's Tactics; Romance of the Three Kingdoms; Water Margin), in this exhibit, he drew a series of water colour paintings depicting cows to celebrate the Year of the Ox.

His stuff is really cool -- in a few of his paintings, he combines Western and Chinese techniques to create something unique.  Not unike fusion cuisine, I guess!

Dez on the job...that painting in the background was my favorite.  It is a North American prairie buffalo painted with Chinese brush strokes.  The animal looked like it was going to leap off the paper.  Really cool!

Little boy sitting on a cow, a recurring theme in Chinese paintings.

About to start interview with Mr. Lee Chi Ching.

Mr. Lee and I get out of the way of a charging bull...

Wishing you all a Happy Year of the Ox and a bull market for Hong Kong!

Best,

Dez