HKK puts a London shine on Chinese New Year

"In some parts of China, it is tradition to eat and gift apples during Chinese New Year," says chef Tong Chee-hwee, "as the word apple in Chinese 'pinguo' sounds like the word 'peace'."

My friend and I are in London for Spring Festival, celebrating the holiday at the celebrated Chinese restaurant, HKK. That's the uber-upscale sibling of Hakkasan, the popular eatery that opened in London with the award-winning Tong as head chef in 2001. It won a Michelin star within a year that it retains today, and Hakkasan has since opened branches in Shanghai, San Francisco and elsewhere.

My excitement about apples betrays an embarrassing habit - I have skipped down through the special eight-course New Year menu to see what's for dessert. Happy day! There are two, including the green apple cardamom crisp noodle that has captured my fancy.