If, like me, you have been watching Hong Kong drama serial Heart of Greed (a production about a family that owns a sea-products store) and constantly feel hungry as a result of seeing all the food featured in the show, check out these food preparation tips for whipping up your own meals:

• Before placing meat in an oven dish for roasting, grease the dish and place two large pieces of sliced onions in it. This ensures that the meat doesn't touch the bottom of the dish and most of the fat gets drained. The roast flavours the onions too, so you can use them as a tasty garnish.



• Dress discreetly – try to blend in with the locals as much as possible. Use a body/belt wallet, don’t wear jewellery or go around toting pricey electronic gadgets.



• Cheese melts and blends better when you shred or cut it into small pieces.



• To keep cheese from becoming tough, cook it at a low temperature and only add it to the pan when you're about to finish cooking the dish.



• Sprinkle fruit-flavoured gelatine powder over your pudding to add flavour and enhance its looks!



• Don't buy oysters with broken or damaged shells. If you open an oyster and find that the meat is dry, dispose of it. Fresh oysters should be plump and have a fresh, mild, saltwater tinge.



• To minimise tearing and sniffling when peeling or slicing onions, chill them first.