Vegetarian bounty

[Photo provided to China Daily]

Chefs at Cai Yi Xuan are making the most of summer produce, with seasonal delicacies such as white asparagus, gorgon fruit, matsutake and mushrooms from Yunnan province on a new vegetarian menu. Options include marinated mini tomato with shaved mint plum ice, double-boiled white fungus in vegetarian consomme and wok-fried green pea with gorgon fruit and camellia oil.

Cai Yi Xuan at Four Seasons Beijing, 48 Liangmaqiao Road, Chaoyang district. 010-5695-8888.

Hong Kong

Pineapple updated

[Photo provided to China Daily]

Pineapple has long been known as an auspicious symbol of health and fortune, and a new baked confectionery company is giving the traditional pineapple shortcake a modern makeover. Based on a Malaysian recipe and handcrafted in Hong Kong, the fruit is sourced from small farms in Thailand and only the best native Patavia pineapples are selected by hand to ensure the pineapple filling has the right balance - not too sweet with a tropical tang. Combined with French butter and fine Japanese flour, the bite-size cakes are then sprinkled with pink Himalayan salt as a finishing touch. Look for them in an upcoming Lane Crawford promotion.

Available in a gift box of nine pieces for HK$118 ($15.21) at select markets and online at www.moreishHK.com.