Naked Hungry Traveller

Dumpling Queen Melissa Wong works hard at knowing her dumplings. Though Melbourne isn't Beijing or Shanghai, it does offer a sizeable array of Chinese nosheries scattered around town. Some are bloody awful. Some are bloody good. Here's a rundown of five from an expert.

While fermented black garlic from Korea grabs foodie attention, smoked garlic proves more amenable. Smoked over fruit or nut woods or even rosemary stalks, the slightly fume flavour is a sure-fired winner. Use it with considered abandon.

I was recently invited to Hong Kong by the Tourism Board to drink and devour their impressive variety of international flavours. Granted they have a world of culinary styles on offer, but I still think the best thing about Hong Kong are their own culinary traditions.