MouthDancing Cafe 嘴舞咖啡

Click pics to enlarge. The top pic is placed only because this is an audio blog after all. Sun Audio 2A3 amp (with good old-stock tubes) driving Proac Tablette (a later edition). Rega TT. To the right, the “Chemistry Lab Apparatus" flanking Leon is what is used to make Ice-Drip Coffee!

Letter from Shenzhen (24-5): MouthDancing Cafe 嘴舞咖啡

Desert Flower 沙漠之花

Note: A Chinese expose shall be added soon. Come back soon.

Serendipity! Some months ago ELO mentioned that he knows this interesting fellow from Hong Kong who has opened a Boutique Cafe in Longgang district (borough), where I live. After some to and fro, I found out it is located on a street which I know very well because I have lunch once in a while at several of the cheap eateries around there! I have witnessed first hand the transformation of this very street - previously it was a sleepy neighborhood street with humble eateries but over the last years swanker Cafes kept popping up. 

This Cafe is called MouthDancing. Just a few days ago I finally met the proprietor, Jim Chan. Over an excellent Expresso I had a great conversation with him. Jim is a soft-spoken but very particular man and a Polyglot! Just what a good Cafe needs (as a Bar needs good Bartenders). Of course, he's a Barista par excellence but it's astonishing what else he is well versed in. His accomplishments are too many to mention (what's not mentioned below is that he was a boutique eyeglass and interior designer for many years), some of which you will find in the captions to the pics below.

The space is not big, but it's subtly divided in cells that hide Jim's ambitions. Appreciation of the art of Flower Arrangement, Visual Arts, Cinema, and Music. Jim knows many of HK's cultural and art influencers and I'd just urge you to chat with him, as he's a cornucopia of knowledge, and not afraid to tell you his true opinion. His broad embrace of the arts, cultural climate and adaptation to reality is well worth listening to!

A bit later, Jim made a (for me) highly unusual Hand-Drip Coffee and it was wonderful to savor the taste change as it went from hot to warm. This is a masterwork. Jim has his beans roasted to his specifications.

Jim has his staff (a girl-next-door on the day I visited) well trained. Jim splits his time between HK and SZ. In this SZ shop you'll find him Monday to Wednesday.

Here we have an Auteur.

And why do I say "Desert Flower"? Well, much of the Longgang district (the Eastern sector, where we are, is very different from the Western sector, which is closer to the center of town) is quite boring in comparison with hipper boroughs like Nanshan, Baoan and Futian, even Lohu. And it's a cultural desert if you ask me. Not much of artistic significance happens around here. We need more people like Jim here to spice up the place.

Home made desserts. Looks Yummy. You know, it's hard to get an authentic Tiramisu anywhere.

Varietals on Offer.

Jim's many Certifications on Flower Arrangements 

We all love Beatles

The Young Regulars arrived in a flamboyant Race Car

Movie Posters, including my favorite Luc Besson.

Mother's Day Masterclass on Flower Arrangements