T H I S+W E E K Stormy weather Paul Theroux on Hong Kong's troubled times to come By Don George, Editor The party's over The decadent charm of Hong Kong past By Simon Winchester - Books on China D E P A R T M E N T S > The Surreal Gourmet By Bob Blumer The Queen's favorite cocktail Mondo Weirdo On grilled house rat and crude urinals Postmark | Prague: Slacker Central By Melissa Morrison Affordable Bohemia in the land of the Velvet Revolution - Books on Prague Passages "Yak Butter and Black Tea" By Wade Brackenbury Looking for a village untouched by time in forbidden Chinese territory Readers' Tips and Tales R.I.P. in Disneyworld? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Your virtual travel agency - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - LA S T+W E E K Tuesday, June 17 Gonzo Congo Redmond O'Hanlon hunts dinosaurs in the African jungle PLUS: Fetishes and fossils A talk with Redmond O'Hanlon A full list of all Wanderlust articles

bloody delicious ! FOR YOUR SIGNATURE DRINK THIS SUMMER, WHIP UP A PITCHER OR THREE OF THIS FAVORITE OF QUEEN ELIZABETH. THE SURREAL GOURMET | at the beginning of every summer, a friend of mine selects one new drink to serve at her tiny rooftop garden, and she stays faithful to her choice for the entire season. Now, a single sip of any of the past summers' elixirs evokes a rush of nostalgic memories of the people and adventures of that year. As she described this ritual to me, she sipped a Campari and soda and I watched her body twitch noticeably as she flashed back to her summer fling of '86. I suspect that if we were near a well-stocked bar, I could have seen quite a show. Tempt your own fate by choosing a unique signature drink for the summer of '97 -- one worthy of attracting whatever it is that rocks your world. If you're tired of the usual daiquiris and coolers, may I suggest Pimm's No. 1 Cup, a staple British refreshment favored by none other than the queen of England (and we all know what a wild and crazy bird she is). This cocktail is best described as a gin-based version of sangria. We used to have to wait for friends to carry Pimm's back from across the Atlantic, but now Pimm's No. 1 Cup is available in most well-stocked liquor stores. Mix a pitcherful and be prepared to get your knickers in a knot. - - - - - - - - - - - - PIMM'S NO. 1 CUP (Serves 6) Ingredients 1 cucumber, peeled and sliced 1 lime, sliced 1 orange, sliced 1 handful of fresh strawberries, hulled 12 fresh mint sprigs 9 ounces Pimm's No. 1 Cup 24 ounces lemon-flavored soda (7-Up, Sprite, etc.) 12 ounces sparkling mineral water or club soda 1. Place the cucumber, lime, orange, strawberries and half of the mint in the bottom of a glass pitcher. Add the Pimm's and 6 ounces of the lemon-flavored soda. Let stand for 30 minutes. 2. Add the remaining lemon-flavored soda and the mineral water. Stir and serve over ice. 3. Top each glass with cucumber, lime, orange slices and strawberries from the pitcher, and garnish with a mint sprig. Le Secret: Put the ice in the glasses, not the pitcher, so that any leftovers can be refrigerated, undiluted. The Adventure Club: Serve with British style cucumber and watercress sandwiches Music to Stir By: "God Save the Queen," The Sex Pistols *Note: Pimm's No. 1 Cup is the name of the alcohol as well as the cocktail made from it (as described above). Obviously a Brit created these names after consuming several glasses of the concoction. June 24, 1997 - - - - - - - - - - - - Illustration by Bob Blumer (a k a the Surreal Gourmet). Browse the Surreal Gourmet Archives The Surreal Gourmet's Web Site is located at http://surrealgourmet.com.

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