Fed up with accompanying your smoked salmon with mere eggs from Russian sturgeon? Then snail caviar could be for you.

It may sound like a challenge to the taste buds, but the salty, pink-white delicacy could be gracing hundreds of French tables this Christmas.

After years of research, which has included creating a reproduction room where 60,000 snails laid eggs to produce 200kg for the world market, De Jaeger has unveiled its delicacy.

A japanese department store is offering truffle-stuffed roast chickens for 84,000 yen ($847) apiece.

Takashimaya Co has started taking orders for 12 capons to be flown in from Landes, France in time for Christmas Eve and filled with black truffles, foie gras, white sausage and chestnuts.

“People may think it’s expensive, but it would be perfect for a party,” said a spokeswoman at Takashimaya. “The meat is not heavy but juicy, and there will be truffles between the flesh and meat, making it very fragrant.”

The capons, known to be more tender than other chickens, will be prepared by French luxury food maker Fauchon and will serve six to eight people each.

Only one has been ordered so far, the spokeswoman said. “It’s still early November, so people are probably still planning their parties,” she added.

Mobil Travel Guide, the originators of the prestigious Star ratings and certifications program, today awarded Hong Kong & Macau with the most Mobil Five-Star rated hotels and spas in the company’s 50-year history. The unveiling of the esteemed properties that made Mobil Travel Guide’s coveted Star ratings list coincides with the brand’s release of their second international guide, Mobil Travel Guide: Hong Kong & Macau.

The brand awarded five new Mobil Five-Star hotels and three new Mobil Five-Star spas in Hong Kong and Macau to the coveted Mobil Travel Guide Five-Star list, a list that consists of only sixty-nine properties globally. The newest Mobil Travel Guide Five-Star properties in Hong Kong and Macau include: The Peninsula Hong Kong, the Landmark Mandarin Oriental, the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, The Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, the Wynn Macau, The Mandarin Spa, The Peninsula Spa by ESPA and the Spa at Wynn Macau.

Mandarin Oriental - Hong Kong

The honours were presented by Mobil Travel Guide and the Hong Kong Tourism Board at the prestigious ceremony at The Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong on November 6. Key leaders in Hong Kong’s tourism market, including many of the region’s top hoteliers and government officials, welcomed the brand to the local market.

Mobil Travel Guide and Mobil Travel Guide’s Star ratings system was launched in 1958 after the introduction of the United States’ first interstate highway network. The Mobil Travel Guide book series was created to provide Star ratings that would advise travelers on where to stay and dine. Launched with just one guidebook, the U.S. Southwest, the company has grown to publish more than 40 titles covering properties around the world.

As part of the launch of the inaugural edition of The Miele Guide, the much anticipated first-ever ranked list of Asia’s Top 20 Restaurants was announced at The Miele Guide Dinner on October 31, 2008.

This year, Hong Kong has emerged as the best city in Asia to dine in. Eight restaurants in The Miele Guide’s Top 20 are in Hong Kong.

It is also worth noting that one chef-restaurateur has three restaurants in The Miele Guide’s Top 20. Joel Robuchon (the French chief), once heralded as the world’s greatest chef, is undoubtedly helping to transform Asia’s culinary scene through his restaurants in Hong Kong, Macau and Tokyo.

Some of you may already know Petrossian, the Paris-based caviar specialist. There are Petrossian boutiques in Paris, Monaco, New-York, Las Vegas and Los Angeles but until now, you could only order caviar from their French website (petrossian.fr).

Now online, you can also order from petrossian.com or petrossian.co.uk and receive your caviar by express shipping (within 24 hours in most destinations in the UK).

Recently, I discovered an incredible pastry-shop in Paris, Pierre Hermé, where you can try some interesting flavored macarons, such as caramel with fleur de sel , passion fruit with chocolate or even rose petal cream.

(Macarons are French, meringue-like cookies made with almond flour – sometimes called luxembourgers - while Macaroons are cookies made with coconut)

Pierre Hermé is an artist - an artist of pastry making - and he is known for his innovative recipes. He began his apprenticeship at Gaston Lenôtre at the age of 14, where he discovered his passion for pastry making.