As the trend for all things molecular endures, chefs turn their attention to some astounding Christmas dishes.

Highly alcoholic fresh ice cream will melt lickety split. We discover this setting up the photoshoot at Bo Innovation, as, under the orders of a terse Alvin Leung, a number of stand-ins are used before the real thing, in this case an exceptionally creamy, rum-heavy ice -- is sped from the deep freeze and placed in front of the camera. In seconds, it is dripping.

The past decade has been about racing technology. We have witnessed the advent of a host of new gadgets, from MP3s to the iPhone, that has, for better or worse, transformed our lives. That wizardry has been no less apparent in the kitchen. Just as creations such as Google make us wonder what it was to thumb through an encyclopaedia, we might also muse upon what vegetables were before they started arriving at tables foamed.

Dishes are now created and occasionally appear before us in test-tubes, or are deconstructed down to their base elements. These days, properties can morph so that solids become liquids and liquids become powders. Meat, once strictly a savoury item, loses its identity when it becomes ice cream, complete with a sweet aftertaste.

This special Prancing Horse resembles the work of a master potter, being brought to life by contemporary artist Lu Hao who has created a crackled appearance in its finish.

A paint job that appears to mimic crackled porcelain from another era adorns Ferrari’s latest handiwork, a one-of-a-kind 599 GTB Fiorano made for China. This special auto, a part of the 599 GTB Fiorano China Limited Edition series, celebrates the Prancing Horse’s fifth anniversary in the mainland.

So far, 11 China Limited Edition Ferraris have been introduced in Greater China and this car is a one-off version.

This special version, a first for Ferrari, represents an amalgam of Italian engineering and craftsmanship with aesthetics drawn from ceramic arts of China that stretch back more than 3,000 years. To bring this car to life with its unusual paint job, Ferrari commissioned the Beijing-based contemporary artist Lu Hao, known for works that push the envelope.

There’s a long story behind every Vertu phone as designer Frank Nuovo revels in the creation of Ayxta.

As creative director and designer of Vertu, Frank Nuovo knows what he needs from a mobile phone and what its high-end clientele wants.

A swift tour brought him to Hong Kong to promote Ayxta, the latest member of the Vertu Constellation -- and which has been one of his constant companions the past four months.

“I just have to make sure everything works before it hits the market,” the Italian-born American says, while conveniently pitching: “Its City Brief service reminds me where I am visiting and sleeping.”

The Ayxta, priced from HK$48,000 to HK$63,000, has a stainless-steel body, aluminium detail, substantial leather elements, and a scratch-proof sapphire crystal screen.

Nuovo believes Vertu phones should bring a sense of comfort and reassurance.