Celebrity Life

Culled from Hong Kong’s always-hot dining scene, here are some of the most exciting menus to try this month. Be prepared for chef takeovers, collaborations melding divergent cuisines and seasonal specials – these one-off opportunities are not to be missed.

Arcane’s Veganary Menu

When: 1 to 31 January
Price: HK$888 + 10%

The newly appointed President of Food Made Good Hong Kong (a local campaign driven by the provenance and purpose of food, aiming to influence sustainability in the food service sector), Shane Osborn is bringing the organisation’s initiatives into his Michelin-starred restaurant, Arcane. For the whole of January, Chef Osborn has created a vegan menu which is designed to reduce its carbon footprint, limit food waste and as its name suggests, reduce meat consumption. The five-course menu honours seasonal fruits and vegetables while still utilising the chef’s high calibre cooking techniques and fine dining values. Natural and organic wines are also on offer to pair with the menu.
Arcane, 3/F, 18 On Lan Street, Central; +852 2728 0178

Rech by Alain Ducasse’s Kaviari Caviar Menu

When: 2 January to 29 February
Price: Five-course menu with Baeri Caviar HK$1,388; Five-course menu with Osetra Caviar Prestige HK$1,488; Five-course menu with Kristal Caviar HK$1,688 + optional HK$688 for vodka, Champagne and wine pairing +10%

Renowned for some of the freshest French seafood creations in town, Rech by Alain Ducasse starts the year off with a decadent five-course caviar menu. Partnering with Kaviari Caviar for its supreme quality eco-responsible roe. Guests will be presented with three of Kaviari’s finest to choose from – Baeri caviar from Siberia, Osetra Caviar Prestige from Europe and Kristal Caviar from Thousand Lake in China – to go with Chef Guillaume Katola’s dishes.
Rech by Alain Ducasse, InterContinental Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; +852 2313 2323

HAKU x Victor’s Fine Dining

When: 6 to 8 January
Price: HK$2,580 +10%  
HAKU is welcoming the new year with Chef Agustin Balbi’s culinary friend and peer, Christian Bau of three Michelin star Victor’s Fine Dining for a special three-night collaboration. Both chefs shares a love for Japanese culinary traditions and progressive cuisine, making this four-hands meal a unique harmony of European flavours with Asian innovation. Expect to be wowed by Chef Bau’s Kanpachi with oysters and sea herbs and A4 Kumamoto Kuro-gyu with eggplant; and Chef Balbi’s Steamed king crab legs, Hokkaido scallops and signature Abalone rice with chorizo.
HAKU, Shop OT G04B, Ocean Terminal, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui; +852 2115 9965

La Rambla x Gallery de Chele

When: 7 & 8 January
Price: HK$1,780 + 10%

Chef Chele Gonzalez’s food can be described as Spanish cuisine with a Filipino twist. Pair that with Chef Ferran Tadeo’s modern Catalan flavours and you’ve got one of the most unique combinations of culture packed in one meal. Drawing on the two chefs’ common Spanish heritage and international exposure, the collaboration fuses both chef’s regional experience with their native roots. The 12-course degustation menu sees the finest ingredients sourced both locally and internationally from land and sea to bring guests a taste of Spain and Southeast Asia in perfect harmony.
La Rambla, 3071-73, L3, ifc mall, 8 Finance Street, Central; +852 2661 1161

Gems & Pearl at Tosca di Angelo with Antonia Klugman

When: 14 & 15 January
Price: HK$1,998 + 10%

Episode two of five in the Ritz-Carlton’s Gems & Pearl Italian Culinary Journey vignette continues with legendary chef Antonia Klugman of one Michelin-star L’Argine a Vencò in Dolegna del Collio, Italy. This one-off menu melds the talents and styles of both chefs, led by ingredients-forward approach to cooking with a strong emphasis on sustainability and seasonality.
Tosca di Angelo, Level 102, The Ritz-Carlton, West Kowloon; +852 2263 2270

TATE Dining Room x Hisa Franko

When: 16 & 17 January
Price: HK$2,180 + optional drinks pairing start at HK$580 + 10%

It’s not the first time that Chef Vicky Lau of TATE Dining Room promotes fellow female chefs in unique collaborations. We’ve seen incredible success with her previous partnerships with Natsuko Shoji of Été, Bee Satongun of Paste, and Margarita Fores of Grace Park. Continuing her celebration of powerful female chefs, TATE takes it cross-continent in 2020 with a lineup of world-renowned guest chefs. To start, Chef Ana Ros (who some may recognise from Netflix series Chef’s Table and World’s Best Female Chef of 2017) joins Chef Lau from her restaurant Hisa Franko in Slovenia. The 10-course tasting menu will see both chefs’ innovative creations, and one highly anticipated collaborated course.
TATE Dining Room, 210 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan; +852 2555 2172

WHISK x Restau K Yamauchi

When: 16 & 17 January
Price: HK$1,388 + optional HK$380 for wine pairing + 10%

For quite some time now, WHISK has been inviting some of the world’s most acclaimed chefs to its kitchen for dining collaborations. The first of 2020, The Mira will welcome guest chef Kenichiro Yamamuchi of Restau K Yamamuchi from Nagoya to lend his flavours for a culinary partnership with chef Olivier Li. The eight-course dinner takes on some of the freshest seafood including Kaviari Caviar, Aogani crab, Kurumba shrimp, razor clams, squid. To go with the meal, an optional wine and cocktail pairing is also highly recommended.
WHISK, 5/F, The Mira Hong Kong, Mira Place, 118 – 130 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; +852 2315 5999

Mono

When: 22 January

Price: HK$2,880 + optional HK$880 + 10% (+ 3% carbon tax)

Newcomer Mono of JIA Group has had quite the buzz since its opening in December. After just one month, Executive chef Ricardo Chaneton welcomes friends and culinary talents Agustin Balbi of HAKU, Virgilio Martinez of Central Restaurante, and Pia Leon of Kjolle for one night to explore and share gastronomic approaches. The South American roots of the four chefs will be presented in a 12-course menu with optional wine pairing to complement the meal.

Mono, 5/F, 18 On Lan Street, Central

The post The Top Special Menus You Can’t Miss This January appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Annual mooncake mania has once again descended upon us all and as we gear up for Mid-Autumn festival, which falls on 13th September this year; there are quite a few cakes to get through.

From the undefeated classics to more contemporary and creative delights -- indulgence is the name of the game. But fret not friends, as we've done most of the hard work for you (someone has to!) with our top 10 list of Hong Kong mooncakes, to try yourself or gift to others, that are definitely worth the calories.

The post 10 Hong Kong Mooncakes That are Worth the Calories this Mid-Autumn 2019 appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Cleanse, exfoliate, tone, moisturise and apply sunscreen. Most of us have our daily skin care regimen down to a T (for T zone), but there are times when you just need a bit of extra help from the professionals. That’s why we headed to the Intercontinental’s I-Spa to inject a little life back into our dull, post-winter skin and here’s what we found.

The Treatment: Youth Intensive Facial

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Products

If you’re going to trust any kind of skin care product, go with a brand that's backed by science and research. At I-Spa, they’ve opted for Parisian brand Sothys, which was founded over 70 years ago by medical biologist Dr. Hotz. These days, scientists collaborate with universities and laboratories to formulate products that combine technology and well-being -- one of which has resulted in the Youth Intensive Treatment at I-Spa. The facial includes a total of six products from this line for exfoliation, lifting and dermo-filling. Here, core ingredients such as saffron, sophora, and peptides claim to help slow down the ageing process while stimulating skin cell regeneration. The products felt light on the skin and held a delicate scent, nothing too overpowering. I was asked to allow the product to fully absorb into the skin even after the treatment was complete, and I was pleasantly surprised by how dewy and refreshed my face felt for the rest of the day.

[caption id="attachment_142687" align="alignnone" width="720"] The Youth Intensive Treatment (and line of Youth creams) by Sothys claim it can turn back the clock on your skin.[/caption]

Service

One of the things that can be a little bothersome, even before you set foot in the treatment room, are the forms you need to fill in. At I-Spa, this consisted of a very short consultation form and instead, the therapist spent more time with me to ask about my current skincare routine and possible sensitive areas. She also gave a detailed explanation about the treatment products, procedure and expected results. It was good to know that not only was I was in safe, knowledgable hands, but that the treatment procedure was geared towards my preferences and skin condition. The execution of the double serum face massage was also incredibly effective with firm yet relaxing massage movements throughout.

[caption id="attachment_142686" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Infinity spa pools offers a striking view of Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour for further relaxation with all spa experiences.[/caption]

Environment

The spa décor is pared back and simple, with a marble design that looks refined but slightly dated. However, I forgot this as soon as I entered the dimly-lit rooms, which are spacious and feel calming just the same. Each private spa suite comes with its own sauna, steam shower, whirlpool bathtub and massage facilities to enable a full-on luxury spa experience. For further wellness, the gym is open 24 hours and a large outdoor swimming pool offers a terrace, while the infinity spa pools show off a stunning view overlooking Victoria Harbour.

[caption id="attachment_142683" align="alignnone" width="1417"] There are 7 steps in the Youth Intensive Treatment which includes cleansing, exfoliation, toning, face massage, youth modelling, mask and finishing.[/caption]

Experience

I entered the private spa suite after sipping a warm cup of mint tea, so it felt like the perfect temperature as I disrobed, though I was maybe a tiny bit too warm as I slipped under the cashmere blanket. But as my body temperature dropped during the treatment, I was extremely grateful for it in the end.

After cleansing of the face and neck was complete, a two-step exfoliation process ensued with light pinching movements, which is said to better prepare the skin for absorption. Warm mitts were used in removing lotions and pastes, which not only felt great but also ensured the skin was completely clean. The facial then moved on to toning, before a simultaneously relaxing and invigorating face massage was performed. My therapist’s movements were firm yet thoughtful, as she lifted and contoured the skin around key areas such as the forehead, around eyes and lips, and the neck and décolletage. More youth modelling followed, along with a short massage on the neck and nape, too.

During the face mask elements of the treatment, my therapist kindly explained when she was going to cover my face or would gently tap to indicate her next movements. Experience, I’m sure, told her that some may feel sensitive when certain areas (especially around the eyes) are treated. I rested assured as I was in competent hands, and I drifted off naturally during a scalp massage. It was only when the finishing touches, with serum and moisturiser, were applied that I finally awoke and thanked her for skilled application.

Feeling fresh-faced, I returned to the the real world and was immediately complemented for my glowing skin. "That’ll be the facial", I told them, but when I think back to my experience, it most definitely was more than that. The Youth Intensive Treatment at I-Spa, with optional quick nap, is the “facial workout” that your face needs as much as your body requires the gym.

The post Spa Review: The Youth Intensive Treatment at InterContinental’s I-Spa appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.