Celebrity Life

Before you hastily wave goodbye to 2021, celebrate with good friends and a grand feast for a proper sendoff to a wildly underwhelming year.

You know, 2021 was supposed to be the year where everything went Back to Normal. It didn't. How naive we all were. Instead, we sat through a rollercoaster ride of border restrictions — opened up (yay) before quickly shut again (boo) — 14, then 21 days of quarantines at home and hotels, and lots and lots of QR scans and temperature checks.

But what we did discover while anchored in the city is that new restaurants were the one thing that got us through. They never stopped opening! We went beyond the two usual stops on the Island Line to explore new venues and cuisines far and away from home. So with a final goodbye to 2021, and a hopeful look-ahead to 2022 (please, let us go somewhere; anywhere!), celebrate New Year's Eve with a memorable dinner at the many venues that helped sate our appetites this last 12 months.

Where to celebrate New Year's Eve Dinner in Hong Kong

Écriture

To mark an occasion as rare as the welcoming of a new year takes one very special location indeed. New Year's Eve only happens once a year! And that's a location like two-Michelin star Écriture where stunning views are only rivalled by an even more stunning array of dishes prepared by chef Maxime Gilbert and chef Heloïse Fischbach. The seven-course New Year's Eve dinner menu is a complete showcase of the restaurant's refined take on contemporary French cuisine, and includes roasted giant Brittany langoustine, Brittany live sea urchin prepared like an egg cocotte with caviar, Normandy scallop shaved with winter black truffle and a whole roasted rack of beef that's finished off over smoky binchotan.

Écriture, 26/F, H Queens' 80 Queen's Road Central, Central, Hong Kong, +852 2795 5996

Margo

Chef Mario Paecke of Margo prepares an eight-course dinner of decadence in bidding adieu to 2021. The modern European brasserie serves up a classic menu coupled with delightful contemporary twists the likes of a Fukuoka snow crab cocktail concocted with green asparagus and seaweed brioche, roasted pork belly with Brussel sprouts, muscat grapes and violet mustard and an Alexandre Polmard beef tartare topped with cep & white onion purée. To finish, chef ends on a sweet note with a German holiday tradition: bratapfe — baked apples served with vanilla custard.

Margo, Shop 6, G/F, The Galleria, 9 Queens Road Central, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2130 7731

Osteria Marzia

If counting down to the New Year is typically done in a seaside locale of some sort, the lack of travel this holiday season means very inventive alternatives. Osteria Marzia is one such location, evocative of coastal Italy with airy interiors and sea-fresh produce which includes Seppia, cuttlefish prepared with pistachio di Bronte, Fine de Claire oysters and a dedicated Catch of the Day, set to stun and surprise with bright Italian flavours. The meal rounds out with a decadent Foresta Nera Flambé — a fabulous way to see out the end of the year, I'll say.

Osteria Marzia, G/F, The Fleming, 41 Fleming Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong; +852 3607 2253

Rajasthan Rifles

The Peak will be having New Year's excitement of its own, with celebrations at Anglo-Indian mess hall Rajasthan Rifles kicking off at 9pm beginning with a grand feast starring all of the venue's beloved comforts: Tandoor-cooked lamb chops, lobster garlic butter fry and a Calcutta-style Asian sea bass curry, Macher Kalia. Also served around the room, free flow of any of your go-to beverages, with anything from Pimm's Cups to G&Ts and flutes of Champagne. Swing out the evening with tunes from the live band just in time for welcoming 2022 toasts.

Rajasthan Rifles, G/F, The Peak Galleria, Hong Kong, +852 2388 8874‬

Hue Dining

Not only will you be seated with a front-row view of Victoria Harbour (no fireworks this year, sadly), you'll sit with a sweet serenade by way of professional accordionist Nazar Tabachyshyn's stunning live music performance. Dinner comes in either three- or four-course seating with chef Wilson Leung's take on modern Australian cuisine of fresh seafood and quality produce, including saffron risotto with scallop and edamame, Carabinero prawns, Australian Grade 9 Mayura wagyu sirloin, banoffee cheesecake and the entrance of a glorious cheese trolley filled to the brim will all sorts of tasty treats.

Hue, 1/F, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong;+852 3500 5888

Roji

If you're counting down to 2022 at Roji, fantastic choice. Not only is the Central hideaway izakaya throwing a grand New Year's Eve soirée to farewell 2021, you'll also be dining with some of the venue's latest seasonal serves: Crispy-fried chicken skin with a miso mayo dip, Polmard beef tartare and a personal favourite (which I gushed endlessly about in one edition of our weekly Best Bites), Mentaiko udon, coated in rich, creamy ginger-garlic dressing sprinkled with mentaiko pollack roe. The dinner, available in two seatings, will also come with a welcome glass of Moët & Chandon Champagne but we recommend going for the list of special-made cocktails, including the flavoured Highballs, which I also enthusiastically raved about here.

Roji, G/F, 20A D’Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Central, Hong Kong; +852 +852 9884 0704

La Rambla

When it comes to the final minute of 2021, you'll probably think back on the the past 12 months, flipping through all the best memories had. But no need to flip so far — just remember this delicious Catalan meal at La Rambla you had just a few hours ago. Staying true to a memorable feast, the eight-course menu includes a selection of cuisine favourites like fresh tomato on toasted crystal bread with a drizzle of olive oil, a unique Hokkaido uni doughnut served with miso mayonnaise, foie grass mi-cuit and a hearty Boston lobster paella, topped with the classic trio of clams, squid and mussels.

La Rambla, Shop 3071 -3073, Level 3, ifc mall, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2661 1161

Bacchus

The secret to successful New Year's celebration? Good food and lots and lots of wine. A wish that is sure to come true at the newly opened Bacchus on Hollywood Road, which prides itself on its very extensive list of fine wines. Naturally then, the seafood-centric, six-course New Year's Eve dinner comes paired with a thoughtfully curated selection of vinos, set to highlight the exquisite flavours of the venue's Asian-inspired French cuisine. Caviar is, of course, in attendance, but so are some very extravagant serves: Russian Red Merus king crab leg, French Brioche Perdu, Japanese sea urchin and grilled Atlantic turbot in a decadent Champagne-caviar sauce.

Bacchus, 3/F Hollywood Centre, 233 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong; +852 3750 5200

Giacomo

On the flip side of New Year's Eve extravagance, there's comfort. Time spent with nearest and dearest all wrapped and warm as you anticipate an exciting welcoming to another new year. Giacomo's New Year's Eve menu is a six-course dinner celebration that allows you to do both: Southern Italian comforts made with intent for complete indulgence. Foie gras with chestnut emulsion. Royale oysters topped with caviar. Mayura beef tenderloin with winter black truffle. Then the hearty, home-style pastas by executive chef Keith Yam: Brittany blue lobster Sardinian gnocchi, tagliolini with mushroom jus and Alba white truffle. A wonderful end and beginning to the years.

Giacomo, G/F, 8 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong; +852 3980 3008

Cornerstone

When the clock strikes 12 on 31 December, all that matters is you, you loved one and the kind of celebration you share to toast a year just had and to be had. An intimate dinner prior is sets the scene, then. Cornerstone, with its sleek interiors and cosy seating, presents a perfect setting along with a delicious menu representative of chef Neal G. Ledesma's sophisticated plates that manage to comfort. For New Year's Eve, the modern bistro prepares a four-course menu topped with smoked ricotta raviolo, pan-seared wagyu rump cap and celeraic risotto, before finishing with a modest yet very indulgent banana cake topped with dulce mousse and a drizzle of caramel.

Cornerstone, G/F, 49 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong

LPM Restaurant & Bar

Now don't be mistaken, LPM Restaurant & Bar might be known for its fresh and bright French-Mediterranean serves but it doesn't mean it's a reason not to dress up. The restaurant encourages you to with the welcoming of 2022, and set the theme of the evening to the glamorous setting of Studio 54. So find the glitziest sequins dress you own and shimmy your way to the restaurant's H Queen's location. The menu itself is a true dedication to LPM's coastal flavours, devised by head chef Maurizio Pace. Except crowd favourites like the scallop tartare and grilled pink sea bream, grilled "Black Onyx" sirloin steak and a comforting sun-dried tomato pesto spaghetti topped with squid. Of course, it not a complete LPM experience without the glamorous cocktails, with a choice of four for the evening. The Criquet de Milly of white cacao, peppermint liqueur and coconut sorbet, in particular, will be a delightful end, with flavour profiles similar to an After Eight mint.

LPM Restaurant & Bar, Shop 1, 1/F, 23-29 Stanley Street, H Queen's Central, Hong Kong; +852 2887 1113

Zuma

When it comes to throwing grand affairs, you can count Zuma high upon the list. The contemporary Japanese izakaya in infamous for its free-flow brunches, which marks yet another return on New Year's Eve with the Yashoku Night Brunch. The premise is same as usual, with free-flow dishes and drinks including sake and beer and addition entry to the countdown party later on in the evening.

Alternatively, Zuma has also put together a less raucous New Year's Eve Dinner for sophisticated celebrators. The menu is a curation of venue highlights from Japanese wagyu tataki with white truffle shavings, grilled Gillardeau oyster, crispy Mazara red prawn and, of course, decadent spoonfuls of Kristal Zuma Caviar.

Zuma, Level 5 & 6, Landmark, 15 Queen's Road Central, Central, Hong Kong; +852 3657 6388

NYE Steak Rebellion

Something with a lil difference than your usual glitz and glam New Year’s Eve celebration. Steak Rebellion at The Factory is all about great food and great atmosphere. And with a twist of an immersive dining experience too; this year, dress to theme of "Gangs of New York x Sweeney Todd". 

A five course dinner that begins with caviar and shots of vodka, just before you've fully recovered, the dinner also comes with a complimentary bottle of quality wine to sip alongside fresh oysters and dry-aged steaks. With the pulsating beat of live musicians at the venue, it's the perfect scene for a fantastic welcoming to 2022.

The Factory, 16A Kwai Bo Industrial Building, 40 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong; +852 9085 1817

The post Welcome, 2022! 13 Restaurants for New Year’s Eve Dinner appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Truffle season has commenced.

The “White Diamonds of Alba” have finally made their way from Piedmont onto the menus of the city’s top eateries for that added extravagance to simple dishes. The musky and earthy aromas of the prized white truffles are only available in Hong Kong for two months of the year, so there's no time like now to get a whiff and taste of this season’s most exciting dishes.

With the season upon us, we explore Hong Kong to discover the most flavoursome dishes in honour of the rare white truffles.

Castellana

[caption id="attachment_211618" align="alignnone" width="800"] Uovo di Montagna, organic egg white meringue with raw yolk.[/caption]

Price: Options of four and seven-course menus start from HK$1,580 and HK$1,980 respectively.

Where better to indulge in Piedmont’s most coveted white truffles than at the city’s most authentic fine dining Italian restaurant with a focus on Piedmont cuisine. Castellana has launched a new Alba white truffle menu featuring scrumptious highlights such as Tonno Rosso (Japanese tuna marinated with fennel seeds and beetroot juice), Uovo di Montagna (a meringue made from organic Italian Dolomite mountain egg white that's bedecked with its raw yolk to resemble a sunny side-up egg) and Fassona beef that's prepared terrine-style and served with rhubarb, mushroom juice, onion casserole, and fontina cheese gratin. Every dish comes topped with three grams worth of freshly shaved truffle. The menu is available for lunch and dinner from Mondays to Saturdays.

Castellana Restaurant, 10/F, Cubus, 1 Hoi Ping Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong; +852 3188 5028

DiVino

[caption id="attachment_211620" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Homemade egg tagliatelle with white truffle shavings.[/caption]

Price: Dishes start from HK$300.

Back by popular demand is DiVino’s “no menu, no limitations, and no rules” approach to devouring truffles, where customers get to choose exactly how they want to savour their truffles. Whether it's scattered over a hearty pasta, sprinkled on a succulent steak, or incorporated in a dessert, the options are endless. For those who can't decide, the Italian wine bar will offer suggestions from a repertoire of signatures specifically created to spotlight the white truffle. These include beef tenderloin carpaccio paired with slow cooked organic egg cream, mâche salad, Grana Padano shavings and white truffle; and a dessert of warm Franciacorta sabayon, bourbon vanilla ice cream with white truffle petals.

DiVino, 73 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2167 8883

Giando Italian Restaurant

[caption id="attachment_211621" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Tagliolini Al Tartufo Bianco.[/caption]

Price: Dishes range from HK$488 to HK$528.

White truffles take centre stage at Giando, which has rolled out several new dishes such as Tagliolini Al Tartufo Bianco — a homemade egg tagliolini soaked in chicken broth and cloaked with shaved white truffle — and potato gnocchetti covered in cheese fondue and white truffle. If you're an avid home cook yearning to get your own supply of the prized delicacy, Giando's sister supermarket Mercato Gourmet currently has fresh truffles in stock.

Giando Italian Restaurant, G/F, Starcrest Block 1, 9 Star Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong; +852 2511 8912

Nicholini’s

[caption id="attachment_211623" align="aligncenter" width="768"] Pan-fried cod fish with carrot purée and white truffles.[/caption]

Price: Tasting menu ranges from HK$1,1688 to HK$2,020. A la carte dishes on the white truffle menu (served during dinnertime) are priced from HK$300.

An institution when it comes to white truffles in Hong Kong, Nicholini’s autumn menu has returned year after year for its spot on delivery of Piedmontese dishes. This year, chef Riccardo has created a dinner tasting menu available in four, five and six courses and showcasing delectable options such as foie gras with Jerusalem artichokes, risotto with sausage and Barolo-veal sauce, and pan-fried cod fish with carrot purée — all deliciously crowned with shaved white truffle. Many of these special dishes are available a la carte, while the option to order truffles by the gram gives diners the freedom to enjoy as they please.

Nicholini’s, Level 8, Conrad Hong Kong, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong; +852 2822 8801

Zuma

[caption id="attachment_211625" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Zuma's seared toro with caviar, wafu sauce and Hana Hojiso.[/caption]

Price: From HK$280

When thinking of Italian white truffles, the first cuisine that comes to mind isn’t usually Japanese. However, the team at Zuma has found innovative ways to bring regional flavours and textures together. A selection of six inventive white truffle dishes are created using fine Japanese techniques and ingredients. Tantalising truffled highlights include seared toro with caviar, thinly sliced sea bass with yuzu and truffle oil, and wild mushrooms on Kamameshi rice infused with truffle butter.

Zuma, Level 5 & 6, Landmark, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong; +852 3657 6388

LPM Restaurant & Bar

[caption id="attachment_211626" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Burrata with white truffle shavings.[/caption]

Price: Dishes are HK$838 each, Delicatesse cocktail is HK$110.

French Mediterranean spot LPM Restaurant & Bar embraces white truffle season with five new a la carte dishes and a cocktail — all incorporated with the earthy delicacy. These include a fluffy burrata garnished with white truffle, as well as rigatoni, gnocchi and linguine in cream sauce laced with truffle oil and speckled white truffle shavings. Wash these down with Delicatesse, the eatery's rendition of an Old Fashioned comprising Diplomatico Riserva Rum, East India Sherry and nut bitters, and elevated with truffle honey and a dash of date balsamic vinegar.

LPM Restaurant & Bar, 23-29 Stanley Street Shop 1, 1/F, H, Queen's, Central, Hong Kong; +852 6401 8247

Carbone

[caption id="attachment_211629" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Truffle fettuccine.[/caption]

Price: HK$138 per gram. Dishes start from HK$498.

Another hotspot for white truffles in Hong Kong is Carbone, where guests get to select their preferred pieces, and decide if they want to savour the fungi whole or by the gram. The beloved delicacy stars prominently in several a la carte offerings: Freshly shaved over fettuccine, fluffy eggs on brioche, Carpaccio Piemontese and steaks, as well as turned into a butter for tortellini with sheep milk's ricotta and parmesan.

Carbone, 9/f LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2593 2593

Associazione Chianti

[caption id="attachment_211627" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Carne Cruda.[/caption]

Price: From HK$108.

Over at Associazione Chianti in Wan Chai, guests can opt for Alba white truffle shavings to be added to dishes such as Carne Cruda (Tuscan steak tartare) and steaks. For the latter, the beef is prepared with truffle butter instead of the usual house-rub, before being bedecked with white truffle tableside. The restaurant has also introduced new concoctions such as tagliatelle with butter and diners' preferred amount of white truffles (the chef recommends two grams), and creamy truffle polenta with mixed mushrooms.

Associazione Chianti, 15 Ship Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong; +852 3619 3360

Cucina

[caption id="attachment_211631" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Taiyouran scrambled egg on toasted bread with seared Hokkaido scallops and white truffle.[/caption]

Price: From HK$288 to HK$588.

Indulge in six luxurious truffle dishes during lunch and dinner at Cucina, which is offering the delicacy until 10 January 2021. Its Taste of Luxury repertoire introduces truffle into the likes of Taiyouran scrambled egg with seared Hokkaido scallops, tagliolini with butter and Parmigiano cheese, and potato flan with soft-boiled egg and cheese fondue. Leave some room for dessert: The restaurant serves up an intriguing, aromatic white truffle ice cream with hazelnut sponge and truffle mascarpone.

Cucina, Level 6, Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong; +851 2113 0808

LucAle

[caption id="attachment_211630" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Rossini's beef tenderloin.[/caption]

Price: HK$480 to HK$788.

LucAle has put together a special white truffle menu of four a la carte dishes, each boasting at least five grams of the treasured ingredient. Expect to tuck into mouthwatering options of beef tartare with horseradish mayonnaise, egg tagliolini, pumpkin cream with slow-cooked egg, and a decadent beef tenderloin teamed with foie gras. All of these dishes are generously showered with truffle shavings. For maximum enjoyment, add on the restaurant's recommended wine pairings, which are carefully curated to complement the earthy fragrance of the white truffles.

LucAle, Shop A, 100 Third Street, Sai Ying Pun; +852 3611 1842

The post 10 Best Hong Kong Restaurants Serving White Truffles This Season appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.