Celebrity Life
The Top 10 Special Menus You Can’t Miss This September
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.
Room 309 x Jouer Atelier
When: Now through 14 September
Price: HK$250 + 10%
Tucked away within The Pottinger, Room 309 is a modern speakeasy helmed by Hong Kong’s most celebrated mixologist, Antonio Lai. To get us in the festive mood (with Mid-Autumn right around the corner), Jouer Atelier joins 309 for a special cocktail-macaron pairing experience. The pairing takes inspiration from the holiday and includes a cocktail served in a traditional paper lantern, with a dim sum steamer holding a white lotus, custard and date jam macaron. Reservations are a must as Room 309 limits servings to only 10 per day.
Room 309, The Pottinger, 74 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2308 3188
Giuseppe Zanoti Fall/Winter 2019 Afternoon Tea
When: Now through 15 September
Price: HK$418; additional glass of Veuve Clicquot Brut HK$270 + 10%
Inspired by the ethos of Giuseppe Zanoti’s Fall/Winter collection, Urban Beauty, Executive Pastry Chef Richard Long of The Ritz-Carlton reinterprets the aesthetics in an afternoon tea set. Enjoy six sweet delights and four savoury bites created to mirror the brand’s graphic and geometric elements, along with textured and exotic themes in the form of delectable finger food and exquisite desserts.
Café 103, Level 103, The Ritz-Carlton, West Kowloon; +852 2263 2270
Pirata Anniversary 4 Hands Dinner
When: 2 & 3 September at Madame Ching, 4 & 5 September at TokyoLima
Price: HK$350 + 10%
The guys at Pirata Group are celebrating their fifth anniversary with a series of festivities including a special four hands dinner by two of their top chefs: chef Son Pham of Madame Ching and chef Stephan Joubery of TokyoLima. The menu boasts signature dishes such as Kabocha – Mi – Hummas and Ccharred cabbage, home cured sashimi, pork neck katsu in a curry tomato sauce, and ponzu honey duck with pickled shallots. Each chef will take turns as guests in the other’s restaurant, bringing the carefully curated meal to both eateries.
Madame Ching, 5 Star Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong; +852 2577 7227
TokyoLima, 18 – 20 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2811 1152
Roganic Hong Kong x JAAN by Kirk Westaway
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When: 4 & 5 September
Price: HK$1,980; wine pairing HK$980 + 10%
In just six short months since the opening of Roganic and Aulis, chef Simon Rogan has proved to be a force to be reckoned with in the Hong Kong dining scene. This September, the celebrated chef is bringing more than just his inventive cooking to the table: He's teaming up with chef Kirk Westaway of JAAN in Singapore. The two British chefs are coming together for a second time in a four-hands collaboration, following the success of their first culinary partnership a few years back. Teaming up in Hong Kong this time, the two chefs will present a 10-course menu representative of their shared culinary ethos for experimental cuisine, showcasing the best of Britain’s seasonal offerings.
Roganic Hong Kong, Sino Plaza, 255 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong; +852 2817 8383
Tate Dining Room x Wing Lei Palace: A Taste of Autumn Stories
When: 4 & 5 September
Price: MOP 1,688; wine pairing MOP 1,000 + 10%
Chef Vicky Lau has made her name as one of Asia’s best female chefs with her tasting menu in the form of “edible stories” at Tate Dining Room. This September, she will focus on a special seasonal dinner in partnership with chef Tam Kwok Fung across the water at Wing Lei Palace in Macau. The 8-course meal merges the two chefs' culinary expertise in French-Chinese and traditional Chinese cuisine to express an autumnal narrative that showcases rare and seasonal ingredients.
Wing Lei Palace, Wynn Palace Macau, Macau; +852 8889 3663
Sühring Guest Chef at Mandarin Oriental
When: 12 & 13 September at The Krug Room, 14 September at Mandarin Grill & Bar
Price: HK$2,888 including a glass of Krug Grande Cuvée 167ème Edition; wine pairing HK$1,488 + 10%
The Sühring brothers of the eponymous two-Michelin-starred restaurant in Bangkok will be treating Hongkongers to a taste of their inventive German cuisine at Mandarin Oriental this month. Guests will experience an intimate 13-course dinner inspired by the brothers’ childhood memories, including beer garden specialties such as Leberkäse, the Swabian favourite Spätzle egg noodles with black truffles, and notable desserts like grandma’s secret-recipe eggnog.
Mandarin Oriental, 5 Connaught Road Central, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2825 4014
Pica Pica x Ichu Peru
[dual-images right-image-url="https://www.prestigeonline.com/hk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/DSC00443.jpg" left-image-url="https://www.prestigeonline.com/hk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/DSC00469.jpg" right-caption="Chef Sang Jeong" left-caption="Chef Edgard Sanuy"]
When: 17 & 18 September
Price: Approximately HK$600
Following the success of their previous partnership earlier this year, chefs Edgard Sanuy and Sang Jeong from Pica Pica and Ichu Peru, respectively, are joining together again for a very special tapas menu. The two chefs will be showcasing four dishes, each representative of their culinary region of expertise, binding the vibrant flavours of Spain and Peru. Look forward to iconic plates like Iberico pork morcilla with baby squid in ink sauce, slow cooked Spanish Black Angus beef rib with romesco and pickled onions, Peruvian pita bread with soft shell crab and aji Amarillo and Octopus with leek purée and crispy leek. The tapas are designed to be ordered à la carte so guests have the option of selecting from the permanent menu as well.
Pica Pica, Kai Tak Commercial Building, 317 – 321 Des Voeux Road Central, Sheung Wan; +852 2811 9880
Ephernité x Le Du
When: 20 & 21 September
Price: HK$1,788; wine pairing HK$380 + 10%
Congratulations are in order as The Mira Hong Kong turns 10 this season. To celebrate, Whisk invites farm to table concept Ephernité of Taipei and one-Michelin-star Thai/French restaurant Le Du of Bangkok for a special four-hands menu. Both chefs will each present four dishes, paying homage to the passage of time and reflecting upon meaningful milestones of their careers. The menu has been carefully designed to achieve a perfect balance and showcase the modern techniques of Asian and French cooking.
Whisk, 5/F, The Mira Hong Kong, 118 – 130 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; +852 2315 5999
La Rambla x Sucede
When: 24 & 25 September
Price: HK$1,600; wine pairing HK$668 + 10% (minimum of 4 people required)
You don’t need to travel all the way to Spain to try the cuisine of Michelin-starred restaurant Sucede. This month, chef Miguel Ángel Mayor pays Hong Kong a visit for the first time to guest chef at La Rambla and present his award-winning modern Valencian menu. Guests can expect seasonal signature dishes picked from various historical eras and inspired by traditional Roman-style banquets. Prepared to be wowed by fan favourites including Spanish sea cucumber with spinach and pork terrine, and beef loin with cured beef tongue and lentil caviar.
La Rambla, Level 3, ifc mall, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2661 1161
Haku x La Maison de la Nature Goh
When: 28 September
Price: HK$2,180; wine pairing HK$680 + 10%
At the end of the month, chef Takeshi “Goh” Fukuyama will be welcomed by chef Agustin Balbi of Haku for a special 9-course degustation journey. This collaboration is unique in that both chefs share a background with international culinary training and a passion for the highest-quality ingredients from Japan. Destined to be a night of pure indulgence, the menu features delicate dishes such as saba and caviar, foie gras with persimmon, grilled octopus with konbu, wagyu, and Caldoso-style chicken with black truffle. A wine pairing option is also available to complement the meal.
Haku, G/F, Ocean Terminal, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui; +852 2115 9965
The post The Top 10 Special Menus You Can’t Miss This September appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.
The Drinks List: 5 Cocktails in Hong Kong that Your Instagram Followers will Like
With more people "drinking for the 'gram" than ever before, it would appear that in the age of Instagram, cocktails need to look just as good as they taste.
Luckily for us, Hong Kong is home to an abundance of great bars that do this exceptionally well. From brightly-coloured tipples to cocktails with tiny trees balanced on ice, and even an aperitif on fire. Here are five of our favourite cocktails that drink-stagrammers can snap and sip in Hong Kong.
Lusty at Lobster Bar and Grill
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This bold, sunset-coloured cocktail is The Lobster Bar's Asian take on the traditional gimlet. With Citadelle gin providing the base, apple liqueur, zesty pomelo syrup and a squeeze of fresh lemon which add slightly sweet and summery flavours to this drink. The addition of turmeric is what gives the Lusty cocktail its gilded hue and make it one of the most vivid drinks to snap this season.
Lobster Bar and Grill, Level 6, Island Shangri-La, Pacific Place, Supreme Court Road, Central; +852 2877 3838
Smoke in a Bottle at Iron Fairies
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A smoke-filled bottle is a sure fire way to get people instagramming, but this house-infused blueberry vodka cocktail from Iron Fairies is another. Blended with fragrant elderflower liqueur and offset with homemade sage cordial, a squeeze of lemon, and the creme de cassis with smoked cacao nibs, this is an addictive tipple that is just begging to be photographed.
Iron Fairies, Chinachem Hollywood Centre, 1-13 Hollywood Road, Central; +852 2603 6992
Garden Of Eden at The Old Man
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With the title of Best Bar in Asia 2019 under their belt, it's no wonder cocktail lovers are all flocking to the The Old Man. Another reason though, is the Garden Of Eden. This cocktail is literally on fire. It's a rather complex drink, with honeydew rye whiskey distilled in a rotary evaporator with goat's milk and bourbon, together with caramelised sauterne cordial and orange-phosphate bitters. It's then set alight for an additional layer of smokiness, but to put simply -- it's flaming delicious to drink.
The Old Man, Lower G/F, 37-39 Aberdeen Street, Soho, Central; +852 2703 1899
Clear Colada Punch at Room 309
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Continuing their invisible cocktails theme, Room 309 present the Clear Colada Punch this summer. And you guessed it... it's a clear (sort of) piña colada. Using slow-cooked coconut candy rum as its base, with Falernum -- the Caribbean syrup liqueur -- and pineapple juice, fresh lime, milk and coconut syrup, this cocktail is very tropical, minus the tiki mugs and toothpick umbrellas.
Room 309, 3/F The Pottinger Hong Kong, 74 Queen's Road Central, Central
Longevity Tree Sap at Komune
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Modelled on Pinus Armandi, or the Chinese white pine tree with evergreen foliage, this cocktail considers longevity and immortality. Not that you'll live more years than you're supposed to, but it sure will make you want to drink it a while longer. The cocktail's natural earthy flavours stem from the pine needle black tea syrup, oregano and oak, combined with Rebel Yell bourbon and dandelion bitters to echo those forest elements.
Komune, Ovolo Southside, 64 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Hong Kong; +852 3460 8157
The post The Drinks List: 5 Cocktails in Hong Kong that Your Instagram Followers will Like appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.
The Drinks List: 5 New Cocktails to Try in Hong Kong
I have mixed drinks about feelings.
As the number of bars in Hong Kong continue to soar, so do the choice of libations; making the process of picking one’s poison somewhat arduous. Well, fret not and read on for the liquid solutions to your cocktail conundrum.
A Moveable Feast #1964 at The Old Man
The Ernest Hemmingway-inspired speakeasy (ranked number 5 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2018) recently unveiled new cocktails created by top mixologist Agung Prabowo, and we already have our pre-dinner favourite. If you appreciate Bloody Marys, you’ll likely enjoy A Moveable Feast #1964 – a savoury cocktail resplendent with flavours of the sea. A rotary evaporator extracts the essence from clams, seaweed, salts and seawater, which is re-distilled with vodka to provide the base. The clear consommé-esque cocktail is then infused for 24 hours with spiced cherry tomatoes, coconut, basil-tomato seeds and oyster leaf.
The Old Man, Lower G/F, 37 Aberdeen Street, SoHo, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2703 1899
Above the Clouds at Popinjays
Perched on top of The Murray, Popinjays offers a vantage point not usually seen this side of the island, lending itself to rather impressive sundowner sessions. The rooftop venue is named after the resident cockatoos that frequent the neighbouring gardens and the avian theme runs throughout. We order Above the Clouds from The Aviary Collection, which blends Zacapa 23-years-old rum with grapefruit and cassia infused angostura bitters. Brought to the table with smoky theatrics, it adds a smouldering smoothness to the cocktail, but ends brightly with lingering notes of rich spices and fruit.
Popinjays, The Murray, 22 Cotton Tree Drive, Central, Hong Kong; +852 3141 8888
Blind Tiger Gin & Tonic at Dr. Fern's Gin Parlour
This gin gold mine, hidden in The Landmark basement, boasts Hong Kong’s largest collection of gin and continues to expand its menu still. Earlier this month, six new signature gin and tonic prescriptions were revealed and we felt compelled to go visit the doctor. Our chosen elixir: Blind Tiger Gin – a favourite of Dr. Fern's Head Bartender Paul Chan – is handcrafted gin made in a secretive distillery in western Belgium, supplying a healthy dose of mystery to the liquor. Peppered with hints of spiciness, the cocktail is soothed by the sparkles of Fever-Tree Mediterranean tonic and finished with orange peel, cinnamon and rosemary.
Dr. Fern's Gin Parlour, Shop B31A, First Basement Floor, Landmark Atrium, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2111 9449
Argila at Uma Nota
The Negroni is an inescapable item on Hong Kong bar menus and adoration for the timeless drink has created a multitude of variations. Keeping us under its intoxicating spell is the Argila (meaning clay in Portuguese) – a negroni with a Brazilian backbone that can be found at Uma Nota. The lively Brazilian Japanese restaurant adds a São Paulo style twist to the classic which also seems to give us the courage for a samba showdown. This deep, earthy-hued cocktail is full of verve and made up of Capucana, a citrusy style cachaça (sugar cane spirit), Mancino Rosso Amaranto Vermouth, Cynar and orange bitters aged in a clay pot.
Uma Nota, 38 Peel Street, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2889 7576
Fluffy Pineapple Martini at Room 309
Disguised as a hotel room that requires a keycard to enter, Room 309 is an invitation-only bar on the third floor of The Pottinger. Antonio Lai - award-winning mixologist of Quinary and The Envoy, among others - has concocted eight transparent cocktails for The Invisible Menu in which we have selected the Fluffy Pineapple Martini. The cocktail permeates a vibrant tang of the tropics. Thankfully, it steers clear of sticky sweetness and instead, makes use of science with re-distilled pineapple vodka, centrifuged pineapple juice and clarified lemon juice to create a translucent and refreshing cocktail – adorned with a pineapple crisp and salted egg yolk crumble.
Room 309, 3/F The Pottinger Hotel, 74 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong
The post The Drinks List: 5 New Cocktails to Try in Hong Kong appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.