Header image: A Taste of Greece buffet at The Place, Cordis, Hong Kong
We know it’s become a cliché, but time really does fly! With Easter over, we now begin the countdown to summer livin’. Here are some wining-and-dining events we suggest you dive into this spring – keep checking back as more will continually be added:
APRIL
Taste of Greece buffet at The Place, Cordis, Hong Kong
Cordis hotel’s all-day-dining eatery, The Place, is the site for the launch of the Taste of Greece buffet, which has us drooling. It can be hard to find high-quality Greek grub in this city, depending on where you live, but this buffet makes octopus with lemon and olive oil, prawn saganaki, souvlaka, moussaka, baklava and lots more accessible to all.
Dates: until 30 June 2019
Time: lunch (12–2:30pm) and dinner (6:30–9:45pm)
Price: from $358 for lunch and $638 for dinner
Location: 4/F, Lobby, Cordis, Hong Kong, 555 Shanghai Street, Mongkok
To book: phone 3552 3028, email cdhkg.restaurants@cordishotels.com or book online
Test Kitchen x Chef Devon Hou
Test Kitchen’s home-grown talent, in-house head chef Devon Hou, is on board with a tasting menu that celebrates springtime produce, with her dishes inspired by the delicacy of Japanese cuisine. Dishes include uni with tomato consommé jelly, Okinawa pork belly with carrot tahini purée and shiso ice cream with peach. Chef Hou has previously worked at Michelin-starred restaurants Amber and Tate Dining Room & Bar in Hong Kong.
Dates: 24–27 April 2019
Time: 7pm and 8:15pm (2 seatings)
Location: Test Kitchen, Shop 3, 158A Connaught Road West, Sai Ying Pun
Price: $980/person (8-course tasting menu); +$480 (wine pairings); +$180 (corkage)
To book: click here
The Pansodan
A temporary outpost of Yangon’s new Burmese brasserie The Pansodan will be take root for three six months in Sai Ying Pun. Ivan Pun’s Pun + Projects brings botanical cocktails and modern Burmese dishes to the table. We’re excited by the likes of Burmese pâté, fermented tea leaf salad, crab biryani, pork curry and – the national dish of Myanmar – mohinga, rice noodles in a broth laced with sea bass, tamarind and turmeric. To dazzle your eyes, expect rattan panelling, cane chairs, contemporary Burmese artwork and hand-painted wallpaper. A private room seating up to 28 is also available. Read our review here.
Dates: 27 April–27 October 2019
Time: Tuesday–Friday, 6–11pm; Saturday–Sunday, 12–3pm (brunch) and 6–11pm
Location: 100 Third Street, Sai Ying Pun
Price: varies; sharing-style tasting menu at $600/person; sharing brunch menu at $358/person and +$228 for
free-flow Perrier-Jouët and beer
To book: phone 2361 2966 or email info@thepansodan.hk
Leaves & Liberty x Earth Day
Beef & Liberty’s green offshoot, Leaves & Liberty, is extending its eco-friendly ethos in honour of Earth Day with a screening of the award-winning documentary A Plastic Ocean, followed by a panel discussion and a Sea Change Rosé happy hour, with all proceeds benefiting Plastic Oceans.
Date: Sunday, 28 April 2019
Time: 3–5pm
Location: Beef & Liberty, 3/F, California Tower, 30–32 D’Aguilar Street, LKF, Central
Price: free entry to screening + panel; Sea Change Rosé happy hour ($33/glass)
For more info: click here
MAY
VEA’s 4-hands Birds of Paradise cocktail-tasting menu
Mixologist extraordinaire Antonio Lai of VEA Lounge will join forces with Frankie Solarik, co-owner of Toronto’s BarChef – described by Food & Wine as one of the “top seven new and innovative bars in the world” – for this exciting four-hands collaboration. Expect a lush space transformation as well as a multisensory mixology journey with a tropical theme. Michelin-starred chef Vicky Cheng of VEA will be serving up canapés and bar snacks to complete the experience.
Dates: 2–3 May 2019
Time: from 6:15pm (3 sessions each night; 12 guests/session)
Location: VEA Lounge, 29/F, The Wellington, 198 Wellington Street, Central
Price: $780/person (6-course cocktail-tasting menu + canapés and snacks)
To book: click here
Pastry Chef Jason Licker – winner of Iron Chef Thailand 2014 – at Le Méridien Cyberport
Chef Licker – is that a perfect surname for a pastry chef or what? – will be taking over at Le Méridien Cyberport’s Umami Japanese restaurant and Prompt all-day-dining restaurant to show off his innovative Asian fusion desserts and afternoon tea set featuring six sweets and three savouries. Sink your teeth into delights such as raspberry and yuzu cappuccino, chocolate and black sesame crunch cake and matcha, coconut and lime.
Dates: 3–12 May 2019 at Umami (à-la-carte desserts); until 30 June 2019 at Prompt (Asian-accented afternoon tea)
Time: varies
Location: Le Méridien Cyberport, 100 Cyberport Road, Cyberport
Price: $88/à-la-carte dessert; $398/2 (afternoon tea)
To book: phone 2980 7406 (Umami) or 2980 7417 (Prompt)
Cinco de Mayo
This Mexican holiday on the 5th of May is celebrated around the world with a whole lot of feasting and drinking – usually of the taco and margarita variety – and here’s what’s happening in Hong Kong for Cinco:
• Los Sotano
Los Sotano has three Cinco options on Saturday. There’s the Borracho Brunch with free-flow Mexican food and cocktails, plus the best hip-hop and pop music from the 90s and early noughties – there’s even karaoke for the brave. If you’re a later riser, check out Puesta de Sol in the afternoon with free-flow Mexican beer and cocktails and festive tunes. Finally, the nighttime action will be focused on the Cinco party to beat all parties – Fiesta Nocturna, with premium tequila and mezcal cocktails, DJs and sugar skull face-painting. Everyone wearing red, green or white gets a margarita on the house.
Date: Saturday, 4 May 2019
Time: 12–3pm (Borracho Brunch); 3–6pm (Puesta de Sol); 10pm–late (Fiesta Nocturna)
Location: Los Sotano, Basement, 21 D’Aguilar Street, LKF, Central
Price: from $495/person (Borracho Brunch); $200/person (Puesta de Sol); free (Fiesta Nocturna)
To book: click here for the Borracho Brunch and here for Puesta de Sol
• Te Quiero Mucho
Dubbed Quatro de Mayo, Te Quiero Mucho’s fiesta includes four hours of all-you-can-drink margaritas, micheladas and more + unlimited tacos. DJ Matthew Osborne will be on deck.
Date: Saturday, 4 May 2019
Time: 7–11pm
Location: Te Quiero Mucho, G/F and 1/F, Mojo Nomad, 286 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan
Price: $360/person on Ticketflap or $420 at the door (4 hours free-flow drinks and tacos)
To book: click here
Dinner with Corey series at BEDU
We’re huge fans of the warm vibe and stunning Middle Eastern dishes Chef Corey Riches serves up at BEDU, and we eager-beaver diners will now be treated to special monthly dinners from the chef where he explores culinary traditions from around the world. This month sees a French inspiration (it’s Le French May, after all) coming to dishes like chicken liver pâté with zhoug jelly, za’atar-grilled baguette, arak roasted scallops with fine herb salad and rose water marshmallow tart with pistachio. June’s monthly dinner will focus on Roman-inspired dishes from the Byzantine Empire, the Israeli seaside is showcased in July, it’s flavours from India in August and September is all about Australian truffles from Chef Riches’ home country.
Date: Monday, 6 May 2019 (1st dinner in the monthly series)
Time: dinner service from 6pm
Location: BEDU, 40 Gough Street, Central
Price: $560/person ($150 deposit required)
To book: click here
26th Great Chefs of Hong Kong by Heep Hong Society
Heep Hong Society’s annual do-good event is making a return to Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. Now in its 26th year, this one-night-only gourmet feast will feature some of Hong Kong’s biggest culinary talents and most recognisable names. You can expect to try a slew of signature dishes from an impressive roster of restaurants that include Rech by Alain Ducasse, NOBU, AnOther Place, Gaylord, The Peninsula and FINDS, amongst many others. In particular, we seriously recommend the heavenly sticky toffee pudding from Bread Street Kitchen & Bar. All eating will be done in the name of charity, of course.
General entry gets you a taste of signature dishes from a staggering 30 restaurants in the Grand Ballroom, whilst the more luxe Great Chefs Plus and Star Chefs Plus tickets offer dishes from even more restaurants, a seat in the Grand Rooms or a spot at Tiffin Lounge for a more intimate dining experience. A tombola and lucky draw will also be held on the night of, in case you want to walk away with more than just a food baby and plenty of wholesome feelings.
Date: Monday, 6 May 2019
Time: 6–9pm (general-entry and Great Chefs Plus tickets), 7–10pm (Star Chefs Plus ticket)
Location: Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Road, Wanchai
Price: $880/person (general entry), $1,780/person (Great Chefs Plus), $2,380/person (Star Chef Plus)
To book: click here
Pici food truck at Taikoo Place
HK’s fave homemade pasta specialist, Pici, will station a food truck at Taikoo Place for about two weeks this month, so hungry lunchers in the area should take note. For the pop-up, Pici is collaborating with Impossible Foods to craft interesting plant-based pasta dishes like lasagne made with Impossible ragu and tagliatelle with Impossible ‘nduja, cherry tomatoes and rocket. Let’s get truckin’!
Dates: 6–17 May 2019 (Monday–Friday, excluding public holidays)
Time: 11:30am–2:30pm
Location: Taikoo Place, 979 King’s Road, Quarry Bay
Price: varies
Test Kitchen x Young Chef of the Year 2018 (Bangkok) + ex-Sühring pastry chef
Michelle Goh, formerly the pastry chef at Sühring Bangkok (currently sitting pretty at number 13 on Asia’s 50 Best list) and Pongcharn Russell, known as Top, ex-head chef at Freebird Bangkok, bring their award-winning “modern territorial cuisine” to Test Kitchen this month, making a return visit following their successful pop-up there three years ago. Chef Russell was named BK Magazine’s Young Chef of the Year 2018 and has a spot on Forbes Asia’s 30 Under 30 list. Expect innovative dishes with a Southeast Asian flair that pay tribute to locally grown produce in the 852.
Dates: 9–12 May 2019
Time: 7pm and 8:15pm (2 seatings)
Location: Test Kitchen, Shop 3, 158A Connaught Road West, Sai Ying Pun
Price: $980/person (8-course tasting menu); +$480 (wine pairings); +$180 (corkage)
To book: click here
Guinness Connoisseur Bar at K11 Art Mall
Learn how to pour the perfect pint, sample gastropub snacks made with Guinness, purchase Guinness gear and – best of all – customise your own Guinness draught with edible beer foam art (a selfie, perhaps?) at this pop-up dedicated to the world’s favourite Irish stout.
Dates: 10 May–5 July 2019
Time: 10am–10pm
Location: Atrium, G/F, K11 Art Mall, 18 Hanoi Road, TST
Price: free entry
Champagne Secrets at Champagne Bar, Grand Hyatt
This May and June, the grandiose Champagne Bar at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong will be steeped in mystery with a series of live magic performances by renowned French illusionist Stefan Leyshon. Running on four consecutive Thursday evenings from 16 May to 6 June, the 90-minute event will spellbind diners not only with its captivating illusions but also with a tantalising six-course tasting menu paired with Möet & Chandon champagnes. Advance reservations are a must.
Dates: 16, 23, 30 May and 6 June 2019
Time: from 7:30pm
Location: Champagne Bar, Lobby, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Road, Wanchai
Price: $1,880/person (magic performance + 6-course champagne-paired tasting menu)
To book: phone 2584 7722 or email fbsc.hkggh@hyatt.com
HAHA PANDA x CAFÉ LANDMARK afternoon tea set
The atrium of LANDMARK and LANDMARK PRINCE’S will be adorned with 12 whimsical panda installations until 24 May. Created by jewellery brand Qeelin’s founder and creative director, Dennis Chan, the bejewelled pandas are a merge between traditional Chinese heritage and contemporary design. To accompany the adorable displays, CAFÉ LANDMARK is offering a special HAHA PANDA afternoon tea set full of scrumptious goodies including crunchy prawn toast, crabmeat au gratin, Wagyu and asparagus, abalone siu mai, classic scones, pistachio cherry chocolate cake and pink HAHA PANDA white chocolate treats. Exclusive merchandise such as T-shirts and hats are also available, with all proceeds going to MINDSET, a local charity supporting those with mental-health issues.
Dates: until 31 May 2019
Time: afternoons daily
Location: CAFÉ LANDMARK, Shop 107–108, 1/F, LANDMARK ATRIUM, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central
Price: $378/2
To book: phone 2526 4200
Jazz & Moët Free-Flow Friday Nights at Fang Fang
Beginning this month and continuing every Friday following, this series at modern Asian bar and restaurant Fang Fang sees free-flow Moët & Chandon bubbly paired with live jazz courtesy of duo Paul and Flynn. Sounds like a great way to ease into the weekend.
Date: Friday, 17 May 2019 (and every Friday going forwards)
Time: 8–10pm
Location: Fang Fang, 8/F, LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham Street, Central
Price: $498/person (free-flow Moët & Chandon, cocktails, sake, beer, wine and bar snacks + live music)
To book: phone 2983 9083
Young Master Invitational Beer Festival
Beat the Hong Kong heat with some ice-cold beer at this year’s Young Master Invitational Beer Festival, or YMIBF. Twenty craft breweries from around the world will be featured over the two-day festival, with opportunities for beer lovers to meet brewers first-hand to experience more than 180 unique blends. And to soak up some of that frothy goodness is a line-up of comfort eats like BBQ pork buns, raclette, lobster rolls, grilled sausages and churros. Now, how many bottles of beer on the wall are there?
Dates: 23–26 May 2019
Time: 1–8pm
Location: Courtyard and Garden, House 1881, 2A Canton Road, TST
Price: $380/3-hour session, $650/1-day pass, $1,100/2-day pass
To book: click here
Test Kitchen x Chef Luis Aguilar
Returning to Test Kitchen is Mexican chef Luis Aguilar, who will be bringing with a him a taste of the Yucatán Peninsula from his hipster jungle taqueria Safari in Tulum, Mexico, where most of the cooking takes place in a 1970s Airstream Safari RV. The menu includes habanero tuna, fire-roasted octopus and guajillo chilli tortilla and sea bass with vanilla confit, mole and rice.
Dates: 30 May–2 June 2019
Time: 7pm and 8:15pm (2 seatings)
Location: Test Kitchen, Shop 3, 158A Connaught Road West, Sai Ying Pun
Price: $980/person; +$480 (drink pairings); +$180 (corkage)
To book: click here
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