Riesling Weeks

Returning for it’s sixth edition this June sees another month-long celebration of the classic German grape. Riesling Weeks starts with a ‘Kick-off Celebration’ at the Renaissance Harbour View Hotel Hong Kong on the 8 June featuring German wine queen Katharina Stabb.

Riesling Weeks
Date: 6pm, 8 June, 2018
Venue: Oasis Room, 8/F Renaissance Harbour View Hotel Hong Kong
Tickets: $450, $250

Wine & Dine Festival @ Central Harbourfront – 26 October, 2017

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The annual Wine & Dine Festival returns to the Central Harbourfront this weekend fatter for all the fine wine and food indulged in, as the venue’s waistline expands to encompass half of Tamar Park.
Click on any photo for the full gallery of images. Click here for some ideas of dishes to keep an eye out for.

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Wine & Dine Festival – Some Suggestions

The annual Wine & Dine Festival returns to the Central Harbourfront this weekend fatter for all the fine wine and food indulged in, as the venue’s waistline expands to encompass half of Tamar Park.

There are entrances at both ends of the festival and around 400 booths to enjoy including country pavilions from the USA and a large Bordeaux area in the centre which includes not only wine but also a food from the Bordeaux and South West of France. Items on offer include a French ‘cheesecake’ known as Torteau Formager ($20) and

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On the side of the ‘concept store’ Filters Lane is offering chocolate and passion fruit cocktails ($55) which include a fragrant Earl Grey foam.

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Hong Kong Street Eats is showcasing it’s cook at home egg waffle with savoury and sweet toppings, nice but a bit small and pricey at $50.

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The hotel zone features some good sized potions of popular dishes from local hotels including The Pullman, Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel and City Garden Hotel.

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Mac and cheese raclette ($100)… from Porterhouse features four cheeses and is rather tasty, but heavy on the stomach. Raclette is popular around the festival with several other stands offering it straight, with meatballs and other combos.

With so many wine booths, our recommendation is to wander around and try things to find those you enjoy. It can get expensive, but step out of what you’d normally choose and try something different. Lots of companies are offering tastes and there are numerous free classes.

Two final thoughts, bring a bottle of water. Even with the more spread out venue, it’s hot. Have fun, there’s lots of good food and drink to taste.

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Wine & Dine Festival
Date: 26-29 October, 2017
Venue: Central Harbourfront Event Space
Tickets: $30
More info:
26 October 7:30–11:30pm
27 October Noon to 11:30pm
28 October Noon to 11:30pm
29 October Noon to 10pm

Riesling Weeks 2017 Launch – 2 June, 2017

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Riesling Weeks celebrated the launch of it’s 2017 festival with a tasting session to celebrate and showcase the wide variety of wines made from a single type of grape.
Click on any photo for the full gallery

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New Zealand Consulate Rugby Sevens Reception 2017

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The New Zealand Consulate hosted it’s annual Rugby Sevens Reception to promote and raise awareness of all things Kiwi, including meats, cheese, wines, juices, superb scenery, wonderful hospitality and of course talented sportswomen and sportsmen.
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Whisky & Wine Walk @ Wanchai – 19 November, 2016

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Whisky and Wine walk in Wanchai, over 100 varieties were available to sample and enjoy including several rare and limited editions. Explore The East, QRE, Lee Tung Avenue and Ship Street to find participating outlets and learn abut some of the world’s finest distilleries, then taste their whisky. A relaxed and enjoyable way to spend a weekend afternoon.
Click on any photo for the full gallery of images

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Wine & Dine 2016 – A Few Things to Enjoy

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It’s Wine & Dine! After a walk around under the blazing sun here’s a few things to enjoy. We can’t say it’s a ‘best of’, there’s over 400 booths to explore taste and savour. Have fun finding your own favourites.

It’s not cheap! While many outlets are offering discounts on their regular shop prices for buying bottles (with many happy to home deliver after the festival). Food is pricey, most places are averaging $50-75 per portion.

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In an attempt no doubt to break up the massive crowds this year’s Wine & Dine Festival is laid out in short blocks set at sharp angles. It’s not instinctively easy to find your way back to an outlet/booth so eat /drink what you want when you see/find it. This layout also makes it hard to direct friends to a spot they’d enjoy – take a photo of the booth number.

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Wine Whiskey and Beer

There are more wine companies and stands than you can possibly sample… decisions, decisions. Your wine tokens get a tasting portion – not a full glass. Ensure they rinse your glass first! Check out the Riedel tent, the glass manufacturer has an ongoing selection of talks and tastings.

There’s a large, essentially craft, beer area – towards the Admiralty end, far side from the harbour – with a wide range of local and international beers to sample. Several stands have special beers only available at Wine & Dine. Want a bite with your beer? Next to the beer stands at booth E814 you can find a mixed sausage platter of black cuttlefish and traditional German cheese sausages covered in melted cheese for $40.

If you like whiskey there are single brand whiskey stands, most are grouped in the middle of the festival. Except for the Jack Daniels booth which is in the American area. Celebrating it’s 150 anniversary, you’ll be able to taste a wide selection of Jack Daniels.

Food

It won’t mean much to many but one of the booths in the American street is offering a free drink to those who kiss Hillary and or punch Donald 🙂 For for a simple snack try Millennium Seafoods lobster soup.

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Enjoy a big tasty sausage? Opposite the stage the 30cm Mega Jumbo Wurst ($75) offers a nice meaty custom made German sausage. Cooked over a massive circular BBQ, the team is organised and ready for the rush, their target to serve you in 60 seconds. There’s also a 15cm version ($65) which is the same type of sausage but sold more like a hotdog in a bigger bun. Wash is down with some Fruh Radler (lemon beer).

Flavabomb (E506) has a lovely light refreshing Gelato di Moscato – a choice gelato ice-cream, topped up with moscato and we added in a few dried strawberry flakes (top photo). A light refreshing option perfect in the summer sun or after dark. They also have a range of bakery products including croissants and pain au chocolat and some tasty beef balls with truffle.

Seafood: Abalone more abalone plus a bit of shellfish. There several booths offering abalone from a variety of different locations, in different sizes and farmed or wild. On the harbourfront edge of festival The Gold Coast Hotel has a bowl of their signature tasty Sri-Lankan crab for $98 and a hearty German sausage with sauerkraut for $60. Both portions sized to be almost a complete meal in themselves. Next door the Panda Hotel has a lobster bun ($40) and salmon, crab, cheese tarts ($40).

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If want a change from seafood, U Banquet is offering Grilled Assorted Balls for $20 a portion

While you’re picking up your free cookies from Lucullus check out some of their other offerings the predominantly Kowloon side chain has a range of tasty bakery and desserts on offer including cheese tarts (original, durian or green tea, $30 for 2) and stuffed baked parmesan cheese rolls (chicken, Thai green curry, sichuan spicy pork $35 for 2) and some cute looking chilled offerings.

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There are lots of desserts on offer, one of bc’s favourites from last year returns at booth E507. A rich silky smooth egg custard served in a real egg shell. $40 for  box of 4, it’s seriously delicious.

Other food booths to check out –pork knuckle specialists Golden Pig, K-Town, Butcher and Baker who are offering hotdogs ($40) and baked chocolate fondants topped with ice-cream $30. And for something a little different, next to the Admiralty entrance, Kwun Tong private kitchen Wines Buddy and Dining at Home.

Basic things: A reminder there is little shade! Sun cream and a hat or expect to boil during the day. Bring water, there’s lots and lots and lots of wine, beer, whiskey – but little water to keep hydrated. There are very few seats.

NO refunds on coupons! In fact, unless you want to sample wine, there’s very little point in waiting in the long lines to buy coupons at a rough estimate over 80% of booths accept cash.

It’s outside, there’s food, wine, beer, whiskey, live music… what’s not to like, have fun!

Wine & Dine Festival 2016
Date: 27-30 October, 2016
Venue: Central Harbourfront
Tickets: $30

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Wine & Dine Festival @ Central Harbourfront – 27 October, 2016

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Opening night at Wine & Dine 2016.
Read our pick of some of the things to taste with you wine.
Click on any photo to see the full gallery

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