All Hail the King
King Ludwig’s Beerhall (No. 32, G/F, KCR East TST Station [Exit J1], TST, 2369 8328) was named for the extravagant Bavarian king credited with starting the decadent beer-swilling Oktoberfest. The beerhall celebrates this year with an all-out German shindig including fun-fuelled beer drinking and shuffling competitions. The game reaches a head on October 22, when the woozy winners collect two tickets to Germany. When all that action works up a hunger, set meals are $580 for two people, and include a bumper platter of pretzels and herrings to start, with German cheese sausages and veal shank in German beer to follow, mango cheesecake and two glasses of Holsten lager thrown in for good measure. Managing director Jody Cheung has gone the extra mile by flying in a group of German singers and three luscious ladies to serve all those frothing jugs of beer.

Delicatessen Corner (Holiday Inn Golden Mile, 50 Nathan Rd, TST, 2315 1020) is also in the party mood. Celebrate in the rustic dining room with a deluge of German delectables including cheese and sausage salads ($95), cold cut platters ($95) and roasted pork
belly ($110). Desserts are enough to make a grown man yodel – the selection ranges from apple strudel ($45) to cherry streusel ($45) and rum ready Rumptopf ($50) ­– wash it all down with a slug of draught Warsteiner ($59) or Erdinger ($45).

Dishes are meaty and mountainous as Marco Polo’s (5/F, Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel, Harbour City, TST, 2113 0088) famous Bierfest opens for action on October 29. Roasting on the spit are frankfurter, Munich white and knacker sausages ($88) and lamb pricked with garlic and mustard ($98). Also awaiting your pleasure are traditional favourites like Black Forest ham with melon or, back at the spit, enduring classic, roast pork knuckle ($108). The feisty fest runs all the way through to November 18.

‘Trick or Treat, Smell my Feet,
Give me Something Good to Eat’
Cafes and restaurants are gearing up ghoulishly in one of the season’s most prominent festivals. Sheraton’s executive chef, Richard Cross, has been conjuring specials in the kitchen for 20 years, and says Halloween is always a challenge. “It’s a matter of coming up with authentic, but funky recipes,” he says. Someplace Else (Sheraton, 20 Nathan Rd, TST, 2721 6151) turns Pirates of the Caribbean ship on October 27, and best dressed party-goers will win two nights accommodation at the Westin Macau ($95, with drink). Nibble on such Halloween delights as pumpkin bisque served in its own carved-out shell or, for sweet-tooth fairies, a marshmallow ghostie dessert.

Sukho Thai (2/F, Sun Hung Kai, 30 Harbour Rd, Wanchai, 2598 7222 ) becomes a witches’ coven, with a twisted take on traditional Thai flavours. ‘Touch Away from Death’ (apparently, a Sting Ray salad with green mango salad) starts off a spooky menu that finishes with green curry and baby pumpkin and mango with longham sticky rice ($198 per person).

‘Dancing with the Devil’ (Satan’s seafood salad with chilli sauce) and ‘Blood of Frankenstein’ (roasted pumpkin soup), start the menu ($148) as scarily as it means to go on at Roma Roma (L1, apm millennium city 5, 418 Kwun Tong Rd, 2367 1000). A host of imaginatively titled dishes fill its list – ‘Depths of Darkness’ is pan-fried sea bass with pumpkin mash, while ‘Hangman’s Last Supper’ serves bloody US beef with Hannibal the Cannibal’s fave, Chianti sauce.
Donuts, baked brown and dusted in icing sugar, are normally as sweet looking as they are sweet tasting, but Krispy Kreme (51 Elgin St Soho, and 61 – 73 Lee Garden Rd, CWB) has given theirs a bloodcurdling makeover. Bright orange pumpkins, spider-webs and green faces glare out from the counter, though luckily these Halloween horrors’ bark is worse than their bite (which is still as good as ever). Grab a box for $88, and receive a set of scary stickers to boot. Available until October 31.

Rumour has it a masked stranger has been hanging around Star Street, though his identity may be revealed at Epoch Café’s (12 – 14 Wing Fung St, Star St, Admiralty, 35251570) masked ball, Nightmare on Star Street, this October 27. The nightmare starts at 9pm, and a scary spread features ‘Jack O’ Lantern Brains’ (pumpkin pie), ‘Slip of the Knife’ (sweet cake fingers), and ‘Hearts of Darkness’ (strawberries in red wine sauce) – with spindly-fingered DJ Kulu spinning medleys to revel by. $200 scores a night of mystery and intrigue.

Divine Lights
October also sees the town lit up by the Hindu festival of lights Diwali – five days of feasting and festivities while families settle accounts and pray to Lakshmi, goddess of wealth. Darshen Singh, of Taj Palace (153, 1/F, Peninsula Ctr, 67 Mody Rd, TST, 2724 4660) tells us that gifts of sweets are made to friends, while at home, butter oil candles are lit and banquets of food are prepared. “It’s the only occasion when mother wants to please everyone,” he says. His restaurant is also offering a special menu for the festive season. Tandoori Chef Singh will be firing up the barbecue for splendours such as fish tikka Chettinad ($72), a Southern Indian dish of fish in crushed coconut and curry leaves, and marinated Tandoori lamb chops with yoghurt ($62). Chilli chicken lovers will find their favourite dish jazzed up with the chef’s secret blend of authentic spices. Sweets include the classic gulab jumun – deep fried sponge balls in syrup ($25), or cheese dumpling, rasmalai ($25). Parties can celebrate without leaving their office by ordering the special “food by the tray”.

Bollywood and belly dancing just about says it all this Diwali at Jashan (1/F, Amber Lodge, 23 Hollywood Rd, Central, 3105 5300) but puppet shows and a henna booth add extra flavour to an already packed five-course menu on October 20. The
focus is Indian street foods – chaat – an assortment of snacks cooked fresh to suit the customer. Panu puri, crisp semolina balls, are good dunked into chutney, and aloo chaat, hunks of potato with tamarind and mint, are a lively taste sensation. Complete the set ($275) with a few handmade sweets as the entertainment begins.

Jo Jo’s (2/F, David Hse, 37 – 39 Lockhart Rd, Wanchai, 2527 3776) has an extensive range of sweets on offer – fudge-like burfis in assorted flavours, sweet semolina balls, rasmullah, with more savoury treats such as cashew nut cakes, and veggie samosas, packaged in shimmering boxes.

Chef Palash at Veda (1/F, 8 Arbuthnot Rd, Central, 2868 5885) has created a four-course Diwali special for the exotic and adventurous. Starters, for instance, combine hearty mulligatawny soup with a crisp coconut naan ($78) or stir-fried chilli bay scallops ($98). Then traditional tandoori chicken is served stuffed with spinach and wild mushroom ($188), while snappy char-grilled lemon sole is accompanied with lentil and coconut salad and saffron yoghurt ($128).

Diwali at Khana Khazana (1/F, Dannies Hse, 20 Luard Rd, Wanchai, 2520 5308) has everything the discerning vegetarian could ask for, and a little bit more besides. Samosas, vegetable biryani, and dal Punjabi share space with Mexican paneer fingers and a pasta bar on October 21. Chaat snacks, usually prepared and sold streetside by Mumbai’s chaatwallas, are in the spotlight on October 22. Popular choices pani puri, sev puri and bhel puri sit alongside South Indian vegetable kormas and Khana’s famous lemon rice.

Bright Young Things
Wagyu beef has been the crowning glory on many a menu these past few years. Growing steadily in quantity, what once guaranteed restaurants a whiff of exclusivity is fast becoming commonplace. But crowds still gather for this much-prized meat, which has jazzed up beef’s image, though often at extortionate costs. All that is set to change with the arrival of Wagyu, coming this November (G/F, 38 Wyndham St, Central). Dedicated to prime grade nine Wagyu, new cuts and inventive recipes are sure to wow crowds. Menus developed by proven carnivore, Gourmet Bob, feature an even tastier side - an affordable price tag. Says restaurant head Wayne Parfitt, “We want quality wagyu at a price people can afford.” And as a man used to dealing in food trends - his company is responsible for the new Krispy Kreme outfits – rest assured that wagyu is now topping the tipping point.
Sitara sits under the temple on Peel Street (59a, G/F, Peel St. Central, 2851 1870), and with its wooden benches, smattering of deep red cushions, and owner Sita’s cheerful chuckles, resembles a cosy Nepalese living room. Her hearty menu echoes the décor – homestyle Nepali food. Aloo chops ($28), or classic momos ($30) are good to snacks to nibble on. For more filling fare, sample marinated, barbecued beef choila ($68), or thukpa, pork soup noodles ($35). Simplicity is also at the heart of the thali dishes ($48) – a complete meal with rice, vegetables and curry. No more than five spices – popular choices are coriander, tamarind, tumeric and chilli – produce clear distinctive flavours, less dense than their Indian cousins. Hospitable Sita encourages late-night gnoshing and stays open until 2am, although an open front affords good views of temple comings and goings at anytime of the day or night.|

Correction
In the last issue of bc magazine, we incorrectly referred to a cooking school in our ‘School Dinners’ feature as cookery.com. The correct listing should read www.cookery.com.hk (Flat B, 1/F, 40 – 46 Argyle Street, Mongkok, 2831 0132). Sorry! We fully encourage you to start cooking.