New Beginnings
A New Year means new ideas (we hope) and new experiences. But even in the dying days of the old year we found fresh enjoyments – in our last issue we visited a few new restaurants recently opened in our fair city – and in this issue we bring you the last of the Johnny-come-lately eateries we’ve discovered
in 2006.

Peak-ing Cuisine
The revamped Peak Tower has just opened with the new shiny Peak tram station, lots of shopping and a nice mix of cafes and restaurants that advertise amazing views and some wonderful foods. The choice is yours!

The only outlet of Burger King (Shop 1, Level 1 Peak Tower, 2849 2274) in HK (not including the one inside the airport) currently crowns the Peak. Starting from the top with its enticingly juicy whoppers seems a good way for the restaurant to make its comeback to the city. Although the food is on the expensive side (whoppers go from $26 and meals from $45), it is worth the ride up there to enjoy the offerings from this fast-food giant.

Feeling fruity? Jungle Juice (Shop 17, Level G Peak Tower) is just the place for you. This small juice counter, nestled beneath the stairs to Burger King, has a wide variety of fruit juices – and combinations – to pick from. Try their Malibu Ice Smoothies ($29 mini, $38 maxi) or, for the lactose intolerant, a Soy Shake. Just a hop away is Gino’s Gelato (Shop 18, Level G Peak Tower), hawking a large choice of – sorbets and gelatos, what else? Lighter than ice cream, and icier, gelatos are a refreshing mix of the sweet and the satisfying. Old favourites like caramel and vanilla vie with the more exotically Asian in flavour: tofu, green tea or strawberry and basil sorbet ($28 single scoop, $45 double, $55 triple).

You’ll find both hot and cold teas, and coffee, at Pacific Coffee Company (Shop G10, Level G Peak Tower, 2805 1627) and the Suzuki Café Company (Shop P202-03, Level P2 Peak Tower, 2849 8484), although the latter’s main ingredient is matcha, or Japanese green tea. Matcha is a body-purifying tea you’ll find in matcha latte ($25), chocolate matcha ($28) and matcha suzuccino ($30), an iced version of the latte. Suzuki Café’s menu is more extensive than that of Pacific Coffee, and includes pastas, pizzas, rice rolls, and daily pastries. For something a little different, sample their signature ingredient in the green tea ice cream, or green tea waffles ($22).

Eating Plus (Shop P102, Level P1 Peak Tower, 2849 7855) is a lovely open-faced venue next to Madame Tussauds. Promoting healthy lifestyles and cuisine, the menu lists a wide array of freshly cooked dishes with plenty of vegetables, tofu and stir-fried meats. Noodles are their signature, appearing in all sorts of forms, from soup noodles to stir-fried and pasta. Chicken laksa ($68) is a flavourful light version of the traditional Singaporean dish or, if you prefer snacks, pan-fried dumplings ($32) are not to be missed. Desserts are traditional – ice cream ($20), tiramisu ($32), American cheesecake ($32): we tried the cheesecake and weren’t disappointed. Not too sweet, and rather light and fluffy the accompanying raspberry coulis was wonderfully tart.

Looking for fun for the whole family? The Bubba Gump Shrimp Company (Shop 4 and 5, Level 3 Peak Tower, 2849 2867) is the perfect place to take the kids. The themed restaurant is based on the movie Forrest Gump – you know, the ‘life is like a box of chocolates’ guy – and the shrimp company he starts up named after his army buddy. It is filled with memorabilia from the film, and gimmicks such as the table pager system (a sign saying Run, Forrest, Run when all is going well and a sign saying Stop, Forrest, Stop for when service is needed), the ping-pong paddle menu and a room decorated as Forrest’s mother’s house. Most of the menu does consist of shrimp, complemented, though, by options of Southern-fried chicken ($138) and good old American classics like hamburgers ($88) and baby back ribs ($188). But if you go for the restaurant’s namesake, stuffed large shrimp ($166), drunken shrimp ($155) or scampi ($138) are standout choices. And for the kids, Bubba has a special menu with smaller portions.

No mall in HK would be complete without a Japanese restaurant, and for the Peak that must be Kyo Hachi (Shop 4, Level 2 Peak Tower, 2907 2888). Bright and inviting, this sushi bar and restaurant serves all the Japanese favourites from sashimi and sushi to teppenyaki and tempura and donburi (rice balls). The rainbow roll ($168, $80 for a cone) or some crispy tempura ($168) are good introductions to a big selection of noodle soups. We had the soup with Angus rib eye and, although it had a nice meaty flavour and the rib eye was tender, it was a little too salty. The foie gras with Angus rib eye ($350), however, was delicious. Grilled slightly and seasoned with salt and pepper, it tastes best with black vinegar sauce.

For a local flavour in upscale surroundings, Tien Yi (Shop 3A, Level 2 Peak Tower, 2907 3888), will give you both traditional and modern spins on Cantonese cuisine. Seafood features heavily on the menu, but that’s no surprise given Hong Kong’s history. The elegant setting and large variety of wines contribute extra zest to traditional dishes like shark’s fin ($188 up), bird’s nest ($480 up) and abalone ($170 up). Also look out for sautéed sliced Angus beef tenderloin with honey peppers and kale ($208) and sautéed sea urchin in fresh milk ($288). For that someone special, Tien Yi is the perfect setting for an expensive Chinese lunch with a view. An eight-course meal for six people costs $2,380 with an additional $400 charge per person. Dishes include shark’s fin, abalone and sea whelk.
Pearl on the Peak (Shop 2, Level 1 Peak Tower, 2849 5123) is a hot new venue with a breathtaking view. The décor is elegant and chef Geoff Lindsay has an enthusiasm that spills over into his cooking. We met Lindsay, previously chef at the original Pearl in his native city Melbourne, to get an idea of what people should expect from him. “It’s a very personal style of food we cook,” he says, “the grounding for which is finding the best possible ingredients we can and trying to do as little as possible with them – without, of course, serving them raw on the plate. We try to be as non-interventionist as we can. Also I’d like to think we serve food that retains its cultural integrity.” Lindsay is delighted with the variety he finds in Hong Kong. “A couple of the key ingredients we’ve brought over from Australia, but we’ve got beef from the US, scallops from Japan, and fruit and veg from China. It’s so exciting to be able to work with all these different kinds of foods and come up with a menu that’s fresh and new.” A chef’s very nature is to flex creative muscles on different combinations of foods, so has Lindsay ever made food associations
that don’t work? “My mind goes pretty fast when it comes to new things to try,” he laughs, “and things often don’t work, probably more often than I’ll admit to.”

Nouveau Chic
Zest (57 Wyndham Street, Central, 2526 7993) have a new brunch menu ($98) that runs every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Starters like a platter of freshly baked muffins, warm fruit compote and muesli with yoghurt lead to a choice of mains from poached eggs, to frittatas or Welsh rarebit and flapjacks. It’s the perfect menu for a hangover, especially with the special offer on Bloody Marys ($49) and Mimosas ($49).

Chilli and Lemon (1/F 8-12 Wo On Lane, LKF, 2234 9918) is finally here, and it doesn’t disappoint. Just off D’Aguilar Street, its stylish interiors and large windows make it a perfect retreat to relax in after a long day. Thai food will satisfy both the traditionalist and trendy foodie, as the menu offers both styles of Thai cooking and the restaurant director has chosen an extensive wine list – mostly Italian – to go with the food. He handpicked many of the wines and, in fact, visited the vineyards and even picked some of the grapes himself. And he admits to helping make wine, old school style – stamping on the grapes!

A new addition to Sanlitun is Ocean Blue (Shop 6, 1/F Sanlitun Causeway Centre, 28 Harbour Road, Wanchai, 2598 9887), a nautically-themed restaurant complete with open-style decks and smokestacks. The menu is varied, with some Continental and some Asian foods, but plenty of pickings from the sea. Their ‘precious tastes in one soup’ ($75), is a combination of pumpkin, lobster and mushroom. For starters, smoked Norwegian salmon with salmon roe ($78) complemented by a light vinegar dressing is ever-so flavourful. Or for something with a little more zing, try the grilled scallops with grapefruit salad ($108). Lamb provencale ($186) is tender with a crisp breadcrumb coating, though linguine with shrimps in red pesto sauce ($128) is a lighter dish.
Interactive dining seems to be on the rise, with many establishments following the trend. The Langham Hotel has just opened L’Eclipse (Upper Lobby Level, Langham Hotel, 8 Peking Road, TST, 2375 1133) to replace Suns Café. Eclipse by name, eclipse by theme – circles and half circles are everywhere; even the chocolate fountain with its bright orange chocolate is round. Executive chef Christopher Christie wanted an open-plan kitchen so that diners could approach chefs as they created their culinary wonders. The result is trendy - the chefs neat in slick black caps, black aprons and smart, crisp smocks. The food is cooked fresh right in front of your eyes; chefs will pretty much prepare anything the way you like it. The restaurant is open every day for breakfast ($210 adult/$178 child), lunch ($178 adult/$138 child Mondays-Thursday) and dinner ($338 adult /$218 child Monday-Thursday) as well as for afternoon tea and supper on weekends.

For those who like entertainment with their food, Le Rideau (1/F Hilltop Plaza, 49 Hollywood Road, Central, 2850 8833) is a new venture from the same team who brought you the Gecko Lounge and Wine Bar. The concept is café theatre and the idea is that you enjoy your meal with theatre, dance or even stand-up comedy. The café has a baby grand piano and a ‘green room’ from which artists may view the stage.
Café O (One Capital Place, 18 Luard Road, Wanchai, 2868 0450), the Sheung Wan and Central favourite, is opening a new branch this weekend, bringing its famous metre-long pizzas ($198) to Wanchai. If you aren’t so daring, they have 1/2-metre ones ($112) as well, and should even those be too long a shot, small squares will set you back $54. Go for the classic tomato and basil, or Italian favourite – homemade pesto.

Check out the new AMC Cinema at Admiralty (1/F, Pacific Place, Admiralty, 2265 8933) – not only for its world-class audio system, but its refreshments as well. Movie-goers tired of the usual hotdogs, popcorn and nachos can try a cheese platter with cheese from the UK and Denmark, served with apricot and biscuits ($40), or a bowl of quality imported olives ($25). Other choices include mashed potato, muffins and doughnuts ($12 each) with Illy coffee. And for a bit of the wacky, you can get cheese and sour cream powder to mix with your popcorn. Oh yes, there is a ‘bar’ too. Though the cinema is not licensed to sell alcoholic drinks yet, the Aqua bar sells more than 10 types of mineral water from around the world as well as non-alcoholic cocktails.
There’s a new place to delight the palate in Wanchai, Thai Delight (Shop A, 117 Lockhart Road, Wanchai, 2877 7983) has just opened up next door to Bar 109. It has sleek wooden interiors with a long circular bar and outdoor seating perfect for evening drinks. Try their soft shell crab ($78) and fish cakes ($52) to begin the meal and move on to the succulent red curry beef cheek ($108) or one of the many stir fries they have on the menu ($108-$238) accompanied by the fried rice with minced pork ($78). After 11pm, Thai Delight turns into a chilled out lounge, with special Thai themed smoothies.

Happy Hanukkah
A few communities in the city don’t celebrate Christmas, but have festive celebrations of their own during this time of the year. The Jewish community will be celebrating Hanukkah, the festival of lights, this weekend beginning at sundown on Friday. Traditionally special foods are eaten during the festival, usually fried in olive oil to commemorate the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days. The two foods most associated with this holiday are latkes, a potato cake, and sufganiyot, fried doughnuts, sometimes made with a jam filling. Both are available at the Jewish Community Centre Retail Shop (One Robinson Place, 70 Robinson Road, Mid-Levels, 2801 5440) where a ready-made latke mix is also on sale.

More Than Just Turkey
For some a partridge in a pear tree might be the avian image of Christmas, but most of us associate turkeys with the festive season. So in many restaurants, come Yuletide that’s the bird of choice on the menu. However, we have a found a few where the gobbler is not a player at all…

Balalaika (M/F LKF Tower, 55 D’Aguilar Street, LKF, 3579 2929) has four-course set menu dinners for Christmas Eve ($420) and New Year’s Eve ($480). For Christmas, the appetizer and soup aren’t a lead in to turkey and cranberry sauce, but the more traditional goose with apple and nut filling. But if the bird doesn’t appeal, how about wagyu beef shashlik or braised barramundi? Finish it all off with Russian Christmas cake. Then on New Year’s Eve, the appetizer and soup are a foretaste to king prawns and beef fillet shashlik or, if you are feeling more traditional, roulade of guinea fowl. And that meal finishes with a Russian dessert or hazelnut and almond Napoleon.

Amber (7/F The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, 15 Queen’s Road Central, 2132 0188) has a special festive season treat running until January 1, but on Christmas Eve expect grandeur. They are putting on a nine-course banquet, which you can choose to indulge in with or without wines ($1,800/$2,680). And just so you know you’re getting value for your money, a small Christmas gift is included. Then to ring in the New Year, they are putting on another feast – once again, it runs to nine courses and you can choose whether or not you want wine with it. With the juice of the grape, it’ll empty your pocket by $3,388 and without $2,488.

At Tutto Bene (7 Knutsford Terrace, TST, 2316 2116), Christmas and New Year are all Italian. The five-course set dinner menu ($438) on Christmas Eve includes antipasti – your choice between a grilled half lobster or goose liver terrine – and a first course of ravioli with pigeon followed by a lemon sorbet and a second main from a choice of roast chicken, baked fillet of black cod or grilled tenderloin of venison. Dessert is a sumptuous sounding nutty chocolate rum cake. On New Year’s Eve, the six-course set dinner menu ($538) includes an antipasti choice of paper-thin swordfish and tuna or veal tartare followed by a spinach, scampi and lobster broth. A lemon sorbet cleanses the palette for the first main: ravioli stuffed with mushrooms preceding the second main, a choice between grilled lamb tenderloin, pan-fried fillet of turbot or ossobuco. Dessert is a walnut semifreddo with a chocolate sauce.

Devil’s Advocate (48-50 Lockhart Road, Wanchai, 2865 7271) are taking bookings for parties throughout December, and offers a 4-course ‘Festive Feast’ ($198) including starters like stuffed portabello mushrooms or smoked salmon and asparagus tips. The main course options include roast turkey with all the trimmings, roasted duck breast with honey wine sauce and a vegetarian option of eggplant parmigiana with grilled fenel and leek. Desserts include the traditional Christmas pudding or banoffee pie all accompanied with a glass of house wine.

At Xperience (33 Lockhart Road, Wanchai 2143 6008) you’ll find a roast turkey option among their regular set lunch menu at a very affordable $79. And for those of you with a sweet tooth there’s a special Xmas desserts selection menu available every evening from the 25-29th of December from 6pm onwards and it’s complemented by a nice glass of mulled wine or Kir Royale which are at happy hour prices until 2007 begins.