Celebration
Those dining at Tribute (13 Elgin St, Central, 2135 6645) will get to experience Californian cuisine and over 17 varieties of sake on March 4 and 5. The Sake Shop’s Masayuki Ishikawa and Tribute’s Frank Sun are joining forces for a five-course sake dinner menu ($888/person) starting with a choice of salmon tartare or shimeiji popcorn. Afterwards, nibble on white tuna carpaccio or poached lamb chop drizzled in olive oil which leads to a pasta course of sobaghetti e anri tossed with edamame, wasabi cream and berry butter. Take a small break with a shot of sake before choosing between braised veal cheeks, pan-roasted Wagyu steak, or roasted quail. End the night on a
sugar high with a chilled lemon pudding or a rich chocolate nemesis. Opening hours are Tuesday-Saturday 12-3pm and 7-12pm. Mondays are closed for lunch but open for dinner.
Closed Sundays.

Celebrate the authentic tastes of Italy as Goccia (G/F, 73 Wyndham Street, 2167 8181) mixes the traditional flavours of Venice with a seafood twist until March 31. The Venetian menu features some new appetizers such as the peoci saltai – fresh mussels – ($148) and deep-fried sardines with grilled polenta ($118). Celebrate the Italian way by spooning through a traditional pasta e fasioi (bean soup) before the figa a la venexiana – sautéed veal liver – ($238) or oven-baked duck, otherwise known as anara in peverada ($238), two new dishes on the menu. Opening hours are Monday-Friday: lunch from 12-2:30pm; Monday-Thursday and Sunday dinner from 6-11pm; Friday and Saturday 6-11:30pm

Ever wondered what Al Dente (G/F, 16 Staunton St, Soho, 2869 5463) means? The term refers to the firm texture of properly cooked pasta but this cozy little restaurant can show you just how their name stands by their food. Insalata spinaci ($75) is really big enough for two or, if that is too much, the antipasto is a toss up of a variety of Italian meats, smoked salmon and grilled vegetables ($79). Save room for the pastas whose sauces are prepared from scratch on your order, giving each dish an individual flair and flavour. San Benedetto cappellini is an example of angel hair pasta tossed in seafood ($98) and, for meat lovers, Al Dente serves mains such as salmone alla griglia ($135) and lamb tenderloin ($159). New world wines from Spain to Australia range between $200 and $1,000 per bottle or glasses are from $48-$50. Opening hours are Monday-Thursday from 11-3pm and 6-11pm, Friday-Sunday from 11am-11pm.

It is a wine lovers little paradise at Cenacolo (G/F, 45-53 Graham St, Soho, 2525 2430) where devotees can check out a new wine list with 33 choices from countries such as Italy, Spain, Australia and more. Concentrating on a blend of Italian and Australian cuisine, this hillside hideout in Soho is serving starters such as a char-grilled Italian portobello griglia ($86) and gnocchi tossed in your choice of gorgonzola, pesto or tomato basil sauce ($98). After appetizers, diners can choose mains such as veal parmigiana with grilled eggplant and mozzarella ($148) or spaghetti del pescatore, a dish of pasta mixed with mussels, calamari, scallops and prawns ($96). Galliano-flavoured panna cotta with mixed berries ($55) will end your night on a decidedly sweet note. Opening hours are Monday-Friday 10am-3pm and 6-11pm, Friday-Sunday from 10am-11pm.

Healthy Choices
Calorie-conscious eaters can head over to Eat Right (4 Shelley St, Central, 2868 4832) where an extensive menu notes the calories in all smoothies, coffees, meals and desserts. For a healthy start to your day, try the grilled pita bread with dips ranging from garlic mushroom and hummus to eggplant ($28/per dip $60/three dips) or a creamy pumpkin soup ($48). After the appetizers, neither the Moroccan chicken ($75) nor Thai chicken burger ($70), at some 500 calories, will break the calorie bank. Top off the meal with a low calorie dessert such as chocolate mousse ($35) or baked cheesecake ($35). Opening hours are Monday-Friday 7am-10pm and Saturday-Sunday 9am-10pm.

Go healthy at Life Café (10 Shelley St, Central, 2810 9777) which specializes in completely organic menus for breakfast, lunch, dinner and deli-takeout. This cute two-storey eatery, resembling a gigantic child’s tree house with walls glazed in natural paints, serves breakfasts for early birds, like organic granola with homemade yoghurt and mixed fruit ($50) and organic buckwheat pancakes topped with agave syrup and homemade jam ($75). Munch at lunch on a Life salad with mixed greens, nuts, sprouts and hummus ($80) or an Aztec salad tossed in a black bean and onion chili lime dressing ($75). For dinner, Life Café offers brown rice risotto with autumn squash and cashew nut cream ($98) and a char-grilled portobello mushroom steak ($110). A percentage of the proceeds will go to local charities, leaving diners feeling both healthy and happy for contributing to the local community. Open daily from 8am-12 midnight.

Hidden in TST is a classy little Japanese restaurant called Kanamizu Sushi (8 Granville Rd, TST, 2369 0488). Above the rectangular sushi bar dangles an abundance of ‘jewels’ adding light to the restaurant and giving visitors, sitting at the bar or surrounding tables, something to gaze at. Guests can engage in conversations with the chefs or others next to them as they sip on sake ($50/bottle) and try the special sashimi set ($68) or the kanamizu sashimi set which includes salmon, maguro, hamachi, swordfish belly, sweet shrimp, scallops and more ($198). If you are looking for something light, make your way over to this sushi joint but reserve a spot for their tea time from 3-5:30pm and late supper starting from 10pm as then a 50% discount applies to select sushi items. Opening hours are Monday-Thursday and Sunday from 11:30am-12midnight, Friday-Saturday from 11:30-1:30am.

Nouvelle Cuisine
Out in the Wild, Wild West that is Sai Kung there’s a new ranch. Anthony’s Ranch (28 Yi Chum Street, Sai Kung, 2791 6113) recently opened offering “Real Texas Smoke House” chuck to folks in this here new territory. Anthony’s uses apple, pear, maple and oak wood to smoke their own meat for a wide range of home-on-the-range grub. The blazing saddles chili ($85) is based on shredded beef – a welcome change from the minced beef used by many restaurants – and although not spicy, it is tasty and there are plenty of sauces on the table if you want to heat it up. The Big Chief Sitting Bull 10oz NY steak ($195) and the hog killing ribs (half $98, full $198) are generous sized portions and tasty, although we prefer our ribs cooked so the meat falls off the bone.

Opened last autumn, Segafredo Zanetti (The Loop, 33 Wellington Street, Central, 2523 2821) looks from the outside just like any other coffee shop – step inside though and you’ll find a whole lot more. At a recent food tasting to introduce their new spring menu, owner Michelle Tang spoke with a passion about the concept of a sputino bar, an Italian term for an outlet which serves coffee, small bites and cocktails in a casual environment. The spring additions expand the menu to include pasta and risotto dishes to complement the existing sandwiches, salads and snacks. Unlike other coffee shops, Segafredo has a liquor licence to go with its extensive range of coffees and teas. The sgroppino (prosecco with lemon sherbet and limoncello, $88) with its refreshing taste is a perfect accompaniment to one their homemade cakes, of which the pick is the mocca mousse cake ($48), a chocaholic’s delight that just melts on the tongue.