Valentine’s Day Dinners: Romance your loved one with a truly spectacular meal

There’s no better occasion than Valentine’s Day to show that special someone in your life just how much you appreciate them. To help, Hong Kong’s finest eateries have put together a smorgasbord of romantic menus to enhance the day even further. Below, we highlight some of the best Valentine’s Day dinners to be had come February 14th. Best book fast to ensure your evening is one to remember.

Épure

There is no doubt that the right ingredient can immediately transform any romantic Valentine’s dinner. With that in mind, the French fine dining restaurant Épure is offering a special eight-course Valentine’s day dinner menu with the much-coveted Black Truffles as its central motif, created by Executive Chef Nicolas Boutin. Besides, this one Michelin starred restaurant’s view of the Victoria Harbour adds to the intimate dining experience. Call (852) 3185 8338 or email reservations@epure.hk to book your table.

Location: Shop 403, 4/F, Ocean Centre, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong.

Price: HK$2,088 onwards + 10% per person.

Takumi by Daisuke Mori

On a day to celebrate the love shared by two people, Takumi by Daisuke Mori, a restaurant that brings together two different cuisines – French and Japanese goes well with the theme. Crafted by Michelin-starred Chef Daisuke, the nine-course menu served on Valentine’s Day features dishes like HIDA Tenderloin Sandwich, Hairy Crab Shogoin-turnip and Blue Lobster Rolled Pumpkin and Nori. There’s also a wine-pairing option of four glasses of wine for HK$880 or six glasses for HK$1,180, both of which will be subject to 10% service charges. For more details click here.

Location: Shop 1, G/F, The Oakhill, 16 Wood Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong.

Price: HK$2,080 + 10% service charges.

Madame Fù

If you believe in the popular phrase ‘sharing is caring’, the Valentine’s Day dinner menu served by the contemporary Chinese restaurant Madame Fù definitely looks set to please. The five-course menu features dishes such as Seafood Honey Bean Dumplings, French Blue Lobster with Dan Dan Noodles and Wasabi Angus Beef with Okra and more. With four out of seven rooms specially decorated for Valentine’s Day, there’s no doubt the atmosphere and culinary treats here will help enhance the romance of the evening. Click here to make your reservation.

Location: Madame Fù, 3rd Floor, Barrack Block, Tai Kwun, No.10 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong.

Price: From HK$1,800.

The Tiffany Blue Box Cafe

Be it gifting your partner a beautiful piece of jewellery or surprising them with a remarkable dinner, with the creation of The Tiffany Blue Box Cafe, the American brand Tiffany and Co. knows how to put exquisiteness in both. Starting with the rich taste of Iberico Ham with Green Asparagus Panna Cotta and ending with the cafe’s homemade Lemon Madeleine and Dark Chocolate Madeleine, the five-course meal is sure to impress your taste buds and your date’s too. Click here to book your table.

Location: 2/F, Shop No. 7-8 One Peking, No.1 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.

Price: HK$1,688 + Perrier-Jouët Champagne: HK$150/glass.

Mott 32

If you are looking to eat to your heart’s content with your loved one, the long-lauded modern Chinese cuisine Mott 32 could be the perfect destination for Valentine’s Day. The Central-set restaurant’s nine-dish set menu includes mouth watering dishes like Foie Gras with Chinese Hwa Tiao, Egg White, Pumpkin Soup, and Baked Red Date Puff with Red Beancurd. Served exclusively on February 14, this feast is surely a wholesome gastronomic journey. Click here to make your reservation.

Location: Standard Chartered Bank Building, 4-4a Des Voeux Road, Central, Hong Kong.

Price: HK$1,480 + 10% per person.

The Landmark Mandarin Oriental

Everyone likes to have choices and those at the luxury restaurant The Landmark Mandarin Oriental offers that to you. If you choose to go on an afternoon date, the eatery offers a selection of pastries including Green tea matcha cheesecake, Coconut and mango bowl, and more, which you can pair with a bottle of pink Moët & Chandon rosé champagne. If you are looking to dine later in the evening or even midnight (till 1:00am), The Landmark Mandarin Oriental’s bar Please Don’t Tell serves Caviar tots and Moët & Chandon champagne or a classic Martini cocktail and a dessert of your liking. Both these dining options will be available from February 11 to February 17. Make your reservations via email – lmhkg-mobar@mohg.com or phone – (852) 2132 0077.

Location: The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, The Landmark, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong.

Prices: From HK$338 to HK$1,998.

Hue

Be it satisfying your visual senses with a panoramic view of Victoria Harbour or treating your taste buds with its mouthwatering menu, the contemporary Australian restaurant Hue has it all. This Valentine’s Day, Hue will be serving a three-course dinner menu in the evening (6:00pm and 6:30pm seatings) and a four-course menu at its 8:30pm seating. With options like Beetroot salad with goat’s milk curd and luxurious truffle for starters and Yam and ricotta dumplings with pickled squash served with truffle and burnt butter sauce for the main course, you can relish in a satiating, soul-satisfying Valentine’s Day dinner menu. Call (852) 3500 5888 or click here to make your reservation.

Location: 1/F Hong Kong Museum of Art, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, HK.

Price: Three-course dinner menu: HK$880+10% per person; Four-course dinner menu: HK$980+10% per person.

Arcane

Located in a quiet corner in Central, the one Michelin-starred hotel Arcane is a great dining option for couples looking for an intimate meal. Indulge in a six-course tasting menu with dishes including Seared Hokkaido scallop with roasted carrot oil, yamaimo, salsa verde and mustard frill; Slow braised wagyu short rib with sweet potato purée, brussels sprouts and maitake mushroom and other delicacies. With contemporary art work by Flowers Gallery filling the room, this restaurant provides the right ambience for a romantic dinner making it to our list of best Valentine’s Day dinners.

Location: Arcane, 3rd Floor, 18 On Lan St, Central.

Price: HK$1,388.

Happy Chinese New Year greetings from the Gafencu Team

Suschic: Stylish sea-to-table sushi proves The Araki has arrived

There’s long been a special place in the heart of many of Hong Kong’s most discerning diners for one particular dish – sushi. Indeed, the city’s culinary landscape is dotted with a plethora of establishments serving up this uniquely Japanese cuisine at pretty much every imaginable price point. When it comes to Michelin-starred sushi standouts, however, the Fragrant Harbour boasts just three – three-starred Sushi Saikon, two-starred Sushi Saito and one-starred Sushi Wadatsumi.

Change, though, is in the air, with Mitsuhiro Araki – the only Japanese chef to ever attain much coveted Michelin treble-star status in both London and Tokyo – having now opened an outpost in Asia’s World City. His bold new venture – The Araki – is an exclusive 12-seat restaurant and can be found tucked in to the old stablery, part of Tsim Sha Tsui’s refurbished Heritage 1881 compound.

Discreet by design, Chef Araki’s Hong Kong debut dinery was conceived as a homage to Edomae sushi, a style developed in Tokyo-some 200 year ago as a means of keeping seafood fresh long before the invention of refrigeration. This saw the canny cooks of the day resorting to infusions of salt, miso and soy sauce as a way of ensuring their fine produce remained perfectly edible long after it had been caught. It’s a time-honoured tradition and one said to yield far more in terms of texture, flavour and sheer melt-in-the-mouth satisfaction than the solely raw seafood-on-rice approach favoured by many contemporary establishments.

Accordingly, when dining at The Araki, guests should expect a multi-course omakase menu, one continuously customised to make best use of the day’s finest freshly-caught ingredients. In one telling break with tradition, however, Araki personally oversees the inventorying, visiting the wet markets daily to source the best local seafood and specifying regular deliveries of certain fish found solely in Japanese waters.

Outlining his culinary philosophy, he said: “While people always assume the best quality seafood must come from Japan, that is not the case for every ingredient. As the ocean doesn’t recognise national boundaries, it is important to build relationships with local fisherman wherever you are in the world, whether that’s Japan, the UK or Hong Kong. That is the only way to ensure you always get the very best seafood.”

Eager to see how his approach pans out in practice, we pretty much pounced on our tasting fingers as soon as they appeared. To be fair, we were only following orders as we had been briefed that every item of sushi would be served directly onto the wooden countertop – with the requisite wasabi and sauce already applied – and should be consumed (using one hand only) within seconds of its arrival.

Appropriately enough, the first to be table-topped was the Tuna. As Araki is a world-renowned tuna master, our expectations were high. Fortunately, his truly delicious nigiri more than delivered – all melt-in-the-mouth morsels of tuna carved lovingly from the fish’s exquisitely tasty neck region.

Next to tempt our taste buds was Young Snapper, sourced fresh from the local wet markets and beautifully tender thanks to its relative infancy. Creamy yet firm, its flavours were enhanced with a dash of Thai lime, giving it a refreshingly citrusy aftertaste.

Barely had we completed this memorable course when the next locally-sourced sushi offering – Mantis Shrimp – took its on-table turn. Rather than being served raw, it was instead lightly poached, with only a dash of soy sauce to enhance its inherent sweetness. Boasting a somewhat crunchy texture, its cooked flesh was wonderfully counterpointed by the subtly tangy rice and came in sharp contrast to its raw counterpart.

Perhaps the most stunning course of all, though, was the Ebi Oboro with Prawn Crumb. Another cooked dish, here the ebi prawn came wrapped in oboro, a surprisingly soft, crumbly shrimp paste created by grinding prawns for hours on end. Together, they form a delectably cohesive whole, with the sweet crunch of the prawn and smoothness of the oboro merging synergistically before serenading your taste buds with their joyous unity.

From start to finish, Chef Araki’s passion and mastery over his craft was never less than wholly evident. From the undeniably high quality of the ingredients – “I check the eyes, gills and firmness to make sure each fish is perfect. If it’s not 100 percent, it’s not going to make the cut” – and flawlessly precise seasonings to the intimate atmosphere of the dining experience, every aspect of The Araki’s omakase tasting is exceptionally well orchestrated, with each individual dish striking a deliciously different note. Small wonder, then, that you currently have to book several months in advance should you want to check out Chef Araki for yourself.

Text: Tenzing Thondup

Images: The Araki

Rat’s Tale: With the rodent rampant for the coming year, what does destiny have in store for you?

Coming after a turbulent and difficult Year of the Pig, the incoming Year of the Rat marks the beginning of a more harmonious phase – both on an individual and a broader community level. While divisions will be healed, this won’t become apparent until we ascend into the second quarter, with the Pig’s more baleful inclinations likely to linger longer than some might prefer.

For many, though, it will be sunshine after dark, a time of new beginnings and fresh agendas. While some zodiac signs will inevitably prosper more than others, there is little likelihood of widespread discord and mayhem for any, regardless of birth date or temperament…

Rat – This is your year and, of course, it’s time to shine. Pretty much everything you do will have a little added lustre over the next 12 months, so it’s the perfect time to make some bold, life-affirming choices. For those who find themselves in a rut, whether in career or relationship terms, this is the optimum window for change. Discard the unwanted commitments that are holding you back and take a leap of faith. If you wait another 12 years it may be way too late.

Ox – Being strong is a way of life for you, something colleagues, companions and loved ones expect from you almost as a matter of course. This year, though, will see that particular quality tested, possibly more than it has ever been before. Tribulations and trepidations are massing on the horizon, seemingly queuing up to deliver blow after blow as the year progresses. Weather this, though, and your reputation will soar, with a much-needed reward clearly well-starred toward the year’s end.

Tiger – Like your namesake zodiac sign, you are something of a rare breed. Your blend of old school charm and early-adopter enthusiasm makes you a real asset to whichever business has you on board. This year, it’s time to reassess how valued you actually are by your colleagues. With one or two happy to ride on your coattails for some time now, asserting your preeminence – subtly yet firmly – is now less of an option and more of an obligation. You really do owe it to yourself.

Rabbit – Last year left you a bit shell-shocked. Certain events came to pass that you could never really have anticipated, with their longer-term repercussions as yet not wholly apparent. You can’t, however, play the victim of circumstance for very much longer. In the wake of any calamity, someone always emerges to lead those at its very epicentre back toward the light. This time, that someone is you. It’s not a role you get to opt into. It’s one you’ve been destined for.

Dragon – The board is surprisingly clear. A 2019 cull saw many of your competitors and rivals taken out of the game, leaving you triumphant, yet unsure. With the old certainties and antipathies banished, your 2020 is unclear, lacking both precedent and benchmarks. Resist the temptation to map out this new territory for yourself. Let others be the trailblazers and the pioneers, while you sit back and learn from their mistakes. While many may fumble and fail, your gradually emerging overview will give you the killer insights you will ultimately require.

Snake – You’ve been on the lookout for something special for quite some time now, without really being all that sure what it might be. An opportunity? A possession? Or even a new person in your life? This year, the veil will be lifted and all will become much clearer. Only one thing is certain – it will be very different from what you expect. The challenge is to ensure you have the agility of response required to capitalise on what will be a surprising turn of events…

Horse – As the years roll on, your baggage seemingly only gets weightier. There are a lot of expectations on your shoulders, with every aspect of your life – work, family and personal – having the apparent capacity to supplement them with additional ones with every passing month. Contradictory, costly and, in some cases, all but impossible, you can’t satisfy them all. While you’ve become more than adept at keeping plates spinning, it’s time to choose just which crockery falls. Super-serve your true priorities and bid a polite adieu to any undue burden.

Goat – This is the year you get to show the true, unleashed you. Several of the constraints that have seen you suppress the more outré aspects of your personality have now faded into irrelevance, giving you carte blanche to turn things up a notch or two. Enjoy a bit of extravagance, immerse yourself in a little indulgence and let the hedonism happen. You only live once the say and, up until now, you’ve been barely living at all. It’s time to stop going with the flow.

Monkey – There’s one situation where you’ve long postponed your intervention, no matter how much it seemed required. Before the year is half-way done, though, your involvement will become mandatory. Use the next six months to weigh up the odds, calculate the consequences and consider strategies. While timeliness is important, preparation is all – especially as no-one is expecting you to swoop in at all. Make it decisive, make it comprehensive and – if you deem it absolutely necessary – make it brutal.

Rooster – The Rat Year is never kind to you. Look back in your journals at previous iterations and you will see the disappointments and minor tragedies that have befallen you in spans gone by. Sadly, it’s not a trend you can particularly buck. Fortunately, the last 12 months have left you well-positioned and strategically ahead. Be content to let this lie and enjoy the fruits of your earlier successes. Anything new and too ambitious is likely to be thwarted, while the waiting Ox will oversee a far more fulfilling year for you.

Dog – You are internalising too much of the insecurity that characterises many of those around you. In fact, the last 12 months have been almost wholly negatively transformative. When it comes to initiating action, you have become almost paralysed by the learnt neuroses of those in your immediate circle. With your logical side set to blossom this year, turn your analytical skills inwards and root out the unfound fears and excessive considerations. A little emotional detox is all you need to restore the balance, allowing you to return to the fray with a vigour not seen for several years.

Pig – While 2019 was a year for planning and laying the groundwork for various initiatives, 2020 will be the year for reaping benefits. While not every project is set to bear fruit, you might be surprised by just how many do. Although the first three months of the year may prove disconcertingly quiet, the spring will make the start of a series of triumphs – both minor and major – that will sputter into life intermittently as the Rat enters its more mature phase.

Perfect Chinese New Year gifts for your loved ones

If you’re looking for more than the usual red packets to gift your nearest and dearest to celebrate the upcoming Year of the Rat, we at Gafencu have curated a special collection of Chinese New Year gifts that are sure to add a special touch to your lunar festivities.

Blancpain’s Métiers d’Art Collection

As the Rat supercedes its porcine predecessor this Chinese New Year, luxury brand Blancpain is launching its very first watch with a porcelain dial designed and manufactured in its Métiers d’Art workshops – The Métiers d’Art Porcelaine special edition. Each unique timepiece features an enamel painting of three rats on a white gold case that is encircled with diamonds. Besides, the eight-piece collection is powered by a Calibre 1154 automatic movement, blending beautiful form with undeniable functionality in true style.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label: Year of the Rat Limited Edition

In celebration for this Chinese New Year, Johnnie Walker, the master of fine whiskies is launching its new Johnnie Walker Blue Label: Year of the Rat Limited Edition. The special cask is decorated with a rat on golden ingots, and comes with the rightly flavoured Johnnie Walker Blue Label whisky ‒ crafted by a group of expert blenders including Jim Beveridge who was named the Master Blender of the Year twice. Without a doubt, this should rank high on your Chinese New Year gifts list.

Piaget Altiplano with two rats

Honouring the zodiac animal of the upcoming Chinese New Year, the Swiss horology brand Piaget has altered the dial of its emblematic Piaget Altiplano to feature two white rats on a Grand Feu cloisonné enamel dial. The white gold case is further emphasised with dazzling diamonds to give it the perfect finishing touch. In addition, the luxury fashion maison is also launching the Possession collection for this festive season, offering a wide selection of Chinese New Year gifts for the watch lover in your life.

Vins d’Alsace food and wine pairing guide

Savouring authentic delicacies is an undeniable Chinese New Year tradition. The French wine-making region of Alsace is taking it up a notch by introducing a guide revealing which wine would be perfect for which dish. For instance, the Pinot Noir will go well with the traditional Hong Kong style dish of Poon Choi. It is indeed a very practical gift that will make this Chinese New Year dinner an unforgettable one for the taste buds.

Brunello Cucinelli’s Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year Special

Keeping up with the notion that the Lunar New Year is best celebrated with your loved ones, Italian fashion company Brunello Cucinelli is showcasing a specially curated collection. This ensemble is complete with useful gifts such as bags, scarves and sneakers for both men and women. With the colour red being its central motif, each product offers a vintage yet contemporary appeal.

Golden Double Serum

Inspired by the auspicious colours of the Chinese tradition ‒ red and gold – the French skincare manufacturer Clarins has revamped its Double Serum bottle for the Year of the Rat. With 21 strong anti-aging ingredients, the serum is an answer to a very radiant and youthful looking skin. Besides, the serum also optimises the five important skin functions ‒ regeneration, nutrition, hydration, oxygenation and protection to achieve flawless skin. At HK$900, the limited-edition serum is available online.

Autavia CNY 2020 Year of the Rat Special Edition

Luxury watchmaker TAG Heuer is introducing its exclusive collection Autavia CNY 2020 Year of the Rat Special Edition that pays tribute to Chinese culture. With a caseback that showcases a rat holding a steering wheel, the timepiece combines the brand’s roots in motor racing with the zodiac animal, making it a great gift for the rat year. Moreover, its red dial that has the 1 o’clock mark replaced by the Chinese character “鼠” is one of the stand out features of this product. Besides, the watch’s COSC-certified chronometer technology makes it a great present without any further doubts.

Rouge Unlimited

Described as the perfect gift for anyone who loves make-up, the Japanese cosmetic and skincare brand Shu Uemura launched its New Year collection. This #flamingreds series consists of six shades of limited edition matte lipsticks, three shades of lip amplifiers, a cleansing oil, eyebrow pencils and a foundation brush. With the colour red being the main colour of this collection, the Rouge Unlimited collection is sure to bring luck as a gift for the rat year.

Fabergé’s Rat Surprise

With over a hundred-year history of crafting beautiful ornaments for every occasion, Russian jeweller Fabergé, known for its egg-shaped pendants, continues this legacy with its latest series of Palais Tsarskoye Selo Red Lockets. Among the collection, the locket with the rat surprise is a perfect gift for the rat year. A 18K gold pendant enhanced with red guilloché enamel work and studded with diamonds opens to reveal a golden rat studded with shimmering diamonds. At HK$81,510, the Rat surprise jewelry is available for pre-order at Fabergé.com and at select Fabergé stockists.

Vacheron Constantin Metiers d’Art The Legend of Chinese Zodiac – Year of the Rat

In time for the upcoming Chinese New Year, another renowned Swiss watchmaker Vacheron Constantin is unveiling two versions of its new Vacheron Constantin Metiers d’Art The Legend of Chinese Zodiac – Year of the Rat. With only 12 pieces available for each version, one is rose gold / brown and the other is platinum / blue. The watch comes fitted with a Caliber 2460 G4 movement and is visually enhanced with the intricate crafting on its dial featuring a rat mounted on the centre.

Reel Deal: January movies hitting silver screens in Hong Kong

As 2020 opens, there are countless big screen outings to tempt any film aficionados into visiting theatres this January.. From the much critiqued Jojo Rabbit to the much awaited sequel to the Bad Boys film series or the new versions of movies that have already hit the big screens earlier, here is a line up of movies that you can look forward to for January 2020.

Little Women – 9 January

Based on a novel by Louisa May Alcott, Little Women is a bildungsroman that follows the lives of four sisters ‒ Amy, Jo, Beth and Meg. This period film shows the way the aftermath of the American Civil War impacts the March sisters and emphasises on their love and support for each other despite their contrasting opinions. Although, the drama is set in the past, each sister is very relatable, making it a timeless classic that will interest most audience.

Bad Boys for Life – 16 January

For fans of the Bad Boys film series, the franchise is back with its much anticipated new sequel to the series. After Bad Boys II that came out in 2003, it has been a wait for more than a decade. Similar to the previous Bad Boys movies, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are cops. They investigate a drug cartel in Miami. This action packed comedy definitely has all the fun you would expect in a movie.

The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle – 23 January

This animated fantasy movie follows the life of Doctor Dolittle, a man with the unique ability to communicate with animals. Played by Robert Downey Jr, Doctor Dolittle lives a secluded life with just animals as his friends. When Queen Victoria falls ill, he and his friends have to embark on an adventure to find the medicine. Accompanied by a vibrant soundtrack, this latest version of Doctor Dolittle promises entertainment from beginning to end.

The Grudge – 23 January

For any horror film enthusiast, the upcoming movie, The Grudge may already be in their ‘must watch’ list. When Detective Muldoon works on a murder case, she realises that the house where it took place is now haunted by a vengeful ghost. This spooky thriller unfolds the story of how she saves herself and others from the spirit after it follows her to her home. Get ready to scream and maybe even skip a heartbeat or two as you watch this psychological thriller.

Jojo Rabbit – 30 January

To say Hitler and comedy are oxymorons would be a statement that most people would agree to. However, that is not the case with Taiki Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit. Set in Nazi Germany, the movie follows the story of Jojo, a young boy in Hitler’s army who discovers that his mom is hiding a Jewish girl in their house. What makes the plot more interesting is that, Jojo’s imaginary friend is a comical version of Hitler. This “anti-hate satire” is a perfect mix of both comedy and tragedy.

Happy Holidays with MontBlanc

With the festive season drawing ever nearer, everyone is surely wrapped up in a flurry of Christmas shopping. If you’re at a loss for something meaningful to give to those nearest and dearest to you, though, fear not as Montblanc, the rightly-renowned German manufacturer of luxury watches, writing implements and accessories, has curated a special selection of elegant gift ideas to suit even the most discerning among your inner circle.

For calligraphy-loving sophisticates, Montblanc offers several stunning, beautifully-designed collections of writing instruments. First up, there’s the limited-edition Walt Disney Collection – created as an homage to legendary storyteller, Walt Disney – which will surely inspire writers both young and old to pursue their literary dreams. Then there’s the Meisterstück Calligraphy Collection. Inspired by the diverse cultures of our world, it aims to elevate the art of hand lettering through its innovative new nib design, the Flexi Nib.

Inspiring a new generation of space explorers, meanwhile, is Montblanc’s StarWalker Collection, which marks the 50th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing. Available in ballpoint, fineliner and fountain-nib versions, the 12 new pens all pay homage to the intense experience of space exploration. Here, the translucent blue cap-dome dome calls to mind nothing so much as planet Earth rising gracefully above the lunar horizon.

Sophisticated jetsetters, meanwhile, will surely enjoy any of the countless travel accessories on offer this festive season. Take, for instance, the Meisterstück Urban luggage collection, with its bold urban appeal, or the more rugged Montblanc Extreme 2.0 line, which boasts an innovative blend of carbon fibre, leather and metal for the ultimate travel durability. If nostalgic appeal is what you’re looking for, there’s even a retro ’80s-inspired Meisterstück Soft Grain Mix Tapes Capsule Collection, replete with cassette tape motifs proudly printed on its fascia.

Haute horology enthusiasts are also catered for, with several gorgeous models, ranging from the cutting-edge Summit 2 Golden and Brown Color Steel smartwatches to the Heritage 1858 line of vintage explorer-motifed timepieces on offer for both male and female collectors.

If that’s still not enough to round out your holiday gift list, there’s also a veritable treasure trove of leather goods, a digitised notepad in the form of The New Augmented Paper + and even an EXPLORER fragrance to choose from as well. Merry Christmas!

Holiday Spirits: Usher in the festive season with classic Christmas cocktails

It’s no secret that the unstoppable rise of high-end cocktail bars has birthed countless bespoke beverages to suit the taste buds of even the most discerning drinker. A happy byproduct of this is the spawning of a surfeit of splendid seasonal tipples to suit every occasion, big or small. Indeed, one needs to look no further than the recent Halloween celebrations to find countless night spots serving spookily-themed drinks – no doubt with an eye covertly on the cash counter.

However, there is one particular season of the year that – rather surprisingly – seems to proffer a paucity of such ‘trendy’ thematic tipples – Christmas. Indeed, when it comes to the most joyful time of the year, cocktail enthusiasts are more inclined towards traditional offerings to quench their thirst, ones that are delicious, nostalgic and – most importantly – warm.

We are, of course, talking about the hot toddies, eggnogs and mulled wines that have long been a staple of Yuletide gatherings for many European nations and their once-colonies. Hot toddy, one of modern Britain’s best-loved seasonal beverages, for example, is a descendant amalgam of the palm wines of India, American spiced rum and Scotch whisky.

Mulled wines, meanwhile, can trace their roots back to the Ancient Romans, who imbibed on heated wines to ward off the harsh winter cold. As their empire spread across the globe, so too did the love of this delicious drink, with ensuing generations adding spices, herbs and flowers to enhance its flavours to its current-day form.

Finally, eggnog, that most quintessential of Christmas cocktails, first originated as ‘posset’ – a warm, milky, ale-like libation brewed by 13th-century British monks. Eggnog eventually became tied to Yuletide cheer when it was transported to the Americas in the 1700s, with Mexico and Puerto Rico adopting the tipple as their own soon thereafter.

Today, these classic alcoholic refreshments and their countless derivatives remain an indispensable part of any Christmas celebration, with their fulsome flavours and soulful warmth all but ensuring their popularity for generations to come.

RECIPES

HOT TODDY

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz whisky
1 tbsp honey
1/2 oz lemon juice
1 cup hot water
1 tea bag

Directions:

Boil water and steep tea bag for 3-5 minutes
In serving glass, add honey
Pour whisky, lemon juice and tea
Mix well to incorporate the honey
Garnish with lemon wedge

EGGNOG

Ingredients:

6 eggs (yolks and whites separated)
1/2 cup superfine sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups brandy
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp grated nutmeg

Directions:

Beat yolks, 1/4 cup of sugar, salt, vanilla and nutmeg until very thick and light yellow
Slowly beat in brandy and milk
Cover and chill in fridge overnight
Before serving, beat egg whites to soft peaks
Beat in remaining sugar
Pour over chilled brandy mix and fold gently
Garnish with nutmeg

TecknoMonster brings aerospace tech to the world of luxury luggage

The world of high-end lifestyle accessories has just taken a giant leap into the future thanks to the innovative vision of Italian marque, TecknoMonster. Developed by genius designer Giacomo Valentini, it blends the avant garde stylings and ergonomics of aerospace design with the much-lauded traditions of Italian handcraftsmanship. The end result is an enormous success, spawning countless luxury lifestyle products that perfect blend form and function, while proffering even more durability and security than ever before.

Valentini himself hails from a family of designers that have a 160-year industrial history in North Italy. Having completed stints in the worlds of fashion and industrial design, he then turned his attention to the world of luggage-making and discovered that, while trends have come and gone, the overarching design ethos of luggages have remained almost unchanged since the ’70s. “There was a need for an upgrade”, explains Valentini, “something to link to the new era.”

As founder and designer of TecknoMonster, his goal is to create the most sophisticated accessories for “people that want to be in the new world”. So, his company foregoes traditional materials like leather and aluminium in favour of more robust carbon fibre and titanium for its luggage designs.

Through his groundbreaking research in material development, Valentini has also pioneered techniques that allow the inclusion of hitherto-unusable materials such as wood and enamel in his creations without sacrificing on quality and durability. Beyond that, TecknoMonster also customisation services to its high-end clients. Be it to enhance aesthetics or increase security – the luxury brand offers bulletproofed products as well – no ask is beyond its innovative reach.

For more information about the brand’s mission, vision and cutting-edge designs, check out our interview with the visionary founder of TecknoMonster below, or visit https://www.tecknomonster.com/.

Christmas Gifts for Her: Our top picks to present that special lady in your life

With only a few short weeks left to complete your Christmas shopping, the clock is ticking on picking up that perfect gift for your special ladies. To save you from the last-minute ‘what should I get?’ confusion, we have put together a list of beautiful and practical Christmas gifts for her from some of the world’s best-loved brands that the women in your life will cherish.

Rituals’ gift set

Everyone loves themselves some self-pampering for the holidays, and it’s never been easier thanks to beauty brand Rituals’ elegant collection of gift sets. Some of everyone’s favourite Rituals collections – The Ritual of Ayurveda, The Ritual of Sakura and The Ritual of Samurai – are available as gift sets in different sizes – small, medium, large and extra large. Fortunately, the boxing can be used as an attractive storage space after the products have been used, giving the gift an extra life. Get your choice of the gift set from one of the Rituals stores in Hong Kong.

Senreve’s Midi Maestra

A bag is a staple in every woman’s wardrobe. Thereby, one can never go wrong with a good bag, and San Francisco-based bag expert Senreve’s Midi Maestra is definitely a great choice. This multipurpose and multi-feature bag with eight interior compartments and four ways to be carried – as a backpack, cross-body, satchel or tote. This Italian-manufactured bag comes in different types of materials including luxury pebbled leather, mimosa to mixed leather and suede. Click on the link here to buy the bag.

Panthère de Cartier Jewellery

Haute joaillerie maison Cartier’s Panthère de Cartier collection is elegant, iconic and timeless, offering the discerning femme fashionista with beautiful rings, bracelets, necklaces and more. Proudly burnished with the brand’s iconic panther motic, this collection will definitely top off as a stylish accessory that can be worn for on all occasions especially for its lightweight, slimness and of course the panther artwork on it . These exotic creations are available in the buyer’s choice of white, rose and yellow gold, and comes adorned with various precious stones including diamonds, emeralds and more. Click here to shop from the collection.

Chopard’s Happy Moon

Taking inspiration from the night sky that is beautifully lit by the moon and the stars, the haute horology house Chopard’s Happy Moon is a watch with astronomical attributes. The first moon-phase featured timepiece from the Happy Sport collection, it showcases a distinctly starry motif, with shimmering constellations punctuating its deep blue dial. The Happy Moon is made from ethical 18K gold and is studded with diamonds for an added sparkle.

Nyetimber Classic Cuvee

In addition to the sweet treats and delicious food, a bottle of bubbly is what completes the dinner table on a Christmas night. If you are confused about which sparkling wine to get, British sparkling wine-maker MV Nyetimber’s Classic Cuvee is the answer. Keeping up with the expectations of any Nyetimber wine, this beverage is a blend of 50-60 percent Chardonnay, 30-40 percent Pinot Noir and 10-20 percent Pinot Meunier..Toasty and spicy with hints of honey, almonds and pastry on the nose, t is available to buy on Watson’s Wine.

Shanghai Tang’ s 2019 Christmas Collection

Luxury lifestyle label Shanghai Tang’s 2019 Christmas Collection is definitely a one step solution for any confusions one may have for what to get her for Christmas. However, the collection is sure to spoil you with a wide range of choices – Silver Jubilee, women’s ready-to-wear sets, accessories and scarves, lacquer boxes, trinket boxes, photo frames, fragrances and more. With red being a very prominent colour in the collection, it definitely holds the spirits of Christmas while still embodying a wholly Oriental appeal. Click here to shop from Shanghai Tang.

Day & Night of Vivid Pink Spinels

Another piece of jewellery that would make a beautiful gift is the Day & Night of Vivid Pink Spinels from K.S. Sze & Sons Jewelers. Known for their reputation as one of the most sought-after jewellery shops in Hong Kong, the Day & Night of Vivid Pink Spinels is crafted with pink spinels and 18K white gold. For more jaw-dropping designs, check out its Sri Lanka Royal Blue Sapphires Collection, Pear Diamond Necklace, and Paraiba Tourmaline.