Top 3 dog hotels in Hong Kong to pamper your pooch while you’re away
As man’s best friend, dogs have long been an integral part of our lives, homes and families. But what happens when you have to travel and your four-legged friend can’t come along? Well, that’s where a new breed of pet-oriented hospitality establishments step in. These high-end accommodations not only provide a roof over their heads, they offer gourmet menus, spa treatments and more. Here are our pick of top 3 dog hotels in Hong Kong that you may want to check your furry friend into the next time you have to head out of town.
Billing itself as more than just a resort (although its premium suites are nothing to sneeze at), Petworld Resort offers a variety of swimming and outdoor activities, obedience classes and group play opportunities. Elderly dogs are provided with special care, and owners can keep on top of their pup’s latest outings via daily photo updates.
Prices start at HK$350 per night
Address: No 351, Shui Mei Tsuen, Kam Tin, Yuen Long
Tel: 2470 6928
If you’re worried that your precious pet will feel adrift in one of the more impersonal dog hotels in Hong Kong, then perhaps Dog Dayz is for you. Built to offer the comforts of home, this venue is the first fully-licensed home boarding facility in Hong Kong and actually occupies the entire ground floor of dog lover Andrew’s Sai Kung abode. Expect family-oriented care in a warm, lived-in environment.
Prices start at HK$300 per night
Address: Pak Tam Chung, Sai Kung Country Park
Tel: 9284 1491 / 2987 1597
Located in an industrial warehouse in Chai Wan, this spacious and exclusive pet resort easily tops our list of Top 3 Dog Hotels in Hong Kong. Not only does this chemical-free venue offer nine private rooms, it also boasts an impressive array of spa services for its furry guests. What’s more, its commodious outdoor terrace can be rented for private functions and barbecue parties as well.
Prices start at HK$485 per night.
Address: 4C, Man Foong Industrial Building, Cheung Lee St, Chai Wan.
Tel: 3709 2966
TUMI travels to Scandinavia for Fall 2018 collection
Luxury luggage brand TUMI heads northwards to Scandinavia for its Fall 2018 collection. Inspired by the stark aesthetics of the Scandinavian landscape, the latest collection is all about minimalism and functionality.
Playing with colours, fabrics and textures have been an inherent part of TUMI’s DNA. This time, the brand experiments with prints as well – be it a variation of the camouflage print or a modern interpretation of the classic floral print. But the emphasis is – as always – on durability and functionality. Nowhere is this better defined than in the Latitude collection. Made from an ultra-durable material called SRPP Ballistic™ – TUMI’s own innovation – these suitcases strike the perfect balance between extreme strength and feather-light weight.
Apart from travel luggage, TUMI’s collections of men’s and ladies’ daily luggage are also completely in sync with the diverse needs of the modern globe-trotter. With the multi-tasker in us juggling different roles daily from attending a business meeting in the morning to hitting the gym after work, the TUMI bags keep up with élan, thanks to their easy versatility and multipurpose design.
Check out the video below:
From Miss World to prime-time star, Priyanka Chopra wins the world every time
While most 18-year-olds are contending with exam nerves and driving lessons, Priyanka Chopra was already Miss World…
Being crowned the world’s most beautiful woman, however, only proved Chopra’s entry to wider society. Since then, she’s gone on to become a global style icon, a Bollywood legend, an award-winning Hollywood star and much more.
Though now it seems unlikely that anyone could ever deprive her of her many achievements, these would have been all but inconceivable back in 1982 when she was born into a military family in Jamshedpur, a small town in India. With the Miss World win tucked under her Gucci belt, it was only a matter of time, however, till Bollywood – India’s take on Hollywood – came calling.
Looking back on her first steps onto a sound stage, Priyanka Chopra says: “When I got a movie offer, I thought: ‘Ooh, let’s try this too’. While I hadn’t come from a film background and I hadn’t learnt anything about films or film-making, I found I had a thirst to know everything about it. I immersed myself in cinematography, editing, soundtracking, post-production…”
Eventually, her hard work paid off, but it’s fair to say she was no overnight success. Initially hired as an eye-candy, it wasn’t until 2004 that she finally proved both a critical and commercial hit. This was the year when, playing against type, she stole every scene as Sonia Ray, a manipulative man-eater, in Aitraaz, a romantic thriller that stormed both the box office and India’s film awards.
After this, the floodgates truly opened. A string of box-office hits, nationwide recognition and awards – including the Padma Shri (one of India’s most prestigious civilian honours) – quickly followed. It was almost inevitable then that Priyanka Chopra should set her sights higher still, aiming for musical and screen successes in the West.
But her foray into the former met with mixed success. Both her albums failed to create a buzz, pretty much marking the end of her musical ambitions. Fortunately, she had a more luck in the acting stakes, with small screen success hers for the taking.
And take it she did, going on to secure the lead in Quantico, a peak-time terrorism drama that saw Priyanka Chopra take on the role of Alex Parrish, a newly-recruited FBI agent. The role made her a household name and won her the Best Actress award in the prestigious People’s Choice Awards. But before the celebrations were over, dark clouds were gathering around the Quantico lot.
With Quantico getting cancelled just weeks into its third season, the show hit a new low when one particular plotline saw it attract international condemnation, while many personally vilified Chopra for turning her on her own people. The plot – branded “ridiculous”, “stupid” and “implausible” by online critics – saw Parrish (Priyanka Chopra) set out to thwart a conspiracy by rogue Indian scientists to blow up New York, and then blame it on Pakistan.
With many alleging that she had betrayed India by acquiescing to such a grotesque plotline, pretty much all of the outrage occasioned by the episode in question focused on its leading lady.
With the series already cancelled, however, it is a storm that Chopra will surely weather. Indeed, the bandwagon seems to have already moved on. Right now, the media is more focused on her ‘am I / aren’t I?’ relationship with Nick Jonas, an Americna singer. Whether this is true love or a tactical diversion from her own goal on the Quantico front is of, course, highly debatable.
What is less debatable, however, is that even as her FBI procedural heads off to re-run heaven, Chopra’s own career remains very much on course. With two new Hollywood projects already in the pipeline, as well as an expected return to the Bollywood throne, her most intriguing new venture will see her branching out in a whole new direction, with Unfinished, the first volume of her memoirs, set for publication next year.
Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay
Takumi by Daisuke Mori plates up well-finessed Franco-Japanese cuisine
It’s no secret that every Wan Chai eatery is desperate to snaffle passing trade by being bolder, glitzier and more in-your-face than its neighbouring rivals. Should such one-uppery and ostentation leave you with no appetite, then one of the district’s more discreet dineries – Takumi by Daisuke Mori, a bastion of well-finessed Franco-Japanese cuisine – should maybe loom large on your ‘to nosh’ list.
The 12-seat Takumi by Daisuke Mori offers an intimate omakase experience
Set squarely at the less-travelled end of Wood Road, this craftily-concealed cuisinery is fronted by an unassuming, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it access point. Once home to Wagyu Takumi, Chef Daisuke Mori now holds sway here, with his new restaurant having won a Michelin star of its own for two successive years.
Maintaining that it’s his experience on the global gourmand trail that gives him his edge, he says: “I’ve worked in many places across the world and that really opened my eyes, making me willing to experiment with different ingredients and cooking styles. At Takumi, though, we’re solely focussed on fusing Japanese simplicity with a typically French aplomb, while using only the finest produce both countries have to offer.”
Homemade pasta with Japanese sugar tomato, “mi-cuit” Aori Ika
Keen to see if his philosophy truly delivered, our chef-selected tasting menu opened with Homemade pasta with Japanese sugar tomato, “mi-cuit” Aori Ika. The mi-cuit (a French technique that outwardly sears an ingredient while leaving it tender within) Aori Ika squid was perfectly complemented by the tender sweet tomatoes, with a judicious basil oil reduction neatly binding the dish.
With Mori’s innovative East-meets-West flair immediately to the fore, the dish was served unexpectedly cold. Given the summer heat, this proved to be an unusual, yet wholly-refreshing, departure from the norm.
Pan-fried hairtail, baby corn and French green pea
What else to follow but Pan-fried hairtail, baby corn and French green pea? Having never partaken of the hairtail fish, this was a revelatory introduction. Most memorably, the fish’s unusual ground sourdough crust gave each delicate bite that added crunch. Served with a kinome-miso sauce, the dish calls to an underwater garden.
For the soup course, Chef Mori presented Black abalone with shiitake consommé, with Hong Kong’s most-loved mollusc proudly taking centre stage. Seared to secure a caramelised and slightly smoky texture before being be-brothed, these succulent sea snails were amply garnished with ginko nuts and black truffle shavings.
Black abalone with shiitake consommé
Scarcely had the consommé been consumed than the Grilled Wagyu tenderloin made the grandest of entrances. This particular premium beef would quell the quibbles of even the most quarrelsome critics, even before its custom-picked condiments – including Salsifis puree, Aomori garlic confit and fresh wasabi – hoved into view. Arguably amounting to five different dishes in one serving, the only complaint – and, I suspect, a common one – might be that is there is not nearly enough on the plate to sate the inevitably-drooling diner.
Finally, it was dessert time, with Chef Mori unveiling his summer special Hokkaido melon with Sauternes wine and basil sorbet. Pitching symmetrical spheres of Hokkaido’s famous Yubari melon, marinated overnight in sweet Sauternes wine, against a cold melon soup, with a striking basil sorbet mediating between the two, this took us well into premium pudding territory.
Hokkaido melon with Sauternes wine and basil sorbet
It was a fitting finale to a fantastic feast and an apt testament to the Chef’s finesse in subtly fusing Japan’s finest ingredients with weaponised French preparatory techniques. This dish, as with the entire menu and the establishment itself, proves that tactical, bold – but informed – blending is the gift that, in the right hands, just never stops giving.
Shop 1, G/F, The Oakhill, 16 Wood Road, Wan Chai. (852) 2574 1299.
Text: Tenzing Thondup
Leisure & Pleasure: The top events in Hong Kong this July
From the International Arts Carnival to Beauty and THE Beast ON ICE, here is a roundup of July events in Hong Kong.
6 Jul –12 Aug: International Arts Carnival The International Arts Carnival is back and ready to thrill kids with another fun-filled line-up of children’s events. The month-long carnival celebrates every imaginable form of performance art, from films and musicals to physical comedy and magic, while educating your little ones on the different cultures of the world. Check out a shadow puppetry interpretation of the Chinese epic, Mulan, enjoy the windswept journey of two siblings in Air Play, or catch some Hawaiian tropical tunes and hula performances at Ukulele Ohana Jam.
For those who wish to challenge their endurance and cardio, the Shek O Challenge is back! With a choice between a 2.2km swim, 8.5km run or a 9km paddle (surfski and paddle), participants will start at Big Wave Beach and race across to Shek O Back Beach.
Make it a group challenge by splitting the run and paddling races between friends or family to make up a relay team. Kids can also participate in a 600m swim race. And if racing is not for you, come along to cheer on friends and family and enjoy a beach barbecue with live music.
Long-awaited tomes and much-anticipated page turners will take centre stage at this year’s Hong Kong Book Fair. The impetus for this annual event, which is organised by the Hong Kong Trade and Development Council, was to foster a love of literature amongst the local population. And if the attendance figures are anything to go by (the event regularly draws hundreds of thousands of visitors), it’s become a resounding success. This year, in addition to the publishers’ booths, 360 different cultural events have been organised to further promote reading in the city.
Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Dr, Wan Chai
If you’re looking to get away from the stifling summer heat, why not head indoors and check out the cool, enchanting musical theatrics of Beauty & the Beast on Ice? Based on Disney’s beloved classic, this interpretation blends fancy ice-skating choreography and dazzling aerial acrobatics, courtesy of renowned dance troupe The Russian Ice Stars. While away an entertaining afternoon by singing along to your favourite childhood tunes and cheering Bella onwards to her happy ending.
KITEC, Star Hall, 1 Trademart Dr, Kowloon Bay. HK$280-680
27 – 29 July: Hong Kong International Darts Festival
Once the purview of local pubs, the game of darts has finally stepped onto the international stage. The inaugural Hong Kong International Darts Festival will draw top players from eight different countries to compete for the winning spot. An exclusive concert on the opening night will feature such acts as local singer Jason Chan and Cantopop groups Supper Moment and Super Girls. Attendees can watch the matches for free, and also get top tips on improving their dart game on-site.
KITEC, Star Hall, 1 Trademart Dr, Kowloon Bay.
Concert (27 Aug): HK$380-580, free entry to the tournament
Text: Tenzing Thondup
Images courtesy of: International Arts Carnival, Shek O Challenge, HKTDC, Beauty and THE Beast on Ice and HK International Darts Festival
Reel Deal: Five upcoming movies in July
With the football fever gripping the entire world, July is projected to be a bit of a slow month for movies. But if you are a movie buff, you have nothing to worry. We have a roundup of five upcoming movies in July that you shouldn’t miss.
Incredibles 2
With an approving nod and a cheeky wink to feminist movements, this Incredibles sequel sees Elastigirl spring into action to save the world, while Mr. Incredible is left to face his greatest challenge yet – taking care of the children, Violet, Dash and Jack-Jack, with the latter’s startling superpowers just starting to develop! Perfect summer holiday movie with the kids!
Releasing on 19 July 2018
Mission: Impossible – Fallout
Director Christopher McQuarrie takes up the reins again in the sixth installment of the Mission Impossible series. With Mission Impossible: Fallout, Ethan Hunt (played by Tom Cruise) and his IMF team (Alec Baldwin, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames) have to race against time after a well-laid-out IMF plan goes awry.
Releasing on 26 July 2018
Ant-Man and the Wasp
2018’s been an amazing year so far for Marvel fans. The trend is about to continue with yet another superhero movie coming out of the Marvel stables – Ant Man and The Wasp. In the aftermath of Captain America: Civil War, Scott Lang struggles to balance his responsibilities as a father and a superhero, when an urgent mission again requires him to suit up and learn to fight alongside The Wasp.
Releasing on 5 July 2018
Skyscraper
Dwayne Johnson plays former FBI agent and US war veteran Will Sawyer, who is in charge of assessing security for skyscrapers. As one of the safest buildings on earth catches fire, Sawyer finds himself struggling to rescue those caught in the fire while trying to clear his name.
Releasing on 12 July 2018
Beirut
Set in 1980s Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War, former US diplomat Mason Skiles (played by Jon Hamm) has to go back into service to rescue a colleague who is being held by a group that was responsible for his own family’s death. Critics have already described the film as “absorbing despite its flaw”, it remains to see what the audience’s verdict will be.
Releasing on 5 July 2018
Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay
Movies in June: Five films for the summer holidays
Summer holidays are round the corner, but the sun is not being exactly kind on Hong Kongers right at this moment. While we hope the weather gets better, let’s admit it, right now is not the time to stay out in the heat for too long. So if you have bored kids at home or are bored of watching Netflix yourselves, it’s a good time to head to the theatres and check out the upcoming movies in June.
Anon
Anonymity is the enemy in this near-future dystopia, where our most private thoughts are recorded as a means of wiping out crime. Only there’s a problem – a young woman seems to have subverted the system and disappeared, leaving behind no trace or history or identity. Simply known as The Girl, she may hold the clue a series of unsolved murders.
Releasing on 31 May 2018
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Silver screen’s most popular prehistoric predators are back this summer. Three years after the destruction of the Jurassic World theme park, the remaining dinosaurs need to be saved from an erupting volcano on Isla Nublar. But the scientists are in for a nasty shock when they discover a new breed of deadlier dinos. Will the rescuers need rescuing instead?
Releasing on 7 June 2018
Incredibles 2
With an approving nod and a cheeky wink to feminist movements, this Incredibles sequel sees Elastigirl spring into action to save the world, while Mr. Incredible is left to face his greatest challenge yet – taking care of the children, Violet, Dash and Jack-Jack, with the latter’s startling superpowers just starting to develop! Perfect summer holiday movie with the kids!
Releasing on 14 June 2018
Ocean’s 8
Another tongue-in-cheek movie revolving around woman leads, this one has a group of women planning the boldest of heists – stealing a $150 million dollar worth of diamonds in the middle of the high-profile Met Gala. Starring Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Rihanna, this is one plan that needs to go without a hitch. Will it?
Releasing on 14 June 2018
Death Wish
This re-imagining of the classic 1972 revenge thriller Death Wish sees Dr. Paul Kersey (played by Bruce Willis) seeking revenge after a vicious attack on his wife and daughter forever shatters their humdrum lives. Fury and fate collide in this action thriller as a deadly vigilante starts wiping out the city’s criminals.
Releasing on 14 June 2018
Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay
Meghan-Harry’s Big Day: Top five trivia on the royal wedding
19 May is not just going to be a big day for Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (read more about her here), but it may just prove to be the day when England’s rather antiquated royal family gets the shot of life it needs to stay relevant in today’s context.
So with the entire world giving in to the ‘royal wedding fever’, can we stay far behind? We have for you our top five trivia on the royal wedding ahead of the big day.
To commemorate one of their first dates together – a camping trip to Botswana – Prince Harry Prince designed Meghan’s engagement ring himself from a diamond sourced from Botswana’s famous diamond mines. The ring also features two gems from Harry’s late mother Princess Diana’s collection, and is crafted by royal jewellers Cleave and Company.
The bride’s wedding ring is, however, specially sourced from a royal reserve of Welsh gold. This unique gold comes from the Clogau St. David’s mine in Wales, and has been used to make royal rings since Queen Mother’s wedding to Prince Albert, Duke of York, in 1923. Since then, wedding rings for various royal princesses, including Diana and Kate Middleton, have been made from this gold.
Adhering wholeheartedly to the royal custom, Prince Harry sought the Queen’s permission before proposing to Meghan. Given that the British sovereign – in this case Elizabeth II – has to approve all royal weddings, it seemed Harry wasn’t taking any chances. After all, the last time a British royal family member married an American, he had to abdicate his rights to the throne!
In keeping with traditions then, Meghan Markle has already been baptised into the Church of England – one of the prerequisites for entering the royal fold – and is all set to become an UK citizen. The secret ceremony – in which only a handful of royal guests were invited – included holy water from the River Jordan being poured on her head.
But even if Meghan Markle may have conformed to this one tradition, she seems to be by far the most rebellious, progressive, liberal royal that we may have seen in a long time! When she was just 11, she campaigned against an ad for a washing-up liquid that seemed to imply that a woman’s place was in the kitchen. After she enlisted the support of a number of high-profile women, including Hilary Clinton, the then first-lady, the manufacturer surrendered and the ad was pulled.
Here’s hoping this firebrand feminist can inject one of the world’s most conservative families with a right dose of modernity!
Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay
Last-minute gift ideas for Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is fast approaching. If you’ve not yet had time to plan something special, don’t fret. We have rounded up some last-minute gift ideas that will show your Mum some much-deserved love.
Gift your Mother with the “Spring Delight – Perfectly Pampered” Experience at I-Spa, inclusive of a 1 hour and 45 minute treatment (“Muscle Rejuvenation Back Massage” followed by an ESSE Bespoke Facial) and a set Cantonese lunch at the hotel’s 2-Michelin star Yan Toh Heen. Relaxation and rejuvenation finished off with a spot of lunch is sure to make your Mum feel a million dollars.
For further information and I-Spa appointments: (852) 2721 1211, hkghc.spa@ihg.com
TUMI’s timeless gifts
For Mother’s Day, TUMI delivers its world-class travel, business and lifestyle essentials to take care of all your mother’s on-the-go needs. Combining an elegant style with high functionality, the TUMI range of travel cases, day bags and accessories are a great way to treat your mother on this special day. This season, TUMI combines the classic shades of blue with bold patterns to suit different styles and personalities. Available across a range of premium styles, choose from a selection of limited editions and seasonal products from the Voyageur women’s collection. What’s more, shoppers can enjoy the complimentary monogramming service in-store to personalize luggage tags and patches with your mum’s initials.
Pearls symbolise health, purity, and happiness and can be gifted with meaningful wishes of perfection, wealth and peace. Presenting a series of Japanese Akoya Pearl Pendant and South Sea Pearl Jewelleries for Mother’s day, MIKIMOTO’s Bloom Collection allows children to pass meaningful blessings to their beloved mums with a gift of timeless elegance.
As we move full swing into the Summer season, why not add a pop of colour to your mums wardrobe? With breathtaking patterns, intense pigments and dynamic prints, Delavaux’s Spring-Summer leather goods collection is a pure embodiment of beautiful Africa. Beautifully blended with subtle statements of modern Western Art, this ambitious collection – complete with various lines – is a stunning infusion of influences.
Among Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2018, nine eateries from Hong Kong stood out
With the results now in for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards 2018 sponsored by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, it seems as though Bangkok-based Gaggan – “a progressive Indian restaurant” – surprised pretty much no-one by taking the top prize for the fourth time in a row. Closer to home, though, competition was a little more intense, with nine eateries jostling to take the Hong Kong Top Nosh Slot…
Number nine on the Hong Kong list (number 46 overall) was Caprice, the Four Seasons’ contemporary French restaurant. Headed by Chef Guillaume Galliot, it beguiled judges with its selection of bold French dishes, including beef-oyster tartare and caviar, crab laksa with confit egg, leeks, coriander, hazelnut and sudachi lime, and roasted pigeon with confit legs, beetroot and port wine sauce. Its award-winning desserts were also acknowledged as enhancing the French experience, with the restaurant’s very own Nicolas Lambert hailed as 2018’s Best Pastry Chef in Asia. (Read full interview with Chef Nicolas here.)
Standout dish: Beef-oyster tartare and caviar
Flower Crab from Ronin
Ronin, number eight in Hong Kong (number 41 overall), won due to its informal Japanese pub-style appeal, thanks to its twin specialties of seafood and Japanese whiskey. Chef Matt Abergel was particularly commended for a number of his standout dishes, most notably crab shells with crab meat, mitsuba (wild parsley) and iwashi sardine and clams with kimchi, kabu and sake. The drinks selection also won plaudits for its choice of more than 100 Japanese whiskies, not to mention umeshu, shochu and sake.
Standout dish: Flower crab, Hokkaido uni, mitsuba
Belon, led by Chef Daniel Calvert, takes the Hong Kong seven (40) slot. Describing itself as a “dynamic neo-Parisian bistro with an eye on the classics”, Belon impressed with its fusion of local Hong Kong bistro-style French cooking techniques. From an entrée of pork and pistachio terrine with Dijon mustard to a main course of pigeon pithivier with fig and amaretto, the chef sums up the experience as “inherently excellent”. Thankfully, the judges agreed.
Standout dish: Pigeon pithivier with fig and amaretto
Neighborhood, the Hong Kong number six (32), made its debut on the list this year, thanks to its widely-praised French-Italian fare. A new offering from David Lai, that serial restaurateur, Neighborhood is blatantly minimimalist, with the food apparently left to do all the talking. Thankfully its unique combination of flavours, at once delicious and down-to-earth, clearly spoke to the judges. To keep things interesting, Lai is continually changing the menu, with recent highlights including wild boar garganelli, bone marrow and kale risotto, and bouchot mussels in green curry.
Standout dish: Local chicken rice, aged yellow wine sauce
Baked abalone puff from Lung King Heen
It came as a bit of a shock to the Four Season’s team that its authentic Canto restaurant, Lung King Heen, dropped five places to number 24 overall this year. It can take some comfort, however, from the fact that it is rated as the fifth best place to eat in Hong Kong. This, of course, is largely down to the sterling work of Chef Chan Yan-tak, who continues to provide the very finest Cantonese cuisine, including barbecued suckling pig, braised goose webs with Chinese mushrooms in casserole and crispy scallops with fresh pea.
Standout dishes: Baked whole abalone puff with diced chicken
While Lung King Heen fell this year, another Hong Kong Cantonese restaurant, The Chairman, impressed by rising 25 places to take the number 22 spot overall (number four in Hong Kong). Clearly more than pleased with the restaurant’s performance, owner Danny Yip said: “We didn’t expect anything – we were actually surprised we were on the list again.”
Standout dish: Steamed flowery crab with aged Chinese wine and rice noodles
Ta Vie was another noshery clearly on the up, surging from no. 33 last year, to no. 16 this year, while also being voted into the Hong Kong Top Three. With a name that means ‘your life’ in French and ‘journey’ in Japanese, it’s an apt epithet for an establishment that blends the very best from two countries that, between them, epitomise the finest European and Asian culinary traditions, all under the skillful supervision of Chef Hideaki Sato. Particularly commended here are the homemade pasta with fresh Aonori seaweed sauce and uni and the sweet-corn puffed mousse with shrimp and shrimp jelly.
Standout dish: Civet braised abalone with abalone shell
Baby lamb from Aveyron
Nobody expects anything but the very best from award-winning chef Umberto Bombana, a man rightly hailed as the King of White Truffles, so it was something of a surprise that his critically-acclaimed three-Michelin star establishment 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana dropped from fourth place overall last year to 13th this year (number two in Hong Kong). It has rightly won plaudits for a tasting menu that starts with confit abalone carpaccio, continues with black truffle risotto, blue lobster and baby lamb, before concluding with limoncello soufflé, grand cru chocolate five styles or marinated wild strawberries.
Miyazaki Wagyu beef strip loin from Amber
Standout dish: Baby lamb from Aveyron, aromatic herbs, black olive, barley and vegetables
While Amber, The Landmark, Mandarin Oriental’s French restaurant, dropped four places this year, down to seventh on the list overall, it is still the most highly-ranked Hong Kong eatery, as well as – for a stunning eighth consecutive year – the best restaurant in China. Revealing the secret of its success, chef-director Richard Ekkebus said: “We are a genuinely collective force, with our best days still ahead of us.” In another claim to fame, Amber’s signature dish – Miyazaki Wagyu beef strip loin with dulse and red cabbage slaw with oxalis, horseradish and pepper berry emulsion – is often cited as the most Instagrammed dish in Hong Kong.
Standout dish: Miyazaki Wagyu beef strip loin
Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay
Image Courtesy: Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards 2018 sponsored by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, Four Seasons Hong Kong
