Category: Lifestyle

Leisure and Pleasure: Events in Hong Kong this November

Whether you’re a music lover, ballet aficionado, avid reader or artist at heart, Hong Kong has something for everyone to enjoy this month. Here are some exciting events happening this November. 

Clockenflap

Hong Kong’s biggest music and arts festival is going all out for its 10th anniversary along the waterfront. This year’s line-up is headlined by international acts including Massive Attack (UK), Feist (Canada) and MØ (Denmark). “Festivals like Clockenflap occupy a very important place in the cultural and creative landscape of the city,” says founder Justin Sweeting. “This is our 10th year and we’re very much staying true to our vision and spirit as always. You’ll have to come to see for yourself – the only way to experience the magic.”

17-19 November
Central Harbourfront Event Space
9 Lung Wo Road, Central
HK$570-1,720
clockenflap.com

Arts in the Park

Calling all kids and kids at heart – this popular annual outdoor youth arts festival and puppet parade is back, this time celebrating all things Roald Dahl. The British novelist’s works (Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) will come alive in the form of giant characters and storytelling sessions. Interactive activities like the African Drum Jam and free art stalls will allow youngsters to unleash their creative energy in projects like mask and headdress making or face painting.

11-12 November
Victoria Park, Causeway Bay
Free
hkyaf.com

Rugby Charity Ball

Now in its 16th year, the prestigious Hong Kong Rugby Union Charity Ball continues its gala-for-a-cause. This year’s event will be headlined by World Classic Rockers, a supergroup composed of former members of Santana, Kansas, Boston and other legendary bands. The annual fundraiser has contributed over HK$88 million to education and rugby programmes serving underprivileged children since 2002. The black tie affair includes pre-dinner cocktails, a four-course dinner, a live concert and an auction (starring a custom-painted Harley- Davidson bike!) to cap off the night.

11 November
Convention Hall, Hong Kong Convention
& Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai. 6pm
HK$2,488
hkrucharityball.org

World Cultures Festival

Thumping beats and tribal arts travel to Hong Kong from the cradle of civilisation: Africa. The colourful World Cultures Festival is set to showcase the continent’s most distinctive music, dance and theatre acts in a line-up opened by none other than “African artist of the century” Youssou N’Dour (Senegal). The closing performance by Cape Town Opera pays tribute to South Africa’s first black president in a stirring folk opera entitled Mandela Trilogy.

Until 19 November
Schedule and venues vary
HK$80-$580
worldfestival.gov.hk/2017

Secret Theatre’s Project Mayhem

If you’ve been bemoaning the lack of an edgy arts scene in the 852 reminiscent of London and New York, maybe you haven’t been looking hard enough. Secret Theatre – which got its start with a production of Edward Scissorhands in an abandoned New York City factory – is in town for another round of immersive storytelling. While details on this experiential dinner and theatre show are intentionally scant, audiences can expect to be placed in a warehouse with devious characters who will act out “one of modern history’s most twisted tales of fraternity, violence and all-out psychological warfare”. You’ve been warned!

3 November – 10 December
Location to be announced upon ticket purchase
From HK$850
secretstudiolab.com, ticketflap.com/projectmayhemhk

Hong Kong International Literary Festival

Established and emerging writers from around the world come to Hong Kong for a 10-day programme of discussions, literary-themed lunches, workshops, debates, book signings, lectures and readings. The annual festival embraces creative writing in English, with an emphasis on connections to Asia. Look out for Amy Tan (author of The Joy Luck Club) at the gala dinner.

3-12 November
Venues and prices vary
festival.org.hk

Le Corsaire

Emmy Award-winning choreographer Anna-Marie Holmes is the creative force behind Hong Kong Ballet’s premiere of Le Corsaire. This staging stars Moscow-born Maria Kochetkova (San Francisco Ballet) and Canadian Matthew Golding (The Royal Ballet). Audiences can follow the romance between a dashing pirate and the beautiful harem girl he rescues – a classic adventure with a side of pas de trois.

3-12 November
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
10 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui
2:30pm & 7:30pm
HK$140-$1,000
hkballet.com

 

The Future is Female: Hong Kong’s Gender Imbalance

Women all over the world love to complain about the dating scene in their city, but if you’ve ever been a single lady in Hong Kong, the struggle is real. This month, our Features Editor Julienne Raboca digs up the cold, hard facts and figures that many have felt but few have quantified.

Last July, the government’s Census and Statistics Department (Censtatd) published the 2017 Edition of their data on Women and Men in Hong Kong. Their findings reveal a skewed gender demographic, with 852 males per 1,000 females in the city. That means there are well over half a million women than men in a populace of 7.34 million.

“In particular, there have been more women than men in the age group 20-39 since 1996 and also in the 40-44 range since 2001,” the report goes.

The gender imbalance arises from three main causes, according to Professor Paul Yip, Chair of Population Health at The University of Hong Kong (HKU). “The first is migration and reunion – male immigrants bringing their spouses from mainland China. The second pertains to life expectancy – women in Hong Kong live longer. Finally you have the influx of domestic helpers, mostly female.”

However, not counting foreign domestic helpers, women still outnumber men by 7.5%. “It reflects a public health issue,” posits Professor John Bacon-Shone, Director of HKU’s Social Sciences Research Centre. “The numbers are partly an indication of males’ worse habits.” He cites the higher occurrence of male smokers as an example.

“Any imbalance disturbs the human ecology,” says Yip. “A city that can provide a healthy environment to set up a family reflects a stable ecosystem. When you look at societies with more households and couples, poverty is lower overall, compared to those with more singles.”

Yip also notes that single people are freer to move and travel, which makes them less dependable compared to family units.

“Men’s working participation rate is always higher,” adds Yip. “So when you have more women, the labour force will be affected, impacting Hong Kong’s economy.”

However, much is set to change in a silver lining that feminists would cheer. “If women remain single, they need to support themselves financially,” says Yip. “The educational attainment level is also improving – women are becoming more independent and employable.”

Let’s hope the recalibration translates into wage equalization as well; currently, men make HK$4,000 more than women per month on average.

Meanwhile, on the marriage front, Yip observes a female emigration. “Some women are leaving Hong Kong to find husbands,” he says. “The few hundreds to few thousands of women are not sitting here waiting to get married.”

“Hong Kong’s dating scene is tough,” says Nancy, who asked Gafencu not to use her real name. “It’s a very transient place, and it’s tough to find someone you have chemistry with but who also wants to settle down.”

Now in her early thirties, Nancy moved five years ago from London to Hong Kong – where her father was born. “The ratio is real,” she says. “My guy friends say it’s easier for them to meet women, but they have a lot of single girl friends who have trouble meeting the right guy.

“Girls do have a harder time because of the imbalance on top of the economic pressure to find someone who is financially stable – it’s a very expensive city. More women are choosing not to settle.”

Nancy, whose background is in law and finance, says she didn’t feel too much pressure in her twenties, but as she approached her thirties, her parents got particularly anxious.

“My mum tried to pressure me into meeting this divorced single man in his mid-40s with a 7-year-old daughter,” she says. “It was pretty humiliating. The man had a questionable career and has lived in a town with less than 1,000 people most of his life. In his defence, he was nice, but we were worlds apart.”

For the past three years, Nancy says she stepped back from dating as she changed track from finance to art. Upon a friend’s encouragement, she recently downloaded the dating app Coffee Meets Bagel.

“The guys have been nice so far,” she relents despite early hesitations due to the stigma and horror stories preceding apps like Tinder.

We ask her if she’s ready to meet “The One”. “I don’t really pressure myself,” she says. “If I meet someone along the way doing what I love and living the life I want to live, then fantastic. If not, it doesn’t matter so much.

“I fear being trapped in a loveless relationship more than being alone,” she continues. “Being in a relationship doesn’t guarantee happiness. It should not be seen as a superior status to ‘being single’.”

Text: Julienne C. Raboca

For the full article, please check out the latest issue of Gafencu’s print magazine or the PDF version on the Gafencu app. Download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store

Movies to watch at the cinemas this November

With the holiday season kicking in, a horde of big-budget movies are set to release in November. From nail-biting whodunits to superhero franchises, from Cannes’ award winners to simple Christmas comedies, you can have your pick and more! Here are our top picks for November:

Murder on the Orient Express

When Agatha Christie’s detective fiction Murder on the Orient Express came out in 1934, it was considered to be one of the best ‘railway stories’ ever written. Many decades and numerous adaptations later, the classic whodunit still remains a crowd favourite because of the startling (and frankly unparalleled) nature of its climax! We don’t want to reveal more, so just head to the theatres on 30 November to be part of an extraordinary ride.

Justice League

Another superhero flick from DC and Warner Bros’ stables, Justice League is the fifth installment in the DC Extended Universe. Inspired by Superman’s selfless sacrifice (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice), Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince combine forces with other superheroes like Aquaman, Cyborg and the Flash to save the planet from a new and powerful enemy. Scheduled to be released on 16 November, box offices everywhere have already pinned high hopes on this one.

Wonder

If the trailer is anything to go by, this film promises to quite endearing. As a simple story of a little boy with facial ‘deformity’ who’s trying to fit in at his new school, this film will resonate with anybody who has had issues ‘fitting in’ with their peers. Wonder’s simple message, that beauty is not skin-deep, is a particularly relevant one in today’s world of superficial beauty parameters. Releasing on 30 November, Wonder offers a breath of much-needed empathy.

The Star

A Christian comedy based on the Nativity of Jesus, this one is a lighthearted animation centering on Bo, a donkey, and his friends from the animal kingdom who become the unsung heroes of the first Christmas. Hitting the theatres on 17 November, the film promises to be a good watch for the kids and for those young at heart.

The Killing of a Sacred Deer

A competitor in the Palme d’Or category in the Cannes Film Festival 2017 and the best screenplay award winner at the festival, this movie has already made the right noises even before its global release. Featuring big names like Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman, the film explores the unconventional relationship between an established doctor and his teenage neighbour, a relationship that is laced with underlying menace and a threat of violence. Playing in theatres from 30 November, the film has already won critics’ hearts through its twisted brilliance and intriguing screenplay.  

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

Meat Thy Maker: Maximal Concepts’ flagship, Blue, is more than your average steakhouse


With seven properties in the region – including a speakeasy, haute Chinese restaurant and, more irreverently, a beauty centre – Hong Kong-based Maximal Concepts is living up to its name.

Founded in 2012, the group has achieved widespread recognition for its track record of opening diverse, narrative-driven F&B venues. Trend-conscious diners will doubtless be familiar: whether it’s award-winning cocktails at Stockton or late-night revels at Brickhouse, the company’s Mexican offering.

Indeed, the group’s strongest asset might be its specialised portfolio, which caters to diverse – and often ultra-specific – segments of the market. This being Hong Kong, steakhouses are one such premiere segment. Local buyers have imported an estimated HK$7.6 billion in beef this year alone, while international chains continue to expand into a city saturated with steakhouses. It’s this environment that makes the longevity of Blue, Maximal’s restaurant-cum-butchery, previously known as Blue Butcher, all the more impressive.

Originally established in 2012 (and rebranded last year), Blue made its initial reputation by specialising in Rubia Gallega: a breed of bovine hailing from the Basque region in northern Spain. These days – though Galician beef remains a fixture on the restaurant’s menu – executive chef Sebastian Comerso casts a wide net, searching internationally for the best cuts in every corner of the world.

Intent on providing a culinary experience that goes beyond the milquetoast, Blue revamped its menu in May so as to echo the resurgent movements of “slow food” and international dining.

Proceedings commence innocently enough, with the house’s steak tartare. The foundation of this dish is grass-fed Australian tenderloin, making for lean beef that is initially unctuous before giving way to a more delicate texture. Inspired by the cuisine of Catalan, Comerso dresses it as a pan tomaca, complementing the former’s richness with chunks of fresh acidic tomato. Iberian flourishes follow with salty-sweet pata negra added to the composition.

Initial impressions are followed by the Blue beef ribs – a new barbecue-centric addition to the restaurant’s menu. Comerso’s take on the ubiquitous North American dish won’t be winning any accolades for innovation, but what it lacks in novelty it compensates for in sheer execution.

Upon initial inspection, the signs all point toward a roaring good time: burnt ends gild the edges of the beef while a natural fat cap glistens provocatively. Slow cooking has preserved the meat’s moisture, imparting a tenderness so profound that it borders on ethereal – even the bones have softened, adding to the multi-textural experience!

The sourdough French toast, conceived by pastry chef David Puig, bears a croque monsieur-esque appearance – thick-cut toast topped with flambéed vanilla cream. A crisp top layer gives way to the cake-like sourdough below, and the dessert is paired with an assortment of “breakfast” spreadables and freshly grated lime zest. There’s something so delightfully taboo about consuming this creation, acutely resembling breakfast, at dinnertime. Fittingly, it is a finale capturing Blue at its best and most elemental: simple, familiar, comforting.

BLUE – BUTCHER & MEAT SPECIALIST
Address: 108 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan
Tel: 2613 9286
www.bluebutcher.com

Text: Randalph Lai

For the full article, please check out the latest issue of Gafencu’s print magazine or the PDF version on the Gafencu app. Download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store

Coffee Culture: COVA celebrates its 200th anniversary

On the eve of its birthday bash, COVA’s CEO Paola Faccioli tells us how the brand successfully balances its 200-year Italian heritage with modern tastes and trends.

What makes COVA unique?

COVA is an experience. It’s not just a product store or a cup of coffee. Whether you’re stepping into our store in Milan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei, etc, you will be touched by all the tastes and atmosphere that are quintessentially Milanese. This adherence to tradition has helped us reach this 200 anniversary milestone today.

How do you tailor the COVA experience for local palates?

Our first expansion into Hong Kong over 25 years ago taught us a lot. You can’t just transplant our original café into a new destination and not make some changes. There’s a big back and forth, a cultural exchange local trends and our traditional roots that keeps us fresh in new markets.

A great example is our mango cake. It’s not something that we traditionally have in Italy, but it’s a huge favourite in Asia. So our Hong Kong chef created a mango cake to cater to local tastes first, and now it’s become one of our international favourites.

How has coffee culture evolved in Hong Kong?

When we first entered Hong Kong, nobody knew what coffee really was. It was not a common habit to drink coffee and very few had tried an authentic espresso or a cappuccino. We were pioneers.

With the advent of Starbucks and the globalisation of coffee, everything has changed. People are more aware of different types of beans and brewing methods. They have become more selective so they now recognise the high quality that COVA provides.

Do you have any special 200th anniversary products?

We’ve released a limited edition Capsule Collection which is a compilation of COVA’s best-selling products. There is also special 200th anniversary packaging for all our products from the world-famous panettone to delectable chocolates. We also launched some special menus for the big occasion.

What plans for the future?

We just opened a lovely and intimate café in Monte Carlo this September. It’s our first café other than our original Milan location in 200 years, so it was very exciting for us. We are also opening another store, a big one, in Dubai at the end of this year.

There are other major projects in the pipelines in the Middle East and even North America, so keep an eye out for those announcements, too!

Thank you.

Interview: Tenzing Thondup

Zuma’s Sake Pairing Autumn Menu is the Asian answer to vine and dine

Our Features Editor was invited to an intimate dinner at yuppie favourite izakaya Zuma in the Landmark. Little did she know she was about to dine in the presence of sake royalty: Mr Hideki Sakai of Gokyo Junmai. The Sakai family is famous for brewing the “Five Bridges” sake for centuries.

After a lot of bowing and formal card exchanging, the dinner proceeded more casually than anticipated. Zuma’s downstairs dining ambience helps: high-ceilings, a buzzing after-work crowd, chefs doing their magic in an open kitchen, and floor-to-ceiling windows revealing the energetic street scene of Central by night.

“We stumbled upon the secret to our distinct flavour by mistake,” says Sakai. “Instead of brewing the rice wine in mineral water, which is better for the fermentation process, we accidentally used soft water.” The error resulted in a well-bodied product: equal parts smooth, fruity and crisp.

Sake sommelier Hiroaki Matsuno was also present that evening. He elaborated on the sake pairings alongside the restaurant’s contemporary Nikkei-esque cuisine. According to Matsuno, hiya-oroshi sake is specifically for the autumn season – stored throughout summer and released once the temperature in and out of the brewery matches.

Although winter’s warm sakes and summer’s chilled ginjos are fondly considered, the country’s best brews are said to be those of red-leaf season. Hiya-oroshi is characterised for its mellow and round disposition, the lightest and cleanest of which we tried with the appetisers: Oysters with Ponzu and Chili Daikon and Shima Aji Sashimi Salad with Green Apple Granita.

Little dots at the bottom of the short clear glasses marked the different brews we were trying. At 15% average alcohol content, sake is a match for wine’s 9-16% range, well over beer’s 3-9% ABV, and less than half of vodka’s 40%.

With the chef’s Premium Sushi and Sashimi Selection (course #3 – both a visual and gastronomic work of art), we had the Kyoto-sourced Tsukinokatsura. The smooth-cloudy rice brew also accompanied course #4: Akamutsu, a torched rosy sea bass) with sudachi (citrus) and fresh wasabi.

The fusion seafood pairings of courses #5 and #6 were the best applauded: Chilean Seabass with Green Chili Ginger Dressing and Hokkaido Scallops with umeboshi butter and mentaiko (Alaskan Pollock roe). The distinct and powerful flavours were well matched with Gookyo Junmai’s aromatic and fragrant tones.

The last mains were paired with Gozenshu 9 “Black” Bodaimoto Junmai, which came in a dark bottle more akin to those of cherry dessert wines. This brew (from a famous female wine master) was specifically chosen to go with the meat: a Niigata Snow-Aged Wagyu Sirloin (f1 grade). Surprisingly, the accompanying Maitake Mushrooms (course #8) proved a vegetarian alternative well on par with the meat.

Soup was the last savoury dish: Spicy crab with fresh yuzu and mushrooms. Fantastic and well-balanced, like everything in this dinner. The only over-indulgence came in the form of the Deluxe Dessert Platter, in which Zuma outdid itself with all its best-selling sweets. Do not hold back on this one, it’s worth every single calorie.

Zuma’s Sake Pairing Dinner will be available until the 9th of December. Landmark Level 5 & 6, 15 Queen’s Road Central. (852) 3657 6388. www.zumarestaurant.com


Text: Julienne C. Raboca

Mix Master: Pick your poison and pour your heart out

Entertaining at home is all about nailing the details, and even the most deftly executed dinner party can been undone by a sparsely stocked bar. While it’s tempting to improvise, nobody wants a concoction of vodka, cacao nibs and the leftover “mystery liquor” we all seem to haul back from holidays abroad. Enter the Perfect Drink Smart Scale & Recipe App.

Consisting of an electronic scale and smartphone app, Perfect Drink streamlines the process of making high-quality cocktails at home by making use of whatever ingredients happen to be on hand. Users begin by inputting their available poison into the app, which generates suggestions from an exhaustive catalogue of over 400 recipes. These are helpfully divided into 16 different categories, ranging from cocktails by era (Prohibition) to those calibrated by palette (spirit forward).

Once users have selected a desirable recipe, the Smart Scale calculates the precise ratios needed for a bartender-approved beverage. Simply place your vessel of choice onto the scale and pour the alcohol in until the Perfect Drink app alerts you to stop. The app also incorporates a timer for those cocktails that require shaking or stirring to finish, ensuring your drink has appropriate levels of dilution and chilliness.

Perfect Drink is currently available in two models: the PRO and the 2.0. The latter incorporates a durable stainless steel casing and an LCD display for ease of use. The cherry on top? Both versions come complete with a shaker so hosts can start crafting cocktails straight out of the box.

www.makeitperfectly.com/drink

Rest Your Weary Soles: 5 best foot treatments at every price

The constant grind of city life can wear you down. Disconnect from the hustle and bustle and pamper yourself with a little “me” time! Here’s our top five foot treatment picks for every budget.

Ten Feet Tall

Located at the L. Place in Central, Ten Feet Tall is a great value option. Expect traditional Chinese foot reflexology techniques in a clean, peaceful environment as you recline in plush sofa chairs. A 50-minute session is just HK$340. For a more immersive experience, try the foot + neck and shoulder massage for 50 minutes (HK$690).

20-21/F, L Place, 139 Queen’s Road, Central. 2971 1010. http://tenfeettall.com.hk/home

Spa L’OCCITANE

The Spa L’Occitane is a slightly pricier but still affordable alternative that incorporates the French brand’s natural and environmentally friendly creams into its treatments. Try the Leg Refresher with Essential Oils (45 minutes, HK$680), which stimulates circulation and revitalises your skin.

Shop 3, Star Crest, 9 Star Street, Wan Chai. 2143 6288. http://hk.loccitane.com

Chuan Spa

Cordis Hotel’s Chuan Spa boasts holistic traditional Chinese treatments. Their Chuan Heavenly Jing Luo treatment (90 minutes, HK$880) gets you not one, not two but three different treatments rolled into one relaxation experience!

The combination of Jing Luo acupressure techniques, Chinese herbs and hot stones aims to optimise blood and qi flow and strengthen the immune system.

41/F, Cordis, 555 Shanghai St, Mong Kok. 3552 3510. http://www.chuanspa.com.hk

The Oriental Spa

The ultra-luxe Oriental spa at Landmark Mandarin Oriental serves up a 45-minute Refoundation Feet treatment (HK$760) that guarantees knee-to-toe relaxation. A Black Diamond Scrub exfoliation precedes a deep-tissue massage targeting muscle tension, joint mobility, blood circulation and more. Afterwards, hit the vitality pools, ice fountains and amethyst crystal steam baths to round off your stay.

15 Queen’s Road Central, Central. 2132 0188. http://www.mandarinoriental.com/

 The Ritz-Carlton Spa

Saving the best for last, we finally come to the Ritz-Carlton Spa. Perched atop the ICC building, the steep prices here are only surpassed by the soaring panoramic views.

A 50-minute Foot Reflexology massage will set you back HK$1,150. But who’s counting when you’re 116 floors up looking down at the rest of Hong Kong while masseuses skilfully work out the kinks in your soles.

ICC, 1 Austin Road West, Yau Ma Tei. 2263 2263. www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/china/hong-kong/spa

 

Text: Tenzing Thondup
Photos: Ritz-Carlton, Cordis Hotel, Ten Feet Tall

Over the top: Do these 5 items with hefty price tags live up to the hype?

A hefty price tag increases the aspirational value of a product, no doubt, but how justifiable are the prices in all cases?

Louis Vuitton Trunks

While vintage trunks may look beautiful in a period drama set in Victorian England, lugging around a hefty trunk in days of fast-paced lifestyle and light travel may not be a smart choice for a globetrotter. Also, with a price tag that runs into several digits, wouldn’t you want to keep it at home it as a prized possession rather than subject it to the rigours of travel?

iPhone X

As the whole world waits with baited breath for the launch of the much-hyped iPhone X this November, please take a step back and think. Yes, it has a bigger screen, flexible display panels, Face ID bio-metric security solution and tons of other features. But does it justify the thousand US dollar tag? Only time will tell. So before jumping into the bandwagon and pre-ordering the iPhone X, please wait and watch and reevaluate if it is really the phone you need.

Clé de Peau Beauté Synactif Intensive Cream

With most ingredients of this cream available in common drugstores, one can’t help but wonder if the Synactif Intensive Cream, which is priced at a whopping thousand US dollars, secretly contains the hidden elixir of youth! While it promises to do the routine work offered by most other creams like reduce dullness, eliminate dark spots, etc., we couldn’t find the one thing that sets it apart from the rest, except its staggering price.

Christopher Kane Cable Ties

Willing to shell out 30 US dollars for mundane cable ties? Apparently a lot of people are! When fashion designer Christopher Kane used cable ties as accessories on his models in one of his fashion shows, it immediately caught the fancy of the fashion world and catapulted to the status of fashion must-haves. While the colourful cable ties looked quirky and cool on the runway models, sporting them on the streets may not have the same effect. Also, cable ties can present their own set of challenges – tie them too hard and scissors will be your only escape strategy!

GUCCI Plain Cotton T-shirt

For those tempted to buy a plain white t-shirt from Gucci for over 400 US dollars, we’d advise wearing it inside out, so that at least the brand logo is visible! Even after taking into account the fact that it’s made in Italy, is 100% cotton and unbelievably soft, there are, for sure, a thousand other brands which offer the exact safe level of comfort without digging a hole in your pocket. It leaves us wondering how much profit the big brands make in the name of brand value.

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

Retro Reinvented: Central’s newest cinema gets creative in the kitchen

Albert Yeung’s Emperor Group is launching its first cinema in the city this fall. With a prime location in Central’s Entertainment Building, the venue will boast 200 seats across five theatres with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment and the latest in paperless ticketing technology.

The crowning achievement (quite literally) is the Coronet, a VIP room with just 11 seats replete with reclining seats, USB charging ports and a table-side ordering service. There’s even a blanket at your elbow if you start feeling chilly.

The biggest surprise, though, is the retro American-diner style food outlet, Roomsbar. Run by veteran dining group Maximal Concepts, the menu features classic American cinema snacks such as hotdogs, nachos and popcorn – with an up market twist.

Unlike the pre-made fare at other cinema outlets, each tasty treat here is made-to-order from the kitchen. Now gourmets can munch on freshly made Truffle Dogs, Pork Carnitas Nachos or Pulled Pork Burgers while taking in the latest Hollywood flick.

If you’re feeling thirsty, Roomsbar also has several signature cocktails on tap curated by Maximal Concepts mixologists. Adults can sip on a Margarita or Gin & Tonic, while the kids enjoy non-alcoholic mocktails like the Sarsaparilla or Raspberry Fizz.

So next time you’re feeling in a movie mood, an outing to Emperor Cinema might just be your ticket!