Welcome 2020: new cooperation w/Localiiz

No better way to enjoy the new Decade with such great news: a total new start with the online platform and magazine Localiiz in Hong Kong

Being a wine passionate and foodie by love, I couldn't help writing about food & wine! 

In this case I started with a general overview on recommended food pairing for the upcoming Chinese New Year.

As WSET student, I got passionate about this issue, finding it deeply interesting, both as Italian expat in Asia and part of the Old World for wines. I had to widen my horizons and get more acquainted with New World bottles and wineries ... Quite a challenging yet very fascinating path!

Read more about my contribution here & have fun! Which pairing would You love best?! 

https://www.localiiz.com/food-drink-chinese-new-year-foods-banquets-wine-pairings/

Christmas Dinner on Victoria Harbour!

One week has almost passed since Christmas and I am glad to share with You the celebration of Christmas Eve special night Francesco and I spent in Hong Kong. 

Since our family is far away in Europe and we're here alone, we decided to treat ourselves with an exclusive dinner at one of the most charming restaurants in town, conveniently facing the lights and skyline of Victoria Harbour. An enchanting view to celebrate that special night! 

CuCina is the fine dining Italian restaurant of 5* Marco Polo Hotel , wisely managed by the talented Italian Chef Andrea Oreste Delzanno who proposes recipes from our cuisine, perfectly matched in a master fusion with local premium ingredients. A romantic location facing the breathtaking lights of Hong Kong.

At first, we were welcomed by a glass of bubbles with a delicate mushroom based amuse-bouche.

...followed by duck liver terrine and breast with apple compote, balsamic caviar and cranberry sauce, beautifully plated on a customized dish signed by the Chef!

The best dish came immediately afterward: mushrooms cream soup, topped with seared Hokkaido scallop and white truffle. Underneath the scallop we surprisingly found bites of chestnuts: quite unexpected but absolutely matching the flavour of mushrooms - and truffles, of course! This was such a delicate, stunning beautiful plate that I will no longer forget.

Main courses started with linguine with cabineros jumbo red prawn with tomato and brandy sauce. I must confess brandy savour was stronger into the prawn, rather than the sauce itself, but overall it was a great plate and that jumbo prawn was really outstanding, both in size and taste! 

A fine pina colada sorbet helped to separate these first amazing plates for the next to come

And it came the tasteful baked cod fish fillet with romanesco broccoli, caviar and lobster sauce: a triumph for the palate and for the sight!

A glorious roasted beef tenderloin with Alaskan king crab, banana shallot, green pea purée and black garlic sauce ended the line of such outstanding main courses. It was my first time to have banana shallot and I found it quite interesting in taste and texture, though I had a blast when dipping my tenderloing bites into the black garlic sauce: a must for any gourmand! 

To end such fine tasteful elegant Christmas Eve dinner, we were served a mixed berry sherbet with marinated strawberry, Limoncello foam and Meringue. Generously paired with a glass of sweet Hungarian Tocaji offered by the Chef: a total unexpected new intense taste and quite a gorgeous surprise for an Eastern Europe wine. We loved it! 

As Italians, we were gifted a special second dessert - we were full like crazy but could not renounce it! - as per the typical Italian Christmas tradition: an abundant slice of Panettone with hot vanilla sauce, red berries and ice cream. 
A truly enchanting Heaven for our palates and the best way to end up such unforgettable glorious Christmas dinner in Hong Kong! A night to remember 

CuCina Italian restaurant
Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel, 6/F
3, Canton Road
Tsim Sha Tsui
T: 2113 0808
cucinahk.com

One Harbour Road - Chinese Fine Dining in HK

One Harbour Road is the Chinese fine dining within Grand Hyatt hotel in Hong Kong. 
Inspired to the wealthy families of Shanghai, this restaurant delivers a touch of antique, perfectly immersed in the polyhedric vibrant heart of Wanchai. 

One Harbour Road offers the right level of prestigious privacy for its most demanding guests. A Private Dining Room is conveniently facing the enchanting Victoria Harbour with natural light enlighting the full table

Culinary menu offers the most traditional Cantonese art with elegant touch and fine presentations

All charger plates are 100% made in Italy by Manifattura Richard Ginori 1735, the most ancient porcelain manufacturer in Europe, member of Gucci Group - Kering luxury Holding. 

One Harbour Road
Grand Hyatt Hotel 
1, Harbour Road
Wanchai, Hong Kong
T: 2584 7722

Festive German Afternoon Tea @Café 103

Christmas time has arrived and there's no better place where to live such warm cozy atmosphere: Festive German Afternoon Teaset at Café 103! 
A breathtaking beautiful venue on 103rd floor of Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Hong Kong

Such fine delicate teaset is designed by Executive Chef Peter Find in partnership with Pastry World Champion Chef Andrea Schirmaier-Huber and it offers a large selection of savories as well as sweet delectables. 

The perfect fusion match between German tradition and Asian taste

Amond savories, I would underline a special mention to the smoked halibut and egg salad mini bun, as well as the baked chorizo and cheese tart. 

Among sweet, I especially loved the mandarin mousse and cinnamon cake and of course the signature German roasted Christmas apple! 

The final touch of such tasteful treat is the signature hot chocolate of Café 103, which adds an intense flavour to this dining experience. Stick, hot and dark chocolate in pure German style! Can't miss it

Festive German Afternoon Tea lets You breathe and live the Christmas time with elegance and glam. 

Don't miss the chance to enjoy such wise culinary art to celebrate with Your family & friends!

Café 103 

International Commerce Centre (ICC)

103/F The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong

1, Austin Road West, 

West Kowloon, Hong Kong S.A.R.

T: +852 2263 2270

All jewels by Maria Conti Jewelry

www.mariacontijewelry.com

Tom Ford Cocktails in the clouds @Ozone, Ritz-Carlton

As the festive season approaches, Ozone is offering a fantastic way to kick start your holiday celebrations, teaming up with Asia’s esteemed luxury
retail, Lane Crawford, to introduce a unique curation of gifts by Tom Ford Beauty, as well as a selection of cocktails inspired by the brand’s signature fragrances and classic red lipstick.

Inspired by the brand’s vision to re-define luxury in beauty, Ozone Bar Manager Oscar Mena has tailor-made an avant-garde menu of cocktails that offers an unparalleled experience to captivate your visual, olfactory and gustatory senses. 

Available from December 5, 2019 until January 31,

2020, the “Sensual Festive Luxury in the Clouds” menu features three cocktails and one mocktail, all of which are named after Tom Ford Beauty heroes: Soleil Neige fragrance, Fabulous fragrance, Oud Wood fragrance, and Scarlet Rouge lipstick.

We personally tried Soleil Neige - I must say very simple looking, but tasteful and intense fragrance on the mouth, thanks to the perfumed herbs of Bombay Sapphire! - and Fabulous which was gorgeous at sight and unforgettable in taste. Full rounded flavour with the sweetness of almond milk properly balanced by the Mr Black Amaro. 

Ozone is the highest rooftop bar of the world: wisely located on 118th floor of International Commerce Centre in Hong Kong, it offers a breathtaking view of Victoria Harbour

And we paired such innovative cocktails with a special selection of sushi canapés, newly introduced on the regular menu of the bar: wagyu beef topped with quail egg & soft crab shells with veggie tempura. 

Don't miss the unique chance to enjoy the Sensual Festive Luxury in the Clouds and make Your reservation!

Reservations at (852) 2263 2270 or 
via email at
restaurantreservation.hk@ritzcarlton.com

Jewels by Maria Conti Jewelry

www.mariacontijewelry.com