Holy Crab - The 2015 East Meets West Culinary Exchange

8It is quite rare to find a seafood restaurant around the famous hot spot Lan Kwai Fong where normally surrounded by a lot of bars and pubs. Finally, the Salient Group opened their first Cajun seafood restaurant – Holy Crab in town during mid-February this year. Holy Crab offers an authentic Cajun seafood cuisine experience together with their unique aquatic interior decoration. One of the remarkable features is the giant 3-metre wide rock pool in the middle of the restaurant which containing daily deliveries of fresh and live seafood from overseas. 

Currently, it debuts a monthly special menu promotion “The 2015 East Meets West Culinary Exchange”, celebrating and promoting the unique cuisines of Thailand and Canada. “This exchange aims to celebrate exactly that shared bond, and to promote and raise awareness of Eastern and Western cuisines and their similarities and difference.” says Alwin J. Wong, Managing Director of The Salient Group.

Two outstanding chefs have created and presented two different ways of seafood cooking styles. Holy Crab’s Executive Chef Mark Kerkstra created the menu of  the West mainly using Canadian-sourced ingredients with his specialty in French and New American cuisine style, like “Dungeness Crab Popover” and “Crown and Maple Canadian Seafood Trio”.  Another two of the unforgettable dishes were “Pond and Pasture Grits”, in which you get the taste  3 different textures at the same time - creamy Cajun style Cheddar Cheese Grits, soft Coffee Grilled Ontario Pork Loin and springy Tiger Prawns; remember to save your appetite for the devil dish “Canard Poutine”, Duck Fat Gravy with Duck Confit, Quebec Foie Gras and Gruyere Cheese over Duck Fat Fries.  Thai Celebrity Chef Chalee Kader has been cordially invited to this exchange for the menu of East. His creations are based on 4 different regions of Thailand – “North” Kao Soy Thai Noodles with Tiger Prawns, “North East” Lemongrass Chicken Rice with Papaya Salad and Salted Duck Egg, “Central” Crab Curry, and “South” Chicken Turmeric Soup. Each dishes is there to tantalize your taste buds. Lastly, don’t miss out the two special cocktails from the special menu, “East – Lychee Delight”, a refreshing lemongrass taste with vodka base and  “West – Royal Maple” a gin based with pineapple juice and Quebec Maple syrup. 

It is suggested to go with some friends and family, get your hands dirty and enjoy the fun and Cajun dining experience.  “The 2015 East Meets West Culinary Exchange” menu is available from 18 August to 16 September (Monday to Sunday), 6pm until Midnight.

Enquiries: http://holycrab.com.hk/
Address: 3/F, Cosmos Building, 8-11 Lan Kwai Fong, Central, Hong Kong.

Tel: +852 2110 0100

Style It as you want! Nespresso New Pixie Clips

Continually revolutionising the coffee experiences, Nespresso - An innovative machines and cutting-edge designs with a new level by emracing the trend of personalisation through the launch of the new Pixie Clips machine. With a simple clipping system, changing the style of the machine couldn't be easier. An extensive range of interchangeable covers and reinvent your machine to give a new look anytime you want!

How would you style your pixie clips? It could be fun, graphic, techno, authentic, elegant, hi-tech, arty or pop! Stick on, peel off, change your mind, keep experimenting, you will find your perfect pixie clips in the end. Pixie clips comes complete with two pairs of exhangeable clips, a total 12 others pairs of clips will be avialble from www.nespresso.com or from your local boutique! Choose your preference and style the way you want!

Whatever the look, A pixie clips is still a pixie!

• Compact - 11 cm to fit anywhere
• Fast - Heats in just 25-30 seconds so you can savour your Grand Crus in an instant
• Intuitive - Incredibly easy to use, less descaling required, water level detector, cable storage
• Energy saving - Automatic power off after 9 minutes not in use, excellent energy consumption profile: 40% more economic than the "A" energy category

The Pixie Clips machine features two programmable cup size butoons to deliver the perfect serving size of an Espresso or Lungo coffee. The foldable drip tray support accommodates difering cups for espresso and milk lovers alike, tray pairing with an Aeroccino to create gourmet milk coffee recipes at home!

*To celebrate the launch of Pixie Clips, from September 7 to October 26, 2015, Nespresso is offering either a complimentary pair of decorative panels upon purchase of a Pixie Clips machine along with 5 sleeves of capsules, or HK$300 discount upon purchase of any Nespresso machine along with 5 sleeves of capsules. 

For enquires: www.nespresso.com

Delightful Saturday Semi-Buffet Brunch at Casa Lisoba

What a wonderful Saturday if starting a brunch with the best Portuguese Whole Roasted Suckling pig in town! Casa Lisboa is a unique Portuguese restaurant located in Lan Kwai Fong and offers an authentic semi-buffet brunch on every Saturday. With their Executive Chef, Edgar Alves joined the restaurant, he lightened up the traditional Portuguese cuisine and gave a modern presentation. In this semi-buffet brunch, you can definitely taste the dishes from the new menu, but there are still traditional signature one.

You get to have unlimited 23 dishes to choose. At the home-style Portuguese cold appetizers station features Marinated Mussels, pleasantly chewy Classic Octopus Salad with Paprika and Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Pig Ear Terine Alentejo Style. Towards the opposite side, a Bacalhau station offers 4 types of bacalahu-infuesd dishes, including Bacalhau patties, Bacalhau in Creamy sauce served with Toast, Classic codfish cakes and Shredded Bacalhau Mixed with Potato and Egg. Your taste buds will be overwhelmed cause each bite is full of shredded Bacalhau. Besides, the signature Roasted Suckling Pig is highly recommended to try, as 3-4 weeks old suckling pig is selected, marinated for a day base on an age-old recipe originated from the region of Bairrada and roasted for 3 hours until the skin is crispy. 

Don’t get lost at the buffet station. There’re 2 complimentary dishes, the authentic Sautéed Clams with Garlic, Lemon and Coriander and the traditional Green Cabbage Soup with Chouriço are waiting on your table. Further, pick 1 out of the 6 options of the main course. The traditional Portuguese Seafood Rice and Aletejana Style Pork Loin and Clams with Potato and Coriander are our favourites. The pork is so tender and both dishes will bring you to seafood heaven. Finally, how can you finish your delightful brunch without having their Pears in Port Wine and Serradura and Chocolate Mousse Casa Lisboa Style. 

Casa Lisboa Saturday Semi-Buffet Brunch:

Every Saturday (from 12noon to 3pm)

Price: $380/adult ; $190/child (aged 4-12)
-Add $100 for 2 hours of free-flow Sangria and Vinho Verde
-Add $150 for 2 hours of free-flow Sangria, Sparking Wine, Vinho Verde, House Wines, Bellini, SuperBock (Portugese Beer) & Freshly Squeezed Juices. 

Enquiries: http://www.casalisboa.com.hk
Address: 8/F. LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong.
Tel: +852 2905 1168

Inspiring Creativity in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Sapporo - re-energise your creative process

Hong Kong: MakerHive, Kennedy Town: 24th - 28th September 2015

Tokyo: Makers’ Base: 19th - 23rd October 2015

Sapporo: 26th October - 6th November 2015

Hong Kong: MakerHive, Kennedy Town: November 11th - 15th 2015

Esin announces the next in a series of workshops for Hong Kong and Japan aimed at inspiring creativity and idea innovation. Open to anyone who wishes to re-energise their creative process or investigate their creative potential, Esin's workshops are coming to Hong Kong for the first time and will make an exciting addition to the creative environment in the region, providing participants with a unique opportunity to develop ideas and fresh approaches, as well as supporting creative entrepreneurs and promoting the creative economy. Esin workshops also attract participants from organisations looking to develop creativity within the business environment. The workshops are practical, work-based, and effectively bridge the gap between arts, education, creativity and business. Esin is led by world-class creative professionals, including many of the original founders of tomato, the London-based Arts and Design collective, and is produced by Eat Creative, the creative branding agency with offices in Tokyo, Zurich and Hong Kong. The next series of workshops will be held first in Hong Kong, hosted by MakerHive in Kennedy Town from September 24th to 28th, then in Tokyo from October 19th to 23rd and on to Sapporo in Hokkaido for two consecutive workshops running from October 26th through to November 6th before returning to Hong Kong on November 11th for five days.

For enquiries:

http://projectesin.com/en/ | https://twitter.com/projectesin | https://www.facebook.com/projectesin

The Veuve Clicquot Sunset Lounge at The Ritz Carlton

Inspired by a fresh new vision for modern drinking, Veuve Clicquot collaborated with professional mixologists, sharing their renowned savoir faire of blending, to create a totally new wine for a new time. Veuve Clicquot Cellar Master, Dominique Demarville, explains that "Sugar in champagne is like spices in a receipe, used correctly it can bring our specific aromas and enhance flavours and tastes." Hence, The House of Veuve Clicquot introduces the first champagne made purely for mixology and a huge hit with the party crowd in London, Paris, Sao Paolo and St Barth and Veue Clicquot RICH is avilable only in selected cities worldwide. Hong Kong is the first hot spot in Asia to welcome Veuve Clicquot RICH. Ozone at the Ritz Carlton is one of the exclusive venue for you to enjoy your private Cabana packages. 

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, the highest hotel in the world, to present the Verve Clicquot Sunset Lounge. Located 490 meters above sea level on 118/F, the rooftop of the hotel, the Veuve Clucquot Sunset Lounge is the newest and the best place in the city for a sunset cocktail up in the clouds. A well -kept secret, the Verve Clicquot Sunset lounge is an open-air sanctuary in the sky fanned by a refreshing breeze and decked with private cabanas perfectly placed to catch spectacular views of the sunset over Hong Kong. 

Private Cabana Packages are priced at HK$1,650 and included a bottle of Veuve Clicquot RICH with a choice of 2 of the following ingredients: Cucumber, Graphefruit Peel, Bell Peppers or Tea. You are invited to customize your own cocktails by simply selecting an ingredient, adding ice and topping off with Verve Clicquot RICH.  

Combined with a selection of surprising ingredients to provide the freedom of creating a completely unique cocktail. Along with a team of expert mixologists, Veuve Clicquot has carefully selected ingredients which add the most unique twist. These ingredients are divide into three categories and include four specially-selected ingredients for Hong Kong: Fruity: Grapefruit Peel, Fresh: Cucumber or Peppers, Refined: Earl Grey Tea. 

The accompanying Tapas Package at HK$488 includes a mouthwatering selection of 5 tapas items. Cold Tapas, "Montaditos - Toasted Spanish crystal bread with Tomato, Smoked Anchovy, Chorizo lberico and Jomon Iberico. Cones and Sushi. 

The Veuve Clicquot Sunset Lounge is located at Ozone, 118/F, The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong.

Address: International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Opening hours are: 5pm to 11pm daily, Reservations are required.

Enquires: (852) 2263 2270 or restaurantreservation@ritzcarlton.com

Weekends are for mimosas and brunch at Grand Central Bar and Grill

A two-storey American style bar and grill restaurant located in the Civic Square of Elements, Grand Central Bar and Grill is under Eclipse Hospitality Group and always a great destination for a group of friends hanging out and sports fans. The interior decoration gives an industrial and rustic chic environment features wooden ceiling and flooring, painted bricks and concrete screed wall, black raw steel structure, custom light fixtures with tungsten light bulb and an eye-catching wall mounted display with giant antique sprockets at the staircase.

Grand Central offers a wide range of popular Eastern American style cuisine. Besides their signature dishes, such as the Gourmet Burgers, Brunch Skillets with Angus Strip Loin Steak and Oyster platter. Currently, their new Executive chef Adrian Kavanagh has joined Eclipse Hospitality Group after coming for the launching Jamie’s Italian franchise in Hong Kong. Chef Adrian revamped Grand Central’s popular brunch menu with family-oriented concept, by adding a kid’s menu, more salad selections like Watermelon & Feta Salad, a delight of American food - Ruben Rye Sandwich and Weekend Roasted Beef and Pork. 

“When researching ways to build upon the success of our Weekend Brunch, the team and I conceptualized the idea of making the menu even more sharing & family friendly by catering to our weekend guests,” says Adrian Kavanagh. “Since on weekends our guests are predominantly local families where sharing is a firm family favorite, the newly revamped menu is ideal for this,” adds Heather Hughes who joined Grand Central recently as GM.

The new brunch menu is available every weekend from 11am-3pm. Don’t miss the Crispy Brie Wrappers with Cranberry Sauce and East Coast Lobster and Smoked Salmon Sandwich, as well as the rich and creamy Lobster, Shrimp and Saffron Linguine from their A La Carte menu together with their great variety of craft beers and cocktails.

Enquiries: http://www.grandcentralhk.com
Address: Shop R001, Roof Level, Civic Square, Elements, 1 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong.
Tel: +852 2736 4888