BAR AWARDS | HOME & LIVING | BACK TO SCHOOL
hongkongliving.com
AUGUST 2020
Meet the winners of the Hong Kong Living Bar Awards
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CONTENT S — 0 8 / 2 0
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COVER STORY
LEGENDS OF THE INDUSTRY
Hong Kong Living’s first-ever Bar Awards, plus exclusive chats with HK’s nightlife titans
4 Contributors Meet our team
6 Snapped Life on Hong Kong Island
8 THE PLANNER 10 things to do at home during Covid-19
10 HK education
12 News
33 Designing Hong Kong
The lowdown on local news
How you can become a smoky vessel spotter
30 Dining NEWS Eat well, stay safe and support your local businesses
32 Home and Living
35 Pets & gardening Monthly news on homely matters
36 Backpage
Your summer home decorating guide, made easy
Nury Vittachi lightens the mood
How Baker & Blooms invigorating education program taps into creative mindsets, for the fullest potential
11 Must haves
33 30
With school in September around the corner, it’s time to start packing
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“Alcohol may be man’s worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy.” ~ Frank Sinatra
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EDITOR’S LETTER We are just over the halfway mark of the year and here we are again, a third wave. Whether we like it or not, things are out of control, but once we accept it, this is where we can grow the most and where true happiness starts to blossom. And that is what this issue embodies. This month we shot our most impressive cover story to date at the iconic Dragon-i with some of the biggest movers and shakers of the bar industry, who came together just as the latest round of F&B restrictions kicked in. A huge thank you to our cover stars Gilbert Yeung, Jonathan Zeman, Noel Smyth, Lorenzo Antinori and some of the city’s newest nightlife entrepreneurs for taking the time to join us with all smiles - knowing that their evening service (and for some their entire venue) would close for business the very next day. This powerful and inspiring shoot comes off the back of our first-ever Hong Kong Living Bar Awards (page 16) and this is where we thank you, Hong Kong, for your 14,000plus votes to celebrate those who make our nightlife and hospitality community worldclass. It will serve as a huge moral boost for those doing it tough. We implore you to show your support for these fine establishments once life gets back to some sort of normalcy. At Hong Kong Living, we will be sticking to our brand ethos of spreading joy to our home city in the form of good news, positive points to focus on.
Editorial Editor-in-chief Nicole Slater, nicole@hongkongliving.com Editor Melanie Cox, melanie@hongkongliving.com Senior Staff Writer Charmaine Ng, charmaineng@hongkongliving.com Editorial Director Gemma Shaw, gemma@hongkongliving.comm Digital Editor Apple Lee, apple@hongkongliving.com
Design Graphic Designer Alvin Cheng, alvin@hongkongliving.com Vicky Lam, vicky@hongkongliving.com
Sales & Marketing Don’t be shy and let us accompany you by grabbing a copy of our magazine as you go about your day. We have 10 things to do at home during Covid-19 (page 8) to get your work from home ball rolling. I stand by my last editor’s letter: let’s make this concept of positivity and community contagious year round.
Director of Content Hilda Chan, hilda@hongkongliving.com Head of Digital Content Isamonia Chui, isamonia@hongkongliving.com Partnership Manager Chrissie Ip, chrissie@hongkongliving.com Elaine Li, elaine@hongkongliving.com
Publisher Matt Eaton, matt@hongkongliving.com
Founding Director Tom Hilditch, tom@hongkongliving.com
Things we love Contact us Admin: 3568 3722 | Editorial: 2776 2773 | Advertising: 2776 2772 Published by Hong Kong Living Ltd, L1 Kai Wong Commercial Building, 222 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong Printer Apex Print Limited, 11-13 Dai Kwai Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, Tai Po, Hong Kong
hongkongliving.com
With limited bar services, some of us may get a little thirsty when the evening hits. The team at Campari have cleverly put together an all-inclusive Negroni Making Kit so you can recreate the ultimate aperitivo treat in the comfort of your own home. $825. metadesign-group.com
Covid-19 update
TERRAOOAK - slow, sustainable, handcrafted goods It’s time to look inwards to our homes and our retreat spaces this month. TERRAOOAK is an online portal for handcrafted homeware and oneof-a-kind accessories, designed and handmade by textile artist Liz L, using earth-friendly fabrics collected over years of travel. terraooak.com
Due to the ever-changing nature of Hong Kong’s Covid-19 rules and regulations, our content may change from the time we go to print to the time you pick up our magazine. While we try to stay as up-to-date as possible please check with local businesses for operation hours and services available and stay safe.
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@hongkongliving @hongkongliving852
HONG KONG hongkongliving.com Hong Kong Living Magazine is published by Hong Kong Living Ltd. This magazine is published on the understanding that the publishers, advertisers, contributors and their employees are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors and omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication. The publisher, advertisers, contributors and their employees expressly disclaim all and any liability to any person, whether a reader of this publication or not, in respect of any action or omission by this publication. Hong Kong Living Ltd cannot be held responsible for any errors or inaccuracies provided by advertisers or contributors. The views herein are not necessarily shared by the staff or publishers. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any way, part or format without written permission from the publisher.
Photo credit: Graham Uden
talk@hongkongliving.com
Campari’s ‘Negroni DIY Kit’
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CONTRIBUTORS THANK YOU GUYS
Graham Uden
Jonathan Zeman
This month’s cover shot comes courtesy of Hong Kong Living’s photographer in residence Graham Uden. The man needs no introduction. A former war photographer, Uden has shot (photographs that is) gun-toting Khmer Rouge soldiers and spent time in the trenches of Afghanistan dodging bullets from the Taliban.
As CEO of Lan Kwai Fong Group Jonathan Zeman oversees some of the region’s leading restaurant and nightlife hotspots. From Hong Kong to Shanghai, Chengdu and all the way through to projects in Phuket, Zeman tells us what it takes to stay on top.
Gilbert Yeung Dragon-i has gained worldwide recognition as the pinnacle of hedonistic partying. As the owner of Hong Kong’s most iconic nightclub, Gilbert Yeung has been an integral part of Hong Kong’s nightlife scene. This month we get a rare glimpse inside the life of the owner of popular night spots Cassio and Tazmanian Ballroom and son of Albert Yeung, chairman of the famed Emperor Group.
Lorenzo Antinori As the beverage ambassador for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in Asia, Lorenzo Antinori is certainly making his mark on Hong Kong. We catch up with the Four Seasons beverage manager to find out what makes him tick.
Lam Chun-Wai Lam is an industry veteran who started working in restaurants at the tender age of 19. The founder of 65 Peel tells us how his trendy, hole-in-the-wall bar is doing its best to champion Hong Kong craft beer brands - with a locallyinspired food menu to boot.
Renée Boey Renée is the founder of Baker & Bloom, an innovative learning center that offers classes in reading, writing and public speaking. This month we caught up with Boey to learn about Baker & Bloom’s unique style of cultivating children’s creativity and intellectual curiosity.
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Noel Smyth A pioneer of Irish bar culture in Hong Kong, Noel Smyth first opened Delaneys in 1994. With venues in Cyberport, Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui, we sat down to chat with Noel about his rise to be a heavyweight player in Hong Kong’s vibrant hospitality industry.
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PEOPLE
Snapped this month
Yverest Launch Party at Tazmanian Ballroom
Get REDRESSED Pop-up shop 6 | hongkongliving.com
SNAPPED
Lights Out One Year Anniversary
Behind the scenes of our August covershoot at Dragon-i hongkongliving.com | 7
PLANNER
10 creative things to do at home With Covid-19 restrictions back in place, here’s a few tips on how to while away the hours, without going stir crazy
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Cook? Yes, cook Nothing says home-sweet-home better than a freshly cooked meal. Give the delivery guy a day off and get busy in the kitchen - if you have one. Otherwise just call Deliveroo, put it on a plate and pretend you cooked it.
Party, virtually Virtual parties with friends and family may go down as the hottest social activity of 2020. Grab some wine and go online. Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, Facebook Rooms… options aplenty.
Workout If you haven’t joined a YouTube yoga class in 2020, what are you waiting for? There’s literally tens of thousands of free instructional videos online. Otherwise go pro and sign up with a real fitness instructor.
Learn a language Social distancing is the perfect time to pick up a new language, even if it’s just an excuse to have a conversation with a real person.
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Board games Gather your family or friends (no more than four) and let the competition begin. Hong Kong Monopoly will even allow you to finally buy that house on The Peak you’ve always wanted. Probably best to avoid polka dot in the socially-distanced era.
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More TV If you haven’t already hoovered up every single Netflix, Apple TV and Amazon series, it seems you’re still in luck. Grab some mooncakes and settle in.
Redecorate, again Already washed your shoes, rearranged your closet, bleached your white shirts? Why not go big and redecorate your entire house. Get creative while you can.
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WHAT’S ON Find your zen If this Covid-19 business is getting a bit too much, find your happy place. Take some time out to heal your mind and soul through meditation. Breathe in, breathe out.
VIRTUAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT AUGUST Holistic Coaching and Yoga
Join Cristina McLauchlan, founder of The Vibe Tribe, for a series of virtual workouts and online coaching courses to build a stronger foundation, body and mind that can be done in the comfort of your home. linktr.ee/TheVibeTribe
THROUGHOUT AUGUST Sweat with us, digitally
Lululemon goes digital. Dive into the sweat life and stay active with a series of online workouts from some of the city’s top wellness ambassadors. lululemon.com.hk/en-hk
THROUGHOUT AUGUST Balance Health
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Salacious stories With attention spans waning, short stories are all the rage and Kitchen Tiles from Blacksmith Books is worth the investment. Take your pick from 50 real life stories of gamblers, drinkers, masseuses and millionaires from the mean streets of a Sheung Wan bygone era.
Marie Kondo your life If it doesn’t spark joy, it goes in the bin. From clothes to paperwork, there’s no better time to reorganise.
Hong Kong’s premier natural health clinic goes online with a series of alternative and conventional treatments that include meditation, reiki to Qigong. balancehealth.com.hk/
AUG 14
Speed date If online dating wasn’t enough, now we’ve got a video version - it was bound to happen, right? No filter, no date. 8-9pm. Free. getfilteroff.com
SEP 8
Virtual banking Will traditional banking be no more? Learning more about the future of your money at this online event. 11.30-2.00pm. redefininghk.scmp.com
OCT
What’s the new normal? Find out how Covid-19 has impacted the work and if virtual businesses are the future. 11.302.00pm. redefininghk.scmp.com
UNTIL DEC 31 Virtual challenge
Test your abilities on a 7K or 15K virtual race around Shek O. Document your progress on Runner Reg’s app Strava, for a chance to get onto the leaderboard and earn a personally engraved Victorinox Finisher Medal. runnerreg.com
Got an event? We can publish the details. Email editorial@hongkongliving.com hongkongliving.com | 9
HK EDUCATOR
Bloom to your fullest potential Charmaine Ng speaks to Renée Boey, founder of Baker & Bloom, an innovative learning centre offering classes in reading, writing and public speaking for children Baker & Bloom is a K-12 education centre that cultivates creative literacy and entrepreneurial mindsets in kids. Unlike other tutorial centres that cater to standardised tests, its mission and curriculum focus on a child’s long-term success beyond the classroom. Founder and educational director Renée Boey is no stranger to the schools industry. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Education and has worked as a full-time IB English and Humanities teacher whilst organising poetry, debating, creative writing, social entrepreneurship workshops for other educators on the side. Growing up in a boarding school in New Hampshire, Boey was immersed in an environment that gave her the freedom to discover her interests but also the guidance to pursue them in a deep and rigorous way. This inspired her to start Baker & Bloom. “I started the organisation to help Hong Kong students unleash their creativity despite the stress and stifling burden of exams,” she says. There are many centres that focus solely on preparing students to perform on exams and others that focus on play and curiosity. Boey’s aim with Baker & Bloom is to bring
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both of these aspects together. Beyond achievement on tests, she hopes to help kids to see the beauty of a subject, develop a critical mind and have fun making things they choose to, whether it’s a book or a robot. “When students come to class at Baker & Bloom, they tell us how much they enjoy learning here and how it’s different from other places because they have choice or because they find it personally interesting,” says the educational director. “We often hear from parents how their children have become inspired to write more or create their own projects afterwards.”
Computers have rigour; humans have creativity. Without the ability to think creatively, students cannot innovate, adapt to change, or develop new mindsets. This is the mindset that Baker & Bloom follows. “A student’s academic record and grades don’t tell us much about them as individuals, their ability to solve a problem, their empathy for others,” says Boey. Currently, she is currently working with a team of educators in preparation for the opening of a new primary school in 2021. Named Bloom Academy, it will offer a new model of schooling with a mission to cultivate compassionate creators and social innovators. “We want to take our experience offering high-quality teaching and combine it with a progressive pedagogy that promotes student agency. It may be the first of its kind in our city, but I believe lots of people here are ready for new ways to prepare their children for the future.” Learn more about the innovative education services offered at Baker & Bloom by visiting bakerandbloom.com
MUST HAVES
Smooth gel ink ballpoint pen $8 each from Muji muji.com.hk
Printed charge it charger $169 from Typo cottonon.com
Quilted personal planner $590 from Kikki.k kikki-k.com
SCHOOL’S IN
Bento lunchbox $150 from Bamboa bamboahome.com
Back to school essentials by Nicole Slater
Mini metal water bottle Heart leather kids bucket bag $1,160 from Stella Mccartney Kids lanecrawford.com.hk
$119 from Typo cottonon.com
Stationery set $59 from Depesche Ylvi & The Minimoomis petit-bazaar.com
Star 5 colour highlighter pen $40 from Bookazine bookazine.com.hk
Desk set $119 from Typo cottonon.com
Premium bag green $423 from Mi-Pac en.smallable.com
Lazy jungle 13” laptop sleeve $423 from Wouf en.smallable.com
“I Am Very Busy” notebook $117 from ban.do en.smallable.com
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NEWS
CLOCKENFLAP CANCELLED FOR A SECOND YEAR Hong Kong’s biggest music festival Clockenflap has officially been cancelled, again. Festival organiser Magnetic Asia cited the Covid-19 pandemic and international travel restrictions as the reasons for the decision. “It’s impossible to deliver the depth and breadth of Clockenflap festival experience we strive for each year,”
the organiser said in an official statement. This marks the second year that the music festival has been cancelled. Last year it did not go ahead due to the unrest in Hong Kong. Luckily, the dates for next year’s event have already been confirmed for November 26-28. clockenflap.com
COOKIE SMILES LAUNCHES THE ‘LOVE 4 MANDARIN ORIENTAL NAMED LUKE’ CAMPAIGN BEST HOTEL IN HONG KONG
Cookie Smiles, a social enterprise launched by Jo Soo-Tang and Agnes Chin, has launched the ‘Love 4 Luke’ campaign to support 12-year-old leukaemia patient Luke Inkin. Inkin is currently battling childhood leukaemia for the second time after a relapse. The nature of his diagnosis has changed from having cancer in only his bone marrow, to a more rare situation where the disease is in both his bone marrow and central nervous system. Cookie Smiles is now selling Pink Confetti Snaps for $200 per pack to raise funds for the Inkins’ ongoing medical costs, support therapy and travel expenses. cookiesmiles.com.hk
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Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong was the only hotel in the city that has made it onto Travel + Leisure’s list of Top 100 Hotels in the World this year. Mandarin Oriental came in at Number 57 on the annual list, tying with Sabi Sand Game Reserve in South Africa. “We are immensely grateful for the support from all our valued guests, especially during this unprecedented period,” said Pierre Barthes, general manager and Area vice president at Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong. mandarinoriental.com
IN YOUR BACKYARD
NEW SCHOOL YEAR PUSHED BACK AS COVID-19 RAGES ON Many of Hong Kong’s international schools and kindergartens are just weeks away from reopening for the 2020/2021 school year. But with the city battling a third wave of the coronavirus, it was announced that the new school year will be delayed. Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said that schools would begin classes no earlier than August 17. Reopening dates will be announced in time, depending on the development of the pandemic.
TAI O PREPARES FOR FLOODS A rescue and evacuation drill was conducted by the Islands District Council and other government departments in Tai O to prepare the village for floods. In the emergency response plan, when the Hong Kong Observatory forecasts high sea levels in Tai O, an alert will be sent to government agencies and nearby resident and fishing
villages through text messages. An emergency coordination centre will then be set up at the Tai Po Committee Office to plan evacuation, rescue and emergency relief efforts for the affected areas. Resident and fishing representatives will also help relay information to residents to take shelter in safe locations. news.gov.hk
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NEWS
LOHAS MALL SET TO OPEN
INTERNATIONAL BRANDS SAY GOODBYE TO HONG KONG
A new shopping centre in Lohas Park is set to open its first stores this August. The 480,000 square-foot mall will feature a supermarket, restaurants, hair salons, dentist offices, medical clinics, homeware shops, a cinema, an indoor ice rink with several brands making their debut in Hong Kong. All stores are expected to open at the end of the year.
Ethical beauty brand Lush and clothing retailer Topshop are the latest to fall victim to increased financial pressures and tourism slump due to the coronavirus pandemic. Topshop will close it’s 14,000 square feet flagship store on Queen’s Road Central and bid farewell to Hong Kong when its lease expires in October. Lush, known for its fragrant handmade soaps and bath bombs, has
closed its five-storey store on Lyndhurst Terrace but it’s other Hong Kong based locations remain open. The drop in tourist numbers in recent months has led to a great impact on retailers in Hong Kong. Gap has also announced it will close five of its eight shops in the city, while Victoria’s Secret abruptly closed its Causeway Bay flagship store in June.
FLOODING IN SOUTHERN CHINA Flooding from monsoon rain occurs almost every year across parts of China, but the country is now facing some of its worst floods in more than a decade. Heavy rain since the beginning of the month has forced evacuations of about 1.8 million people in 24 provinces, mainly in s Southern China. World Vision Hong Kong is closely monitoring the situation in Southern China and will provide assistance to people in the affected areas. If members of the public would like to make donations to people affected by the floods, call the World Vision hotline at (852) 2394 2394
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COVER STORY
Here’s Cheers After more than 14,000 votes, we’ve got the definitive list of Hong Kong’s top nightlife venues and celebrate those who make Hong Kong’s nightlife world-class. By Melanie Cox 16 | hongkongliving.com
BAR AWARDS
Hong Kong Living is proud to host the firstever Bar Awards celebrating the city’s most outstanding venues and the extraordinary talent that brings them to life night after night. The Readers’ Choice Award is our way to offer a genuine interaction for our readers to acknowledge their favourite establishments throughout the year. Now, raise your glass to the spaces and faces that make Hong Kong one of the best places to bend the elbow on the planet.
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COVER STORY INDUSTRY LEGENDS Gilbert Yeung
Founder Dragon-i, Tazmania Ballroom, Cassio The name Gilbert Yeung is synonymous with Hong Kong’s bar industry. The legendary founder of Dragon-i, Tazmania Ballroom and Cassio has come a long way since his early days of Hong Kong’s colourful nightlife scene. What began with visits to Disco Disco, Hollywood East and Club 97 in his 20’s blossomed into a business empire that includes some of the city’s favourite haunts. For Yeung, there is no better place to set up shop in the nightlife industry than Hong Kong. “The mentality, vibrancy and diversity of people in Hong Kong, mixed in with people from overseas, make Hong Kong’s nightlife scene world class,” he says. After some 17 years of operation, his guest list is a who’s who of celebrities that now includes the likes of Michael Jordan, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, to name a few. But it’s more than just a guest list. Yeung also attributes his success to a group of mentors that have helped him forge a reputation for quality hospitality. “Over the years I have learned so much
from a lot of seniors in this industry – DJs, bartenders, promoters, club managers. Allan Zeman, Nichole Garnaut and Pino Piano are my mentors and have taught me so much,” Yeung says. What Yeung wants to take out from his bars is simple – he only wants to see people enjoying themselves. “Seeing people smile and having fun every
night is my proudest moment,” he says. When asked about his favourite memory as the founder of Dragon-i, Tazmania Ballroom and Cassio. As for the future for the nightlife scene in Hong Kong, Yeung reveals he doesn’t know what will happen, especially after the global pandemic – but whatever the challenge is, he is ready to take on. dragon-i.com.hk
Throughout his highly accomplished career, the LKF heavyweight names one of his professional highlights as the opening of California Tower, the 27-storey flagship building of Lan Kwai Fong, where the group joined forces with Gucci for a pre-opening event that spanned across multiple levels of the tower and included a sit-down dinner, an art exhibition and a party in a pop-up club. Another major achievement for Zeman was the conceptualisation and opening of C Club.
The night club was one of the first venues in Hong Kong to have a well-known international resident DJ and fly in top international guest DJs every few months. With the Group’s popular Japanese restaurant Kyoto Joe recently relocated to California Tower, the opening of new modern Italian restaurant Aria and new bars and nightclubs under the works at the building, there is no slowing down for the nightlife behemoth. lkfgroup.com
Jonathan Zeman CEO Lan Kwai Fong Group
Jonathan Zeman helped to usher LKF Group into a new era. As the largest landlord in the Central nightlife area, the group is also a hybrid entertainment and hospitality brand that oversees property development and investments, F&B offerings, media and marketing platforms. With a major redevelopment of its key California Tower now in full swing, Zeman describes Hong Kong’s nightlife as unlike anywhere else in the world. “Hong Kong is one of the most international cities in the world. We have people who work hard and play hard and lots of people who can afford the finer things in life. “But when you go to parties, there is often a less pretentious atmosphere than you’d find in other big cities like London or New York,” Zeman says. Standing out in the city’s uber competitive entertainment landscape is no easy feat and Zeman sets his standards high. “Do it better than anyone else. Don’t worry about the expense. The customers and the money will follow if you’ve created something amazing.”
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BAR AWARDS BAR OF THE YEAR
The Diplomat As one of the most highly-anticipated bars to open in 2020, The Diplomat is tucked away at lifestyle and dining hub H Code. Known for “reinventing the classics” with its innovative twist on classic cocktails, this is the first concept by award-winning mixologist John Nugent, who led the drinks programme at Lily & Bloom. The Diplomat strikes the perfect balance as an industry favourite tipple bar and for cocktail aficionados alike. thediplomat.hk
The Old Man The Old Man needs no introduction. A stylish, intimate, Ernest Hemingway–inspired bar tucked away in Soho, with a reputable scholarly devotion to liqueurs paired with a steely focus on service has led them to a series of accolades under their belt since the opening in 2017 by Agung Prabowo, Roman Ghale and James Tamang in the summer of 2017. It is no wonder our readers chose The Old Man as their favourite bar of the year.
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COVER STORY BARTENDER OF THE YEAR Lorenzo Antinori
Beverage Manager & Beverage Ambassador APAC Four Seasons As beverage manager at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong and beverage ambassador for the hotel brand’s Asia Pacific operation, Antinori attributes much of his success to a good eye for opportunity and an ethos to stay curious in life. Humble beginnings instilled in him a hard working mentality that has seen him craft his skills in cities around the world. “When I was working in a small cafe in Rome, my home town, I would work for eight hours a day serving espressos and cappuccino,” he tells Hong Kong Living. But it was his parents that really allowed him to see what’s important. “My parents are my mentors,” he says. “They’ve taught me important values and have given me the freewill to choose what is best for myself. I am very grateful to be their son.” After making his mark on Asia’s rapidly evolving cocktail scene, Antinori found himself in Hong Kong where he caught the eye of industry veterans and leading mixologists alike. He left his role as head bartender at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, and shifted to Hong Kong and where he continues to make his mark. But it was not an easy task getting himself out of Europe and over to Asia. Working hard is an essential component in becoming successful, but working hard every single day takes dedication and a strong mentality to see the big picture. “Moving abroad and out of my comfort zone at the age of 20 was one of my biggest challenges,” he says. “Being far away from family and childhood friends was the toughest part, but these
experiences have shaped my character and helped me to be better as a person and a professional.” For most, arriving in a foreign country and a new continent would be enough to get the nerves going. However, Antinori’s passion to rise up and take on any challenge to overcome tough times proved worthy. He meticulously reshaped the cocktail program in Seoul and as a result, the hotel’s signature bar Charles H. saw a meteoric rise in success, ranking on
Asia’s 50 Best Bar list in its very first year. He’s now quickly taking Caprice Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong down the same route. Just two years after he arrived, Caprice Bar made its debut in Asia’s Top 50 Bars list this year. At the core of Antinori’s foundation, he attributes challenges and getting out of the comfort zones to grow. It seems Antinori’s rise to the top of the global hospitality ladder is only just the beginning. fourseasons.com
Jay Khan
Co-Founder & Beverage Director COA Bar veteran Jay Khan has some serious pedigree behind him. Mexican bar COA opened in 2017 as part of Khan’s mission to bring agave spirits to the forefront of Hong Kong’s cocktail scene, boasting an agave menu of 41 pages alongside a cocktail list inspired by the flavours of Mexico using the finest seasonal ingredients. We toast Khan as our Bartender of the Year thanks to earning heavyweight titles such as third place in Asia’s 50 best bars 2020. coa.com.hk
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BAR AWARDS BEST HOTEL BAR Darkside
Rosewood Hong Kong Our readers have a taste for the finer things in life with the crowning glory of the glitzy Rosewood Hong Kong, Darkside taking top picks for Best Hotel Bar. Darkside offers one of the best bar experiences in town, complete with sultry live jazz performances and glimpses of the stunning Victoria Harbour. The name of the game here is dark, rare aged spirits. The bar stocks vintage cognac aged from oak barrels and a selection of rum, whisky and calvados that span back to the early 19th century. rosewoodhotels.com
Caprice
Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong Perhaps the Four Seasons best kept secret, thanks to its three Michelin-starred restaurant of the same name. From old-school classics to cutting-edge mixology, Caprice Bar at Four Seasons Hong Kong is a stylish and discreet gathering spot. Our pick for Best Hotel Bar comes just in time for its new seasonal cocktail menu - a celebration of flavors from across the globe that includes the likes of the rhubarb, grapefruit soda and fig leaf-inspired cocktails. These tasty delights sit alongside its classic menu like the Caprice Martini and the wonderfully delicious Truffle Negroni. Backed by an extensive wine list served alongside freshly imported French cheeses, we raise a very delicious goblet to this Hong Kong classic. As the sun sets over Victoria Harbour, there’s nowhere better to enjoy the glittering lights of Hong Kong’s harbour while knocking back an inspired cocktail to match. fourseasons.com
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COVER STORY NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR Club Rangoon Club Rangoon is the debut launch for owner Nelson Htoo. A Burmese-inspired restaurant helmed by chef Karisa Cheque and renowned mixologist Jack Byrne, Club Rangoon may have opened its doors just weeks ago, but is already making headlines across the city’s ubercompetitive eatery scene. Located on Aberdeen Street in the heart of Central, Htoo believes the best way to experience a country is through its food and has vowed to serve up a gastronomic journey into the heart of Myanmar. “A lot of people don’t know about Burmese cuisine, it’s not easily accessible internationally. I want to be the one to bring it to Hong Kong,” he says. “So far it’s been amazing, there’s been a lot of education about the menu and about Burmese cuisine. We want people to experience the history, culture and our own personal memories of Myanmar.” Born in Yangon, but having lived in Singapore before relocating to Hong Kong three years ago, Htoo is a newcomer to the hospitality industry. After completing a masters in business management, he made a jump switch and dived head first into a new entrepreneurial food venture.
“I’m a newcomer to the hospitality industry. My dad would always tell me to learn something new every day. This was something I applied to the process of opening Club Rangoon.” The launch has been a personal journey for Htoo, reflected in the venue’s carefully curated interior design. “We have family photographs of my mum and grandmother in the restaurant, I wanted it to be a very personal experience.” Opening a new venue during the height of
a pandemic has naturally come with its own set of challenges, but Htoo remains optimistic. “This pandemic has really tested the limits of creativity amongst entrepreneurs, demanding out-of-the-box solutions across all industries. It’s been a moment of reflection too for all. “We’re very grateful to be in a situation now that allows us to open and we are of course remaining vigilant during these times. The best way to learn is by just going out there and doing it.” clubrangoon.com.hk
The Blind Pig Sport is all about the atmosphere, the camaraderie and the beauty of the game itself. And that’s why it’s all about finding the right venue to watch the game. As sibling to popular gastropub The Salted Pig; The Blind Pig is set on Lei King Wan waterfront offering cool, chillout vibes in a speakeasy style, pub setting. As Newcomer of the Year, this bar is certain to become a staple neighbourhood sports pub favourite.
Nelson Htoo
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BAR AWARDS NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEAR
Dragon-i Arguably Hong Kong’s most iconic and longstanding night club, Dragon-i is the place to see and to be seen rubbing elbows with celebrities, models and the glitterati alike. With a discerning door policy that reflects its celebrity-heavy clientele, Dragon-i parties are unparalleled to none other in Hong Kong thanks to some of biggest celebrities on the planet gracing owner Gilbert Yeung’s notorious guest list that include; Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Paris Hilton. Serving up contemporary Asian food throughout the day and a stellar vegan dim-sum menu, it is no wonder Dragon-i takes the lead at the forefront of hospitality across Asia as the ultimate lounge and dining experience. dragon-i.com.hk
Cassio A place where premium nightlife and cuisine come together to experience a taste of Europe in the heart of Asia, Cassio is cast away within the second floor of LKF Tower. Expect polished 1950s French Riviera-inspired supper club vibes upon entering that open out to an impressive
terrace. Despite being the much younger sister space to the notorious Dragon-i and Tasmanian Ballroom, Cassio is the place to go for those who enjoy groovy music and quality food that punctuate all hours of the evening. contemporary with a vintage twist. cassio.com.hk
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COVER STORY BEST ROOFTOP BAR
Sevva A Hong Kong institution in its own right, Sevva is located on the 25th floor of the Prince’s Building. Founder and creative visionary Bonnae Gokson curated the venue with her passion and inimitable style, infusing it with a soul that is unique in Hong Kong. The restaurant’s 360-degree wrap around terrace offers panoramic views of Victoria Harbour and a front row seat to the city’s many firework displays, so it’s no surprise Sevva won Best Rooftop Bar. While the view may take first place, Sevva’s seasonal cocktail menu will keep you coming back. sevva.hk
Terrible Baby Terrible Baby is so much more than your standard hotel bar. It has become the go-to destination in Kowloon to catch live music, international DJ’s and to shake up an enticing repertoire of sustainable cocktails playing homage to its vibrant neighbourhood in Jordan. This is the bar to checkout for those who wish to have a refreshing change of scenery from their usual waterholes in the city. With a
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performing space, rooftop garden, and music room on the fourth floor of Eaton Hong Kong, this rooftop bar lives up to its quirky name translated from the French phrase ‘enfant terrible’, an expression used in the world of creative arts to describe a usually young and successful person who is strikingly unorthodox or avant-garde. terriblebaby.com
BAR AWARDS BEST INTERIOR DESIGN
Iron Fairies Straight out of a (literal) storybook, designer Ashley Sutton’s joint venture with Dining Concepts “The Iron Fairies” transports us to a fantastical world. Step out of Hollywood Road and into Iron Fairies for a journey to fantasy land far far away where 10,000 butterflies on thin copper rods swing from the ceiling and thousands of small iron fairies are scattered around the tables. Expect live jazz and swing bands served alongside creative cocktails by mixologist Joseph Boroski and a hearty menu of wholesome burgers and chicken wings, this is truly a place where the magic happens. diningconcepts.com
Madame Fu Most well known for its instagrammable Afternoon Tea in the Pink Room, Madame Fu strikes the perfect balance of East and West dining and lounge experiences set in revamped colonial police station; Tai Kwun. The venue is inspired by fictional character;
Madame Fu, a socialite who opened a grand salon in Shanghai in the 1930s after living in Paris. The food embodies their ethos serving up contemporary Cantonese cuisine and dim sum alongside western desserts. While the interiors pay homage to Hong Kong’s
colonial past and the European Grand Cafés in Paris set across seven unique and artfully designed rooms with a verandah to relax out on meaning, there is something for everyone to savour. madamfu.com.hk
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COVER STORY BEST HIDDEN GEM Whisky & Words Located on Shin Hing Street in Central, Whisky & Words is a cosy and elegant speakeasy hiding a selection of more than 300 whiskies from around the world. The space was conceptualised for people who already know their whisky, as well as people who want to learn about the spirit in a laid-back setting. Besides serving up a thorough menu of whiskies, the speakeasy also offers regular masterclasses led by brand ambassadors, distillery owners and whisky experts. Keep an eye on its social media platforms about the next masterclass or guest bartender shift. As general manager of Whisky & Words, Alex Pun brings a wealth of knowledge about whiskies and the bar scene in Hong Kong. He helps run the speakeasy on a daily (or nightly) basis and has high praise for the city’s nightlife. “Hong Kong is a small but extremely vibrant place,” Pun says. “You have so many options in the same area, be it specialist drinking dens, cocktail bars, beer pong, shisha or clubbing… whatever pleases you. “Everything is in such close proximity so that you never have to travel far from one spot to
Left: Whisky & Words Team - Deven Rajput (Co-Head Bartender), Anmol Gurung (Co-Head Bartender) & Alex Pun (Bar General Manager)
another – something which is always a pain in big cosmopolitans like London, Bangkok and Tokyo.” The small size and geographic advantage of Hong Kong mean that it is easy to run into potential partners-in-crime. “We all have those mates who will turn any peaceful Saturday night into one which you will never forget,” Pun says. For him, the perfect night is an unplanned one. The scene usually starts after a fancy dinner and a few
glasses of wine. “Pop by your local favourite for ‘one drink’ which is probably the biggest white lie of the century, run into a few mates and the night will take its own course. “By the time you’re home, you will have no idea how you made it back, or indeed how you ended up in such a state. But hey, it was certainly a good spontaneous night.” whisky-and-words.com
BEST BEACH BAR
Stockton Perhaps Hong Kong’s worst kept secret winning our Readers Choice Award. Stockton has consistently made the list of Asia’s Best Bars since its inception with award-winning mixologist Suraj Gurung shaping the cocktail program. Stockton is a “secret” whisky bar on Wyndham Street inspired by the halcyon days of late 19th century London. The decor matches a gentleman’s club with hunting trophies on the walls and a menu consisting of over 150 different whiskys. For first-timers; Stockon is most likely to become your new favourite watering hole - but only if you can find it. stockton.com.hk
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
Momentai Momentai Bar & Restaurant is located on the waterfront of Sai Kung offering a sense of escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Enjoy an afternoon overlooking Sai Kung’s waterfront promenade with a cocktail in hand.
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With an array of colourful chairs, a pool table and craft beer collection, it’s the perfect place to unwind after a long day. The restaurant also operates a sister cafe, Joe-San next door. momentai-la.com
BAR AWARDS BEST CONCEPT BAR
Havana It’s fair to say Iuri Martins Volcato is an eternal optimist. As general manager of catering and event management at Lan Kwai Fong’s famous Havana bar, Volcato knows there are positive lessons we can take from the Covid-19 crisis
that has rocked Hong Kong’s nightlife industry. “This is a wake-up call,” he says. “Looking at the positive side of it, service and food have improved, people are working hard and they are working much more carefully.” Winning this year’s Best Concept Bar, Volcato says Havana has managed its way
through the pandemic for one plain and simple reason - an unwavering commitment to customer service. “F&B is all about long-term relationships. If you have done your job in the past, customers will come back and give you the support you deserve.” Volcato’s introduction to the drinks business came in 1993 during a visit to Sitting Duck Bar in Argentina. Within three months of meeting the owners (and with no proper legal documents) he landed the role of weekend manager and has not looked back. He says it was a sense of trust between himself and the owners that sealed the deal and paved the way for a career in hospitality. “Trust is difficult to get and easy to lose if you are not paying attention to what you do,” he says. “But the owners trusted me and that made me who I am today.” A big fan of Las Vegas and Buenos Aires, Volvato understands how trends have changed, especially tastes and the need to create “Instagrammable” moments. It’s one of the big reasons behind its hugely popular drink, The Notorious Che. “It’s a Cuban-smoked cocktail that uses edible bubble technology, Zacapa 23, fresh lemon, orange and a dash of bitters. Beautiful.” havanabar.com.hk
Coconuts Thai Bar & Grill Famous amongst the expat community, Britishborn chef and owner, Jean Paul Gauci has been cooking and creating culinary concepts in Asia for over three decades. Coconuts Thai Bar & Grill is perched above the sandy shores of Deep Water Bay, serving up modern Thai and Asado food (an Argentinian method of slow cooking meat on an open fire). This open-air restaurant’s laid back Ibiza beach club vibe is the go-to for locals to savour a glass of chilled French rosé over the sounds of the ocean, all conveniently accessible within a 30 minute drive from the city. toptables.com.hk
Quinary An experience like none other thanks to Diageo World Class 2015 Hong Kong & Macau Champion Antonio Lai at the helm, the Quinary is the quintessential bar for those who wish to have a “Multisensory experience” as stated in their bar ethos. The bar is more like Lai’s science lab showcasing a rotary evaporator
and equipment used for redistilling and slowcooking unique flavoured spirits. Lai’s daring and creative cocktail program has championed Quinary to be a leader in Asia’s experimental cocktail scene with recent accolades such as an impressive #16 on Asia’s 50 Best Bar in 2020 for the fifth year a row. quinary.hk
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COVER STORY BEST CRAFT BEER 65 Peel
Lam Chun-wai
Local craft beer takes centre stage at 65 Peel with brews from Young Master Ales, Moonzen and Citibrew. Opened in 2016, the bar offers an impressive range of Hong Kong craft beer, featuring 12 on tap and more than 50 bottles on the menu. “Hong Kong craft beer rivals those from international microbreweries in many instances, but not everyone is as familiar with the local offerings. I wanted to open a bar to introduce Hong Kong craft beer to more people,” said Lam Chun-wai, the founder of 65 Peel. Lam is an industry veteran who started working in restaurants when he was 19. He pivoted his career towards an interest in bars when he discovered his love for local craft beer. “Hong Kong craft beer often showcases playful, locally-inspired flavours that many people are familiar with, such salted lime goose, lemongrass, sugarcane. As a born and raised Hongkonger, these flavours really appeal to me,” said Lam. Coming from a culinary background, the bar owner has swapped out the typical pub grub in favour of fusion Chinese dishes. A highlight from the food menu includes cha siu faan, a staple Hong Kong meal reinvented with Spanish Iberico pork. If you pronounce the Chinese moniker of the bar, it’s similar to the F-word in local dialect or an expression that means the bar is really cool. “Everything we do is to create a fun and casual environment. Many Hongkongers have a very busy lifestyle. Here is a space where people can come in, loosen up and have a good time,” said Lam.
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Second Draft Second Draft is Tai Hang’s neighbourhood gastropub offering East-West fusion flavours originally curated by Chef May Chow, alongside an impressive list of innovative craft beers. As the brainchild behind TAP and
Young Master Ales, you can expect nothing but a great community vibe to experience the tastes of Hong Kong in a cool setting thanks to interiors resembling old Hong Kong and the ferry pier.
BAR AWARDS BEST PUB traditions, mixed with a dash of a millennial mindset has helped steer Delaney’s through troubled waters. “There have been many challenges and no doubt many more to come,” Smyth says. “Be it red tape on construction, banking, licensing issues, staffing problems and of course the last 12 months in Hong Kong... it’s never all that bad. “There is light ahead of the tunnel, it’s just hard to see sometimes. But you have the power to change what may look like a disaster into something more manageable.” As this year’s Readers Choice winner of Best Bar Concept, the accolade is icing on the cake and confirms that its commitment to customer service has paid off handsomely. “Providing an experience every time doesn’t necessarily involve reinventing the wheel every time but ‘making the effort’ and those little small touches go really far,” Smyth says. delaneys.com.hk
Delaney’s The Irish Pub Irish pubs have long been a staple of Hong Kong’s hospitality sector and publican Noel Smyth has been at the centre of it all. As managing director of Delaney’s, Smyth is the man behind the bar which essentially introduced Irish bar culture to Hong Kong. It was of course Delaney’s which opened the first Irish pub in Hong Kong back in 1994 and since then has continued to deliver an authentic Irish experience. With venues located in Cyberport, Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui, the bars have become favourites for local foodies and lovers of whisky and damn good beers.
As for Smyth, it seems he was always destined for a career in hospitality. His dad was a career hotel man and a legend in the industry back in Ireland. Following in his footsteps was the natural thing to do. “He walked so tall and was respected by everyone. I really looked up to him from an early age and while the thoughts of saving a woman from a burning building or flying a plane was cool, the hospitality industry just screamed out to me,” he told Hong Kong Living. Running a pub for some 25 years in a city that devours new venues in a heartbeat is no easy feat. But a healthy mix of old school Irish
The Globe Hong Kong original gastropub is a definite crowd pleaser and a neighbourhood favourite. Taking the Best Pub award with its great service, value for buck and perhaps serving the best pie in Hong Kong. The Globe is Hong Kong’s response to the many gastropubs in London with a warming environment and wholesome pub grub menu alongside a wide rotating selection of ales and lagers from around the world meaning there is always something new to pick. Tucked away on Graham Street, this pub is the place to go for British fair since its opening over 15 years ago that attracts locals and expats from all over around the world. theglobe.com.hk
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DINING NEWS
Dining News — SUMMER COCKTAILS — cold cuts, cheese and snacks. Don’t miss the restaurant’s new tropical flavours, which includes Longan Potion, made with longan-infused Absolut Vodka and fresh lime juice; and Manzana Acida, a concoction of Lola & Vera, Quenz Hierbas, Estrella Cordial finished off with apple syrup. UG/F and 1/F, C Wisdom Centre, 35-37 Hollywood Road, Central. rubia.hk
Red Sugar Travel back in time with Red Sugar’s new cocktail menu ‘Our Little Time’, which showcases a collection of concoctions inspired by the post-war era of Hong Kong. Kerry Hotel’s popular rooftop bar has launched 11 new cocktails, all presenting key elements from the 60s to 80s. The terrace bar, overlooking the Victoria Harbour, has also just launched a new Sundown Sessions available every Saturday and Sunday for two hours of freeflow bevvies and tapas. Level 7, Kerry Hotel, 38 Hung Luen Road, Hung Hom. shangri-la.com
Zuma This summer, Zuma is launching its first-ever bottled highball in collaboration with Japanese distillery Nikka and artisanal local craft mixers brand Carbonation. The limited-edition bottled Zuma Yuzu Highball is a refreshing and fizzy cocktail with a pronounced flavour of Japanese yuzu, rounded out with a kick of Nikka Coffey
Grain Whisky and green apple. Meanwhile, the modern izakaya is also offering two new cocktails that combine Japanese flavours with the unique characters of Casamigos tequila. Named Bajiru Smash and Shapu, the new drinks will be served with a selection of tempura curated by Asia’s corporate executive chef Oscar Luzon de Arcos, available from July 17. Level 5&6 Landmark Atrium, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central. zumarestaurant.com
Maison Libanaise To welcome summer, Black Sheep Restaurants’ Lebanese canteen is bringing back its ‘Frosé All Day’ special. Made from churned frozen rosé wine and fresh raspberry purée, then topped with a sprig of vibrant mint, frosé is available all day by the glass. Guests can take the celebration further and enjoy an exclusive food and drinks pairing on the roof of the restaurant, with two glasses of vibrant frosé alongside a hearty lamb manoushe to share between two. The offer is available on weekends and public holidays from 3-7pm.10 Shelley Street, Central. maisonlibanaise.com.hk
Rubia Known for its exceptional steaks and tapas, Rubia’s relaxed, taberna-style, ground floor bar makes it the perfect place for after-work drinks. Its new two-for-one happy hour features Galician draught beer and cider, new cocktails and a dedicated gin selection to pair with local Spanish
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Doubleshot by Cupping Room Perched on Hollywood Road in Central, this much-loved all-day dining establishment has launched a new series of featured cocktails to accompany its signature staples of caféinspired drinks. The new cocktails are intricately constructed and visually stunning, taking inspiration from Asian culture. Notable drinks include Jungle Fever, made with a delicately piped passion fruit foam that brings out tangy and sweet tropical flavours; and West Village Sour, a modern interpretation of a classic whisky sour made of a smooth combination of bourbon, and sweet and sour cherry. Don’t miss Doubleshot’s happy hour on weekdays from 4pm to 7pm, where all cocktails are half price when paid for by 5pm, 40 percent off when paid for by 6pm, and 30 percent off when paid for by 7pm. 1/F, Hilltop Plaza, 49 Hollywood Road, Central. doubleshot.hk
DINING NEWS
— NEW RESTAURANTS —
Foodie picks of the month With social restrictions picking up, here’s our top picks of the month on how to hatch down with a full belly in the day or take it away.
Stay Baked at dinner
Ando
Soil to Soul
Former Haku chef Agustin Balbi has joined forces with Jia Group to open his first standalone restaurant, Ando. The new restaurant pays homage to Balbi’s roots from Spain and his culinary training in Japan. 1F Somptueux Central, 52 Wellington Street, Central. andohk.com
Soil to Soul is K11 MUSEA’s latest opening, serving contemporary Korean vegetarian cuisine inspired by the country’s temple food. The restaurant’s focus is on traditional vegetarian Korean recipes using natural, organic and plantbased ingredients, based on a food philosophy dating back a thousand years to the Goryeo dynasty. Helmed by certified temple food master chef Gu Jin Kwang, who previously worked under renowned Korean Buddhist nun WooKwan, Soil to Soul’s menu includes nourishing lunch sets, six and eight-course tasting dinners, along with a variety of à la carte selections, bar snacks and drinks. Make sure to try out its ginseng salad, turnip dumpling and mung bean pancake. 704, 7/F, K11 MUSEA, Tsim Sha Tsui.
Dim Sum Library Aqua Restaurant Group has opened its second Dim Sum Library restaurant nestled within Elements Mall. Guests will find a host of new dishes at the West Kowloon location including pan-fried Sichuan cod bao, lobster dumpling with Tianqi herbs and pan-fried Chinese yam cake. What’s more, the Cantonese restaurant is celebrating the opening of its second outpost with four new xiao long bao flavours. Available until September 20, the limited edition flavours include Sichuan chilli, beef brisket, Singaporean-inspired bak kut teh and kombu and bonita. Shop 1028B, Water, Elements, 1 Austin Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. dimsumlibrary.com.hk
With an an hour waiting list every weekend, foodies can rejoice knowing that Baked is now open for dinner and take-out. The popular bakery and all-day dining venue founded by chef proprietor Zahir Mohamed will be serving up a new dinner menu offering small and sharing plates alongside daily specials. Savour creative cocktails and a chance to snap up a whole new set of delectable instagrammable dishes. bakedhongkong.com
Sake Central Sake Central has reinvigorated its menu with a daily set lunch menu available for dine-in. Those living and working in Central can enjoy food delivered straight to their doorsteps through Deliveroo until 10pm. You can also order food and sake directly from the restaurant all day. PMQ, S109-S113, Block A, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central. sake-central.com
Mr. Ming’s Chinese Dining Situated at K11 MUSEA, Mr. Ming’s Chinese Dining is the go-to hotspot when searching for a fresh take on traditional Chiu Chow, Shantou and Chaoshan fare. As the latest joint venture between Ming Fat House (Foxglove, Dr. Fern’s Gin Parlour, Frank’s Library) and Pak Loh Chiu Chow Restaurant by BUICK Management, Mr. Ming’s offers a fresh take on traditional Chinese recipes with no artificial ingredients or preservatives added. The menu is spearheaded by Executive Chef Hui Mei Tak, one of the most respected Chinese cuisine chefs locally and regionally, who was crowned one of the ten best chefs in China. 113A, 1/F, K11 MUSEA, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. mingfathouse.com
Plants & Protein This one goes for the gym junkies and health afficenados. Plants & Protein is your neighbourhood friendly, one-stop-shop for a healthy grab and go meal packed with protein. With a menu designed to fit your typical Hongkongers bustling lifestyle, the goal is to serve ‘So Fresh’ every day with unprocessed and non-GMO ingredients. It’s the perfect pick-up meal for those who want to watch what they eat and how it impacts our planet, all while fueling the body. 87 Wellington Street, Sheung Wan. proteinandplants.com
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HOME & LIVING
5 ways to spruce up your home for summer
Everything you need to know about decorating your space this season. By Charmaine Ng With the coronavirus making a third round in Hong Kong, we’re spending more time than ever at home. This gives us the opportunity to rethink our living quarters as summer comes into season. Harmony Interior Design (harmonydesign. com.hk) prides itself on its ability to create personalised, homely designs. Listening to the concerns of clients, it seeks to answer their needs by providing its expertise in design to bring to life their dream house. Below, Harmony Interior Design shares with us five tips for decorating our homes during summer:
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Add blooms
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Get artsy
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Fresh flowers might be too expensive to buy all the time, but a little mint plant or a beautiful succulent out on the porch can breathe some life into your abode.
A space becomes a home when there is decor on the walls. It doesn’t have to be Vincent van Gogh – family photos and funny paintings also make good choices.
Lights up Use at least three light sources in a
room. With multiple points of light, a space feels bigger, more grown-up with better ambience.
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Show your personality Do you collect figurines? Do you have an affinity for certain brands? Break out your collection and put it on display.
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Stay private You want to feel comfortable at home and having privacy is a big part of that. Do your curtains give you privacy at night? Could they do a better job? If they need a change, try replacing vertical blinds or the colour of your curtains with ones that you like.
Get comfortable with Skandïk Furniture brand Skandïk manufactures and retails furniture online with 30 days free return, one year warranty and free delivery to your door. Inspired by Scandinavian design, its approach to style focuses on simplicity, functionality and comfort. Here are Skandïk’s top tips for buying sofas this summer: Chic armchairs Create your own stylish reading nook. A cosy
armchair with a clean-lined silhouette brings instant vacation vibes to your space. Minimalist loveseats Add a dash of comforting colours and minimalist styles to your space. A loveseat with simple lines and peaceful colours adds a sense of calmness to your home. Classic sofas with contemporary twists A classic sofa with a contemporary twist adds a touch of style – imagine copper-plated solid wood legs or soft-touch velvet textures. Statement corner sofas Offering ample space to stretch out and relax, a comfy statement corner sofa becomes a centrepiece in any living room and a gathering space for large families.
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Multifunctional sofa beds Comfortable sofa beds with click-clack mechanisms are perfect for a summer afternoon nap. Simply press down the backrest in either seating, lounging or sleeping position. Skandïk offers a wide selection of contemporary and quality furniture at affordable prices. Learn more about its products at skandik.co
DESIGNING HK
Smokey Vessels
Designing Hong Kong on how you can become a smoky vessel spotter The residents of Ap Lei Chau, Tin Wan, Wah Kwai, Wah Fu, and Pok Fu Lam, have an excellent view of East Lamma Channel, one of the world’s busiest navigation channels. It serves the ports of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou. In 2014 residents joined a smoky vessel spotter campaign after new legislation was adopted making it an offence to emit smoke as dark as shade two on the Ringelmann Smoke Chart continuously for three minutes or more. The chart is a piece of cardboard with different shades of grey and black printed on it. One can hold up and determine whether a smoke plume is dark enough for prosecution action. Next spotters pull out their phone and record a continuous video of the smoke plume. Thirty-three captains have been successfully prosecuted since. Some 29 cases were determined based on evidence provided by spotters. A total of $70,500 in penalties were imposed. It was recently proposed that the government install cameras along the East
Lamma Channel as part of its Smart City concept. Combined with data recorded by the Marine Department’s Vessel Tracking System there should be adequate evidence for enforcement. For now, smoky vessel spotters will need to continue sending reports to the Harbour Patrol Unit of the Marine Department. These reports help direct their vessels to check out offenders. A thorny issue is heavy smoke of any colour other than dark grey. How do we know it is not polluting? For those cases it is the responsibility of the Environmental Protection Department. The Air Pollution Control (Fuel for Vessels) Regulation came into force on January 1 2019 and mandates vessels to use compliant fuel (including low-sulphur fuel with sulphur not exceeding 0.5 percent) within Hong Kong waters. EPD officers conduct surprise inspections of bunker delivery notes, operation of machinery, fuel-switch records and fuel samples, after a vessel is at berth. In 2019, EPD inspected 195 vessels and initiated prosecution against three for using non compliant fuel. Owners and masters of
the vessels concerned were convicted by the court and fined $5,000 to $10,000. Do you have a view of the sea, harbour or East Lamma Channel? Join the army of smoky vessels spotters. Find the Ringelmann Smoke Chart on-line, and when you see an offending vessel, record a video of at least three minutes continuously and email it to mi1ohps1@mardep.gov.hk
Designing Hong Kong Limited is a not-forprofit organisation devoted to promoting sustainability, quality of life and good design as core values in planning, development and governance. Its aim is to increase public awareness and to improve Hong Kong’s collective ability to plan and deliver a ‘beautiful’ city. It promotes collaborations on interventions wherever it sees bad planning and wherever it sees that policies or institutions are not working the way they should. Designing Hong Kong is a member of the World Urban Campaign by UN-Habitat.
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MARKETPLACE
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PETS
Ask a vet... Dr Pauline answers your pet questions this summer What should pet owners be more concerned about during the summer? With summer comes a bunch of hazards that can affect or kill our pets. Commonly seen by our ER vets include: • Animals coming across and getting bitten by wildlife including snakes, mosquitoes, ticks, bees and other flying insects. • Overheating/heatstroke can quickly lead to dehydration and a life threatening situation. Always bring drinking water for your pet and never leave them unattended in the car. • Hot surfaces like pavements and hot sand can burn your pets feet. Also watch out for hose pipes that have been in the sun, as the water inside can be very hot. • Drowning, animals often jump or fall into swimming pools to cool off and drown because they cannot get out. • Thick manky fur coats, ensure your pet is clean and well-groomed and take care if you cut it off. Do not remove too much as the coat also helps prevent sunburn to the skin. • BBQs, as scavengers, your dog may eat too much or ingest fatty foods like ice cream causing an upset gastrointestinal system. Cooked meat bones and sweetcorn can also cause choking or get stuck in parts of the
body, and meat skewers or toothpicks can kill if they pierce vital soft areas especially in the intestine. How long can dogs lay in the sun before it’s dangerous? Normally dogs love sunbathing, but for how long before it gets dangerous depends on many things. Most important is their in-built temperature control system in an area of their brain called the hypothalamus. This internal thermo-regulating area has the ability to maintain body temperature within certain limits (38-39.5C). Problems arise when the surrounding environmental temperature equals the dog’s body temperature and it becomes difficult for the dog to lose heat naturally. If you see your dog panting, drooling and trying to get a cooler space they should naturally move out of the sun’s rays. Heat stroke can kill a dog in as quickly as 10 minutes, if there are reasons they cannot thermo-regulate. If your dog is elderly, ill or has a thick fur coat I would recommend sunbathing is monitored carefully or restricted to cooler times of the day, if ever.
marketplace To advertise, email talk@hongkongliving.com or call 2776 2772.
What to plant in
August
Weather facts: - Average high temperature: 32.2°C - Average low temperature: 26.7°C - Average rainfall: 432 mm (17”) - Average rainfall days: 16.9 days - Average sunshine hours: 6.1 hours With the midsummer month’s dream forthcoming, August represents a meager cooldown from July’s peak sizzling weather, granted it’s still a tad too hot for most. With social distancing measures in place, there is no better time to tend to our gardens and enjoy the fresh air from the comfort of our own home. The key practice this month is to inspect your plants or any diseased foliage for any plant diseases carried over by the heat and humidity then dispose of it properly. Like the month before, remember to use disinfectant fluid to protect your seedlings from pests. Monitor weeds as they compete with your plants for nutrients and water, and dig over all vacant ground in your garden to ensure good conditions for sowing seeds in the next few months. Seeds of the following may be sown: mustard and cress, Chinese spinach, lettuce, sweet corn, Chinese green and white cabbage, celery, tomatoes and carrots. Short beans sown last month will also require staking. From the hottest to the wettest month of the year, August carries over sudden showers and occasional typhoons shutting everything down. However, as the saying goes, ‘You can’t have a rainbow without a little rain’. May this month reward you with a budding backdrop of captivating crops and flowers for your garden.
By William James Tutcher F.L.S. (1867-1920) Superintendent of Hong Kong Botanical Gardens. Paraphrased from his seminal 1906 work Gardening for Hong Kong.
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BACKPAGE
The land where frogs quack Animal sounds around the world are a minefield for a travelling author. By Nury Vittachi IT WAS ONE of the weirdest bits of news I ever had to break. “Something unusual is infesting the earth under our apartment block,” I told my neighbour. “I think it’s a herd of cows.” Below our building and the field nearby could be heard the unmistakable “mooooo” of large cattle. It went on for days. Yet none of my encyclopedias, nor that trusty compiler of oddities, the Internet, had any information on “burrowing cows”. The closest I could get was “ground beef”. The mystery was eventually solved by Georgina Noyce, a columnist who writes about animals. She told me that the Asiatic painted frog does not go ribbit like many frogs, but makes a moo noise like a cow. Echoing underground drains amplify their voices to make them sound loud and terrifying, like karaoke machines do for my banker friend Julian, who used to live upstairs from me until I told him I would take out a court order against his rendition of Achy Breaky Heart. I once had to speak at a school in mainland China, and began an extremely long story with plot-points which hinged on animal noises. In the tale, a chicken makes its normal buk-buk-buk noise, which is heard by the characters as “book, book, book”. A frog makes its usual ribbit-ribbit-ribbit noise, which is heard as “read it, read it, read it”. I was well into the tale when I realised that the 900 kids listening to me had no idea what I was talking about. With horror I recalled that the sound chickens make is not perceived in China as “buk-buk-buk”, but “gordok, gordok, gordok”. Worse still, in that area, frogs quack like ducks. I once sat next to a busy frog pond in Guangzhou which sounded like a convention of Donald Duck impersonators. (Frogs in Germany also quack.) Animal sounds are minefields for a travelling storyteller. In the Philippines, roosters go “tiktilaooo”, in Mexico, “kikiriki”, and in Portugal, “coco-ro-coco”. The prize for Most Accurate goes to Indonesia, where the sound is described as “kukuruyuuu”. And Least Accurate? English speakers (this is not a joke) believe roosters wake up every morning and say “cock a doodle doo”. But Indonesians lose their crown for accuracy when it comes to frogs, which they hear as saying “Tekotek, tekotek”. Huh? English speakers redeem themselves when they describe pig-speech as “oink, oink”. Compare
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that to the Japanese rendering of pig grunts as “boo-boo, boo-boo”. No way. Dogspeak is a highly contentious matter. Indonesian hounds go: “Guk, guk, guk” while Filipino ones say: “Aw, aw, aw” European ones say “wau, wau, wau” but American ones go “woof-woof”. I think I would give the prize for accuracy to the Chinese, who claim dogs say, “houh, houg, houg” and the least accurate to the British, who believe, incredibly, that hounds go: “bow wow”. On my travels, I came across two books on this subject. Everywhere the Cow Says Moo! by Ellen Slusky Weinstein was charming but inaccurate. Bengali cows go “hamba” and Dutch cows say “boeh”, according to a funwith-words book called The Meaning of Tingo by Adam Jacot de Boinod. Are there animals which say the same thing around the world? Yes. Almost everywhere I’ve travelled, the sound a cat makes is described as “meow” or something similar (“miau” in German, “ming” in Tagalog). Oddly, the speakers of Nahuatl, a language in Mexico, hear meow as “tlatzomia” but I think that can be classified under the heading ‘Just Plain weird’. I blame it on the tequila. Anyway, back to the scene at the school in China. So there I was, in mid-sentence, realizing that the story I was telling would make absolutely no sense to my audience. I had no idea what to do. So I simply continued, leaping around and doing animal impressions, extending the story as far as I could. The children roared with laughter. The teacher told me afterwards: “The first time you came, you told them a story. That was okay. But this time you just talked like a crazy man, made no sense. I think they like this better.” Nury Vittachi is an awardwinning author and journalist based in Hong Kong. He is best known for his comedy-crime novel series, The Feng Shui Detective. Contact him via nury@vittachi.com or through his public Facebook page.
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BAR AWARDS | HOME & LIVING | BACK TO SCHOOL
hongkongliving.com
AUGUST 2020
Meet the winners of the Hong Kong Living Bar Awards
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CONTENT S — 0 8 / 2 0
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COVER STORY
LEGENDS OF THE INDUSTRY
Hong Kong Living’s first-ever Bar Awards, plus exclusive chats with HK’s nightlife titans
4 Contributors Meet our team
6 Snapped Life on Hong Kong Island
8 THE PLANNER 10 things to do at home during Covid-19
10 HK education
12 News
33 Designing Hong Kong
The lowdown on local news
How you can become a smoky vessel spotter
30 Dining NEWS Eat well, stay safe and support your local businesses
32 Home and Living
35 Pets & gardening Monthly news on homely matters
36 Backpage
Your summer home decorating guide, made easy
Nury Vittachi lightens the mood
How Baker & Blooms invigorating education program taps into creative mindsets, for the fullest potential
11 Must haves
33 30
With school in September around the corner, it’s time to start packing
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“Alcohol may be man’s worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy.” ~ Frank Sinatra
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EDITOR’S LETTER We are just over the halfway mark of the year and here we are again, a third wave. Whether we like it or not, things are out of control, but once we accept it, this is where we can grow the most and where true happiness starts to blossom. And that is what this issue embodies. This month we shot our most impressive cover story to date at the iconic Dragon-i with some of the biggest movers and shakers of the bar industry, who came together just as the latest round of F&B restrictions kicked in. A huge thank you to our cover stars Gilbert Yeung, Jonathan Zeman, Noel Smyth, Lorenzo Antinori and some of the city’s newest nightlife entrepreneurs for taking the time to join us with all smiles - knowing that their evening service (and for some their entire venue) would close for business the very next day. This powerful and inspiring shoot comes off the back of our first-ever Hong Kong Living Bar Awards (page 16) and this is where we thank you, Hong Kong, for your 14,000plus votes to celebrate those who make our nightlife and hospitality community worldclass. It will serve as a huge moral boost for those doing it tough. We implore you to show your support for these fine establishments once life gets back to some sort of normalcy. At Hong Kong Living, we will be sticking to our brand ethos of spreading joy to our home city in the form of good news, positive points to focus on.
Editorial Editor-in-chief Nicole Slater, nicole@hongkongliving.com Editor Melanie Cox, melanie@hongkongliving.com Senior Staff Writer Charmaine Ng, charmaineng@hongkongliving.com Editorial Director Gemma Shaw, gemma@hongkongliving.comm Digital Editor Apple Lee, apple@hongkongliving.com
Design Graphic Designer Alvin Cheng, alvin@hongkongliving.com Vicky Lam, vicky@hongkongliving.com
Sales & Marketing Don’t be shy and let us accompany you by grabbing a copy of our magazine as you go about your day. We have 10 things to do at home during Covid-19 (page 8) to get your work from home ball rolling. I stand by my last editor’s letter: let’s make this concept of positivity and community contagious year round.
Director of Content Hilda Chan, hilda@hongkongliving.com Head of Digital Content Isamonia Chui, isamonia@hongkongliving.com Partnership Manager Chrissie Ip, chrissie@hongkongliving.com Elaine Li, elaine@hongkongliving.com
Publisher Matt Eaton, matt@hongkongliving.com
Founding Director Tom Hilditch, tom@hongkongliving.com
Things we love Contact us Admin: 3568 3722 | Editorial: 2776 2773 | Advertising: 2776 2772 Published by Hong Kong Living Ltd, L1 Kai Wong Commercial Building, 222 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong Printer Apex Print Limited, 11-13 Dai Kwai Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, Tai Po, Hong Kong
hongkongliving.com
With limited bar services, some of us may get a little thirsty when the evening hits. The team at Campari have cleverly put together an all-inclusive Negroni Making Kit so you can recreate the ultimate aperitivo treat in the comfort of your own home. $825. metadesign-group.com
Covid-19 update
TERRAOOAK - slow, sustainable, handcrafted goods It’s time to look inwards to our homes and our retreat spaces this month. TERRAOOAK is an online portal for handcrafted homeware and oneof-a-kind accessories, designed and handmade by textile artist Liz L, using earth-friendly fabrics collected over years of travel. terraooak.com
Due to the ever-changing nature of Hong Kong’s Covid-19 rules and regulations, our content may change from the time we go to print to the time you pick up our magazine. While we try to stay as up-to-date as possible please check with local businesses for operation hours and services available and stay safe.
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@hongkongliving @hongkongliving852
HONG KONG hongkongliving.com Hong Kong Living Magazine is published by Hong Kong Living Ltd. This magazine is published on the understanding that the publishers, advertisers, contributors and their employees are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors and omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication. The publisher, advertisers, contributors and their employees expressly disclaim all and any liability to any person, whether a reader of this publication or not, in respect of any action or omission by this publication. Hong Kong Living Ltd cannot be held responsible for any errors or inaccuracies provided by advertisers or contributors. The views herein are not necessarily shared by the staff or publishers. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any way, part or format without written permission from the publisher.
Photo credit: Graham Uden
talk@hongkongliving.com
Campari’s ‘Negroni DIY Kit’
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CONTRIBUTORS THANK YOU GUYS
Graham Uden
Jonathan Zeman
This month’s cover shot comes courtesy of Hong Kong Living’s photographer in residence Graham Uden. The man needs no introduction. A former war photographer, Uden has shot (photographs that is) gun-toting Khmer Rouge soldiers and spent time in the trenches of Afghanistan dodging bullets from the Taliban.
As CEO of Lan Kwai Fong Group Jonathan Zeman oversees some of the region’s leading restaurant and nightlife hotspots. From Hong Kong to Shanghai, Chengdu and all the way through to projects in Phuket, Zeman tells us what it takes to stay on top.
Gilbert Yeung Dragon-i has gained worldwide recognition as the pinnacle of hedonistic partying. As the owner of Hong Kong’s most iconic nightclub, Gilbert Yeung has been an integral part of Hong Kong’s nightlife scene. This month we get a rare glimpse inside the life of the owner of popular night spots Cassio and Tazmanian Ballroom and son of Albert Yeung, chairman of the famed Emperor Group.
Lorenzo Antinori As the beverage ambassador for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in Asia, Lorenzo Antinori is certainly making his mark on Hong Kong. We catch up with the Four Seasons beverage manager to find out what makes him tick.
Lam Chun-Wai Lam is an industry veteran who started working in restaurants at the tender age of 19. The founder of 65 Peel tells us how his trendy, hole-in-the-wall bar is doing its best to champion Hong Kong craft beer brands - with a locallyinspired food menu to boot.
Renée Boey Renée is the founder of Baker & Bloom, an innovative learning center that offers classes in reading, writing and public speaking. This month we caught up with Boey to learn about Baker & Bloom’s unique style of cultivating children’s creativity and intellectual curiosity.
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Noel Smyth A pioneer of Irish bar culture in Hong Kong, Noel Smyth first opened Delaneys in 1994. With venues in Cyberport, Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui, we sat down to chat with Noel about his rise to be a heavyweight player in Hong Kong’s vibrant hospitality industry.
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PEOPLE
Snapped this month
Yverest Launch Party at Tazmanian Ballroom
Get REDRESSED Pop-up shop 6 | hongkongliving.com
SNAPPED
Lights Out One Year Anniversary
Behind the scenes of our August covershoot at Dragon-i hongkongliving.com | 7
PLANNER
10 creative things to do at home With Covid-19 restrictions back in place, here’s a few tips on how to while away the hours, without going stir crazy
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Cook? Yes, cook Nothing says home-sweet-home better than a freshly cooked meal. Give the delivery guy a day off and get busy in the kitchen - if you have one. Otherwise just call Deliveroo, put it on a plate and pretend you cooked it.
Party, virtually Virtual parties with friends and family may go down as the hottest social activity of 2020. Grab some wine and go online. Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, Facebook Rooms… options aplenty.
Workout If you haven’t joined a YouTube yoga class in 2020, what are you waiting for? There’s literally tens of thousands of free instructional videos online. Otherwise go pro and sign up with a real fitness instructor.
Learn a language Social distancing is the perfect time to pick up a new language, even if it’s just an excuse to have a conversation with a real person.
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Board games Gather your family or friends (no more than four) and let the competition begin. Hong Kong Monopoly will even allow you to finally buy that house on The Peak you’ve always wanted. Probably best to avoid polka dot in the socially-distanced era.
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More TV If you haven’t already hoovered up every single Netflix, Apple TV and Amazon series, it seems you’re still in luck. Grab some mooncakes and settle in.
Redecorate, again Already washed your shoes, rearranged your closet, bleached your white shirts? Why not go big and redecorate your entire house. Get creative while you can.
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WHAT’S ON Find your zen If this Covid-19 business is getting a bit too much, find your happy place. Take some time out to heal your mind and soul through meditation. Breathe in, breathe out.
VIRTUAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT AUGUST Holistic Coaching and Yoga
Join Cristina McLauchlan, founder of The Vibe Tribe, for a series of virtual workouts and online coaching courses to build a stronger foundation, body and mind that can be done in the comfort of your home. linktr.ee/TheVibeTribe
THROUGHOUT AUGUST Sweat with us, digitally
Lululemon goes digital. Dive into the sweat life and stay active with a series of online workouts from some of the city’s top wellness ambassadors. lululemon.com.hk/en-hk
THROUGHOUT AUGUST Balance Health
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Salacious stories With attention spans waning, short stories are all the rage and Kitchen Tiles from Blacksmith Books is worth the investment. Take your pick from 50 real life stories of gamblers, drinkers, masseuses and millionaires from the mean streets of a Sheung Wan bygone era.
Marie Kondo your life If it doesn’t spark joy, it goes in the bin. From clothes to paperwork, there’s no better time to reorganise.
Hong Kong’s premier natural health clinic goes online with a series of alternative and conventional treatments that include meditation, reiki to Qigong. balancehealth.com.hk/
AUG 14
Speed date If online dating wasn’t enough, now we’ve got a video version - it was bound to happen, right? No filter, no date. 8-9pm. Free. getfilteroff.com
SEP 8
Virtual banking Will traditional banking be no more? Learning more about the future of your money at this online event. 11.30-2.00pm. redefininghk.scmp.com
OCT
What’s the new normal? Find out how Covid-19 has impacted the work and if virtual businesses are the future. 11.302.00pm. redefininghk.scmp.com
UNTIL DEC 31 Virtual challenge
Test your abilities on a 7K or 15K virtual race around Shek O. Document your progress on Runner Reg’s app Strava, for a chance to get onto the leaderboard and earn a personally engraved Victorinox Finisher Medal. runnerreg.com
Got an event? We can publish the details. Email editorial@hongkongliving.com hongkongliving.com | 9
HK EDUCATOR
Bloom to your fullest potential Charmaine Ng speaks to Renée Boey, founder of Baker & Bloom, an innovative learning centre offering classes in reading, writing and public speaking for children Baker & Bloom is a K-12 education centre that cultivates creative literacy and entrepreneurial mindsets in kids. Unlike other tutorial centres that cater to standardised tests, its mission and curriculum focus on a child’s long-term success beyond the classroom. Founder and educational director Renée Boey is no stranger to the schools industry. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Education and has worked as a full-time IB English and Humanities teacher whilst organising poetry, debating, creative writing, social entrepreneurship workshops for other educators on the side. Growing up in a boarding school in New Hampshire, Boey was immersed in an environment that gave her the freedom to discover her interests but also the guidance to pursue them in a deep and rigorous way. This inspired her to start Baker & Bloom. “I started the organisation to help Hong Kong students unleash their creativity despite the stress and stifling burden of exams,” she says. There are many centres that focus solely on preparing students to perform on exams and others that focus on play and curiosity. Boey’s aim with Baker & Bloom is to bring
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both of these aspects together. Beyond achievement on tests, she hopes to help kids to see the beauty of a subject, develop a critical mind and have fun making things they choose to, whether it’s a book or a robot. “When students come to class at Baker & Bloom, they tell us how much they enjoy learning here and how it’s different from other places because they have choice or because they find it personally interesting,” says the educational director. “We often hear from parents how their children have become inspired to write more or create their own projects afterwards.”
Computers have rigour; humans have creativity. Without the ability to think creatively, students cannot innovate, adapt to change, or develop new mindsets. This is the mindset that Baker & Bloom follows. “A student’s academic record and grades don’t tell us much about them as individuals, their ability to solve a problem, their empathy for others,” says Boey. Currently, she is currently working with a team of educators in preparation for the opening of a new primary school in 2021. Named Bloom Academy, it will offer a new model of schooling with a mission to cultivate compassionate creators and social innovators. “We want to take our experience offering high-quality teaching and combine it with a progressive pedagogy that promotes student agency. It may be the first of its kind in our city, but I believe lots of people here are ready for new ways to prepare their children for the future.” Learn more about the innovative education services offered at Baker & Bloom by visiting bakerandbloom.com
MUST HAVES
Smooth gel ink ballpoint pen $8 each from Muji muji.com.hk
Printed charge it charger $169 from Typo cottonon.com
Quilted personal planner $590 from Kikki.k kikki-k.com
SCHOOL’S IN
Bento lunchbox $150 from Bamboa bamboahome.com
Back to school essentials by Nicole Slater
Mini metal water bottle Heart leather kids bucket bag $1,160 from Stella Mccartney Kids lanecrawford.com.hk
$119 from Typo cottonon.com
Stationery set $59 from Depesche Ylvi & The Minimoomis petit-bazaar.com
Star 5 colour highlighter pen $40 from Bookazine bookazine.com.hk
Desk set $119 from Typo cottonon.com
Premium bag green $423 from Mi-Pac en.smallable.com
Lazy jungle 13” laptop sleeve $423 from Wouf en.smallable.com
“I Am Very Busy” notebook $117 from ban.do en.smallable.com
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NEWS
CLOCKENFLAP CANCELLED FOR A SECOND YEAR Hong Kong’s biggest music festival Clockenflap has officially been cancelled, again. Festival organiser Magnetic Asia cited the Covid-19 pandemic and international travel restrictions as the reasons for the decision. “It’s impossible to deliver the depth and breadth of Clockenflap festival experience we strive for each year,”
the organiser said in an official statement. This marks the second year that the music festival has been cancelled. Last year it did not go ahead due to the unrest in Hong Kong. Luckily, the dates for next year’s event have already been confirmed for November 26-28. clockenflap.com
COOKIE SMILES LAUNCHES THE ‘LOVE 4 MANDARIN ORIENTAL NAMED LUKE’ CAMPAIGN BEST HOTEL IN HONG KONG
Cookie Smiles, a social enterprise launched by Jo Soo-Tang and Agnes Chin, has launched the ‘Love 4 Luke’ campaign to support 12-year-old leukaemia patient Luke Inkin. Inkin is currently battling childhood leukaemia for the second time after a relapse. The nature of his diagnosis has changed from having cancer in only his bone marrow, to a more rare situation where the disease is in both his bone marrow and central nervous system. Cookie Smiles is now selling Pink Confetti Snaps for $200 per pack to raise funds for the Inkins’ ongoing medical costs, support therapy and travel expenses. cookiesmiles.com.hk
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Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong was the only hotel in the city that has made it onto Travel + Leisure’s list of Top 100 Hotels in the World this year. Mandarin Oriental came in at Number 57 on the annual list, tying with Sabi Sand Game Reserve in South Africa. “We are immensely grateful for the support from all our valued guests, especially during this unprecedented period,” said Pierre Barthes, general manager and Area vice president at Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong. mandarinoriental.com
IN YOUR BACKYARD
NEW SCHOOL YEAR PUSHED BACK AS COVID-19 RAGES ON Many of Hong Kong’s international schools and kindergartens are just weeks away from reopening for the 2020/2021 school year. But with the city battling a third wave of the coronavirus, it was announced that the new school year will be delayed. Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said that schools would begin classes no earlier than August 17. Reopening dates will be announced in time, depending on the development of the pandemic.
TAI O PREPARES FOR FLOODS A rescue and evacuation drill was conducted by the Islands District Council and other government departments in Tai O to prepare the village for floods. In the emergency response plan, when the Hong Kong Observatory forecasts high sea levels in Tai O, an alert will be sent to government agencies and nearby resident and fishing
villages through text messages. An emergency coordination centre will then be set up at the Tai Po Committee Office to plan evacuation, rescue and emergency relief efforts for the affected areas. Resident and fishing representatives will also help relay information to residents to take shelter in safe locations. news.gov.hk
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NEWS
LOHAS MALL SET TO OPEN
INTERNATIONAL BRANDS SAY GOODBYE TO HONG KONG
A new shopping centre in Lohas Park is set to open its first stores this August. The 480,000 square-foot mall will feature a supermarket, restaurants, hair salons, dentist offices, medical clinics, homeware shops, a cinema, an indoor ice rink with several brands making their debut in Hong Kong. All stores are expected to open at the end of the year.
Ethical beauty brand Lush and clothing retailer Topshop are the latest to fall victim to increased financial pressures and tourism slump due to the coronavirus pandemic. Topshop will close it’s 14,000 square feet flagship store on Queen’s Road Central and bid farewell to Hong Kong when its lease expires in October. Lush, known for its fragrant handmade soaps and bath bombs, has
closed its five-storey store on Lyndhurst Terrace but it’s other Hong Kong based locations remain open. The drop in tourist numbers in recent months has led to a great impact on retailers in Hong Kong. Gap has also announced it will close five of its eight shops in the city, while Victoria’s Secret abruptly closed its Causeway Bay flagship store in June.
FLOODING IN SOUTHERN CHINA Flooding from monsoon rain occurs almost every year across parts of China, but the country is now facing some of its worst floods in more than a decade. Heavy rain since the beginning of the month has forced evacuations of about 1.8 million people in 24 provinces, mainly in s Southern China. World Vision Hong Kong is closely monitoring the situation in Southern China and will provide assistance to people in the affected areas. If members of the public would like to make donations to people affected by the floods, call the World Vision hotline at (852) 2394 2394
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COVER STORY
Here’s Cheers After more than 14,000 votes, we’ve got the definitive list of Hong Kong’s top nightlife venues and celebrate those who make Hong Kong’s nightlife world-class. By Melanie Cox 16 | hongkongliving.com
BAR AWARDS
Hong Kong Living is proud to host the firstever Bar Awards celebrating the city’s most outstanding venues and the extraordinary talent that brings them to life night after night. The Readers’ Choice Award is our way to offer a genuine interaction for our readers to acknowledge their favourite establishments throughout the year. Now, raise your glass to the spaces and faces that make Hong Kong one of the best places to bend the elbow on the planet.
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COVER STORY INDUSTRY LEGENDS Gilbert Yeung
Founder Dragon-i, Tazmania Ballroom, Cassio The name Gilbert Yeung is synonymous with Hong Kong’s bar industry. The legendary founder of Dragon-i, Tazmania Ballroom and Cassio has come a long way since his early days of Hong Kong’s colourful nightlife scene. What began with visits to Disco Disco, Hollywood East and Club 97 in his 20’s blossomed into a business empire that includes some of the city’s favourite haunts. For Yeung, there is no better place to set up shop in the nightlife industry than Hong Kong. “The mentality, vibrancy and diversity of people in Hong Kong, mixed in with people from overseas, make Hong Kong’s nightlife scene world class,” he says. After some 17 years of operation, his guest list is a who’s who of celebrities that now includes the likes of Michael Jordan, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, to name a few. But it’s more than just a guest list. Yeung also attributes his success to a group of mentors that have helped him forge a reputation for quality hospitality. “Over the years I have learned so much
from a lot of seniors in this industry – DJs, bartenders, promoters, club managers. Allan Zeman, Nichole Garnaut and Pino Piano are my mentors and have taught me so much,” Yeung says. What Yeung wants to take out from his bars is simple – he only wants to see people enjoying themselves. “Seeing people smile and having fun every
night is my proudest moment,” he says. When asked about his favourite memory as the founder of Dragon-i, Tazmania Ballroom and Cassio. As for the future for the nightlife scene in Hong Kong, Yeung reveals he doesn’t know what will happen, especially after the global pandemic – but whatever the challenge is, he is ready to take on. dragon-i.com.hk
Throughout his highly accomplished career, the LKF heavyweight names one of his professional highlights as the opening of California Tower, the 27-storey flagship building of Lan Kwai Fong, where the group joined forces with Gucci for a pre-opening event that spanned across multiple levels of the tower and included a sit-down dinner, an art exhibition and a party in a pop-up club. Another major achievement for Zeman was the conceptualisation and opening of C Club.
The night club was one of the first venues in Hong Kong to have a well-known international resident DJ and fly in top international guest DJs every few months. With the Group’s popular Japanese restaurant Kyoto Joe recently relocated to California Tower, the opening of new modern Italian restaurant Aria and new bars and nightclubs under the works at the building, there is no slowing down for the nightlife behemoth. lkfgroup.com
Jonathan Zeman CEO Lan Kwai Fong Group
Jonathan Zeman helped to usher LKF Group into a new era. As the largest landlord in the Central nightlife area, the group is also a hybrid entertainment and hospitality brand that oversees property development and investments, F&B offerings, media and marketing platforms. With a major redevelopment of its key California Tower now in full swing, Zeman describes Hong Kong’s nightlife as unlike anywhere else in the world. “Hong Kong is one of the most international cities in the world. We have people who work hard and play hard and lots of people who can afford the finer things in life. “But when you go to parties, there is often a less pretentious atmosphere than you’d find in other big cities like London or New York,” Zeman says. Standing out in the city’s uber competitive entertainment landscape is no easy feat and Zeman sets his standards high. “Do it better than anyone else. Don’t worry about the expense. The customers and the money will follow if you’ve created something amazing.”
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BAR AWARDS BAR OF THE YEAR
EDITORS’ PICK
The Diplomat As one of the most highly-anticipated bars to open in 2020, The Diplomat is tucked away at lifestyle and dining hub H Code. Known for “reinventing the classics” with its innovative twist on classic cocktails, this is the first concept by award-winning mixologist John Nugent, who led the drinks programme at Lily & Bloom. The Diplomat strikes the perfect balance as an industry favourite tipple bar and for cocktail aficionados alike. thediplomat.hk
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
The Old Man The Old Man needs no introduction. A stylish, intimate, Ernest Hemingway–inspired bar tucked away in Soho, with a reputable scholarly devotion to liqueurs paired with a steely focus on service has led them to a series of accolades under their belt since the opening in 2017 by Agung Prabowo, Roman Ghale and James Tamang in the summer of 2017. It is no wonder our readers chose The Old Man as their favourite bar of the year.
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COVER STORY BARTENDER OF THE YEAR Lorenzo Antinori
Beverage Manager & Beverage Ambassador APAC Four Seasons As beverage manager at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong and beverage ambassador for the hotel brand’s Asia Pacific operation, Antinori attributes much of his success to a good eye for opportunity and an ethos to stay curious in life. Humble beginnings instilled in him a hard working mentality that has seen him craft his skills in cities around the world. “When I was working in a small cafe in Rome, my home town, I would work for eight hours a day serving espressos and cappuccino,” he tells Hong Kong Living. But it was his parents that really allowed him to see what’s important. “My parents are my mentors,” he says. “They’ve taught me important values and have given me the freewill to choose what is best for myself. I am very grateful to be their son.” After making his mark on Asia’s rapidly evolving cocktail scene, Antinori found himself in Hong Kong where he caught the eye of industry veterans and leading mixologists alike. He left his role as head bartender at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, and shifted to Hong Kong and where he continues to make his mark. But it was not an easy task getting himself out of Europe and over to Asia. Working hard is an essential component in becoming successful, but working hard every single day takes dedication and a strong mentality to see the big picture. “Moving abroad and out of my comfort zone at the age of 20 was one of my biggest challenges,” he says. “Being far away from family and childhood friends was the toughest part, but these
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
experiences have shaped my character and helped me to be better as a person and a professional.” For most, arriving in a foreign country and a new continent would be enough to get the nerves going. However, Antinori’s passion to rise up and take on any challenge to overcome tough times proved worthy. He meticulously reshaped the cocktail program in Seoul and as a result, the hotel’s signature bar Charles H. saw a meteoric rise in success, ranking on
Asia’s 50 Best Bar list in its very first year. He’s now quickly taking Caprice Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong down the same route. Just two years after he arrived, Caprice Bar made its debut in Asia’s Top 50 Bars list this year. At the core of Antinori’s foundation, he attributes challenges and getting out of the comfort zones to grow. It seems Antinori’s rise to the top of the global hospitality ladder is only just the beginning. fourseasons.com
Jay Khan
Co-Founder & Beverage Director COA
EDITORS’ PICK
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Bar veteran Jay Khan has some serious pedigree behind him. Mexican bar COA opened in 2017 as part of Khan’s mission to bring agave spirits to the forefront of Hong Kong’s cocktail scene, boasting an agave menu of 41 pages alongside a cocktail list inspired by the flavours of Mexico using the finest seasonal ingredients. We toast Khan as our Bartender of the Year thanks to earning heavyweight titles such as third place in Asia’s 50 best bars 2020. coa.com.hk
BAR AWARDS BEST HOTEL BAR Darkside
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
Rosewood Hong Kong Our readers have a taste for the finer things in life with the crowning glory of the glitzy Rosewood Hong Kong, Darkside taking top picks for Best Hotel Bar. Darkside offers one of the best bar experiences in town, complete with sultry live jazz performances and glimpses of the stunning Victoria Harbour. The name of the game here is dark, rare aged spirits. The bar stocks vintage cognac aged from oak barrels and a selection of rum, whisky and calvados that span back to the early 19th century. rosewoodhotels.com
Caprice
Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong Perhaps the Four Seasons best kept secret, thanks to its three Michelin-starred restaurant of the same name. From old-school classics to cutting-edge mixology, Caprice Bar at Four Seasons Hong Kong is a stylish and discreet gathering spot. Our pick for Best Hotel Bar comes just in time for its new seasonal cocktail menu - a celebration of flavors from across the globe that includes the likes of the rhubarb, grapefruit soda and fig leaf-inspired cocktails. These tasty delights sit alongside its classic menu like the Caprice Martini and the wonderfully delicious Truffle Negroni. Backed by an extensive wine list served alongside freshly imported French cheeses, we raise a very delicious goblet to this Hong Kong classic. As the sun sets over Victoria Harbour, there’s nowhere better to enjoy the glittering lights of Hong Kong’s harbour while knocking back an inspired cocktail to match. fourseasons.com
EDITORS’ PICK
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COVER STORY NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR Club Rangoon Club Rangoon is the debut launch for owner Nelson Htoo. A Burmese-inspired restaurant helmed by chef Karisa Cheque and renowned mixologist Jack Byrne, Club Rangoon may have opened its doors just weeks ago, but is already making headlines across the city’s ubercompetitive eatery scene. Located on Aberdeen Street in the heart of Central, Htoo believes the best way to experience a country is through its food and has vowed to serve up a gastronomic journey into the heart of Myanmar. “A lot of people don’t know about Burmese cuisine, it’s not easily accessible internationally. I want to be the one to bring it to Hong Kong,” he says. “So far it’s been amazing, there’s been a lot of education about the menu and about Burmese cuisine. We want people to experience the history, culture and our own personal memories of Myanmar.” Born in Yangon, but having lived in Singapore before relocating to Hong Kong three years ago, Htoo is a newcomer to the hospitality industry. After completing a masters in business management, he made a jump switch and dived head first into a new entrepreneurial food venture.
EDITORS’ PICK
“I’m a newcomer to the hospitality industry. My dad would always tell me to learn something new every day. This was something I applied to the process of opening Club Rangoon.” The launch has been a personal journey for Htoo, reflected in the venue’s carefully curated interior design. “We have family photographs of my mum and grandmother in the restaurant, I wanted it to be a very personal experience.” Opening a new venue during the height of
a pandemic has naturally come with its own set of challenges, but Htoo remains optimistic. “This pandemic has really tested the limits of creativity amongst entrepreneurs, demanding out-of-the-box solutions across all industries. It’s been a moment of reflection too for all. “We’re very grateful to be in a situation now that allows us to open and we are of course remaining vigilant during these times. The best way to learn is by just going out there and doing it.” clubrangoon.com.hk
The Blind Pig Sport is all about the atmosphere, the camaraderie and the beauty of the game itself. And that’s why it’s all about finding the right venue to watch the game. As sibling to popular gastropub The Salted Pig; The Blind Pig is set on Lei King Wan waterfront offering cool, chillout vibes in a speakeasy style, pub setting. As Newcomer of the Year, this bar is certain to become a staple neighbourhood sports pub favourite.
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD Nelson Htoo
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BAR AWARDS NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEAR
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
Dragon-i Arguably Hong Kong’s most iconic and longstanding night club, Dragon-i is the place to see and to be seen rubbing elbows with celebrities, models and the glitterati alike. With a discerning door policy that reflects its celebrity-heavy clientele, Dragon-i parties are unparalleled to none other in Hong Kong thanks to some of biggest celebrities on the planet gracing owner Gilbert Yeung’s notorious guest list that include; Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Paris Hilton. Serving up contemporary Asian food throughout the day and a stellar vegan dim-sum menu, it is no wonder Dragon-i takes the lead at the forefront of hospitality across Asia as the ultimate lounge and dining experience. dragon-i.com.hk
EDITORS’ PICK
Cassio A place where premium nightlife and cuisine come together to experience a taste of Europe in the heart of Asia, Cassio is cast away within the second floor of LKF Tower. Expect polished 1950s French Riviera-inspired supper club vibes upon entering that open out to an impressive
terrace. Despite being the much younger sister space to the notorious Dragon-i and Tasmanian Ballroom, Cassio is the place to go for those who enjoy groovy music and quality food that punctuate all hours of the evening. contemporary with a vintage twist. cassio.com.hk
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COVER STORY BEST ROOFTOP BAR
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
Sevva A Hong Kong institution in its own right, Sevva is located on the 25th floor of the Prince’s Building. Founder and creative visionary Bonnae Gokson curated the venue with her passion and inimitable style, infusing it with a soul that is unique in Hong Kong. The restaurant’s 360-degree wrap around terrace offers panoramic views of Victoria Harbour and a front row seat to the city’s many firework displays, so it’s no surprise Sevva won Best Rooftop Bar. While the view may take first place, Sevva’s seasonal cocktail menu will keep you coming back. sevva.hk
EDITORS’ PICK
Terrible Baby Terrible Baby is so much more than your standard hotel bar. It has become the go-to destination in Kowloon to catch live music, international DJ’s and to shake up an enticing repertoire of sustainable cocktails playing homage to its vibrant neighbourhood in Jordan. This is the bar to checkout for those who wish to have a refreshing change of scenery from their usual waterholes in the city. With a
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performing space, rooftop garden, and music room on the fourth floor of Eaton Hong Kong, this rooftop bar lives up to its quirky name translated from the French phrase ‘enfant terrible’, an expression used in the world of creative arts to describe a usually young and successful person who is strikingly unorthodox or avant-garde. terriblebaby.com
BAR AWARDS BEST INTERIOR DESIGN
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
Iron Fairies Straight out of a (literal) storybook, designer Ashley Sutton’s joint venture with Dining Concepts “The Iron Fairies” transports us to a fantastical world. Step out of Hollywood Road and into Iron Fairies for a journey to fantasy land far far away where 10,000 butterflies on thin copper rods swing from the ceiling and thousands of small iron fairies are scattered around the tables. Expect live jazz and swing bands served alongside creative cocktails by mixologist Joseph Boroski and a hearty menu of wholesome burgers and chicken wings, this is truly a place where the magic happens. diningconcepts.com
EDITORS’ PICK
Madame Fu Most well known for its instagrammable Afternoon Tea in the Pink Room, Madame Fu strikes the perfect balance of East and West dining and lounge experiences set in revamped colonial police station; Tai Kwun. The venue is inspired by fictional character;
Madame Fu, a socialite who opened a grand salon in Shanghai in the 1930s after living in Paris. The food embodies their ethos serving up contemporary Cantonese cuisine and dim sum alongside western desserts. While the interiors pay homage to Hong Kong’s
colonial past and the European Grand Cafés in Paris set across seven unique and artfully designed rooms with a verandah to relax out on meaning, there is something for everyone to savour. madamfu.com.hk
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COVER STORY BEST HIDDEN GEM Whisky & Words Located on Shin Hing Street in Central, Whisky & Words is a cosy and elegant speakeasy hiding a selection of more than 300 whiskies from around the world. The space was conceptualised for people who already know their whisky, as well as people who want to learn about the spirit in a laid-back setting. Besides serving up a thorough menu of whiskies, the speakeasy also offers regular masterclasses led by brand ambassadors, distillery owners and whisky experts. Keep an eye on its social media platforms about the next masterclass or guest bartender shift. As general manager of Whisky & Words, Alex Pun brings a wealth of knowledge about whiskies and the bar scene in Hong Kong. He helps run the speakeasy on a daily (or nightly) basis and has high praise for the city’s nightlife. “Hong Kong is a small but extremely vibrant place,” Pun says. “You have so many options in the same area, be it specialist drinking dens, cocktail bars, beer pong, shisha or clubbing… whatever pleases you. “Everything is in such close proximity so that you never have to travel far from one spot to
EDITORS’ PICK Left: Whisky & Words Team - Deven Rajput (Co-Head Bartender), Anmol Gurung (Co-Head Bartender) & Alex Pun (Bar General Manager)
another – something which is always a pain in big cosmopolitans like London, Bangkok and Tokyo.” The small size and geographic advantage of Hong Kong mean that it is easy to run into potential partners-in-crime. “We all have those mates who will turn any peaceful Saturday night into one which you will never forget,” Pun says. For him, the perfect night is an unplanned one. The scene usually starts after a fancy dinner and a few
BEST BEACH BAR
Stockton Perhaps Hong Kong’s worst kept secret winning our Readers Choice Award. Stockton has consistently made the list of Asia’s Best Bars since its inception with award-winning mixologist Suraj Gurung shaping the cocktail program. Stockton is a “secret” whisky bar on Wyndham Street inspired by the halcyon days of late 19th century London. The decor matches a gentleman’s club with hunting trophies on the walls and a menu consisting of over 150 different whiskys. For first-timers; Stockon is most likely to become your new favourite watering hole - but only if you can find it. stockton.com.hk
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
Momentai Momentai Bar & Restaurant is located on the waterfront of Sai Kung offering a sense of escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Enjoy an afternoon overlooking Sai Kung’s waterfront promenade with a cocktail in hand.
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glasses of wine. “Pop by your local favourite for ‘one drink’ which is probably the biggest white lie of the century, run into a few mates and the night will take its own course. “By the time you’re home, you will have no idea how you made it back, or indeed how you ended up in such a state. But hey, it was certainly a good spontaneous night.” whisky-and-words.com
With an array of colourful chairs, a pool table and craft beer collection, it’s the perfect place to unwind after a long day. The restaurant also operates a sister cafe, Joe-San next door. momentai-la.com
BAR AWARDS BEST CONCEPT BAR
EDITORS’ PICK
Havana It’s fair to say Iuri Martins Volcato is an eternal optimist. As general manager of catering and event management at Lan Kwai Fong’s famous Havana bar, Volcato knows there are positive lessons we can take from the Covid-19 crisis
Coconuts Thai Bar & Grill Famous amongst the expat community, Britishborn chef and owner, Jean Paul Gauci has been cooking and creating culinary concepts in Asia for over three decades. Coconuts Thai Bar & Grill is perched above the sandy shores of Deep Water Bay, serving up modern Thai and Asado food (an Argentinian method of slow cooking meat on an open fire). This open-air restaurant’s laid back Ibiza beach club vibe is the go-to for locals to savour a glass of chilled French rosé over the sounds of the ocean, all conveniently accessible within a 30 minute drive from the city. toptables.com.hk
EDITORS’ PICK
that has rocked Hong Kong’s nightlife industry. “This is a wake-up call,” he says. “Looking at the positive side of it, service and food have improved, people are working hard and they are working much more carefully.” Winning this year’s Best Concept Bar, Volcato says Havana has managed its way
through the pandemic for one plain and simple reason - an unwavering commitment to customer service. “F&B is all about long-term relationships. If you have done your job in the past, customers will come back and give you the support you deserve.” Volcato’s introduction to the drinks business came in 1993 during a visit to Sitting Duck Bar in Argentina. Within three months of meeting the owners (and with no proper legal documents) he landed the role of weekend manager and has not looked back. He says it was a sense of trust between himself and the owners that sealed the deal and paved the way for a career in hospitality. “Trust is difficult to get and easy to lose if you are not paying attention to what you do,” he says. “But the owners trusted me and that made me who I am today.” A big fan of Las Vegas and Buenos Aires, Volvato understands how trends have changed, especially tastes and the need to create “Instagrammable” moments. It’s one of the big reasons behind its hugely popular drink, The Notorious Che. “It’s a Cuban-smoked cocktail that uses edible bubble technology, Zacapa 23, fresh lemon, orange and a dash of bitters. Beautiful.” havanabar.com.hk
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
Quinary An experience like none other thanks to Diageo World Class 2015 Hong Kong & Macau Champion Antonio Lai at the helm, the Quinary is the quintessential bar for those who wish to have a “Multisensory experience” as stated in their bar ethos. The bar is more like Lai’s science lab showcasing a rotary evaporator
and equipment used for redistilling and slowcooking unique flavoured spirits. Lai’s daring and creative cocktail program has championed Quinary to be a leader in Asia’s experimental cocktail scene with recent accolades such as an impressive #16 on Asia’s 50 Best Bar in 2020 for the fifth year a row. quinary.hk
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COVER STORY BEST CRAFT BEER 65 Peel
Lam Chun-wai
Local craft beer takes centre stage at 65 Peel with brews from Young Master Ales, Moonzen and Citibrew. Opened in 2016, the bar offers an impressive range of Hong Kong craft beer, featuring 12 on tap and more than 50 bottles on the menu. “Hong Kong craft beer rivals those from international microbreweries in many instances, but not everyone is as familiar with the local offerings. I wanted to open a bar to introduce Hong Kong craft beer to more people,” said Lam Chun-wai, the founder of 65 Peel. Lam is an industry veteran who started working in restaurants when he was 19. He pivoted his career towards an interest in bars when he discovered his love for local craft beer. “Hong Kong craft beer often showcases playful, locally-inspired flavours that many people are familiar with, such salted lime goose, lemongrass, sugarcane. As a born and raised Hongkonger, these flavours really appeal to me,” said Lam. Coming from a culinary background, the bar owner has swapped out the typical pub grub in favour of fusion Chinese dishes. A highlight from the food menu includes cha siu faan, a staple Hong Kong meal reinvented with Spanish Iberico pork. If you pronounce the Chinese moniker of the bar, it’s similar to the F-word in local dialect or an expression that means the bar is really cool. “Everything we do is to create a fun and casual environment. Many Hongkongers have a very busy lifestyle. Here is a space where people can come in, loosen up and have a good time,” said Lam.
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READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
Second Draft Second Draft is Tai Hang’s neighbourhood gastropub offering East-West fusion flavours originally curated by Chef May Chow, alongside an impressive list of innovative craft beers. As the brainchild behind TAP and
EDITORS’ PICK
Young Master Ales, you can expect nothing but a great community vibe to experience the tastes of Hong Kong in a cool setting thanks to interiors resembling old Hong Kong and the ferry pier.
BAR AWARDS BEST PUB
EDITORS’ PICK
Delaney’s The Irish Pub Irish pubs have long been a staple of Hong Kong’s hospitality sector and publican Noel Smyth has been at the centre of it all. As managing director of Delaney’s, Smyth is the man behind the bar which essentially introduced Irish bar culture to Hong Kong. It was of course Delaney’s which opened the first Irish pub in Hong Kong back in 1994 and since then has continued to deliver an authentic Irish experience. With venues located in Cyberport, Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui, the bars have become favourites for local foodies and lovers of whisky and damn good beers.
traditions, mixed with a dash of a millennial mindset has helped steer Delaney’s through troubled waters. “There have been many challenges and no doubt many more to come,” Smyth says. “Be it red tape on construction, banking, licensing issues, staffing problems and of course the last 12 months in Hong Kong... it’s never all that bad. “There is light ahead of the tunnel, it’s just hard to see sometimes. But you have the power to change what may look like a disaster into something more manageable.” As this year’s Readers Choice winner of Best Bar Concept, the accolade is icing on the cake and confirms that its commitment to customer service has paid off handsomely. “Providing an experience every time doesn’t necessarily involve reinventing the wheel every time but ‘making the effort’ and those little small touches go really far,” Smyth says. delaneys.com.hk
As for Smyth, it seems he was always destined for a career in hospitality. His dad was a career hotel man and a legend in the industry back in Ireland. Following in his footsteps was the natural thing to do. “He walked so tall and was respected by everyone. I really looked up to him from an early age and while the thoughts of saving a woman from a burning building or flying a plane was cool, the hospitality industry just screamed out to me,” he told Hong Kong Living. Running a pub for some 25 years in a city that devours new venues in a heartbeat is no easy feat. But a healthy mix of old school Irish
The Globe Hong Kong original gastropub is a definite crowd pleaser and a neighbourhood favourite. Taking the Best Pub award with its great service, value for buck and perhaps serving the best pie in Hong Kong. The Globe is Hong Kong’s response to the many gastropubs in London with a warming environment and wholesome pub grub menu alongside a wide rotating selection of ales and lagers from around the world meaning there is always something new to pick. Tucked away on Graham Street, this pub is the place to go for British fair since its opening over 15 years ago that attracts locals and expats from all over around the world. theglobe.com.hk
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DINING NEWS
Dining News — SUMMER COCKTAILS — cold cuts, cheese and snacks. Don’t miss the restaurant’s new tropical flavours, which includes Longan Potion, made with longan-infused Absolut Vodka and fresh lime juice; and Manzana Acida, a concoction of Lola & Vera, Quenz Hierbas, Estrella Cordial finished off with apple syrup. UG/F and 1/F, C Wisdom Centre, 35-37 Hollywood Road, Central. rubia.hk
Red Sugar Travel back in time with Red Sugar’s new cocktail menu ‘Our Little Time’, which showcases a collection of concoctions inspired by the post-war era of Hong Kong. Kerry Hotel’s popular rooftop bar has launched 11 new cocktails, all presenting key elements from the 60s to 80s. The terrace bar, overlooking the Victoria Harbour, has also just launched a new Sundown Sessions available every Saturday and Sunday for two hours of freeflow bevvies and tapas. Level 7, Kerry Hotel, 38 Hung Luen Road, Hung Hom. shangri-la.com
Zuma This summer, Zuma is launching its first-ever bottled highball in collaboration with Japanese distillery Nikka and artisanal local craft mixers brand Carbonation. The limited-edition bottled Zuma Yuzu Highball is a refreshing and fizzy cocktail with a pronounced flavour of Japanese yuzu, rounded out with a kick of Nikka Coffey
Grain Whisky and green apple. Meanwhile, the modern izakaya is also offering two new cocktails that combine Japanese flavours with the unique characters of Casamigos tequila. Named Bajiru Smash and Shapu, the new drinks will be served with a selection of tempura curated by Asia’s corporate executive chef Oscar Luzon de Arcos, available from July 17. Level 5&6 Landmark Atrium, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central. zumarestaurant.com
Maison Libanaise To welcome summer, Black Sheep Restaurants’ Lebanese canteen is bringing back its ‘Frosé All Day’ special. Made from churned frozen rosé wine and fresh raspberry purée, then topped with a sprig of vibrant mint, frosé is available all day by the glass. Guests can take the celebration further and enjoy an exclusive food and drinks pairing on the roof of the restaurant, with two glasses of vibrant frosé alongside a hearty lamb manoushe to share between two. The offer is available on weekends and public holidays from 3-7pm.10 Shelley Street, Central. maisonlibanaise.com.hk
Rubia Known for its exceptional steaks and tapas, Rubia’s relaxed, taberna-style, ground floor bar makes it the perfect place for after-work drinks. Its new two-for-one happy hour features Galician draught beer and cider, new cocktails and a dedicated gin selection to pair with local Spanish
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Doubleshot by Cupping Room Perched on Hollywood Road in Central, this much-loved all-day dining establishment has launched a new series of featured cocktails to accompany its signature staples of caféinspired drinks. The new cocktails are intricately constructed and visually stunning, taking inspiration from Asian culture. Notable drinks include Jungle Fever, made with a delicately piped passion fruit foam that brings out tangy and sweet tropical flavours; and West Village Sour, a modern interpretation of a classic whisky sour made of a smooth combination of bourbon, and sweet and sour cherry. Don’t miss Doubleshot’s happy hour on weekdays from 4pm to 7pm, where all cocktails are half price when paid for by 5pm, 40 percent off when paid for by 6pm, and 30 percent off when paid for by 7pm. 1/F, Hilltop Plaza, 49 Hollywood Road, Central. doubleshot.hk
DINING NEWS
— NEW RESTAURANTS —
Foodie picks of the month With social restrictions picking up, here’s our top picks of the month on how to hatch down with a full belly in the day or take it away.
Stay Baked at dinner
Ando
Soil to Soul
Former Haku chef Agustin Balbi has joined forces with Jia Group to open his first standalone restaurant, Ando. The new restaurant pays homage to Balbi’s roots from Spain and his culinary training in Japan. 1F Somptueux Central, 52 Wellington Street, Central. andohk.com
Soil to Soul is K11 MUSEA’s latest opening, serving contemporary Korean vegetarian cuisine inspired by the country’s temple food. The restaurant’s focus is on traditional vegetarian Korean recipes using natural, organic and plantbased ingredients, based on a food philosophy dating back a thousand years to the Goryeo dynasty. Helmed by certified temple food master chef Gu Jin Kwang, who previously worked under renowned Korean Buddhist nun WooKwan, Soil to Soul’s menu includes nourishing lunch sets, six and eight-course tasting dinners, along with a variety of à la carte selections, bar snacks and drinks. Make sure to try out its ginseng salad, turnip dumpling and mung bean pancake. 704, 7/F, K11 MUSEA, Tsim Sha Tsui.
Dim Sum Library Aqua Restaurant Group has opened its second Dim Sum Library restaurant nestled within Elements Mall. Guests will find a host of new dishes at the West Kowloon location including pan-fried Sichuan cod bao, lobster dumpling with Tianqi herbs and pan-fried Chinese yam cake. What’s more, the Cantonese restaurant is celebrating the opening of its second outpost with four new xiao long bao flavours. Available until September 20, the limited edition flavours include Sichuan chilli, beef brisket, Singaporean-inspired bak kut teh and kombu and bonita. Shop 1028B, Water, Elements, 1 Austin Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. dimsumlibrary.com.hk
With an an hour waiting list every weekend, foodies can rejoice knowing that Baked is now open for dinner and take-out. The popular bakery and all-day dining venue founded by chef proprietor Zahir Mohamed will be serving up a new dinner menu offering small and sharing plates alongside daily specials. Savour creative cocktails and a chance to snap up a whole new set of delectable instagrammable dishes. bakedhongkong.com
Sake Central Sake Central has reinvigorated its menu with a daily set lunch menu available for dine-in. Those living and working in Central can enjoy food delivered straight to their doorsteps through Deliveroo until 10pm. You can also order food and sake directly from the restaurant all day. PMQ, S109-S113, Block A, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central. sake-central.com
Mr. Ming’s Chinese Dining Situated at K11 MUSEA, Mr. Ming’s Chinese Dining is the go-to hotspot when searching for a fresh take on traditional Chiu Chow, Shantou and Chaoshan fare. As the latest joint venture between Ming Fat House (Foxglove, Dr. Fern’s Gin Parlour, Frank’s Library) and Pak Loh Chiu Chow Restaurant by BUICK Management, Mr. Ming’s offers a fresh take on traditional Chinese recipes with no artificial ingredients or preservatives added. The menu is spearheaded by Executive Chef Hui Mei Tak, one of the most respected Chinese cuisine chefs locally and regionally, who was crowned one of the ten best chefs in China. 113A, 1/F, K11 MUSEA, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. mingfathouse.com
Plants & Protein This one goes for the gym junkies and health afficenados. Plants & Protein is your neighbourhood friendly, one-stop-shop for a healthy grab and go meal packed with protein. With a menu designed to fit your typical Hongkongers bustling lifestyle, the goal is to serve ‘So Fresh’ every day with unprocessed and non-GMO ingredients. It’s the perfect pick-up meal for those who want to watch what they eat and how it impacts our planet, all while fueling the body. 87 Wellington Street, Sheung Wan. proteinandplants.com
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HOME & LIVING
5 ways to spruce up your home for summer
Everything you need to know about decorating your space this season. By Charmaine Ng With the coronavirus making a third round in Hong Kong, we’re spending more time than ever at home. This gives us the opportunity to rethink our living quarters as summer comes into season. Harmony Interior Design (harmonydesign. com.hk) prides itself on its ability to create personalised, homely designs. Listening to the concerns of clients, it seeks to answer their needs by providing its expertise in design to bring to life their dream house. Below, Harmony Interior Design shares with us five tips for decorating our homes during summer:
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Add blooms
4
Get artsy
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Fresh flowers might be too expensive to buy all the time, but a little mint plant or a beautiful succulent out on the porch can breathe some life into your abode.
A space becomes a home when there is decor on the walls. It doesn’t have to be Vincent van Gogh – family photos and funny paintings also make good choices.
Lights up Use at least three light sources in a
room. With multiple points of light, a space feels bigger, more grown-up with better ambience.
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Show your personality Do you collect figurines? Do you have an affinity for certain brands? Break out your collection and put it on display.
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Stay private You want to feel comfortable at home and having privacy is a big part of that. Do your curtains give you privacy at night? Could they do a better job? If they need a change, try replacing vertical blinds or the colour of your curtains with ones that you like.
Get comfortable with Skandïk Furniture brand Skandïk manufactures and retails furniture online with 30 days free return, one year warranty and free delivery to your door. Inspired by Scandinavian design, its approach to style focuses on simplicity, functionality and comfort. Here are Skandïk’s top tips for buying sofas this summer: Chic armchairs Create your own stylish reading nook. A cosy
armchair with a clean-lined silhouette brings instant vacation vibes to your space. Minimalist loveseats Add a dash of comforting colours and minimalist styles to your space. A loveseat with simple lines and peaceful colours adds a sense of calmness to your home. Classic sofas with contemporary twists A classic sofa with a contemporary twist adds a touch of style – imagine copper-plated solid wood legs or soft-touch velvet textures. Statement corner sofas Offering ample space to stretch out and relax, a comfy statement corner sofa becomes a centrepiece in any living room and a gathering space for large families.
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Multifunctional sofa beds Comfortable sofa beds with click-clack mechanisms are perfect for a summer afternoon nap. Simply press down the backrest in either seating, lounging or sleeping position. Skandïk offers a wide selection of contemporary and quality furniture at affordable prices. Learn more about its products at skandik.co
DESIGNING HK
Smokey Vessels
Designing Hong Kong on how you can become a smoky vessel spotter The residents of Ap Lei Chau, Tin Wan, Wah Kwai, Wah Fu, and Pok Fu Lam, have an excellent view of East Lamma Channel, one of the world’s busiest navigation channels. It serves the ports of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou. In 2014 residents joined a smoky vessel spotter campaign after new legislation was adopted making it an offence to emit smoke as dark as shade two on the Ringelmann Smoke Chart continuously for three minutes or more. The chart is a piece of cardboard with different shades of grey and black printed on it. One can hold up and determine whether a smoke plume is dark enough for prosecution action. Next spotters pull out their phone and record a continuous video of the smoke plume. Thirty-three captains have been successfully prosecuted since. Some 29 cases were determined based on evidence provided by spotters. A total of $70,500 in penalties were imposed. It was recently proposed that the government install cameras along the East
Lamma Channel as part of its Smart City concept. Combined with data recorded by the Marine Department’s Vessel Tracking System there should be adequate evidence for enforcement. For now, smoky vessel spotters will need to continue sending reports to the Harbour Patrol Unit of the Marine Department. These reports help direct their vessels to check out offenders. A thorny issue is heavy smoke of any colour other than dark grey. How do we know it is not polluting? For those cases it is the responsibility of the Environmental Protection Department. The Air Pollution Control (Fuel for Vessels) Regulation came into force on January 1 2019 and mandates vessels to use compliant fuel (including low-sulphur fuel with sulphur not exceeding 0.5 percent) within Hong Kong waters. EPD officers conduct surprise inspections of bunker delivery notes, operation of machinery, fuel-switch records and fuel samples, after a vessel is at berth. In 2019, EPD inspected 195 vessels and initiated prosecution against three for using non compliant fuel. Owners and masters of
the vessels concerned were convicted by the court and fined $5,000 to $10,000. Do you have a view of the sea, harbour or East Lamma Channel? Join the army of smoky vessels spotters. Find the Ringelmann Smoke Chart on-line, and when you see an offending vessel, record a video of at least three minutes continuously and email it to mi1ohps1@mardep.gov.hk
Designing Hong Kong Limited is a not-forprofit organisation devoted to promoting sustainability, quality of life and good design as core values in planning, development and governance. Its aim is to increase public awareness and to improve Hong Kong’s collective ability to plan and deliver a ‘beautiful’ city. It promotes collaborations on interventions wherever it sees bad planning and wherever it sees that policies or institutions are not working the way they should. Designing Hong Kong is a member of the World Urban Campaign by UN-Habitat.
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MARKETPLACE
34 | hongkongliving.com To advertise, email talk@hongkongliving.com or call 2776 2772
PETS
Ask a vet... Dr Pauline answers your pet questions this summer What should pet owners be more concerned about during the summer? With summer comes a bunch of hazards that can affect or kill our pets. Commonly seen by our ER vets include: • Animals coming across and getting bitten by wildlife including snakes, mosquitoes, ticks, bees and other flying insects. • Overheating/heatstroke can quickly lead to dehydration and a life threatening situation. Always bring drinking water for your pet and never leave them unattended in the car. • Hot surfaces like pavements and hot sand can burn your pets feet. Also watch out for hose pipes that have been in the sun, as the water inside can be very hot. • Drowning, animals often jump or fall into swimming pools to cool off and drown because they cannot get out. • Thick manky fur coats, ensure your pet is clean and well-groomed and take care if you cut it off. Do not remove too much as the coat also helps prevent sunburn to the skin. • BBQs, as scavengers, your dog may eat too much or ingest fatty foods like ice cream causing an upset gastrointestinal system. Cooked meat bones and sweetcorn can also cause choking or get stuck in parts of the
body, and meat skewers or toothpicks can kill if they pierce vital soft areas especially in the intestine. How long can dogs lay in the sun before it’s dangerous? Normally dogs love sunbathing, but for how long before it gets dangerous depends on many things. Most important is their in-built temperature control system in an area of their brain called the hypothalamus. This internal thermo-regulating area has the ability to maintain body temperature within certain limits (38-39.5C). Problems arise when the surrounding environmental temperature equals the dog’s body temperature and it becomes difficult for the dog to lose heat naturally. If you see your dog panting, drooling and trying to get a cooler space they should naturally move out of the sun’s rays. Heat stroke can kill a dog in as quickly as 10 minutes, if there are reasons they cannot thermo-regulate. If your dog is elderly, ill or has a thick fur coat I would recommend sunbathing is monitored carefully or restricted to cooler times of the day, if ever.
marketplace To advertise, email talk@hongkongliving.com or call 2776 2772.
What to plant in
August
Weather facts: - Average high temperature: 32.2°C - Average low temperature: 26.7°C - Average rainfall: 432 mm (17”) - Average rainfall days: 16.9 days - Average sunshine hours: 6.1 hours With the midsummer month’s dream forthcoming, August represents a meager cooldown from July’s peak sizzling weather, granted it’s still a tad too hot for most. With social distancing measures in place, there is no better time to tend to our gardens and enjoy the fresh air from the comfort of our own home. The key practice this month is to inspect your plants or any diseased foliage for any plant diseases carried over by the heat and humidity then dispose of it properly. Like the month before, remember to use disinfectant fluid to protect your seedlings from pests. Monitor weeds as they compete with your plants for nutrients and water, and dig over all vacant ground in your garden to ensure good conditions for sowing seeds in the next few months. Seeds of the following may be sown: mustard and cress, Chinese spinach, lettuce, sweet corn, Chinese green and white cabbage, celery, tomatoes and carrots. Short beans sown last month will also require staking. From the hottest to the wettest month of the year, August carries over sudden showers and occasional typhoons shutting everything down. However, as the saying goes, ‘You can’t have a rainbow without a little rain’. May this month reward you with a budding backdrop of captivating crops and flowers for your garden.
By William James Tutcher F.L.S. (1867-1920) Superintendent of Hong Kong Botanical Gardens. Paraphrased from his seminal 1906 work Gardening for Hong Kong.
Got a question for Dr. Pauline? Email editorial@hongkongliving.com hongkongliving.com | 35
BACKPAGE
The land where frogs quack Animal sounds around the world are a minefield for a travelling author. By Nury Vittachi IT WAS ONE of the weirdest bits of news I ever had to break. “Something unusual is infesting the earth under our apartment block,” I told my neighbour. “I think it’s a herd of cows.” Below our building and the field nearby could be heard the unmistakable “mooooo” of large cattle. It went on for days. Yet none of my encyclopedias, nor that trusty compiler of oddities, the Internet, had any information on “burrowing cows”. The closest I could get was “ground beef”. The mystery was eventually solved by Georgina Noyce, a columnist who writes about animals. She told me that the Asiatic painted frog does not go ribbit like many frogs, but makes a moo noise like a cow. Echoing underground drains amplify their voices to make them sound loud and terrifying, like karaoke machines do for my banker friend Julian, who used to live upstairs from me until I told him I would take out a court order against his rendition of Achy Breaky Heart. I once had to speak at a school in mainland China, and began an extremely long story with plot-points which hinged on animal noises. In the tale, a chicken makes its normal buk-buk-buk noise, which is heard by the characters as “book, book, book”. A frog makes its usual ribbit-ribbit-ribbit noise, which is heard as “read it, read it, read it”. I was well into the tale when I realised that the 900 kids listening to me had no idea what I was talking about. With horror I recalled that the sound chickens make is not perceived in China as “buk-buk-buk”, but “gordok, gordok, gordok”. Worse still, in that area, frogs quack like ducks. I once sat next to a busy frog pond in Guangzhou which sounded like a convention of Donald Duck impersonators. (Frogs in Germany also quack.) Animal sounds are minefields for a travelling storyteller. In the Philippines, roosters go “tiktilaooo”, in Mexico, “kikiriki”, and in Portugal, “coco-ro-coco”. The prize for Most Accurate goes to Indonesia, where the sound is described as “kukuruyuuu”. And Least Accurate? English speakers (this is not a joke) believe roosters wake up every morning and say “cock a doodle doo”. But Indonesians lose their crown for accuracy when it comes to frogs, which they hear as saying “Tekotek, tekotek”. Huh? English speakers redeem themselves when they describe pig-speech as “oink, oink”. Compare
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that to the Japanese rendering of pig grunts as “boo-boo, boo-boo”. No way. Dogspeak is a highly contentious matter. Indonesian hounds go: “Guk, guk, guk” while Filipino ones say: “Aw, aw, aw” European ones say “wau, wau, wau” but American ones go “woof-woof”. I think I would give the prize for accuracy to the Chinese, who claim dogs say, “houh, houg, houg” and the least accurate to the British, who believe, incredibly, that hounds go: “bow wow”. On my travels, I came across two books on this subject. Everywhere the Cow Says Moo! by Ellen Slusky Weinstein was charming but inaccurate. Bengali cows go “hamba” and Dutch cows say “boeh”, according to a funwith-words book called The Meaning of Tingo by Adam Jacot de Boinod. Are there animals which say the same thing around the world? Yes. Almost everywhere I’ve travelled, the sound a cat makes is described as “meow” or something similar (“miau” in German, “ming” in Tagalog). Oddly, the speakers of Nahuatl, a language in Mexico, hear meow as “tlatzomia” but I think that can be classified under the heading ‘Just Plain weird’. I blame it on the tequila. Anyway, back to the scene at the school in China. So there I was, in mid-sentence, realizing that the story I was telling would make absolutely no sense to my audience. I had no idea what to do. So I simply continued, leaping around and doing animal impressions, extending the story as far as I could. The children roared with laughter. The teacher told me afterwards: “The first time you came, you told them a story. That was okay. But this time you just talked like a crazy man, made no sense. I think they like this better.” Nury Vittachi is an awardwinning author and journalist based in Hong Kong. He is best known for his comedy-crime novel series, The Feng Shui Detective. Contact him via nury@vittachi.com or through his public Facebook page.
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BAR AWARDS | HOME & LIVING | BACK TO SCHOOL
hongkongliving.com
AUGUST 2020
Meet the winners of the Hong Kong Living Bar Awards
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CONTENT S — 0 8 / 2 0
16
COVER STORY
LEGENDS OF THE INDUSTRY
Hong Kong Living’s first-ever Bar Awards, plus exclusive chats with HK’s nightlife titans
4 Contributors Meet our team
6 Snapped Life on Hong Kong Island
8 THE PLANNER 10 things to do at home during Covid-19
10 HK education
12 News
33 Designing Hong Kong
The lowdown on local news
How you can become a smoky vessel spotter
30 Dining NEWS Eat well, stay safe and support your local businesses
32 Home and Living
35 Pets & gardening Monthly news on homely matters
36 Backpage
Your summer home decorating guide, made easy
Nury Vittachi lightens the mood
How Baker & Blooms invigorating education program taps into creative mindsets, for the fullest potential
11 Must haves
33 30
With school in September around the corner, it’s time to start packing
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“Alcohol may be man’s worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy.” ~ Frank Sinatra
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EDITOR’S LETTER We are just over the halfway mark of the year and here we are again, a third wave. Whether we like it or not, things are out of control, but once we accept it, this is where we can grow the most and where true happiness starts to blossom. And that is what this issue embodies. This month we shot our most impressive cover story to date at the iconic Dragon-i with some of the biggest movers and shakers of the bar industry, who came together just as the latest round of F&B restrictions kicked in. A huge thank you to our cover stars Gilbert Yeung, Jonathan Zeman, Noel Smyth, Lorenzo Antinori and some of the city’s newest nightlife entrepreneurs for taking the time to join us with all smiles - knowing that their evening service (and for some their entire venue) would close for business the very next day. This powerful and inspiring shoot comes off the back of our first-ever Hong Kong Living Bar Awards (page 16) and this is where we thank you, Hong Kong, for your 14,000plus votes to celebrate those who make our nightlife and hospitality community worldclass. It will serve as a huge moral boost for those doing it tough. We implore you to show your support for these fine establishments once life gets back to some sort of normalcy. At Hong Kong Living, we will be sticking to our brand ethos of spreading joy to our home city in the form of good news, positive points to focus on.
Editorial Editor-in-chief Nicole Slater, nicole@hongkongliving.com Editor Melanie Cox, melanie@hongkongliving.com Senior Staff Writer Charmaine Ng, charmaineng@hongkongliving.com Editorial Director Gemma Shaw, gemma@hongkongliving.comm Digital Editor Apple Lee, apple@hongkongliving.com
Design Graphic Designer Alvin Cheng, alvin@hongkongliving.com Vicky Lam, vicky@hongkongliving.com
Sales & Marketing Don’t be shy and let us accompany you by grabbing a copy of our magazine as you go about your day. We have 10 things to do at home during Covid-19 (page 8) to get your work from home ball rolling. I stand by my last editor’s letter: let’s make this concept of positivity and community contagious year round.
Director of Content Hilda Chan, hilda@hongkongliving.com Head of Digital Content Isamonia Chui, isamonia@hongkongliving.com Partnership Manager Chrissie Ip, chrissie@hongkongliving.com Elaine Li, elaine@hongkongliving.com
Publisher Matt Eaton, matt@hongkongliving.com
Founding Director Tom Hilditch, tom@hongkongliving.com
Things we love Contact us Admin: 3568 3722 | Editorial: 2776 2773 | Advertising: 2776 2772 Published by Hong Kong Living Ltd, L1 Kai Wong Commercial Building, 222 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong Printer Apex Print Limited, 11-13 Dai Kwai Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, Tai Po, Hong Kong
hongkongliving.com
With limited bar services, some of us may get a little thirsty when the evening hits. The team at Campari have cleverly put together an all-inclusive Negroni Making Kit so you can recreate the ultimate aperitivo treat in the comfort of your own home. $825. metadesign-group.com
Covid-19 update
TERRAOOAK - slow, sustainable, handcrafted goods It’s time to look inwards to our homes and our retreat spaces this month. TERRAOOAK is an online portal for handcrafted homeware and oneof-a-kind accessories, designed and handmade by textile artist Liz L, using earth-friendly fabrics collected over years of travel. terraooak.com
Due to the ever-changing nature of Hong Kong’s Covid-19 rules and regulations, our content may change from the time we go to print to the time you pick up our magazine. While we try to stay as up-to-date as possible please check with local businesses for operation hours and services available and stay safe.
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@hongkongliving @hongkongliving852
HONG KONG hongkongliving.com Hong Kong Living Magazine is published by Hong Kong Living Ltd. This magazine is published on the understanding that the publishers, advertisers, contributors and their employees are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors and omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication. The publisher, advertisers, contributors and their employees expressly disclaim all and any liability to any person, whether a reader of this publication or not, in respect of any action or omission by this publication. Hong Kong Living Ltd cannot be held responsible for any errors or inaccuracies provided by advertisers or contributors. The views herein are not necessarily shared by the staff or publishers. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any way, part or format without written permission from the publisher.
Photo credit: Graham Uden
talk@hongkongliving.com
Campari’s ‘Negroni DIY Kit’
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CONTRIBUTORS THANK YOU GUYS
Graham Uden
Jonathan Zeman
This month’s cover shot comes courtesy of Hong Kong Living’s photographer in residence Graham Uden. The man needs no introduction. A former war photographer, Uden has shot (photographs that is) gun-toting Khmer Rouge soldiers and spent time in the trenches of Afghanistan dodging bullets from the Taliban.
As CEO of Lan Kwai Fong Group Jonathan Zeman oversees some of the region’s leading restaurant and nightlife hotspots. From Hong Kong to Shanghai, Chengdu and all the way through to projects in Phuket, Zeman tells us what it takes to stay on top.
Gilbert Yeung Dragon-i has gained worldwide recognition as the pinnacle of hedonistic partying. As the owner of Hong Kong’s most iconic nightclub, Gilbert Yeung has been an integral part of Hong Kong’s nightlife scene. This month we get a rare glimpse inside the life of the owner of popular night spots Cassio and Tazmanian Ballroom and son of Albert Yeung, chairman of the famed Emperor Group.
Lorenzo Antinori As the beverage ambassador for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in Asia, Lorenzo Antinori is certainly making his mark on Hong Kong. We catch up with the Four Seasons beverage manager to find out what makes him tick.
Lam Chun-Wai Lam is an industry veteran who started working in restaurants at the tender age of 19. The founder of 65 Peel tells us how his trendy, hole-in-the-wall bar is doing its best to champion Hong Kong craft beer brands - with a locallyinspired food menu to boot.
Renée Boey Renée is the founder of Baker & Bloom, an innovative learning center that offers classes in reading, writing and public speaking. This month we caught up with Boey to learn about Baker & Bloom’s unique style of cultivating children’s creativity and intellectual curiosity.
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Noel Smyth A pioneer of Irish bar culture in Hong Kong, Noel Smyth first opened Delaneys in 1994. With venues in Cyberport, Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui, we sat down to chat with Noel about his rise to be a heavyweight player in Hong Kong’s vibrant hospitality industry.
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PEOPLE
Snapped this month
Yverest Launch Party at Tazmanian Ballroom
Get REDRESSED Pop-up shop 6 | hongkongliving.com
SNAPPED
Lights Out One Year Anniversary
Behind the scenes of our August covershoot at Dragon-i hongkongliving.com | 7
PLANNER
10 creative things to do at home With Covid-19 restrictions back in place, here’s a few tips on how to while away the hours, without going stir crazy
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Cook? Yes, cook Nothing says home-sweet-home better than a freshly cooked meal. Give the delivery guy a day off and get busy in the kitchen - if you have one. Otherwise just call Deliveroo, put it on a plate and pretend you cooked it.
Party, virtually Virtual parties with friends and family may go down as the hottest social activity of 2020. Grab some wine and go online. Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, Facebook Rooms… options aplenty.
Workout If you haven’t joined a YouTube yoga class in 2020, what are you waiting for? There’s literally tens of thousands of free instructional videos online. Otherwise go pro and sign up with a real fitness instructor.
Learn a language Social distancing is the perfect time to pick up a new language, even if it’s just an excuse to have a conversation with a real person.
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Board games Gather your family or friends (no more than four) and let the competition begin. Hong Kong Monopoly will even allow you to finally buy that house on The Peak you’ve always wanted. Probably best to avoid polka dot in the socially-distanced era.
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More TV If you haven’t already hoovered up every single Netflix, Apple TV and Amazon series, it seems you’re still in luck. Grab some mooncakes and settle in.
Redecorate, again Already washed your shoes, rearranged your closet, bleached your white shirts? Why not go big and redecorate your entire house. Get creative while you can.
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WHAT’S ON Find your zen If this Covid-19 business is getting a bit too much, find your happy place. Take some time out to heal your mind and soul through meditation. Breathe in, breathe out.
VIRTUAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT AUGUST Holistic Coaching and Yoga
Join Cristina McLauchlan, founder of The Vibe Tribe, for a series of virtual workouts and online coaching courses to build a stronger foundation, body and mind that can be done in the comfort of your home. linktr.ee/TheVibeTribe
THROUGHOUT AUGUST Sweat with us, digitally
Lululemon goes digital. Dive into the sweat life and stay active with a series of online workouts from some of the city’s top wellness ambassadors. lululemon.com.hk/en-hk
THROUGHOUT AUGUST Balance Health
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Salacious stories With attention spans waning, short stories are all the rage and Kitchen Tiles from Blacksmith Books is worth the investment. Take your pick from 50 real life stories of gamblers, drinkers, masseuses and millionaires from the mean streets of a Sheung Wan bygone era.
Marie Kondo your life If it doesn’t spark joy, it goes in the bin. From clothes to paperwork, there’s no better time to reorganise.
Hong Kong’s premier natural health clinic goes online with a series of alternative and conventional treatments that include meditation, reiki to Qigong. balancehealth.com.hk/
AUG 14
Speed date If online dating wasn’t enough, now we’ve got a video version - it was bound to happen, right? No filter, no date. 8-9pm. Free. getfilteroff.com
SEP 8
Virtual banking Will traditional banking be no more? Learning more about the future of your money at this online event. 11.30-2.00pm. redefininghk.scmp.com
OCT
What’s the new normal? Find out how Covid-19 has impacted the work and if virtual businesses are the future. 11.302.00pm. redefininghk.scmp.com
UNTIL DEC 31 Virtual challenge
Test your abilities on a 7K or 15K virtual race around Shek O. Document your progress on Runner Reg’s app Strava, for a chance to get onto the leaderboard and earn a personally engraved Victorinox Finisher Medal. runnerreg.com
Got an event? We can publish the details. Email editorial@hongkongliving.com hongkongliving.com | 9
HK EDUCATOR
Bloom to your fullest potential Charmaine Ng speaks to Renée Boey, founder of Baker & Bloom, an innovative learning centre offering classes in reading, writing and public speaking for children Baker & Bloom is a K-12 education centre that cultivates creative literacy and entrepreneurial mindsets in kids. Unlike other tutorial centres that cater to standardised tests, its mission and curriculum focus on a child’s long-term success beyond the classroom. Founder and educational director Renée Boey is no stranger to the schools industry. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Education and has worked as a full-time IB English and Humanities teacher whilst organising poetry, debating, creative writing, social entrepreneurship workshops for other educators on the side. Growing up in a boarding school in New Hampshire, Boey was immersed in an environment that gave her the freedom to discover her interests but also the guidance to pursue them in a deep and rigorous way. This inspired her to start Baker & Bloom. “I started the organisation to help Hong Kong students unleash their creativity despite the stress and stifling burden of exams,” she says. There are many centres that focus solely on preparing students to perform on exams and others that focus on play and curiosity. Boey’s aim with Baker & Bloom is to bring
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both of these aspects together. Beyond achievement on tests, she hopes to help kids to see the beauty of a subject, develop a critical mind and have fun making things they choose to, whether it’s a book or a robot. “When students come to class at Baker & Bloom, they tell us how much they enjoy learning here and how it’s different from other places because they have choice or because they find it personally interesting,” says the educational director. “We often hear from parents how their children have become inspired to write more or create their own projects afterwards.”
Computers have rigour; humans have creativity. Without the ability to think creatively, students cannot innovate, adapt to change, or develop new mindsets. This is the mindset that Baker & Bloom follows. “A student’s academic record and grades don’t tell us much about them as individuals, their ability to solve a problem, their empathy for others,” says Boey. Currently, she is currently working with a team of educators in preparation for the opening of a new primary school in 2021. Named Bloom Academy, it will offer a new model of schooling with a mission to cultivate compassionate creators and social innovators. “We want to take our experience offering high-quality teaching and combine it with a progressive pedagogy that promotes student agency. It may be the first of its kind in our city, but I believe lots of people here are ready for new ways to prepare their children for the future.” Learn more about the innovative education services offered at Baker & Bloom by visiting bakerandbloom.com
MUST HAVES
Smooth gel ink ballpoint pen $8 each from Muji muji.com.hk
Printed charge it charger $169 from Typo cottonon.com
Quilted personal planner $590 from Kikki.k kikki-k.com
SCHOOL’S IN
Bento lunchbox $150 from Bamboa bamboahome.com
Back to school essentials by Nicole Slater
Mini metal water bottle Heart leather kids bucket bag $1,160 from Stella Mccartney Kids lanecrawford.com.hk
$119 from Typo cottonon.com
Stationery set $59 from Depesche Ylvi & The Minimoomis petit-bazaar.com
Star 5 colour highlighter pen $40 from Bookazine bookazine.com.hk
Desk set $119 from Typo cottonon.com
Premium bag green $423 from Mi-Pac en.smallable.com
Lazy jungle 13” laptop sleeve $423 from Wouf en.smallable.com
“I Am Very Busy” notebook $117 from ban.do en.smallable.com
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NEWS
CLOCKENFLAP CANCELLED FOR A SECOND YEAR Hong Kong’s biggest music festival Clockenflap has officially been cancelled, again. Festival organiser Magnetic Asia cited the Covid-19 pandemic and international travel restrictions as the reasons for the decision. “It’s impossible to deliver the depth and breadth of Clockenflap festival experience we strive for each year,”
the organiser said in an official statement. This marks the second year that the music festival has been cancelled. Last year it did not go ahead due to the unrest in Hong Kong. Luckily, the dates for next year’s event have already been confirmed for November 26-28. clockenflap.com
COOKIE SMILES LAUNCHES THE ‘LOVE 4 MANDARIN ORIENTAL NAMED LUKE’ CAMPAIGN BEST HOTEL IN HONG KONG
Cookie Smiles, a social enterprise launched by Jo Soo-Tang and Agnes Chin, has launched the ‘Love 4 Luke’ campaign to support 12-year-old leukaemia patient Luke Inkin. Inkin is currently battling childhood leukaemia for the second time after a relapse. The nature of his diagnosis has changed from having cancer in only his bone marrow, to a more rare situation where the disease is in both his bone marrow and central nervous system. Cookie Smiles is now selling Pink Confetti Snaps for $200 per pack to raise funds for the Inkins’ ongoing medical costs, support therapy and travel expenses. cookiesmiles.com.hk
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Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong was the only hotel in the city that has made it onto Travel + Leisure’s list of Top 100 Hotels in the World this year. Mandarin Oriental came in at Number 57 on the annual list, tying with Sabi Sand Game Reserve in South Africa. “We are immensely grateful for the support from all our valued guests, especially during this unprecedented period,” said Pierre Barthes, general manager and Area vice president at Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong. mandarinoriental.com
IN YOUR BACKYARD
NEW SCHOOL YEAR PUSHED BACK AS COVID-19 RAGES ON Many of Hong Kong’s international schools and kindergartens are just weeks away from reopening for the 2020/2021 school year. But with the city battling a third wave of the coronavirus, it was announced that the new school year will be delayed. Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said that schools would begin classes no earlier than August 17. Reopening dates will be announced in time, depending on the development of the pandemic.
TAI O PREPARES FOR FLOODS A rescue and evacuation drill was conducted by the Islands District Council and other government departments in Tai O to prepare the village for floods. In the emergency response plan, when the Hong Kong Observatory forecasts high sea levels in Tai O, an alert will be sent to government agencies and nearby resident and fishing
villages through text messages. An emergency coordination centre will then be set up at the Tai Po Committee Office to plan evacuation, rescue and emergency relief efforts for the affected areas. Resident and fishing representatives will also help relay information to residents to take shelter in safe locations. news.gov.hk
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NEWS
LOHAS MALL SET TO OPEN
INTERNATIONAL BRANDS SAY GOODBYE TO HONG KONG
A new shopping centre in Lohas Park is set to open its first stores this August. The 480,000 square-foot mall will feature a supermarket, restaurants, hair salons, dentist offices, medical clinics, homeware shops, a cinema, an indoor ice rink with several brands making their debut in Hong Kong. All stores are expected to open at the end of the year.
Ethical beauty brand Lush and clothing retailer Topshop are the latest to fall victim to increased financial pressures and tourism slump due to the coronavirus pandemic. Topshop will close it’s 14,000 square feet flagship store on Queen’s Road Central and bid farewell to Hong Kong when its lease expires in October. Lush, known for its fragrant handmade soaps and bath bombs, has
closed its five-storey store on Lyndhurst Terrace but it’s other Hong Kong based locations remain open. The drop in tourist numbers in recent months has led to a great impact on retailers in Hong Kong. Gap has also announced it will close five of its eight shops in the city, while Victoria’s Secret abruptly closed its Causeway Bay flagship store in June.
FLOODING IN SOUTHERN CHINA Flooding from monsoon rain occurs almost every year across parts of China, but the country is now facing some of its worst floods in more than a decade. Heavy rain since the beginning of the month has forced evacuations of about 1.8 million people in 24 provinces, mainly in s Southern China. World Vision Hong Kong is closely monitoring the situation in Southern China and will provide assistance to people in the affected areas. If members of the public would like to make donations to people affected by the floods, call the World Vision hotline at (852) 2394 2394
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COVER STORY
Here’s Cheers After more than 14,000 votes, we’ve got the definitive list of Hong Kong’s top nightlife venues and celebrate those who make Hong Kong’s nightlife world-class. By Melanie Cox 16 | hongkongliving.com
BAR AWARDS
Hong Kong Living is proud to host the firstever Bar Awards celebrating the city’s most outstanding venues and the extraordinary talent that brings them to life night after night. The Readers’ Choice Award is our way to offer a genuine interaction for our readers to acknowledge their favourite establishments throughout the year. Now, raise your glass to the spaces and faces that make Hong Kong one of the best places to bend the elbow on the planet.
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COVER STORY INDUSTRY LEGENDS Gilbert Yeung
Founder Dragon-i, Tazmania Ballroom, Cassio The name Gilbert Yeung is synonymous with Hong Kong’s bar industry. The legendary founder of Dragon-i, Tazmania Ballroom and Cassio has come a long way since his early days of Hong Kong’s colourful nightlife scene. What began with visits to Disco Disco, Hollywood East and Club 97 in his 20’s blossomed into a business empire that includes some of the city’s favourite haunts. For Yeung, there is no better place to set up shop in the nightlife industry than Hong Kong. “The mentality, vibrancy and diversity of people in Hong Kong, mixed in with people from overseas, make Hong Kong’s nightlife scene world class,” he says. After some 17 years of operation, his guest list is a who’s who of celebrities that now includes the likes of Michael Jordan, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, to name a few. But it’s more than just a guest list. Yeung also attributes his success to a group of mentors that have helped him forge a reputation for quality hospitality. “Over the years I have learned so much
from a lot of seniors in this industry – DJs, bartenders, promoters, club managers. Allan Zeman, Nichole Garnaut and Pino Piano are my mentors and have taught me so much,” Yeung says. What Yeung wants to take out from his bars is simple – he only wants to see people enjoying themselves. “Seeing people smile and having fun every
night is my proudest moment,” he says. When asked about his favourite memory as the founder of Dragon-i, Tazmania Ballroom and Cassio. As for the future for the nightlife scene in Hong Kong, Yeung reveals he doesn’t know what will happen, especially after the global pandemic – but whatever the challenge is, he is ready to take on. dragon-i.com.hk
Throughout his highly accomplished career, the LKF heavyweight names one of his professional highlights as the opening of California Tower, the 27-storey flagship building of Lan Kwai Fong, where the group joined forces with Gucci for a pre-opening event that spanned across multiple levels of the tower and included a sit-down dinner, an art exhibition and a party in a pop-up club. Another major achievement for Zeman was the conceptualisation and opening of C Club.
The night club was one of the first venues in Hong Kong to have a well-known international resident DJ and fly in top international guest DJs every few months. With the Group’s popular Japanese restaurant Kyoto Joe recently relocated to California Tower, the opening of new modern Italian restaurant Aria and new bars and nightclubs under the works at the building, there is no slowing down for the nightlife behemoth. lkfgroup.com
Jonathan Zeman CEO Lan Kwai Fong Group
Jonathan Zeman helped to usher LKF Group into a new era. As the largest landlord in the Central nightlife area, the group is also a hybrid entertainment and hospitality brand that oversees property development and investments, F&B offerings, media and marketing platforms. With a major redevelopment of its key California Tower now in full swing, Zeman describes Hong Kong’s nightlife as unlike anywhere else in the world. “Hong Kong is one of the most international cities in the world. We have people who work hard and play hard and lots of people who can afford the finer things in life. “But when you go to parties, there is often a less pretentious atmosphere than you’d find in other big cities like London or New York,” Zeman says. Standing out in the city’s uber competitive entertainment landscape is no easy feat and Zeman sets his standards high. “Do it better than anyone else. Don’t worry about the expense. The customers and the money will follow if you’ve created something amazing.”
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BAR AWARDS BAR OF THE YEAR
EDITORS PICK
The Diplomat As one of the most highly-anticipated bars to open in 2020, The Diplomat is tucked away at lifestyle and dining hub H Code. Known for “reinventing the classics” with its innovative twist on classic cocktails, this is the first concept by award-winning mixologist John Nugent, who led the drinks programme at Lily & Bloom. The Diplomat strikes the perfect balance as an industry favourite tipple bar and for cocktail aficionados alike. thediplomat.hk
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
The Old Man The Old Man needs no introduction. A stylish, intimate, Ernest Hemingway–inspired bar tucked away in Soho, with a reputable scholarly devotion to liqueurs paired with a steely focus on service has led them to a series of accolades under their belt since the opening in 2017 by Agung Prabowo, Roman Ghale and James Tamang in the summer of 2017. It is no wonder our readers chose The Old Man as their favourite bar of the year.
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COVER STORY BARTENDER OF THE YEAR Lorenzo Antinori
Beverage Manager & Beverage Ambassador APAC Four Seasons As beverage manager at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong and beverage ambassador for the hotel brand’s Asia Pacific operation, Antinori attributes much of his success to a good eye for opportunity and an ethos to stay curious in life. Humble beginnings instilled in him a hard working mentality that has seen him craft his skills in cities around the world. “When I was working in a small cafe in Rome, my home town, I would work for eight hours a day serving espressos and cappuccino,” he tells Hong Kong Living. But it was his parents that really allowed him to see what’s important. “My parents are my mentors,” he says. “They’ve taught me important values and have given me the freewill to choose what is best for myself. I am very grateful to be their son.” After making his mark on Asia’s rapidly evolving cocktail scene, Antinori found himself in Hong Kong where he caught the eye of industry veterans and leading mixologists alike. He left his role as head bartender at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, and shifted to Hong Kong and where he continues to make his mark. But it was not an easy task getting himself out of Europe and over to Asia. Working hard is an essential component in becoming successful, but working hard every single day takes dedication and a strong mentality to see the big picture. “Moving abroad and out of my comfort zone at the age of 20 was one of my biggest challenges,” he says. “Being far away from family and childhood friends was the toughest part, but these
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
experiences have shaped my character and helped me to be better as a person and a professional.” For most, arriving in a foreign country and a new continent would be enough to get the nerves going. However, Antinori’s passion to rise up and take on any challenge to overcome tough times proved worthy. He meticulously reshaped the cocktail program in Seoul and as a result, the hotel’s signature bar Charles H. saw a meteoric rise in success, ranking on
Asia’s 50 Best Bar list in its very first year. He’s now quickly taking Caprice Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong down the same route. Just two years after he arrived, Caprice Bar made its debut in Asia’s Top 50 Bars list this year. At the core of Antinori’s foundation, he attributes challenges and getting out of the comfort zones to grow. It seems Antinori’s rise to the top of the global hospitality ladder is only just the beginning. fourseasons.com
Jay Khan
Co-Founder & Beverage Director COA
EDITORS PICK
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Bar veteran Jay Khan has some serious pedigree behind him. Mexican bar COA opened in 2017 as part of Khan’s mission to bring agave spirits to the forefront of Hong Kong’s cocktail scene, boasting an agave menu of 41 pages alongside a cocktail list inspired by the flavours of Mexico using the finest seasonal ingredients. We toast Khan as our Bartender of the Year thanks to earning heavyweight titles such as third place in Asia’s 50 best bars 2020. coa.com.hk
BAR AWARDS BEST HOTEL BAR Darkside
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
Rosewood Hong Kong Our readers have a taste for the finer things in life with the crowning glory of the glitzy Rosewood Hong Kong, Darkside taking top picks for Best Hotel Bar. Darkside offers one of the best bar experiences in town, complete with sultry live jazz performances and glimpses of the stunning Victoria Harbour. The name of the game here is dark, rare aged spirits. The bar stocks vintage cognac aged from oak barrels and a selection of rum, whisky and calvados that span back to the early 19th century. rosewoodhotels.com
Caprice
Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong Perhaps the Four Seasons best kept secret, thanks to its three Michelin-starred restaurant of the same name. From old-school classics to cutting-edge mixology, Caprice Bar at Four Seasons Hong Kong is a stylish and discreet gathering spot. Our pick for Best Hotel Bar comes just in time for its new seasonal cocktail menu - a celebration of flavors from across the globe that includes the likes of the rhubarb, grapefruit soda and fig leaf-inspired cocktails. These tasty delights sit alongside its classic menu like the Caprice Martini and the wonderfully delicious Truffle Negroni. Backed by an extensive wine list served alongside freshly imported French cheeses, we raise a very delicious goblet to this Hong Kong classic. As the sun sets over Victoria Harbour, there’s nowhere better to enjoy the glittering lights of Hong Kong’s harbour while knocking back an inspired cocktail to match. fourseasons.com
EDITORS PICK
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COVER STORY NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR Club Rangoon Club Rangoon is the debut launch for owner Nelson Htoo. A Burmese-inspired restaurant helmed by chef Karisa Cheque and renowned mixologist Jack Byrne, Club Rangoon may have opened its doors just weeks ago, but is already making headlines across the city’s ubercompetitive eatery scene. Located on Aberdeen Street in the heart of Central, Htoo believes the best way to experience a country is through its food and has vowed to serve up a gastronomic journey into the heart of Myanmar. “A lot of people don’t know about Burmese cuisine, it’s not easily accessible internationally. I want to be the one to bring it to Hong Kong,” he says. “So far it’s been amazing, there’s been a lot of education about the menu and about Burmese cuisine. We want people to experience the history, culture and our own personal memories of Myanmar.” Born in Yangon, but having lived in Singapore before relocating to Hong Kong three years ago, Htoo is a newcomer to the hospitality industry. After completing a masters in business management, he made a jump switch and dived head first into a new entrepreneurial food venture.
EDITORS PICK
“I’m a newcomer to the hospitality industry. My dad would always tell me to learn something new every day. This was something I applied to the process of opening Club Rangoon.” The launch has been a personal journey for Htoo, reflected in the venue’s carefully curated interior design. “We have family photographs of my mum and grandmother in the restaurant, I wanted it to be a very personal experience.” Opening a new venue during the height of
a pandemic has naturally come with its own set of challenges, but Htoo remains optimistic. “This pandemic has really tested the limits of creativity amongst entrepreneurs, demanding out-of-the-box solutions across all industries. It’s been a moment of reflection too for all. “We’re very grateful to be in a situation now that allows us to open and we are of course remaining vigilant during these times. The best way to learn is by just going out there and doing it.” clubrangoon.com.hk
The Blind Pig Sport is all about the atmosphere, the camaraderie and the beauty of the game itself. And that’s why it’s all about finding the right venue to watch the game. As sibling to popular gastropub The Salted Pig; The Blind Pig is set on Lei King Wan waterfront offering cool, chillout vibes in a speakeasy style, pub setting. As Newcomer of the Year, this bar is certain to become a staple neighbourhood sports pub favourite.
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD Nelson Htoo
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BAR AWARDS NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEAR
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
Dragon-i Arguably Hong Kong’s most iconic and longstanding night club, Dragon-i is the place to see and to be seen rubbing elbows with celebrities, models and the glitterati alike. With a discerning door policy that reflects its celebrity-heavy clientele, Dragon-i parties are unparalleled to none other in Hong Kong thanks to some of biggest celebrities on the planet gracing owner Gilbert Yeung’s notorious guest list that include; Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Paris Hilton. Serving up contemporary Asian food throughout the day and a stellar vegan dim-sum menu, it is no wonder Dragon-i takes the lead at the forefront of hospitality across Asia as the ultimate lounge and dining experience. dragon-i.com.hk
EDITORS PICK
Cassio A place where premium nightlife and cuisine come together to experience a taste of Europe in the heart of Asia, Cassio is cast away within the second floor of LKF Tower. Expect polished 1950s French Riviera-inspired supper club vibes upon entering that open out to an impressive
terrace. Despite being the much younger sister space to the notorious Dragon-i and Tasmanian Ballroom, Cassio is the place to go for those who enjoy groovy music and quality food that punctuate all hours of the evening. contemporary with a vintage twist. cassio.com.hk
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COVER STORY BEST ROOFTOP BAR
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
Sevva A Hong Kong institution in its own right, Sevva is located on the 25th floor of the Prince’s Building. Founder and creative visionary Bonnae Gokson curated the venue with her passion and inimitable style, infusing it with a soul that is unique in Hong Kong. The restaurant’s 360-degree wrap around terrace offers panoramic views of Victoria Harbour and a front row seat to the city’s many firework displays, so it’s no surprise Sevva won Best Rooftop Bar. While the view may take first place, Sevva’s seasonal cocktail menu will keep you coming back. sevva.hk
EDITORS PICK
Terrible Baby Terrible Baby is so much more than your standard hotel bar. It has become the go-to destination in Kowloon to catch live music, international DJ’s and to shake up an enticing repertoire of sustainable cocktails playing homage to its vibrant neighbourhood in Jordan. This is the bar to checkout for those who wish to have a refreshing change of scenery from their usual waterholes in the city. With a
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performing space, rooftop garden, and music room on the fourth floor of Eaton Hong Kong, this rooftop bar lives up to its quirky name translated from the French phrase ‘enfant terrible’, an expression used in the world of creative arts to describe a usually young and successful person who is strikingly unorthodox or avant-garde. terriblebaby.com
BAR AWARDS BEST INTERIOR DESIGN
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
Iron Fairies Straight out of a (literal) storybook, designer Ashley Sutton’s joint venture with Dining Concepts “The Iron Fairies” transports us to a fantastical world. Step out of Hollywood Road and into Iron Fairies for a journey to fantasy land far far away where 10,000 butterflies on thin copper rods swing from the ceiling and thousands of small iron fairies are scattered around the tables. Expect live jazz and swing bands served alongside creative cocktails by mixologist Joseph Boroski and a hearty menu of wholesome burgers and chicken wings, this is truly a place where the magic happens. diningconcepts.com
EDITORS PICK
Madame Fu Most well known for its instagrammable Afternoon Tea in the Pink Room, Madame Fu strikes the perfect balance of East and West dining and lounge experiences set in revamped colonial police station; Tai Kwun. The venue is inspired by fictional character;
Madame Fu, a socialite who opened a grand salon in Shanghai in the 1930s after living in Paris. The food embodies their ethos serving up contemporary Cantonese cuisine and dim sum alongside western desserts. While the interiors pay homage to Hong Kong’s
colonial past and the European Grand Cafés in Paris set across seven unique and artfully designed rooms with a verandah to relax out on meaning, there is something for everyone to savour. madamfu.com.hk
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COVER STORY BEST HIDDEN GEM Whisky & Words Located on Shin Hing Street in Central, Whisky & Words is a cosy and elegant speakeasy hiding a selection of more than 300 whiskies from around the world. The space was conceptualised for people who already know their whisky, as well as people who want to learn about the spirit in a laid-back setting. Besides serving up a thorough menu of whiskies, the speakeasy also offers regular masterclasses led by brand ambassadors, distillery owners and whisky experts. Keep an eye on its social media platforms about the next masterclass or guest bartender shift. As general manager of Whisky & Words, Alex Pun brings a wealth of knowledge about whiskies and the bar scene in Hong Kong. He helps run the speakeasy on a daily (or nightly) basis and has high praise for the city’s nightlife. “Hong Kong is a small but extremely vibrant place,” Pun says. “You have so many options in the same area, be it specialist drinking dens, cocktail bars, beer pong, shisha or clubbing… whatever pleases you. “Everything is in such close proximity so that you never have to travel far from one spot to
EDITORS PICK Left: Whisky & Words Team - Deven Rajput (Co-Head Bartender), Anmol Gurung (Co-Head Bartender) & Alex Pun (Bar General Manager)
another – something which is always a pain in big cosmopolitans like London, Bangkok and Tokyo.” The small size and geographic advantage of Hong Kong mean that it is easy to run into potential partners-in-crime. “We all have those mates who will turn any peaceful Saturday night into one which you will never forget,” Pun says. For him, the perfect night is an unplanned one. The scene usually starts after a fancy dinner and a few
BEST BEACH BAR
Stockton Perhaps Hong Kong’s worst kept secret winning our Readers Choice Award. Stockton has consistently made the list of Asia’s Best Bars since its inception with award-winning mixologist Suraj Gurung shaping the cocktail program. Stockton is a “secret” whisky bar on Wyndham Street inspired by the halcyon days of late 19th century London. The decor matches a gentleman’s club with hunting trophies on the walls and a menu consisting of over 150 different whiskys. For first-timers; Stockon is most likely to become your new favourite watering hole - but only if you can find it. stockton.com.hk
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
Momentai Momentai Bar & Restaurant is located on the waterfront of Sai Kung offering a sense of escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Enjoy an afternoon overlooking Sai Kung’s waterfront promenade with a cocktail in hand.
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glasses of wine. “Pop by your local favourite for ‘one drink’ which is probably the biggest white lie of the century, run into a few mates and the night will take its own course. “By the time you’re home, you will have no idea how you made it back, or indeed how you ended up in such a state. But hey, it was certainly a good spontaneous night.” whisky-and-words.com
With an array of colourful chairs, a pool table and craft beer collection, it’s the perfect place to unwind after a long day. The restaurant also operates a sister cafe, Joe-San next door. momentai-la.com
BAR AWARDS BEST CONCEPT BAR
EDITORS PICK
Havana It’s fair to say Iuri Martins Volcato is an eternal optimist. As general manager of catering and event management at Lan Kwai Fong’s famous Havana bar, Volcato knows there are positive lessons we can take from the Covid-19 crisis
Coconuts Thai Bar & Grill Famous amongst the expat community, Britishborn chef and owner, Jean Paul Gauci has been cooking and creating culinary concepts in Asia for over three decades. Coconuts Thai Bar & Grill is perched above the sandy shores of Deep Water Bay, serving up modern Thai and Asado food (an Argentinian method of slow cooking meat on an open fire). This open-air restaurant’s laid back Ibiza beach club vibe is the go-to for locals to savour a glass of chilled French rosé over the sounds of the ocean, all conveniently accessible within a 30 minute drive from the city. toptables.com.hk
EDITORS PICK
that has rocked Hong Kong’s nightlife industry. “This is a wake-up call,” he says. “Looking at the positive side of it, service and food have improved, people are working hard and they are working much more carefully.” Winning this year’s Best Concept Bar, Volcato says Havana has managed its way
through the pandemic for one plain and simple reason - an unwavering commitment to customer service. “F&B is all about long-term relationships. If you have done your job in the past, customers will come back and give you the support you deserve.” Volcato’s introduction to the drinks business came in 1993 during a visit to Sitting Duck Bar in Argentina. Within three months of meeting the owners (and with no proper legal documents) he landed the role of weekend manager and has not looked back. He says it was a sense of trust between himself and the owners that sealed the deal and paved the way for a career in hospitality. “Trust is difficult to get and easy to lose if you are not paying attention to what you do,” he says. “But the owners trusted me and that made me who I am today.” A big fan of Las Vegas and Buenos Aires, Volvato understands how trends have changed, especially tastes and the need to create “Instagrammable” moments. It’s one of the big reasons behind its hugely popular drink, The Notorious Che. “It’s a Cuban-smoked cocktail that uses edible bubble technology, Zacapa 23, fresh lemon, orange and a dash of bitters. Beautiful.” havanabar.com.hk
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
Quinary An experience like none other thanks to Diageo World Class 2015 Hong Kong & Macau Champion Antonio Lai at the helm, the Quinary is the quintessential bar for those who wish to have a “Multisensory experience” as stated in their bar ethos. The bar is more like Lai’s science lab showcasing a rotary evaporator
and equipment used for redistilling and slowcooking unique flavoured spirits. Lai’s daring and creative cocktail program has championed Quinary to be a leader in Asia’s experimental cocktail scene with recent accolades such as an impressive #16 on Asia’s 50 Best Bar in 2020 for the fifth year a row. quinary.hk
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COVER STORY BEST CRAFT BEER 65 Peel
Lam Chun-wai
Local craft beer takes centre stage at 65 Peel with brews from Young Master Ales, Moonzen and Citibrew. Opened in 2016, the bar offers an impressive range of Hong Kong craft beer, featuring 12 on tap and more than 50 bottles on the menu. “Hong Kong craft beer rivals those from international microbreweries in many instances, but not everyone is as familiar with the local offerings. I wanted to open a bar to introduce Hong Kong craft beer to more people,” said Lam Chun-wai, the founder of 65 Peel. Lam is an industry veteran who started working in restaurants when he was 19. He pivoted his career towards an interest in bars when he discovered his love for local craft beer. “Hong Kong craft beer often showcases playful, locally-inspired flavours that many people are familiar with, such salted lime goose, lemongrass, sugarcane. As a born and raised Hongkonger, these flavours really appeal to me,” said Lam. Coming from a culinary background, the bar owner has swapped out the typical pub grub in favour of fusion Chinese dishes. A highlight from the food menu includes cha siu faan, a staple Hong Kong meal reinvented with Spanish Iberico pork. If you pronounce the Chinese moniker of the bar, it’s similar to the F-word in local dialect or an expression that means the bar is really cool. “Everything we do is to create a fun and casual environment. Many Hongkongers have a very busy lifestyle. Here is a space where people can come in, loosen up and have a good time,” said Lam.
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READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
Second Draft Second Draft is Tai Hang’s neighbourhood gastropub offering East-West fusion flavours originally curated by Chef May Chow, alongside an impressive list of innovative craft beers. As the brainchild behind TAP and
EDITORS PICK
Young Master Ales, you can expect nothing but a great community vibe to experience the tastes of Hong Kong in a cool setting thanks to interiors resembling old Hong Kong and the ferry pier.
BAR AWARDS BEST PUB
EDITORS PICK
Delaney’s The Irish Pub Irish pubs have long been a staple of Hong Kong’s hospitality sector and publican Noel Smyth has been at the centre of it all. As managing director of Delaney’s, Smyth is the man behind the bar which essentially introduced Irish bar culture to Hong Kong. It was of course Delaney’s which opened the first Irish pub in Hong Kong back in 1994 and since then has continued to deliver an authentic Irish experience. With venues located in Cyberport, Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui, the bars have become favourites for local foodies and lovers of whisky and damn good beers.
traditions, mixed with a dash of a millennial mindset has helped steer Delaney’s through troubled waters. “There have been many challenges and no doubt many more to come,” Smyth says. “Be it red tape on construction, banking, licensing issues, staffing problems and of course the last 12 months in Hong Kong... it’s never all that bad. “There is light ahead of the tunnel, it’s just hard to see sometimes. But you have the power to change what may look like a disaster into something more manageable.” As this year’s Readers Choice winner of Best Bar Concept, the accolade is icing on the cake and confirms that its commitment to customer service has paid off handsomely. “Providing an experience every time doesn’t necessarily involve reinventing the wheel every time but ‘making the effort’ and those little small touches go really far,” Smyth says. delaneys.com.hk
As for Smyth, it seems he was always destined for a career in hospitality. His dad was a career hotel man and a legend in the industry back in Ireland. Following in his footsteps was the natural thing to do. “He walked so tall and was respected by everyone. I really looked up to him from an early age and while the thoughts of saving a woman from a burning building or flying a plane was cool, the hospitality industry just screamed out to me,” he told Hong Kong Living. Running a pub for some 25 years in a city that devours new venues in a heartbeat is no easy feat. But a healthy mix of old school Irish
The Globe Hong Kong original gastropub is a definite crowd pleaser and a neighbourhood favourite. Taking the Best Pub award with its great service, value for buck and perhaps serving the best pie in Hong Kong. The Globe is Hong Kong’s response to the many gastropubs in London with a warming environment and wholesome pub grub menu alongside a wide rotating selection of ales and lagers from around the world meaning there is always something new to pick. Tucked away on Graham Street, this pub is the place to go for British fair since its opening over 15 years ago that attracts locals and expats from all over around the world. theglobe.com.hk
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DINING NEWS
Dining News — SUMMER COCKTAILS — cold cuts, cheese and snacks. Don’t miss the restaurant’s new tropical flavours, which includes Longan Potion, made with longan-infused Absolut Vodka and fresh lime juice; and Manzana Acida, a concoction of Lola & Vera, Quenz Hierbas, Estrella Cordial finished off with apple syrup. UG/F and 1/F, C Wisdom Centre, 35-37 Hollywood Road, Central. rubia.hk
Red Sugar Travel back in time with Red Sugar’s new cocktail menu ‘Our Little Time’, which showcases a collection of concoctions inspired by the post-war era of Hong Kong. Kerry Hotel’s popular rooftop bar has launched 11 new cocktails, all presenting key elements from the 60s to 80s. The terrace bar, overlooking the Victoria Harbour, has also just launched a new Sundown Sessions available every Saturday and Sunday for two hours of freeflow bevvies and tapas. Level 7, Kerry Hotel, 38 Hung Luen Road, Hung Hom. shangri-la.com
Zuma This summer, Zuma is launching its first-ever bottled highball in collaboration with Japanese distillery Nikka and artisanal local craft mixers brand Carbonation. The limited-edition bottled Zuma Yuzu Highball is a refreshing and fizzy cocktail with a pronounced flavour of Japanese yuzu, rounded out with a kick of Nikka Coffey
Grain Whisky and green apple. Meanwhile, the modern izakaya is also offering two new cocktails that combine Japanese flavours with the unique characters of Casamigos tequila. Named Bajiru Smash and Shapu, the new drinks will be served with a selection of tempura curated by Asia’s corporate executive chef Oscar Luzon de Arcos, available from July 17. Level 5&6 Landmark Atrium, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central. zumarestaurant.com
Maison Libanaise To welcome summer, Black Sheep Restaurants’ Lebanese canteen is bringing back its ‘Frosé All Day’ special. Made from churned frozen rosé wine and fresh raspberry purée, then topped with a sprig of vibrant mint, frosé is available all day by the glass. Guests can take the celebration further and enjoy an exclusive food and drinks pairing on the roof of the restaurant, with two glasses of vibrant frosé alongside a hearty lamb manoushe to share between two. The offer is available on weekends and public holidays from 3-7pm.10 Shelley Street, Central. maisonlibanaise.com.hk
Rubia Known for its exceptional steaks and tapas, Rubia’s relaxed, taberna-style, ground floor bar makes it the perfect place for after-work drinks. Its new two-for-one happy hour features Galician draught beer and cider, new cocktails and a dedicated gin selection to pair with local Spanish
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Doubleshot by Cupping Room Perched on Hollywood Road in Central, this much-loved all-day dining establishment has launched a new series of featured cocktails to accompany its signature staples of caféinspired drinks. The new cocktails are intricately constructed and visually stunning, taking inspiration from Asian culture. Notable drinks include Jungle Fever, made with a delicately piped passion fruit foam that brings out tangy and sweet tropical flavours; and West Village Sour, a modern interpretation of a classic whisky sour made of a smooth combination of bourbon, and sweet and sour cherry. Don’t miss Doubleshot’s happy hour on weekdays from 4pm to 7pm, where all cocktails are half price when paid for by 5pm, 40 percent off when paid for by 6pm, and 30 percent off when paid for by 7pm. 1/F, Hilltop Plaza, 49 Hollywood Road, Central. doubleshot.hk
DINING NEWS
— NEW RESTAURANTS —
Foodie picks of the month With social restrictions picking up, here’s our top picks of the month on how to hatch down with a full belly in the day or take it away.
Stay Baked at dinner
Ando
Soil to Soul
Former Haku chef Agustin Balbi has joined forces with Jia Group to open his first standalone restaurant, Ando. The new restaurant pays homage to Balbi’s roots from Spain and his culinary training in Japan. 1F Somptueux Central, 52 Wellington Street, Central. andohk.com
Soil to Soul is K11 MUSEA’s latest opening, serving contemporary Korean vegetarian cuisine inspired by the country’s temple food. The restaurant’s focus is on traditional vegetarian Korean recipes using natural, organic and plantbased ingredients, based on a food philosophy dating back a thousand years to the Goryeo dynasty. Helmed by certified temple food master chef Gu Jin Kwang, who previously worked under renowned Korean Buddhist nun WooKwan, Soil to Soul’s menu includes nourishing lunch sets, six and eight-course tasting dinners, along with a variety of à la carte selections, bar snacks and drinks. Make sure to try out its ginseng salad, turnip dumpling and mung bean pancake. 704, 7/F, K11 MUSEA, Tsim Sha Tsui.
Dim Sum Library Aqua Restaurant Group has opened its second Dim Sum Library restaurant nestled within Elements Mall. Guests will find a host of new dishes at the West Kowloon location including pan-fried Sichuan cod bao, lobster dumpling with Tianqi herbs and pan-fried Chinese yam cake. What’s more, the Cantonese restaurant is celebrating the opening of its second outpost with four new xiao long bao flavours. Available until September 20, the limited edition flavours include Sichuan chilli, beef brisket, Singaporean-inspired bak kut teh and kombu and bonita. Shop 1028B, Water, Elements, 1 Austin Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. dimsumlibrary.com.hk
With an an hour waiting list every weekend, foodies can rejoice knowing that Baked is now open for dinner and take-out. The popular bakery and all-day dining venue founded by chef proprietor Zahir Mohamed will be serving up a new dinner menu offering small and sharing plates alongside daily specials. Savour creative cocktails and a chance to snap up a whole new set of delectable instagrammable dishes. bakedhongkong.com
Sake Central Sake Central has reinvigorated its menu with a daily set lunch menu available for dine-in. Those living and working in Central can enjoy food delivered straight to their doorsteps through Deliveroo until 10pm. You can also order food and sake directly from the restaurant all day. PMQ, S109-S113, Block A, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central. sake-central.com
Mr. Ming’s Chinese Dining Situated at K11 MUSEA, Mr. Ming’s Chinese Dining is the go-to hotspot when searching for a fresh take on traditional Chiu Chow, Shantou and Chaoshan fare. As the latest joint venture between Ming Fat House (Foxglove, Dr. Fern’s Gin Parlour, Frank’s Library) and Pak Loh Chiu Chow Restaurant by BUICK Management, Mr. Ming’s offers a fresh take on traditional Chinese recipes with no artificial ingredients or preservatives added. The menu is spearheaded by Executive Chef Hui Mei Tak, one of the most respected Chinese cuisine chefs locally and regionally, who was crowned one of the ten best chefs in China. 113A, 1/F, K11 MUSEA, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. mingfathouse.com
Plants & Protein This one goes for the gym junkies and health afficenados. Plants & Protein is your neighbourhood friendly, one-stop-shop for a healthy grab and go meal packed with protein. With a menu designed to fit your typical Hongkongers bustling lifestyle, the goal is to serve ‘So Fresh’ every day with unprocessed and non-GMO ingredients. It’s the perfect pick-up meal for those who want to watch what they eat and how it impacts our planet, all while fueling the body. 87 Wellington Street, Sheung Wan. proteinandplants.com
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HOME & LIVING
5 ways to spruce up your home for summer
Everything you need to know about decorating your space this season. By Charmaine Ng With the coronavirus making a third round in Hong Kong, we’re spending more time than ever at home. This gives us the opportunity to rethink our living quarters as summer comes into season. Harmony Interior Design (harmonydesign. com.hk) prides itself on its ability to create personalised, homely designs. Listening to the concerns of clients, it seeks to answer their needs by providing its expertise in design to bring to life their dream house. Below, Harmony Interior Design shares with us five tips for decorating our homes during summer:
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Add blooms
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Get artsy
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Fresh flowers might be too expensive to buy all the time, but a little mint plant or a beautiful succulent out on the porch can breathe some life into your abode.
A space becomes a home when there is decor on the walls. It doesn’t have to be Vincent van Gogh – family photos and funny paintings also make good choices.
Lights up Use at least three light sources in a
room. With multiple points of light, a space feels bigger, more grown-up with better ambience.
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Show your personality Do you collect figurines? Do you have an affinity for certain brands? Break out your collection and put it on display.
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Stay private You want to feel comfortable at home and having privacy is a big part of that. Do your curtains give you privacy at night? Could they do a better job? If they need a change, try replacing vertical blinds or the colour of your curtains with ones that you like.
Get comfortable with Skandïk Furniture brand Skandïk manufactures and retails furniture online with 30 days free return, one year warranty and free delivery to your door. Inspired by Scandinavian design, its approach to style focuses on simplicity, functionality and comfort. Here are Skandïk’s top tips for buying sofas this summer: Chic armchairs Create your own stylish reading nook. A cosy
armchair with a clean-lined silhouette brings instant vacation vibes to your space. Minimalist loveseats Add a dash of comforting colours and minimalist styles to your space. A loveseat with simple lines and peaceful colours adds a sense of calmness to your home. Classic sofas with contemporary twists A classic sofa with a contemporary twist adds a touch of style – imagine copper-plated solid wood legs or soft-touch velvet textures. Statement corner sofas Offering ample space to stretch out and relax, a comfy statement corner sofa becomes a centrepiece in any living room and a gathering space for large families.
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Multifunctional sofa beds Comfortable sofa beds with click-clack mechanisms are perfect for a summer afternoon nap. Simply press down the backrest in either seating, lounging or sleeping position. Skandïk offers a wide selection of contemporary and quality furniture at affordable prices. Learn more about its products at skandik.co
DESIGNING HK
Smokey Vessels
Designing Hong Kong on how you can become a smoky vessel spotter The residents of Ap Lei Chau, Tin Wan, Wah Kwai, Wah Fu, and Pok Fu Lam, have an excellent view of East Lamma Channel, one of the world’s busiest navigation channels. It serves the ports of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou. In 2014 residents joined a smoky vessel spotter campaign after new legislation was adopted making it an offence to emit smoke as dark as shade two on the Ringelmann Smoke Chart continuously for three minutes or more. The chart is a piece of cardboard with different shades of grey and black printed on it. One can hold up and determine whether a smoke plume is dark enough for prosecution action. Next spotters pull out their phone and record a continuous video of the smoke plume. Thirty-three captains have been successfully prosecuted since. Some 29 cases were determined based on evidence provided by spotters. A total of $70,500 in penalties were imposed. It was recently proposed that the government install cameras along the East
Lamma Channel as part of its Smart City concept. Combined with data recorded by the Marine Department’s Vessel Tracking System there should be adequate evidence for enforcement. For now, smoky vessel spotters will need to continue sending reports to the Harbour Patrol Unit of the Marine Department. These reports help direct their vessels to check out offenders. A thorny issue is heavy smoke of any colour other than dark grey. How do we know it is not polluting? For those cases it is the responsibility of the Environmental Protection Department. The Air Pollution Control (Fuel for Vessels) Regulation came into force on January 1 2019 and mandates vessels to use compliant fuel (including low-sulphur fuel with sulphur not exceeding 0.5 percent) within Hong Kong waters. EPD officers conduct surprise inspections of bunker delivery notes, operation of machinery, fuel-switch records and fuel samples, after a vessel is at berth. In 2019, EPD inspected 195 vessels and initiated prosecution against three for using non compliant fuel. Owners and masters of
the vessels concerned were convicted by the court and fined $5,000 to $10,000. Do you have a view of the sea, harbour or East Lamma Channel? Join the army of smoky vessels spotters. Find the Ringelmann Smoke Chart on-line, and when you see an offending vessel, record a video of at least three minutes continuously and email it to mi1ohps1@mardep.gov.hk
Designing Hong Kong Limited is a not-forprofit organisation devoted to promoting sustainability, quality of life and good design as core values in planning, development and governance. Its aim is to increase public awareness and to improve Hong Kong’s collective ability to plan and deliver a ‘beautiful’ city. It promotes collaborations on interventions wherever it sees bad planning and wherever it sees that policies or institutions are not working the way they should. Designing Hong Kong is a member of the World Urban Campaign by UN-Habitat.
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MARKETPLACE
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PETS
Ask a vet... Dr Pauline answers your pet questions this summer What should pet owners be more concerned about during the summer? With summer comes a bunch of hazards that can affect or kill our pets. Commonly seen by our ER vets include: • Animals coming across and getting bitten by wildlife including snakes, mosquitoes, ticks, bees and other flying insects. • Overheating/heatstroke can quickly lead to dehydration and a life threatening situation. Always bring drinking water for your pet and never leave them unattended in the car. • Hot surfaces like pavements and hot sand can burn your pets feet. Also watch out for hose pipes that have been in the sun, as the water inside can be very hot. • Drowning, animals often jump or fall into swimming pools to cool off and drown because they cannot get out. • Thick manky fur coats, ensure your pet is clean and well-groomed and take care if you cut it off. Do not remove too much as the coat also helps prevent sunburn to the skin. • BBQs, as scavengers, your dog may eat too much or ingest fatty foods like ice cream causing an upset gastrointestinal system. Cooked meat bones and sweetcorn can also cause choking or get stuck in parts of the
body, and meat skewers or toothpicks can kill if they pierce vital soft areas especially in the intestine. How long can dogs lay in the sun before it’s dangerous? Normally dogs love sunbathing, but for how long before it gets dangerous depends on many things. Most important is their in-built temperature control system in an area of their brain called the hypothalamus. This internal thermo-regulating area has the ability to maintain body temperature within certain limits (38-39.5C). Problems arise when the surrounding environmental temperature equals the dog’s body temperature and it becomes difficult for the dog to lose heat naturally. If you see your dog panting, drooling and trying to get a cooler space they should naturally move out of the sun’s rays. Heat stroke can kill a dog in as quickly as 10 minutes, if there are reasons they cannot thermo-regulate. If your dog is elderly, ill or has a thick fur coat I would recommend sunbathing is monitored carefully or restricted to cooler times of the day, if ever.
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What to plant in
August
Weather facts: - Average high temperature: 32.2°C - Average low temperature: 26.7°C - Average rainfall: 432 mm (17”) - Average rainfall days: 16.9 days - Average sunshine hours: 6.1 hours With the midsummer month’s dream forthcoming, August represents a meager cooldown from July’s peak sizzling weather, granted it’s still a tad too hot for most. With social distancing measures in place, there is no better time to tend to our gardens and enjoy the fresh air from the comfort of our own home. The key practice this month is to inspect your plants or any diseased foliage for any plant diseases carried over by the heat and humidity then dispose of it properly. Like the month before, remember to use disinfectant fluid to protect your seedlings from pests. Monitor weeds as they compete with your plants for nutrients and water, and dig over all vacant ground in your garden to ensure good conditions for sowing seeds in the next few months. Seeds of the following may be sown: mustard and cress, Chinese spinach, lettuce, sweet corn, Chinese green and white cabbage, celery, tomatoes and carrots. Short beans sown last month will also require staking. From the hottest to the wettest month of the year, August carries over sudden showers and occasional typhoons shutting everything down. However, as the saying goes, ‘You can’t have a rainbow without a little rain’. May this month reward you with a budding backdrop of captivating crops and flowers for your garden.
By William James Tutcher F.L.S. (1867-1920) Superintendent of Hong Kong Botanical Gardens. Paraphrased from his seminal 1906 work Gardening for Hong Kong.
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BACKPAGE
The land where frogs quack Animal sounds around the world are a minefield for a travelling author. By Nury Vittachi IT WAS ONE of the weirdest bits of news I ever had to break. “Something unusual is infesting the earth under our apartment block,” I told my neighbour. “I think it’s a herd of cows.” Below our building and the field nearby could be heard the unmistakable “mooooo” of large cattle. It went on for days. Yet none of my encyclopedias, nor that trusty compiler of oddities, the Internet, had any information on “burrowing cows”. The closest I could get was “ground beef”. The mystery was eventually solved by Georgina Noyce, a columnist who writes about animals. She told me that the Asiatic painted frog does not go ribbit like many frogs, but makes a moo noise like a cow. Echoing underground drains amplify their voices to make them sound loud and terrifying, like karaoke machines do for my banker friend Julian, who used to live upstairs from me until I told him I would take out a court order against his rendition of Achy Breaky Heart. I once had to speak at a school in mainland China, and began an extremely long story with plot-points which hinged on animal noises. In the tale, a chicken makes its normal buk-buk-buk noise, which is heard by the characters as “book, book, book”. A frog makes its usual ribbit-ribbit-ribbit noise, which is heard as “read it, read it, read it”. I was well into the tale when I realised that the 900 kids listening to me had no idea what I was talking about. With horror I recalled that the sound chickens make is not perceived in China as “buk-buk-buk”, but “gordok, gordok, gordok”. Worse still, in that area, frogs quack like ducks. I once sat next to a busy frog pond in Guangzhou which sounded like a convention of Donald Duck impersonators. (Frogs in Germany also quack.) Animal sounds are minefields for a travelling storyteller. In the Philippines, roosters go “tiktilaooo”, in Mexico, “kikiriki”, and in Portugal, “coco-ro-coco”. The prize for Most Accurate goes to Indonesia, where the sound is described as “kukuruyuuu”. And Least Accurate? English speakers (this is not a joke) believe roosters wake up every morning and say “cock a doodle doo”. But Indonesians lose their crown for accuracy when it comes to frogs, which they hear as saying “Tekotek, tekotek”. Huh? English speakers redeem themselves when they describe pig-speech as “oink, oink”. Compare
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that to the Japanese rendering of pig grunts as “boo-boo, boo-boo”. No way. Dogspeak is a highly contentious matter. Indonesian hounds go: “Guk, guk, guk” while Filipino ones say: “Aw, aw, aw” European ones say “wau, wau, wau” but American ones go “woof-woof”. I think I would give the prize for accuracy to the Chinese, who claim dogs say, “houh, houg, houg” and the least accurate to the British, who believe, incredibly, that hounds go: “bow wow”. On my travels, I came across two books on this subject. Everywhere the Cow Says Moo! by Ellen Slusky Weinstein was charming but inaccurate. Bengali cows go “hamba” and Dutch cows say “boeh”, according to a funwith-words book called The Meaning of Tingo by Adam Jacot de Boinod. Are there animals which say the same thing around the world? Yes. Almost everywhere I’ve travelled, the sound a cat makes is described as “meow” or something similar (“miau” in German, “ming” in Tagalog). Oddly, the speakers of Nahuatl, a language in Mexico, hear meow as “tlatzomia” but I think that can be classified under the heading ‘Just Plain weird’. I blame it on the tequila. Anyway, back to the scene at the school in China. So there I was, in mid-sentence, realizing that the story I was telling would make absolutely no sense to my audience. I had no idea what to do. So I simply continued, leaping around and doing animal impressions, extending the story as far as I could. The children roared with laughter. The teacher told me afterwards: “The first time you came, you told them a story. That was okay. But this time you just talked like a crazy man, made no sense. I think they like this better.” Nury Vittachi is an awardwinning author and journalist based in Hong Kong. He is best known for his comedy-crime novel series, The Feng Shui Detective. Contact him via nury@vittachi.com or through his public Facebook page.
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