End-of-year Cheer: Hong Kong’s hottest parties to ring in the New Year

In the midst of the Christmas rush, one may be preoccupied with finding the perfect gift for their sweetie, or perhaps, presenting the kids with the magic of Santa, or even opting for a larger size of Christmas feasting jeans; so it’s forgivable to have lost track of time and put New Years Eve plans on the back burner. If you are, indeed, yet to find the perfect party to count down to the Year of the Pig, don’t fret. Here at Gafencu, we’ve checked our list once – twice – three times, and have gathered together the most luxurious dinners and parties to ring in 2019.

Fang Fang

Acclaimed Hong Kong Chef Wong Tai Po invites guests celebrate the New Year at his modern Asian culinary eatery, Fang Fang. Feast upon shrimp har gau and wagyu dumplings, while always having your glass filled to the brim with their free flow package of spirits, wines, and beer. (Dinner: HK$888; Free-flow package: HK$440)

Hunter and The Chase

Promising patrons the opportunity to ring in the new year with a bang is the newly-opened Hunter & Chase. With its four-hour free-flow Might Night Glam sharing feast – including seasonal oysters, osetra caviar, lobster tail and roasted bone marrow – we’re sure your last meal of the year will be one to remember, if not a reason to make an exercise routine a resolution for the year to come. (Dinner: HK$698; Free-flow package: HK$358)

CÉ LA VI

A favourite fixture of Lan Kwai Fong, CÉ LA VI, is presenting a Sunset New Year’s Eve Menu party with a 2-hour seating of four courses of mouth-watering dishes of sushi and sashami platters. Stick around apres-dinner and join other well-dressed patrons for the official New Year countdown at the rooftop bar, replete with red and gold accents, in what is sure to be a glamorously chic celebration. (Dinner: First Seating 6-7:30pm, HK$888. Second Seating from 8:30pm, HK$1,888)

The Pawn

For those wishing to bid adieu to 2019 away from the bustling crowds of Central, Wanchai-located The Pawn is hosting their ‘La Dolce Vita’-themed New Year’s Eve party at their scenic third floor rooftop garden. The party entails a free-flow package of bubbles, cocktails and canapés, live performances, and the promise of more… (Standard: HK$788; At the Door: HK$988)

VEA Lounge

What better way to usher in 2019 than with The Greatest Show? That’s the question that Michelin-starred dinery VEA Restaurant & Lounge is asking would-be patrons. Its circus-themed take on year-end celebrations will see guests eating their fill of inventive Chinese-French snacks, all the while sipping on free-flow sultry special cocktails. Unleash your inner acrobat and swing and sway to the beats of the live DJ as you bid farewell to 2018. (From now til 24 Dec: HK$600; From 25-31 Dec: HK$680; At the door: HK$740)

Text: Bailey Atkinson

Killer parties in town this Halloween

It’s that time of the year to embrace your darker side! Halloween’s round the corner and here are our top picks from the hippest parties and the coolest restaurants:

CÉ LA VI

LKF’s popular party destination, CÉ LA VI, is all geared up for a killer party – A Night to Dismember – to celebrate Halloween this Saturday, 28 October. Offering a bird’s eye view of the city from the 25^th floor Club Lounge and Sky Deck bar, the venue is sinfully enticing to the lovers of glam and gore. DJ Bennie Blanco and DJ Fudge will be spinning well into the night for the monster’s ball where guests dressed in their Halloween best can ‘raise hell’ with their dance moves. On offer are poisons like Angel’s Blood (HK$118), Black Widow (HK$118) and Toxic Mary (HK$108).

25/F, California Tower
Lan Kwai Fung
28 October, 9pm onwards
Dress code: Frightfully fabulous or fiendishly fun
Cover charge:
Advance Early Bird Tickets: HK$150
Early Bird Tickets: HK$200
At the Door: HK$250
Tickets are available on Ticketflap

Dada Bar + Lounge

Dress up in your ghoulish best and find out ‘who’s the fairest of them all’ at Dada Bar + Lounge this Saturday, 28 October. There are special prizes for whoever is announced a winner by the magic mirror in the house. Body painter Jay’s handiwork and DJ Marina D’s haunting music promises to make things even more devilishly exciting. The lounge also has on offer drinks like Sinister Ooze (HK$90), Piledriver (HK$90) and E.T. Lou (HK$50/shot), specially crafted to give you goose bumps.

2/F, The Luxe Manor
39 Kimberley Road, TST
28 October, 10pm onwards
Cover charge: HK$180 per person (including free makeup service)
For reservations, visit http://www.dadalounge.com.hk/reservations.php

Gaucho

For those looking to start their parties early can head to Gaucho this weekend. The posh restaurant at Central celebrates Halloween with a weekend-long brunch featuring devilicious items like traditional empanadas, ceviches and succulent steaks. There is a special kid’s menu for the munchkins and minions as well. The surprise doesn’t end there! Gaucho has also organised special prizes for the best-dressed group on Saturday and four complimentary tickets to Ocean Park (2 adults, 2 children) for the best-dressed family on Sunday.

5/F, LHT Tower
31 Queen’s Road Central, Central
28-29 October, 11am – 4pm
Prices start from HK$350 per person (HK$100 per child)
For reservations, visit http://www.gauchorestaurants.com.hk

Jinjuu

It’s double the fun at Jinjuu’s this Saturday. Celebrating “Cirque du Jinjuu: Hour of the Dark Twins” on 28 October, Jinjuu calls out to the two-faced Janus in each of us. With ‘best-dressed pair’ competitions, free-flowing spirits, Korean fare by celebrity chef Judy Joo, Jinjuu promises to spice up things two times over! Things may take a wilder turn post 1am, with drink prices dropping to just HK$60.

UG/F, 32 D’Aguilar Street, Central
28 October, 11pm onwards
Advance tickets: HK$350
At door: HK$400
For details, call 3755-4868

Ms B’s Cakery

Moving over to the dark side can be a sweet experience as well! Asia’s Queen of Confectionery, Bonnae Gokson, has created special Halloween-themed cakes to make the scariest night of the year a tad sweeter. Cakes like Happy Halloween, Death by Chocolate, Halloween Taster are decadent indulgences especially designed to tempt you to lost paradise.

Halloween Taster: HK$60 each
Death by Chocolate: HK$5,200 for 1,000gm
Happy Halloween: HK$880 for 500gm, HK$1,500 for 1000gm

Ms B’s Cakery
Shop 248, Landmark Prince’s
10 Chater Road, Central
Tel: (852) 2530 0203

Ms B’s Cakery
39 Gough Street, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2815 8303

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

Seafood sensations: Must-try dishes from Cé La Vi’s new spring menu

Asian Fusion restaurants are a dime a dozen in Hong Kong, and as such, it takes a truly special mingling of flavours and ingredients to tantalise the tastebuds and keep diners coming back for more. A nice view of the city skyline doesn’t hurt, either.

Located on the rooftop of the California Tower in Lan Kwai Fong, Cé La Vi has managed to do both. The restaurant, which opened in Hong Kong about a year-and-a-half ago following the success of its Singapore and Bangkok locations, just unveiled its new spring seafood menu. Ideal for sharing among friends, each dish is elegantly plated and made from the freshest ingredients. There is also an emphasis on healthy ingredients, including more gluten-free dishes.

These innovative creations come courtesy of Korean-American executive chef Kun Young Pak, who trained as a sushi chef from the age of 17. He finds inspiration not just in Japanese dishes, but also in Korean and modern Asian cuisine.

Here are a few must-try dishes from the spring seafood menu:

Tai Sashimi

The Tai Snapper, or sea bream, is the star of the show in this dish. Sliced impossibly thin, the fish is so succulent it seems to melt in the mouth. Chef Pak used techniques he learned while working at Japanese restaurants to create this flavourful dish, which is topped with a yuzu soy gelée, and served with crispy leeks and sesame soy.

Seasonal Seafood Poké

In what resembles an Asian-inspired taco, slices of fresh fish are mixed with a medley of vegetables, which can be scooped onto a crunchy cracker and eaten with your hands. The type of fish varies from month-to-month, but the poké (raw fish salad) often includes farm-raised Japanese tuna, salmon and white fish. This dish is light and refreshing, but far from boring.

Blackened Miso Salmon

This delightful dish was inspired by chef Pak’s memories from Louisiana, a region renowned for its Cajun and Creole cuisine. The Norwegian salmon is marinated for six hours, coated in a mixture of paprika and spices, and pan-seared just long enough to give the top a thin black layer, giving it a deepened flavour. The blackened flavour pairs perfectly with the garlicky mascarpone cream served on the side.

Chocolate Trio

Gluten-free diners (and chocolate lovers) rejoice: This dessert is completely safe to eat. But for those who shrink away from any mention of ‘gluten-free,’ fear not – it’s just as delectable without flour. This sponge cake contains Madagascan chocolate with caramel chocolate, vanilla and white chocolate mousse. Calamansi cream lends a refreshing citrusy flavour to the dessert, and the cake is topped with chocolate ganache.

Text: Emily Petsko

Blinding Date

Cé La Vi, set on the rooftop of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel in Singapore has teamed up with Russia’s World of Diamonds to create the ultimate air, land and sea dating experience for two. It will, however, set you back some US$2 million.

The multimillion-dollar meal begins on a high as the fortunate pair are treated to a 45-minute helicopter ride. Following a quick pit stop on a luxury cruise liner, it’s on to an 18-course modern Asian cuisine dinner via a chauffeured Rolls-Royce, with a surprise awaiting at the final destination – Cé La Vi.

The one-off sumptuous meal has to be eaten, of course, using only diamond chopsticks, complete with engraving of the lucky couple’s names. The meal itself comprises a delightful selection of fresh Belon oysters, Almas caviar and vintage wine.

To fit the occasion, diners will be showered with 10,000 fresh roses to welcome them, while they have the opportunity to enjoy the performance of an accompanying live band, to jazz up the vibe. And, of course, XIII de Rémy Martin cognac will be served immediately prior to the simply obligatory crescendo that is a personal fireworks display.

Then to mark the perfect end to the evening, the lucky lady will be presented with a Jane Seymour 2.08-carat vivid blue diamond ring at the strike of midnight. It is no wonder then that, Karan Tilani, Director of World of Diamonds Group, bills this as the most lavish dining experience ever.