Summer is on it's way to the 852, and the city's bars and restaurants are launching fabulous new menus to keep us cool during the balmy months ahead. From free-flow Champagne brunches to refreshing light dishes with a zesty twist, there's plenty to keep us happy and full until fall.
Bottoms up!
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New Summer Menu at Maison ES
The elegant French restaurant in the heart of Star Street precinct has launched a new summer à la carte menu to keep us refreshed and satiated this season. Created by Chef Esther Sham, who also designed and decorated the venue, the new dishes are inspired by the diverse flavours of Asia and feature an array of superfoods for a healthy spin.
Must-try appetisers include the
Langoustine Carpaccio ($248) which arrives in a martini glass (pictured) and resembles a delightfully playful cocktail, only one made with sweet shellfish, layers of pink grapefruit jelly and chia seeds, calamansi foam, and pearls of ikura. The
Sesame Crusted and Seared Pacific Bigeye Tuna ($168) also provides beautifully balanced flavours, featuring diced avocados tossed in olive oil and lemon juice, crispy shallots, and a topping of kimchi flavoured ice cream to offer a cold and spicy kick. The mains are equally as adventurous, with the
Smoked and Seared Barbary Duck Breast with Crispy Kale, Burdock Purée, and Baby Carrots ($320) completely stealing the show. Seafood lovers should not miss the
Alaskan King Crab Tempura with Linguine ($380) too. Stunning food in a stunning venue – what's not to love.
Maison ES, No. 1A Star Street, Wan Chai, (+852) 2521 8011
New Borracho Brunch at Los Sotano
The funky Mexican basement bar and restaurant with "the best guacamole in Hong Kong" has launched a new monthly themed brunch to get us in the party spirit. The Borracho Brunch invites Hongkongers to sip on free-flow Margaritas, Mezcal Bloody Marys, beer and wine, and tuck into as much tableside guacamole, tacos, quesadillas, and churros as they can handle within a three-hour time limit. Sounds like a challenge? Well, it is.
To add to the whole party atmosphere, the bar's resident DJ will also be spinning the decks, playing all the best hip-hop and pop music from the 90s and early 'noughties' to get you feeling super nostalgic. But be warned, he might also try and get you up on the mic and egg you on to rap, sing, or stumble your way through your favourite hip-hop tunes in an epic karaoke session to round off the brunch. That said, you might struggle to even stand up after scoffing the hugely generous amount of food served at your table!
Los Sotano, 21 D'Aguilar St, Central, (+852) 2970 3887
$495 per person (additional $200 for free-flow Champagne)
Available on the second Saturday of every month
Mother's Day Hotpot at The Drunken Pot
Trendy hotpot joint The Drunken Pot is helping Hongkongers celebrate Mother's Day with the launch of a special
ChrysantheMUM Pot for The QUEEN ($288) which pays tribute to China’s ‘Last Empress’, Dowager Cixi. The legendary Qing dynasty ruler was obsessed with looking beautiful and insisted on having freshly-picked chrysanthemum petals sprinkled on her hotpot to stay young and sexy, therefore guests at the eatery can expect an Insta-worthy display of smooth egg white scattered with edible flowers. The pretty pot can be ordered à la carte or in a set
until May 31, and features four broths including the bestselling
Black Truffle with Assorted Mushroom and
Sichuan-Style Numbingly Spicy Broth, as well as the newly launched
Chinese Herbal Broth.
A hotpot-congee fusion of
Abalone and Chicken Congee sits at the centre of the pot, offering some light relief from the spicy flavours surrounding it. Diners can choose from a vast selection of ingredients to dip, or opt for the
Premium Set ($468 per head/4 pax or above) which features
Piglet Shaped Dumplings, Black Truffle, Shrimp & Crabmeat Dumplings, Foie Gras Minced Pork Balls, Chrysanthemum Squid Balls, and other dippable treats. As always, the signature
Hanging Premium Sliced Angus Beef Short Ribs, Freshly Made Egg Noodles, and
Deep-Fried Homemade Bean Curd and Seaweed Rolls are a delight. And to totally spoil your mum, you can order her one of the
exotic cocktails to boot – the
Roselle Daiquiri ($98) and
The Drunken Mule ($98) are fantastic.
The Drunken Pot, 27/F, V Point, 18 Tang Lung St, Causeway Bay, (+852) 2323 7098
8 Observatory Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, (+852) 2321 9038
New Restaurant J POT by GOSANGO
Another restaurant offering a creative spin on the traditional hotpot is J POT, one of three new restaurants by GOSANGO, all located in the same building on Jaffe Road in Causeway Bay. Veering away from the typical offering, this cool, contemporary eatery invites guests to enjoy an unconventional hotpot experience, which features quirky, music-themed motifs inspired by Taiwanese king of pop, Jay Chau, and unusual hotpot ingredients. Here you will discover sauce spoons shaped like electric guitars, chopsticks that resemble drumsticks, and hollow red drums at the centre of your table where the hotpot sits. To enjoy the true quirkiness of J POT, it's best to opt for the tasting menu ($498 per person) rather than go à la carte. That way you will find items like homemade pasta (yes, pasta) on the menu, along with surprising appetisers like Seafood Carpaccio and Wagyu Beef and Gruyère Cheese Spring Rolls to enjoy before the hotpot arrives.
Chef Ken Kwok has whipped up some unique MSG-free soup bases that include Fish Maw, Wagyu Consommé, Sea Urchin Miso, and Sichuan Thai-style Boat Noodle, in which guests can dip a variety of top-quality ingredients including dumplings, leafy vegetables, and fish balls. The real star of the show, however, is the Wagyu which is sourced from one of Japan's oldest and finest meat suppliers, Hiyama. Diners can try exclusive cuts of the beef, which each boast a rich flavour and intense aroma, and – if they are feeling curious – wash it all down with a Cheese Foam Bubble Tea. Overall, this is a fun and refreshing venue, in which to enjoy a non-traditional hotpot with friends.
J POT, 1/F 535 Jaffe Road, Causeway Bay, (+852) 2885 0533
New Felix Brunch Series at The Peninsula
If you're looking for a lavish new brunch spot to while away a Sunday afternoon, then you're in luck, because Felix has launched a decadent new semi-buffet offering to lure us up to the 28th floor of the iconic Peninsula hotel. The spectacular spread features everything you'd expect from a luxury five-star hotel – a live egg station, a mountain of fresh seafood, a luscious green salad bar with cold cuts and dressings, a tower of macaroons and tantalising desserts, and of course, a menu of dreamy signature cocktails created by top mixologist Marko Petrovic. There is also the option to sip on delicious Espresso Martinis on tap at the bar, or enjoy free-flow Peninsula Deutz or Ruinart Champagne for an additional price. But if that's all too much, you can always go down the healthy route and choose from a range of freshly squeezed vegetable and fruit juices.
As well as grazing from the various food stations, diners can also choose one main dish, with options ranging from salmon and wagyu burgers to beef Wellington and risottos, and so on, all beautifully created by esteemed Chef Gomez. They can also venture inside the "Cheese Room" and tuck into a plate of the finest slices and garnishes. And that's not all, as the stylish venue will feature live Latin music every Sunday, ranging from jazz and tango, to gypsy and swing, to help create a fun and energetic atmosphere. With breathtaking views of Victoria Harbour in the background, this is the perfect spot to spoil yourself and enjoy Hong Kong brunching at its finest.
Felix, 28/F, The Peninsula Hong Kong, Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, (+852) 2696 6778
$898 per person (additional $192 for free-flow Peninsula Deutz Champagne, or $382 for Ruinart Champagne)
Available every Sunday from 11.30am to 3.00pm
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