Thursday, January 23, 2014

GOING TO HONG KONG FOR CHINKY NEW YEAR AND VALENTINE'S DAY AND CHAP GOH MEH? GO TO AN AQUA EATERY AND DRINKERY AND HAVE SOMETHING TO WRITE HOME ABOUT!

KEE@FSWMAG.COM
THE AQUA RESTAURANT GROUP IS HONG KONG'S HIPPEST AND MOST HAPPENING CHAIN OF HIGH END AND PRESTIGIOUS EATERIES AND DRINKERIES SO WHEN IN HONG KONG, MAKE A BEELINE TO ONE OF THEM! 



Celebrate Valentine’s Day
with Aqua Restaurant Group

Aqua Restaurant Group has a choice of very special ways to say, ‘I love you’ this Western & Chinese double Valentine’s Day. From glamorous dining with a view or the chicest spot in Central, Europe’s finest romantic cuisines - French, Spanish or Italian in Soho to unconventional and exciting spicy Thai – there is something for everyone!

Armani/Aqua
- Armani/Aqua offers Central’s most glamorous dining destination where ‘Couture meets Cuisine’. The restaurant and its sister nightspot Armani/Privé cannot fail to ‘wow’ for a romantic evening. In anticipation of high demand, the restaurant will be offering its romantic menu on both Friday 14th and Saturday 15th February. Priced at $988 per person, the Valentine’s menu will begin with a specially created cocktail, the Mio Dolce Amore; a martini made with homemade extract of rose petal, fruits of the forest and gin. This will be followed by luxurious dishes including Scampi tartar on Roma tomato carpaccio, Strawberry and port tagliatelle with truffle, Organic Tuscan veal loin with cannellini bean purée and for dessert; Organic strawberries with rosewater jelly and champagne sorbet.

Aqua
- Known for its contemporary Italian and Japanese cuisines, dazzling views of Hong Kong’s harbour and skyline and ultra-stylish romantic interiors, Aqua is a natural choice come the 14th February. The Valentine’s menu includes highlights from the restaurant’s award winning Italian and Japanese kitchens such as Chargrilled black cod and king prawn in moro miso, Ravioli stuffed with burratta in a lobster and truffle sauce and White chocolate and pistachio bavarois. As at Armani/Aqua across the harbour, couples will begin the meal with the Mio Dolce Amore cocktail. The 3-course 6pm to 8:45pm sitting and 5-course 9pm onwards sitting are priced at $1,088 and $1,488 respectively.

Hutong
– Serving contemporary Northern Chinese cuisine, Hutong’s traditionally inspired interiors are set against the breath-taking Hong Kong skyline. As one would expect, Hutong will be celebrating both Chinese Valentine’s Day and St. Valentine’s on the 14th.  Perfect for this Double year, the restaurant has created a luxurious menu for two that will augur a year of happiness and good fortune for the couple. This menu includes the aphrodisiac Green asparagus coated with white sesame and Roasted suckling pig among its starters. Hutong’s well-loved Crispy de-boned lamb ribs and a special dish created for this menu; A half lobster with pork, mushrooms and bean sprouts in a chill sauce are 2 of the 4 main courses on offer. Each table will be gifted with a photograph taken on the evening mounted on the night’s menu and will also have the opportunity to add their Valentine’s wish to Hutong’s famous ‘Wishing Tree’. Priced at $2500 per couple, there is also the luxurious but very well priced option of adding a bottle of Moët & ChandonRosé Impèrial champagne for only $488.

La Marmite
– The French are often credited with being the most romantic nation, so a visit to La Marmite will seem an obvious choice for many. A modern take on the traditional neighbourhood Parisian bistro, La Marmite is unpretentious, informal and naturally romantic. The restaurant’s ‘Saint Valentin’ menu begins with a glass of Veuve Clicquot champagne followed by 5 courses including such classic dishes as Foie Gras Terrine and Lobster Bisque. Without a doubt, the highlight of the meal will be the choice of two magnificent main courses, both to share – A prime Chateaubriand with classic accompaniments or the lighter Whole grilled sea bass served with a saffron sauce and Ricard flambée. A Grand Marnier chocolate mousse will be the fitting conclusion to a perfectly French meal. La Marmite will have two sittings on February 14th, 6:30 to 8:45pm and 9pm onwards; the menu is priced at $580 per person.

Tivo
– Inspired by the neighbourhood trattorias of Milan, Tivo is a less formal but still romantic choice for Valentine’s. Located right at the heart of Wyndham Street, Tivo’s menu starts with a sumptuous Seafood Platter for Sharing including oysters, prawns, smoked salmon, calamari and more, followed by main courses and dessert. Priced at $888 per couple, this meal for 2 includes 2 glasses of Prosecco to begin the evening. Also available is a ‘Sweetheart’s Special’ on Veuve Clicquot champagne, reasonably priced at $628 per bottle. A specially crafted cocktail of cherry brandy, coconut milk, amaretto and vodka topped with chocolate shavings suggestively named, ‘Second Base’ is also available to add oomph to the Valentine’s evening priced at $88 per glass.

Vivo
– This chic and intimate contemporary European restaurant in Soho will be serving a sophisticated 4 course menu, including La Gall Oysters, Cuttlefish salad with smoked squid, Grilled Australian wagyu and White chocolate parfait. Priced at $498 per person, couples are also able to take advantage of the special Valentine’s price of $290 per bottle of Kingstone Estate Shiraz or Chardonnay.

Ayuthaiya
– Couples looking for an alternative Valentine’s menu, and one guaranteed to spice up their evening should look to Ayuthaiya; Hollywood Road’s chic Thai bar, restaurant and lounge. The Valentine’s menu of contemporary Thai dishes will include starters such as Steamed dumplings with red curry salmon or Betel leaf roll with galangal, ginger and peanut followed by a choice of Soup. Main courses will include a King Crab Stir Fry and Braised Lamb Shank and a Mango and coconut custard with sago pudding will be served for dessert. Priced at just $344 per person, this menu will also include a Strawberry Bellini cocktail to start off the special evening.

Zafran
– Zafran; Wyndham Street’s newly opened triple concept restaurant, bar and night lounge is serving a 6 course Valentine’s menu of Spanish persuasion with a glass of Moët & ChandonRosé Impèrial to start. The menu includes Salt cod brandade, cauliflower and Oscietra caviar, Grilled red prawn and creamy seafood rice, Zafran’s signature Suckling pig and Chocolate textures, olive oil & salt for dessert. This evening of love or lust will have diners seated at either the ‘Cupid’ or ‘Classic’ room, showcasing the venue’s unique dual space; 2 rooms, 2 atmospheres and 2 Live DJ’s adding to the fun. Dinner seating is between 7 and 9pm priced at $688. To follow, French Tuesdays is hosting it’s ‘Les Valentine’s Rose’ party to tempt guests to stay on and boogie ‘till late with specials on MoëtRosé & Belvedere cocktails all night.

About Aqua Restaurant Group:
In 2000, former lawyer David Yeo, launched aqua restaurant with a vision to bring some of the chic restaurant buzz of New York, Tokyo and London to Hong Kong. It proved such a phenomenal success that today Aqua Restaurant Group has grown to a formidable culinary empire of 21 groundbreaking outlets which embraces some of Hong Kong’s most innovative destination restaurants including aqua, Armani/Aqua, Hutong, Tivo, Vivo, Ayuthaiya and La Marmite, an award-winning landmark boutique hotel Hullett House, a traditional authentic Chinese junk experience, aqualuna and talk of the town multi-faceted restaurants in London and Beijing. Throughout the years, Aqua Restaurant Group’s fundamental philosophy has remained unchanged; to prepare exquisite food using the freshest, highest quality produce and to prepare it in a way where the true flavours shine. This is coupled with service that is approachable and unobtrusive, and always in a jaw-droppingly stylish environment that features the very best of innovative Asian-inspired contemporary design, right down to the last small details, which has become the hallmark of the Aqua Restaurant Group. In early 2012, David Yeo was awarded ‘Restaurateur of the Year’ by the prestigious World Gourmet Series. This was followed by the ‘Ospitalità Italiana’ award in September 2012 for Best Italian Restaurant in Hong Kong which was presented to aqua by the Italian Chamber of Commerce.
Armani/Aqua’s ‘Scampi tartar on Roma tomato carpaccio’
Armani/Aqua’s ‘Organic Tuscan veal loin with cannellini bean purée’


‘Mio Dolce Amore’ featured at both Aqua and Armani/Aqua









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