Jingle bells, kitchen smells and feasting all the way: It’s official. December starts this week and with it the countdown for Christmas.
With Christmas and New Year’s coming up, you can forget about that diet of yours since you’ll be surrounded by extravagant festive dishes from roasted turkeys to special Christmas ham. If you’re not sure about where to dine in this Christmas, here is a guide to 8 of the best restaurants in Hong Kong where you can enjoy your holiday meal with friends and family.
1. La Saison
La Saison is celebrating Christmas with a decadent six course tasting menu. Highlights include their famous oyster amuse bouche from L’Etang du Moulin and crab ravioli and black shrimp consomme. For those who want something a little more special, ask for the wine pairing to take their tasting menu to the next level.
Price: HK$1,688 per head on 24 December and HK$1,488 on 25, 26 and 31 December 2015. Wine pairing is also available at an extra cost of HK$688.
Add: La Saison by Jacques Barnachon, 2/F, The Cameron, 33 Cameron road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hongkong
Tel: 00852 2789 8000, www.lasaisonbyjb.com
2. Pirata
Celebrate the festive season the Italian way at Pirata with some rustic family dining. Why not going for their Christmas eve menu featuring Scottish smoked salmon mouse with rye dark bread and caviar, Mediterranean octopus salad with radicchio and a to-die-for (and slightly healthier alternative) Tuscany sea bass fillet with Mediterranean herbs and fennel salad.
Price: HK$688 per person
Add: Pirata, 30/F, 235-239 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Tel: 852 2887 0270 www.pirata.hk
3. Ham & Sherry
Best… Family Style Meal
Spanish cuisine lends itself to family-style dining, and if you’re rolling with a big group, Ham & Sherry’s Feasting Table is the way to go. Seating up to 12 people, the table is an onslaught of the resto’s signature tapas combined with centerpiece showstoppers, including a whole suckling pig with peppers and pineapple, and a whole sea bass dressed in lemon, olive oil and parsley. Expect an endless supply of cava and sangria to fuel the festive merriment all night long. $10,000 for up to 12 people.
Add: G/F., 1-7 Ship Street, Wan Chai, Hongkong
Tel: 00852 2555 0628
4. BOQUERIA
Are you looking forward to Noche Buena with la familia this year?
Guests can indulge in a Christmas Noche Buena dinner at Boqueria for HK$688 per person on Christmas eve with Spanish specialties including Paella de Gambas, giant paella with lobster and red prawn and Escudella, a classic Christmas stew made of pork hocks, sausage, turnip and white beans. For dessert, you can enjoy their Mantecados y Polverones, traditional Spanish Christmas cookies.
The Fin de Año dinner (HK$1088 per person) on New Year’s eve offers the best of Boqueria’s delightful dishes including the Solomillo Asado, roasted beef tenderloin topped with chimichurri sauce. Diners can also enjoy free-flow drinks throughout the night including sangria, Estrella beer and house wines.
Date: 24, 25, 31 December
Price: Prices vary
Add: 7/F, LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham Street, Central, Hongkong
Tel: 00852 2321 8681
5. CECCONI’S
Want to celebrate your holidays the Italian way? Spend your Christmas at Cecconi’s. Go for their Christmas eve dinner menu which includes a selection of entrees such as beef Carpaccio, beetroot, radish and black garlic, grilled asparagus, poached fried egg and parmesan, or pan fried scallop, cauliflower and wild rice.
Pair your entree with the pan fried duck breast, lentils, celeriac and cherry, roasted lamb rump, farro, shallot and rosemary or mushroom risotto and truffled marscapone.
No Christmas feast is complete without something sweet so you better try their chocolate fondant served with spiced ice-cream.
Date: 24 December
Price: HK$598 per person
Date: 2/F, 77 Wyndham Street, Central, Hongkong
Tel: 00852 2565 5300
6. THE KINNET CAFE
The Kinnet Cafe will be offering a special wholesome 3-course family style Christmas Menu this year.
Dishes include lobster bisque with sour cream and fresh chives, pumpkin soup with toasted seeds and pumpkin seed oil, roasted organic chicken and grilled bone-in rib eye steak and a wide range of side dishes including roasted winter root vegetables, steamed seasonal greens, sweet potato mash and sourdough vegetable stuffing and gravy with your choice of condiments; grain mustard, horseradish, Dijon.
For a festive dessert, you can indulge in their chocolate Christmas log cake.
Date: 14-24 December
Price: HK$350 per person (minimum 4 persons)
Add: 3/F, 33 Hillier Street, Sheung Wan, Hongkong
Tel: 00852 3968 7600
7. Grassroots Pantry
Looking for something healthy or more vegetarian friendly? Grassroots Pantry has you covered with a beautifully curated five course dinner. Dishes include cauliflower popcorn, smashed potato teff crepes and a delectable beetroot gnocchi served with Chinese greens, sweet spiced apples, cashew bechamel and topped with smoked paprika breadcrumbs.
No Christmas feast is complete without a festive dessert, and nothing could be sweeter than a selection of homemade raw dark chocolate peppermint patties, coconut sugar cookies and orangettes.
Price: HK$780 per person
Add: Grassroots Pantry, 108 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Tel: 00852 2873 3353, www.grassrootspantry.com