Currently based in Hong Kong, Singapore's foodtravelbabe Eunice Lim travels around the city seeking unknown food haunts and little-known hideouts. This weekend is the 8th edition of the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival. Here are some of the interesting (read: alcoholic) offerings from this gastronomical event.
If you're a food and wine lover and happen to be in Hong Kong this weekend, you might want to include this on your list of things to do and places to go.
With over 400 booths of locally inspired and international delicacies, street food, wine and spirits, you'll be spoilt for choice at this year's Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival.
Into its 8th edition this year, the four-day event is running from now until Sunday on Central harbourfront.
Whether you're a foodie, cocktail aficionado, wine connoisseur or a discerning diner, there is something for everyone at this massive gastronomical event.
Because the event is so massive, here are some of the "must-drink" highlights for the festival:
Live the "high life" at the Grand Pavilion
Get the Grand Wine Pass and you'll be away from the hustle and bustle at this exclusive space. It features the most premium wine collections and selected trendiest restaurants in Hong Kong all at one go.
Be sure to taste the 100-point fine wine and awake your senses with highly innovative dishes created by the up-and-coming chefs at A LA Maison XXL Seafood & Grill, Bibo, Chez Ed, Harlan's, Jinjuu, Little Bao, Mercedes me, The OCEAN and TRi.
Chef May Chow of Little Bao also pays tribute to the humble rice roll, and elevated this Hong Kong comfort street food in her signature Wagyu Steak and Egg Rice Roll.
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1. Sip your way around the world at Country Pavilions
Sip your way around the world at the Country Pavilions, with over 120 booths of fine wines from France, Europe, Bordeaux, Germany, Georgia, USA, Latin America, Italy, Australia and Spain.
You can pair your wine with hotel delicacies such as the Stir-fried Lobster Tongs with Garlic and Chili by Royal Plaza Hotel at the Hotel Delicious section. Besides Asian and local food delights, there is also a strong line-up of European gourmet.
2. Take it easy at the Everyday Cheering Zone
If you prefer wine for casual drinking, check out the Everyday Cheering Zone. You'll get to enjoy a wide variety of champagnes, sparkling and dessert wines.
Walk towards the Hong Kong Observation Wheel and you'll find the Street Eats section, which is a new addition at the festival this year.
3. Expand your wine knowledge
Get a chance to meet wine masters and view cooking demonstrations by award-winning chefs at Riedel Tasting Theatre. You can also experience professional wine selection services and tasting tips from sommeliers and overseas wine cellars owners, as well as rare wine selections.
You can also find Instagrammable food such as the Rainbow Grilled Cheese Toast, Happy Penguin cuttlefish ball, and Sweet Potatoes Cheese Toast here!
4. Find out what's hot in Hong Kong at the Discovery Zone
The Hong Kong Bar is the must-go place for cocktail aficionados. The city's most talented mixologists have created eight different HK-inspired cocktails for this event.
Cha chaan teng (teahouse)-inspired drinks Envoy's Haig-a-Horlick combines whisky with malted milk - turning childhood memories into an adult indulgence.
Discover popular whiskies and award-winning craft beers, sakes, and rare and special wines such as Croatian wine aged under the sea and wines from Jerusalem at this zone.
All in all, it's easy to spend at least 4-5 hours at this massive gastronomical festival. So put on your comfy shoes, bring along a water bottle, extra cash, and arrive early! You might find yourself in a long queue to get the admission tickets or passes at the beginning. But the initial wait will be worth it.
Visit Discover Hong Kong for more information.
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Eunice Lim is a Singaporean blogger based in Hong Kong. She manages her blog foodtravelbabe.com on a part-time basis and is a full-time photographer. Eunice can be found on Instagram as @foodtravelbabe.
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