For its tenth edition, the globetrotting dinner party enters the Pearl of the Orient.
Dining Impossible has been jetting off to different parts of the world, feasting at the finest restaurants that San Sebastián, Copenhagen, Barcelona and New York have to offer. This year, our gastro-passports take us even further afield as Hong Kong is added into the tantalising mix of dining destinations.
Highlighted by Michael Ellis, International Director of the Michelin guide, as “an undisputed leader in the international culinary landscape”, the dazzling gastro-capital of the South China Sea is our first destination of 2015.
Presenting the most dynamic gourmet scenes in the whole world, we offer “the world’s most coveted dinner tickets” to pleasure aficionados, flying in from around the globe.
3 days – 3 unique dining venues – 1 great dinner party.
Thursday, March 12th – Friday, March 13th – Saturday, March 14th.
14 notabilities only.
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THE MENU
Thursday, March 12th
Chapter 1 – The French Connection
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Found in the stylish Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong’s Amber sits proudly at number four on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list and is one of the few restaurants in Asia to appear on San Pellegrino’s World’s 50 Best. In possession of two Michelin stars, as well as a host of awards from various publications, Amber stands out as one the most elegant and coveted restaurant in Hong Kong.
French trained Dutch chef Richard Ekkebus is to thank for the restaurant’s success, named Chef of the Year in 2011 by Timeout Hong Kong and later by Tatler in 2013, as well as being given the number one place in their Top 20 Restaurants in Hong Kong awards.
Having trained under Michelin-starred Dutch chefs Hans Snijders and Robert Kranenborg, Ekkebus went on to refine his techniques, working with French culinary masters such as Alain Passard, Guy Savoy and Pierre Gagnaire.
Acting as culinary director since the restaurant’s opening in 2005, Ekkebus ensures that only the freshest ingredients are used in his kitchen, receiving a shipment of fresh fish every day straight from markets in Fukuoka and Hokkaido, or sometimes even as far as France.
Serving up his own contemporary interpretation of French cuisine, he has developed a number of signature dishes such as Foie gras ‘lollipops’ and perfectly moist, light soufflés made with Valrhona Abinao 85 per cent chocolate.
However, the food is not the only thing that stands out at Amber.
The lavish, cutting edge style of the interior is something of a marvel, employing a breathtaking bronze chandelier that spans across the ceiling in a wave of more than 4,000 golden rods, adding an extra element to an already luxury dining experience.
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After dinner at Amber we enter Sevva – a wham-bam-glam watering hole situated on the 25th floor of one of the most iconic buildings: the Prince’s Building in Central. Be prepared to be astonished by a breathtaking 360 degree view over the city’s neon-festooned skyscrapers and harbour.
Dress code: Formal elegance.
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“The ultimate dinner party” – Forbes Magazine (2012)
Friday, March 13th
Chapter 2 – Chin Chin, China
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Slightly tipsy after a late afternoon cocktail party at the exclusive China Club – a shabby retro-chic, Shanghai-style members club on the top three floors of the old Bank of China Building – we enter an intriguing dining destination:
The exquisite Lung King Heen – The view of the Dragon.
This is the world’s only Chinese restaurant to be awarded the highest culinary rating of three Michelin stars and is in possession of 2014’s ninth place on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list. Lung King Heen, situated at the Four Seasons Hotel, will be Dining Impossible’s second stop on the Orient dining experience.
Specializing in seafood and dim sum, this exquisite Cantonese restaurant is home to acclaimed chef Chan Yan Tak. Born and bred in Hong Kong, this humble master of Cantonese cooking has spent his whole life developing his talent, starting at the tender age of 13.
A delicate and sophisticated style of cooking, Chan states: “Ingredients here are of the highest quality – particularly the seafood, which is impeccably fresh; all dishes are expertly crafted, nicely balanced and enticingly presented.”
Surrounded by breathtaking views of the harbour and the spectacular skyline, which is reflected in the dining room’s undulating silver-leaf ceiling, the name “View of the Dragon” seems highly appropriate. The floor-to-ceiling windows allow for natural light to flood the space, providing the perfect setting for an evening of pure excellence.
“Chan Yan Tak, who has worked in restaurants since he was a young boy, has a light touch in the kitchen, creating deceptively simple dishes that are beautifully presented and accentuate the ingredients’ inherent natural flavours.” – Asia’s 50 Best.
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FLIP THE COIN / STREET DINING
After the best Chinese fine dining experience in the world, we’ll be picked up by black cars that will take us from the top of the layer cake on Hong Kong Island, across the water to Kowloong Island and into the beating heart of Mong Kok. ‘The China of Hong Kong’, prepare yourself for a fascinating after dinner experience of street eating amongst the locals.
“The most coveted dinner ticket in the world.” – Huffington Post (2013)
About Mong Kok: Mong Kok is an area in the Yau Tsim Mong District, on the western part of Kowloon Peninsula in Hong Kong.
The area is characterized by a mixture of old and new buildings, with shops and restaurants at street level and commercial or residential units above. Major industries in Mong Kok are retail, restaurants, street food and entertainment, but also an area in which triads run bars, nightclubs and massage parlours.
With its extremely high population density of 130,000/km2 or 340,000 per square mile, Mong Kok is described as the busiest district in the world by the Guinness World Records.
Dress code: Elegant, but-I-will-be-going-to-Mong-Kok-later.
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“The world’s best dinner party” – The Telegraph (2014)
Saturday, March 14th
Chapter 3, Finalé – The Krug Room
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Clearly expressed in the name, The Krug Room, Hong Kong has more to offer than simply amazing food.
Located at the legendary Mandarin Oriental, the restaurant boasts the largest collection of Krug Champagne outside of France. Executive Chef Uwe Opocensky serves up a hidden menu of delicacies, exclusively paired with the world’s most prestigious Champagne.
Born and raised in Germany, Opocensky has worked in top restaurants around the world, most notably under Spanish master Ferran Adria at El Bulli, also spending some time training under the French legend Alain Ducasse. During his residency at the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, Chef Opecensky has secured Michelin stars and Forbes Five-Star awards for the hotel’s renowned eateries.
Chef Opocensky’s cooking is definitely progressive – constantly looking for and researching new techniques and ingredients, he presumably also has the best cooking laboratory in Hong Kong.
Working with all senses, he employes many different aromas, maintaining the final touch – that being the Champagne – in mind at all times. This night we’ll have delicious pearls such as Krug Grande Cuvee, Krug Vintage 2003, Krug Vintage 1990 and Krug Collection 1989.
The Krug Room itself has been beautifully designed to resemble the intimate surroundings of a train carriage, complete with captivating views of the fast-moving kitchen and innovative gastronomy. The Krug Room serves up a mesmerising, personal experience like only few others.
Dress code: Sophisticated but with attitude. No Krug, no thanks.
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“Plenty of people throw good dinner parties; few hosts are so successful they take their soirees around the world.”
– The Wall Street Journal (2014)
– FAMOUS BY DAY, NOTORIOUS BY NIGHT –
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After the finalé dinner we will find ourselves at the exclusive Armani/Privé lounge and rooftop bar.
With spectacular views over Hong Kong’s skyline and Armani/Privé’s sleek outdoor terrace with stunning Blade Runner style urban views of the city, are among the most fashionable cocktail lounges for Hong Kong’s elite.
Both feature the latest sounds from aquamusic’s team of resident DJs as well as high quality cocktails from world-class mixologists.
Signature cocktails include the Wasabi Green Apple Martini and the Teriyaki Bloody Mary. Located in Central, the rooftop sits amongst the vast array of skyscrapers, situating one in the midst of busy Hong Kong city night life.
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DETAILS
Dining Impossible 10 – Hong Kong is the full experience. Besides the extraordinaire dinners, it also includes receptions, selected transport and after parties at exclusive spots with a range of drinks, beverages and canapés.
All dinners include full wine/beer/cocktail menus, predetermined with the respectful sommeliers, as well as mineral water, various taxes and gratuity.
As always, the guest list remains a secret to the public and will only be shared in detail amongst the participants. Menus and wines will be served découverte, meaning presented and discovered on the night of the dinner parties as a part of the full-blown Hong Kong storytelling.
A favorable deal has been made with the legendary, original Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong on the matter of Habour Rooms as well as Deluxe Suites.
Price per cover is confidential. Please contact Kristian Brask Thomsen at ambassador@bon-vivant.dk for further information.
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“Billed by Forbes Magazine as “the ultimate dinner party” and by Huffington Post as “the world’s most coveted dinner tickets”; Dining Impossible is a three-day gastronomic bender organized by culinary ambassador Kristian Brask Thomsen.”
– Sydney Morning Herald.
