The latest seduction AN orgy of ice-cream, sorbet, fresh fruit, cakes and pastries, the sexiest dessert in town at the moment doesn't even have a name. Regulars at La Bodega, which serves the sweet, just call it 'The Platter'.
Tailored according to the number of people at the table and their tastes, the platter may include any or all of four sorbets (including one made with cava, the Spanish sparkling wine), white chocolate flourless cake, dark chocolate and hazelnut flourless cake, strawberries, grapes, and a nut pie that Jack Nicholson would die for. Orange passion fruit heads the ice-cream list, which also features pistachio, catalan (figs, dates, raisins, mixed nuts) and espresso.
Topping the confectionary delight are long, thin Spanish churros with a touch of orange zest and nutmeg, and shards of chocolate.
All Thai-ed up THERE'S only one place (apart from the highly innovative Wyndham Street Thai) for really upmarket Thai food - the Mandarin Oriental's annual Thai Festival. Four chefs from The Oriental hotel in Bangkok will be serving up the spread at this year's special, which runs at the Clipper Lounge and the Coffee Shop from June 26 to July 8. The Clipper Lounge buffet, available from noon to 2.30pm daily (except Sunday), costs $328.In for a dry spell CALIFORNIAN wine prices are set to soar. Although harvests in 1993 and 1994 dropped up to 10 per cent, demand has continued to rise - pushing up the price of grapes from the better vineyards by 20 per cent.
According to the latest issue of Gourmet magazine, the hottest tipple is Merlot, whose price has almost doubled.
But Hong Kong drinkers don't have to start saving their pennies just yet. According to Remy Fine Wines, 1993 was not a particularly good year quality-wise, and demand is not expected to be high.