HAUL out the new calendar and map out a strategy. Here's an alphabet for the New Year to jog the memory and keep people, places and things in some semblance of order.
ABELLA. His name is David and he was hand-picked by The Peninsula to perform culinary feats in that showplace for gawkers, the dazzling Felix. Abella took his final bow on New Year's Eve and Felix will be closed for a two-month touch-up (new flooring, door handles).
The name of Abella's successor (the grapevine says he's also an alumnus of chef Roy Yamaguchi, Abella's guru) is yet to be announced.
BAGELS. Raymond Ling of the Bagel Factory joins competitors Gerard Dubois of La Rose Noire and Elite Concepts in pushing the boiled-baked breadstuff from New York into the mainstream. What's the bagel's limit? It goes beyond lox and cream cheese. It makes great bread pudding, croutons and mini-pizzas.
But watch how you slice them. Hospitals in New York recently reported an increase in bagel-related injuries from bad slicing technique. Be warned: slice horizontally with your palm as anchor on top of the bagel.
CALIFORNIA Restaurant. Does this landmark in Lan Kwai Fong need any more of a solid footing? Property baron 'Mr Z' and general manager Karin Joffe are knocking heads on a Sichuan restaurant for the lower level and a noodle shop a few doors away.
