Serious bar space is opening in Wan Chai ahead of the Rugby Sevens. Dali's, the new Spanish bar two doors down from Rick's Cafe on Jaffe Road, promises Spanish-baroque interiors with tons of tapas and music till late. The regular menu is a comfortable mix, including braised oxtail, traditional paella and country-style sandwiches with air-dried ham and sheep's milk cheese, as well as a variety of soups. 'We think Wan Chai is the future,' says a spokesman from management company, Food & Beverage Solutions (FABS). For music inspiration, they've picked 'the heat and romance of Cuba and Brazil'. 'We're taking the music very seriously,' he adds. In-house DJs will spin discs every night from 9pm. Rebirth of the Fong For all the hip additions to its nightlife, Wan Chai is well behind on the beautification stakes, especially now that Lan Kwai Fong's latest revamp is being unveiled. Hanagushi is the first of a wave of restaurants that will open before the end of the month. The reincarnated Japanese restaurant is almost double the size of the old one in the California Entertainment Building, with about 80 seats to its previous 45. The new location at 17-22 Lan Kwai Fong is also far more visible, with street-level access. And where Tokio Joe does the contemporary thing across the road, the focus at Hanagushi remains old-style dining, with yakitori and traditional drinks such masu sake, served in a wooden cup at room temperature. Tel: 2521-0868. Prize cook-off Chef-turned-television host Winnie Brugger and Gerard Dubois from La Rose Noire have been called to the bench - and they're off to Berlin in September to take up the job. The pair have been invited to be senior judges at this year's Culinary Olympics in Berlin. It's not a first for Hong Kong chefs on the panel. But that doesn't detract from the honour - or the sense of satisfaction that Hong Kong's culinary abilities are finally getting international recognition. Dubois, who will be going as a senior pastry judge, walked off with three gold medals himself in the competition kitchens eight years ago. Brugger, too, has his share of golds. Four years ago he led the Hilton hotel team to glory in Frankfurt. This year he takes his place as a senior judge in the hot-food section. Strategic Siamese In the Thai restaurant stakes, Big Boss Thai Food probably does best on its location - eye level with the Central-Mid-Levels escalator. Its part-Thai, part-Chinese menu is on par with most Thai eateries around town, and for less than $80 a head it's one worth remembering. The deep-fried spring rolls, which followed Vietnamese traditions rather than Thai or Chinese, were fresh and crispy, although the green chicken curry and rice looked as if they had been around for a while. Big Boss Thai is at 1/F, Jade Centre, 98 Wellington Street, Central. Tel: 2854-2398. Licence to party Celebrations are free for birthday guys or gals - provided they are held at restaurants in the Hong Kong Renaissance hotel and the party includes at least four guests. The special offer of a complimentary lunch or dinner for the birthday person at the Tang Court, the Bostonian or Sun's Cafe, excludes drinks. Proof - an ID card will do - is required. Call 2375-1133 for reservations.
