Wines from the American northwest are the focus of a series of three wine dinners in November. The idea, according to Ada Leung of local distributor Cottage Vineyards, is to demonstrate the versatility of these new world wines across various cuisines.
Mediterranean dishes paired with light, fruity and spritzy wines are the theme at the Riviera Restaurant at the Regal Hong Kong hotel on November 5 ($488 per person, plus 10 per cent service, tel: 2837-1799). Accompanying the six-course dinner will be zesty aromatic whites such as Arbor Crest Sauvignon Blanc and warm fruity reds such as the Worden 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon/Lemberger (claret), as well as the Kiona 1997 Late Harvest White Riesling, served with dessert. The second dinner is on November 6 at the Wharney Hotel's May Garden Chinese Restaurant ($450 per person, plus 10 per cent, including live music and dancing, tel: 2861-1000). The focus is Cantonese cuisine and wines include the Kiona 1997 Chenin Blanc, Barnard Griffin 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon and Kiona 1994 Ice Wine (chenin blanc).
The third dinner is at the Grandstand restaurant at the Sheraton Hotel on November 12 ($598 per person, plus 10 per cent service, including live Dixieland jazz and dancing, tel: 2369-1111, ext 3). The theme is New Orleans and the menu will include seafood gumbo and bison tenderloin. The wines served will be solely from the Kiona vineyards and winery and will include the 1992 Merlot from the owner's private collection. All three events include a pre-dinner reception, with a variety of wines not served during the meal.
Hotels are rolling out the horrors for Halloween on October 31. Terrors at the Grand Stanford Harbour View include Gremlin's Fever (a blend of Kalhua, cream, coconut syrup and pineapple juice) and Lucifer (white run, peach liquor and grapefruit juice). The Halloween snack buffet ($95 per person) at the Tiffany's New York Bar features all manner of pumpkin dishes.