At long last, the 'opening soon' sign has been taken down and San Marzano on Lyndhurst Terrace is serving customers. The restaurant had its opening party on Wednesday (October 10). San Marzano is the 'global brand name' of the PizzaExpress chain in Britain and other San Marzanos are in various countries including the United States, Hungary and Poland. General manager Adrien Ellul says there are plans to open five San Marzanos in Hong Kong during the next five years. The menu lists 19 types of Neapolitan-style pizza, including SoHo (rucola, parmesan, olives, garlic, mozzarella and tomato), Siciliana (artichokes, anchovies, ham, olives, garlic, mozzarella and tomato), Cajun (prawns, red peppers, onion, Tabasco, mozzarella and tomato), and Neptune (tuna, anchovies, olives, capers, onion and tomato). The restaurant is at SoHo Square, 21 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central. Tel: 2850 7898.
Ettore Nicoletto and Maura Marciante from Zonin Vineyards in Italy will host a winemaker's dinner on Thursday (October 18) at Zeffirino restaurant in the Regal Hongkong Hotel. The evening starts with a pre-dinner tasting of eight wines and continues with a five-course dinner. The menu includes tortelloni pasta filled with braised beef and served with porcini mushroom sauce, paired with a Barbera d'Asti 1999 Castello del Poggio, pan-fried beef tenderloin with veal liver pate and black truffle, served with the Berengario del Friuli Cabernet Merlot 1995 Zonin, while the cheese course is paired with Acciaiolo Super Tuscan 1998 Castello d'Albola. The dinner costs $680 plus 10 per cent; phone Valdivia Ltd on 2555 7431 or Zeffirino on 2837 1799.
Also on October 18 is the Milhade winemaker's dinner at Madison's Restaurant & Bar, featuring guest speaker Gerard Milhade. The four-course dinner includes charlotte of lamb fillet and boletus in cabbage with shallot reduction jus, served with Chateau Lyonnat 1966 and assorted French cheese platter, paired with Chateau des Annereaux Lalande de Pomerol 1990. The dinner is $520 plus 10 per cent (tel: 2523 4772).
There are several wine-tasting events to take note of in the next week. The South African Wine Festival takes place Thursday (October 18) in the Jade Ballroom at the Furama Hotel. Guests can taste more than 100 wines from various South African vineyards. Admission is $100 (phone Thomas Lim on 2865 3876 or Rebecca Yim on 2577 32790).
Wine lovers are going to have to make a choice between two events being held on October 19. The Wine'n'Things show at the Hong Kong Football Club features a tasting of 250 wines from 47 vineyards in the United States, Australia, Chile, France, South Africa and Spain, followed by dinner. The event costs $490 (phone 2873 5733).
If you're more interested in Italian wines, head to Valdivia Ltd's Italian Wine Festival, also on October 19, at the Ladies' Recreation Club. There will be over 40 wines to taste from wineries that include San Felice, Zenato, Farnese, Castello d'Albola and Umani Ronchi. Admission is $100, which is redeemable against a case of wine ordered that evening. Call Valdivia Ltd on 2555 7431.