Gian Paolo Belloni, chef of the original Zeffirino Ristorante in Genoa, Italy, is visiting the Hong Kong branch of Zeffirino at the Regal Hong Kong Hotel in Causeway Bay throughout this month and next. His southern Italian dishes are available a la carte, such as salt cod with shrimp in marinara sauce, baked lamb leg with mixed mushrooms in garlic olive oil, and Amaretto cream tart with fresh fruits. Tonight, Belloni is pairing his dishes with Batasiolo wines from Piedmont. The five-course dinner includes seafood soup with the Barbera d'Alba Sovrana DOC 2002, pan-fried beef tenderloin with Batasiolo barbaresco sauce, served with the Barbaresco DOCG 2001, and dessert of thousand-leaves pastry with moscato vanilla ice cream, served with the Moscato d'Asti, Bosc d'la Rei DOCG 2003. The dinner is $988 plus 10 per cent. Inquiries: 2837 1799.
The Repulse Bay is having a Spanish dinner on Thursday featuring the wines of Haciendas de Espana. The evening starts with tapas and wine on the Front Lawn, then moves to the Garden for a five-course dinner that includes piquillo chillies stuffed with crabmeat, with the Masia L'Hereu Chardonnay 2003; roasted spring chicken cooked in sherry, with the Marques de la Concordia Crianza, Rioja Tempranillo DOC 2001 and the Masia L'Hereu Single Vineyard DO cabernet sauvignon-merlot blend 1999; and Catalan burnt cream, churros, rice pudding and fresh cheese, with the Morande Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 2000. The dinner is $528. Inquiries: 2292 2822.
Cheese lovers should visit the Royal Park Hotel in Sha Tin, which is featuring cheese on its afternoon buffet in the Forget-me-not lounge. Start with savoury dishes such as broccoli and cheese soup, deep-fried English cheddar, and Boursin with mixed vegetable and mango salad. Desserts include cream cheese and mascarpone cheese souffles, almond and cheese bavaroise, chocolate cheese mousse, cheesecake and tiramisu. The buffet is served on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, 3.30pm-5.45pm for $93 plus 10 per cent. Inquiries: 2694 3869.
