A champagne fountain and 12-tiered cake for lavish anniversary bash

The InterContinental hotel threw a lavish 10th anniversary party in its newly renovated main ballroom on Friday night. The towering centrepieces - a 21/2-metre champagne fountain and a gilded 12-tiered celebration cake - made for eye-catching talking points as guests mingled and sampled signature cocktails created by Australian mixologist Ben Davidson.

The hotel's four fine-dining outlets set up a canap? bar at each corner of the vast space. Testament to the jet-set's love of raw fish, Nobu's corner attracted the longest line. Celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa - who flew in to join the celebration as a special guest - jumped in at one point to help things along.

With 29 restaurants now open around the world - the collaboration with InterContinental Hong Kong began in 2006 - Matsuhisa says he travels 10 months out of the year to take care of his global sushi empire.

'I still enjoy travelling but it's a real pleasure when I can stay at home,' he says. The Japanese chef has called Los Angeles home for many years now, but his preferred getaway is still Japan. 'I try to take August off, and when I really need some peace, I go to Hakone [Kanagawa] where I've built a house, to enjoy the hot springs.'