Restaurants step up to greet the arty crowd about to descend on Hong Kong
Restaurateurs look to tantalise the city's art lovers with dishes and cocktails to celebrate upcoming shows
As the city gears up for Art Basel and the Asia Contemporary Art Show, local restaurants and bars are getting creative with their menus. After all, coming up with dishes and drinks that are both original and appetising is an art form in itself.
Being the official sponsor for Art Basel, the Mandarin Oriental has several promotions, including an art-inspired menu at the Mandarin Grill and Bar, which is available until May 18. The three-course lunch and five-course dinner come with a complimentary pass to Art Basel.
The minimalistic menu only hints at what's to come. The Monet-inspired Lily Pond is an appetiser of scallop, crab legs and seafood dashi consommé served in a deep transparent bowl. So far so ordinary. But right before diners tuck in, a scoop of smoking nitrogen grapefruit is added.
Channel your inner Jackson Pollock with the main course as you brush, spray, drip or splash red pepper and spinach purées, mashed potato and truffle jus onto your "canvas", before a piece of steak is placed on top.
"The menu needs to be engaging as I think art is about participating," explains chef Uwe Opocensky.
Belgian painter René Magritte's The Son of Man is reimagined as a dessert featuring a vanilla cream-filled green apple sugar ball.