Jolly good reason to get a fright

If you want to donate money to a worthwhile charity and have a great time, book your tickets for Monday's fund-raising party at Igor's - The Main Event. Igor's staff are donating their time - Monday is their regular day off - and all proceeds raised will go to Operation Santa. The Rolling Bones will play, and there will be some surprises in store. Tickets are $500 for all you can drink and eat; reservations on 2108 4467.

Watson's Wine Cellar will help quench the thirst of Sai Kung residents with the opening of their new store. The latest branch - at Shop 51, G/F in Sai Kung Town Centre - has its grand opening tomorrow. Guests are invited to have a glass of wine, and enjoy music and street theatre from noon to 3pm. Phone 2792 1689.

If you are tired of being the target of nasty looks when you light up a cigar while other people are eating, you may want to try tonight's Cigar Dinner at the Bostonian Restaurant in the Great Eagle Hotel. Guests can enjoy three cigars with the four-course meal: a Midi Hoyo de Monterrey, Corona San Luis Rey and a Lonsdale Partagas. The event is $560 plus 10 per cent; phone 2375 1133 ext 2070.

The Summer Palace at the Island Shangri-La has a special wine dinner menu, available until next Tuesday. The six-course dinner includes braised shark's fin soup with fish maw and bamboo fungus, and sauteed garoupa with Yunnan ham. To accompany the meal, guests can enjoy a glass each of the 1998 Cooks Sauvignon Blanc, 98 Wolf Blass Chardonnay and 98 Yarra Ridge Pinot Noir. The dinner is $600 plus 10 per cent; phone 2820 8553.

Also available until Tuesday is the seasonal game menu at the 27 Restaurant & Bar at the Park Lane. The menu includes Spanish blackfoot wild boar tenderloin with saffron risotto and cep mushrooms, and roast Scottish pheasant on wine sauerkraut. Call 2839 3327.

China Lan Kwai Fong is changing its focus from Cantonese to northern Chinese food, and has brought in a new chef from Shanghai. Lam Kwai-tong focuses on regional cuisines from Shanghai, Beijing and Sichuan. His new menu has special dishes such as smoked pomfret with oriental herbs and spices, and crispy fillet of sole with ginger and vinegar. Reservations on 2536 0968.

Jean Pierre Bagnato has created a new menu for Cafe des Artistes. The autumn-winter menu includes hearty dishes such as Landes duck magret with green peppercorn sauce, and confit of tiger prawns wrapped in salmon fillet. Call 2526 3880.

The food pages are edited by Susan Jung. Tel: 2565 2611. Fax: 2562 2485.