Fontaine Cheng

Whether you're a little culinary challenged or a pro home cook, there is always room for hacks that will save you time and energy in the kitchen. And with so many of us working from home recently, there’s no time like the present to don an apron and get cooking. TikTok has shared its wisdom with most of the world but since we don't have it here, we thought we'd help by gathering the best to help you level up your kitchen game. So, here are some really clever kitchen hacks to change the way you cook or prepare food from here on out. RECOMMENDED: Upgrade your bowl of instant ramen or try out these seven kitchen ingredients to make cocktails!

It’s been a rather challenging last few months in Hong Kong, to say the least. Following rumours of a city-wide lockdown and travel still on hold, it’s easy for even the most positive of us to fall prey to a faltering mindset. But it’s through these tough times that the city needs to come together and push through with that uniquely Hong Kong spirit and hardy attitude. While the pandemic has hurt us all, in one way or another, there are some individuals that are facing more challenges than others. If you’d like to do your part and help out – whether it's investing time to care for someone or putting a hot meal on the table – here are a few ways that you can pull your weight through these trying times. RECOMMENDED: Taking care of the environment is important too! Check out any one of these zero waste stores and reduce your own carbon footprint.

There's just something about the combination of eating and fresh air that makes us all want to dine alfresco. Fortunately in Hong Kong, there are a fair few restaurants with outdoor seating and even a terrace or rooftop where you can get a breath of fresh air while you dine or have a relaxing drink. So, here we go, keep scrolling for our pick of the best spots to do exactly that. RECOMMENDED: For those looking for more privacy, check out Hong Kong's best hidden terrace dining spots.

What's not to love about dining on a terrace? Tasty grub with a side of fresh air as we sip on a glass of wine, or coffee, with lunch. Thankfully, there are some pretty perfect places around town that offer just this, so you can enjoy a meal without feeling like you're in a busy, enclosed space. Ahead are some of our favourite hidden terrace areas in Hong Kong. RECOMMENDED: If you're looking for something a bit more intriguing, check out some of Hong Kong's best quirky restaurants and cafes worth a visit.

With temporary closures of spas and beauty salons and the looming lockdown, most of us will be spending more time at home and going for the DIY route when it comes to beauty and pampering. While some find resolution in an easy sheet mask or ready-made face pack, there are other more creative, sustainable, and eco-friendly ways to give your face the TLC it deserves, and it’s as easy as opening up your kitchen cupboard. So here it is, nine face mask recipes that will need only two to three ingredients to make and suit many different skin types. Get ready for that at-home glow.   RECOMMENDED: In need of another DIY activity? Look at these cheap and easy ways to spice up your instant noodles.

Sure, our favourite restaurants are currently banned from serving dinner and a potential lockdown situation (or maybe not) continues to plague our minds, but that doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself to a slap-up meal at home. Plus, you could probably do with a pick-me-up right now! So, put down the cup noodles my friend, and order a meal you truly deserve. You may want to dress up, iron a table cloth or fold some napkins for the full experience, but either way, this will likely be the most comfortable fine-dining meal you’ll ever have. RECOMMENDED: Not into fine-dining? Check out our most satisfying cheap eats instead or order delivery from the best pizza joints in town.

Egg waffles, eggettes, gai daan zai or whatever you prefer to call them are a street food staple in Hong Kong. And while you can't go wrong with the classic style, local food stalls have continuously rolled out new and unconventional combos to keep things fresh and original. Whether you prefer to try funky flavours of cheese and charcoal or are looking for the popular star-patterned variety, here's where to get your hands on the best egg waffles in Hong Kong. RECOMMENDED: Local winter foods Hongkongers can't live without

March 2022: The Hong Kong government announced on February 22 that the city will maintain stringent social distancing measures until April 20 and dining restrictions will be tightened. All restaurants must stop offering dine-in services from 6pm to 5am and only two people are allowed to dine per table. A new vaccine pass arrangement will be implemented in the coming months. Visit our social distancing guide for regular updates in Hong Kong. To support the city's dynamic restaurant scene, we wanted to give recognition to some of the best eateries that continue to push through these times. From new restaurants and concepts to established eateries doing what they can to stay relevant, creative and interesting, read on for our pick of the 50 best restaurants and get some inspiration for where your next meal could be. Eaten somewhere on this list and loved it? Know of a restaurant that should be on here instead? Let us know and share it with the hashtag #TimeOutEatList

Whether you love Hong Kong for its classic culinary traditions or its eagerness for creative eats, there’s no stopping this city’s appetite for new bites. From new Japanese restaurants and Italian eateries to another multi-concept venue and wellness-focused spot to try, here are the latest and greatest restaurants to get stuck into this month. RECOMMENDED: The 50 best restaurants in Hong Kong

Brunch in Hong Kong has always been the ultimate weekend indulgence, with excellent food and boozy deals galore. Plus, with the reimposed social distancing restrictions as of late, there is even more reason to enjoy a little day drinking along with a variety of food options. So, whether you’re a classic eggs benedict bruncher or love a bit of fresh seafood, steak, dim sum, and everything else in between, here is our guide to Hong Kong’s best spots to brunch right now. RECOMMENDED: When the sun's shining, why not go alfresco and check out our list of the best restaurants with outdoor seating. 

Thanks to streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+, we're blessed with an endless source of online entertainment. So, whether you're keeping safe at home or just need a distraction from what's going on in the city right now, there's everything from all-time classics to recent releases that are just a few clicks away. Keep scrolling to see our pick of the most binge-worthy shows to help get you through the day. RECOMMENDED: Prefer to check out the local talent? Then work your way through the top 100 Hong Kong movies.

Hong Kong is known as one of Asia's top culinary capitals for good reason. Not only is there great food to try, but there is also variety. Its gastronomical diversity can take you from the fine-dining establishments, and Michelin starred restaurants to local street food spots and (our bank account's favourite) cheap eats. In our mission to find the best, here's a compilation of our top budget-friendly bites that we think you have to try in Hong Kong.  RECOMMENDED: If you're looking for more local eats, check out the city's best local bakeries too!

A well-known international brand, Toni&Guy spans more than 40 countries with over 400 hair salons across the world. In Hong Kong, Toni&Guy is located in Central, covering a contemporary 3,000sq ft space with 19 seats and two VIP rooms that can be used as a cosy lounge, or even an event space for pop-ups and collaborations. The salon, with its arched ceiling lined in warm natural wood and glass-panelled walls, make for a relaxing experience in a comfortable yet elegant setting. Led by managing director Marcus Lam, and a talented team of beauty and hair technicians, Toni&Guy Hong Kong is one of the city's top salons that provides a variety of services including haircuts, styling, colouring, balayage, perming, straightening, treatments and more. Plus, you can rest assured that you're in safe hands as the team have honed their skills through the international Toni&Guy Hairdressing Academy. The experience here is very calming thanks to the friendly, but professional, team that ask all the right questions to ensure they create the best result for you. From the cup of tea upon arrival and the consultation that runs you through your wants and needs, but also how that translates to your own hair, to the shampoo, cut, colour and so on. But ultimately, it's the hair that you end up with that makes Toni&Guy the kind of salon that you can rely on. 

Ho Lee Fook opened back in 2014 and gained great popularity over the years for its innovative fusion cuisine. Despite having the darkest 'I-need-to-use-my-phone-light-to-see-the-menu' dining room and loud music, Ho Lee Fook remained a solid go-to spot for groups of friends to eat, drink and hang out in Soho.  After an eagerly anticipated revamp, Ho Lee Fook is back with a new (and much brighter) look, along with a new chef and menu. Helmed by Hong Kong native head chef ArChan Chan, who cut her teeth in top kitchens from Australia to Singapore, ArChan returns to Hong Kong to bring new energy to Ho Lee Fook's fusion cuisine while remaining rooted in its love for traditional Cantonese cuisine.  Not changing things for the sake of changing things, the menu still has some old favourites including the prawn toast ($168), pork and cabbage dumplings ($148), char siu ($268), Wagyu short rib ($688), and French toast ($118). There are, however, many new dishes to sample and some of our favourites include the perfectly cooked local razor clams with vermicelli, aged garlic and soy sauce ($228/two pieces); crispy sand ginger three yellow chicken served with a refreshing take on the classic spring onion sauce ($268/half); and Today's Catch, which on the day was a steamed whole threadfin with chicken oil and Shaoxing wine, among other items that tap into traditional Cantonese cuisine more than ever before, all the while refining it with modernity and finesse.  There is also a great wine list

So, you’re having a bad day. Maybe you stubbed your toe while running late, got stuck in rush hour traffic, and then proceeded to walk the wrong way to the restaurant you’re supposed to review. I get it, I’ve been there. In fact, I was there and when I finally sat down, about 30 minutes later than my reservation time at Posso in Sheung Wan, I’m grumbling endlessly to my dinner date and certain that nothing is ‘posso’ right now. That is until I start eating. Posso, meaning ‘I can’ in Italian, is a modern Italian restaurant serving creative cicchetti (pronounced chi-ket-tee), the small side dishes and savoury snacks akin to Spanish tapas. Chef-owner Max Wong, whom you may recognise from Shady Acres and 22 Ships, created Posso with handmade pasta kits before transforming the idea into a restaurant. Fitted out with white brick walls and dark wood tables, Posso is as modest in its design as it is in its menu. A few specials of the day and soft drinks were written on the blackboard, but without a liquor license yet, only lemonade, blood orange soda and Italian cola are up for grabs. You are currently welcome to bring your own bottle. A mix of 90s Brit-pop and upbeat tracks created a fun and familiar atmosphere, lending that peppy feeling you get at the closing credits of a feel-good movie that resulted in a bit of a shoulder bop. Then, as I ordered my food, I’d seemingly forgotten about my throbbing toe and felt that pang of excitement for the dishes to come. The one-page menu feat

There’s something about ducking into a back alley that makes you feel like you’re onto something. You’ll also have to hop over an industrial pipe while you artfully dodge suspicious drops of water from above, but that’s beside the point, hidden venues give you the feeling that you’re in on the secret. And these days, a bar that throws it back to the Prohibition Era doesn’t quite cut it for us Hongkongers. No, we need more. We need cracking good food with outstanding cocktails and an adequate distraction from reality in the form of live entertainment. Located down the staircase that sits at the corner of Hollywood Road and Lyndhurst Terrace is Quality Goods Club, the live music restaurant we never knew we needed. It’s also a sibling to Peel Street’s boisterous sons Shady Acres and Honky Tonks Tavern, so even before you enter you’ll carry some expectations. Fortunately, it exceeds. As a late night and walk-in only restaurant, Quality Goods Club opens at 6pm on most days – Sundays they do brunch from 2pm. And when I say 6pm, please don’t be an eager beaver (ahem) and turn up at 5.50pm because you’ll be turned away and have to stand in the alley like a naughty child. When we are welcomed in, we’re greeted with a request for vaccination records which makes sense since they are a performance venue. Plus it’s pretty intimate inside with high-top bar and booth seats dotted around the stage with pink spotlights. At dinner time, urban walls meet dim lights and sexy lounge vibes. We sat

The secret to a long life, aside from genetics of course, is a nutritious diet and a robust social network that is more meaningful than your Instagram following. Or at least that’s what Okinawans live by. The balmy Japanese island was dubbed ‘the land of immortals’, where residents – many of which are silver-haired centenarians – are said to be some of the world’s happiest and healthiest. While I’m sure many of us wouldn’t mind living a little longer, it was the pursuit of happiness and, obviously, good food that led us to Hong Kong’s very own exuberant island to check out Okinawa-inspired restaurant and bar Awa Awa. Opened by the team behind Sake Central, the idea is to introduce Okinawa’s ancient distilled spirit awamori (there's a good collection of awamori to try here and they'll keep adding more) and its unique cuisine, which is internationally influenced by a long history of trade, to Hong Kong. Think interesting combinations and punchy flavours inflected by Chinese, Southeast Asian, and American culture. The interior is as playful as the Hawaiian-style summer jams it plays. Neon lights, fun wallpaper, Japanese lanterns, and spoof movie posters make a lively backdrop for the high top bar tables and chairs, some of which surround the bar while others face Peel Street for live nocturnal wildlife-watching. It’s the kind of buzzy place where suits can be seen decompressing after a long day of work, much like they do in Tokyo’s izakayas, with a beer in hand and where friends

Following a successfully sold-out event in June, Patty Boi returns on July 1 at the Soho pop-up space and production kitchen, Hatch, to offer handmade Caribbean-style patties ($60) from 1pm until they sell out. The patties, created by founder and chef Russell Doctrove, are inspired by the fragrant food and chilled culture of the Caribbean islands and take the classic beef patty to another level with creativity and flavour combinations. Take Patty Boi's Holy Grail patty which is filled with stir-fried Omnipork, lemongrass, galangal, garlic, and Thai holy basil, and the sweet Skywalker, a drunken cherry pie infused with bourbon and vanilla. This, and their signature patty Island Kush, which is stuffed with minced beef slow-cooked with birds eye chilli, lime leaf, homemade curry paste, and coconut cream, are all enveloped in a buttery pastry before it is baked until golden brown to bring the tropical flavours of the Caribbean to Hong Kong.  Patty Boi's patties are inspired by the Caribbean New additions on the pop-up menu include the minced beef Jungle Spice patty paired with a rich and flavourful curry with toasted coconut, chillies and spice, and a slow-roasted, dark rum and brown sugar soaked pineapple patty called Pineapple Express. Patty Boi at Hatch To get your hands on one of these bad boy patties, head to Hatch at 60 Staunton Street, Central or check out pattyboi.com for more information.

Popular pasta bar Pici is hosting its first-ever 'Pasta Run' on Saturday, June 26 for those who enjoy a side of exercise with their Italian food. The run takes runners, in teams of four, on a journey to three of Pici's venues on Hong Kong Island and encourages a team effort with themed costumes. The run begins at the Wan Chai location at 16 St Francis Yard, where carb-loading will commence with a little morning pasta for every runner. From there, runners will need to make their way to the Central venue on 24 Aberdeen Street for a meatball protein pick-me-up, before finding their way along the harbour towards the finish line at the newest Pici location in Kennedy Town on 55 Cadogan Street, where drinks, desserts and more will await. But there's no use wolfing down your tagliatelle as it's not the fastest team that wins in this race, it's the team that hits all three Pici checkpoints wearing the most creative costumes that is awarded. In fact, the teams with the best costumes from each of the three starting times (see below) will be eligible to win one of three grand prizes: the gold prize will give away free pasta for a full month for one team of four; the silver prize will give away free pasta for a week; and the bronze prize will award the winners with a free brunch. But don't worry, all teams that complete the three checkpoints will be rewarded with other Pici mementoes and a medal at the end of the event too. To enter, groups of four will need to register via runnerreg.co

The city's rampant love affair with cookies is still going strong and with it, a number of pop-ups, shop openings and brands have come to the forefront, one of which is Baked Indulgence. Appearing last year at a pop-up store in IFC, the popular cookie brand is popping up again, this time in Tsim Sha Tsui's luxury shopping mall: Harbour City, with a wider range of cookie flavours, sweet treats, and a selection of drinks. To celebrate the opening, Baked Indulgence has also announced its second collaboration with Hong Kong actress and TV show host Grace Chan, in which a variety of new cookie flavours have been created. Grace will be making an appearance as a Baked Indulgence store manager on Saturday, June 5 at 1pm to meet and greet fans and sweet treat lovers. Grace Chan with the PinkBlack cookie The new offering includes a Neapolitan – chocolate, strawberry and vanilla – cookie which was Grace's favourite ice cream as a child; a PinkBlack cookie which takes inspiration from the Meiji Apollo strawberry chocolate; and a limited-edition Cheese Tea cookie which stems from the Hong Kong craze of cheese-milk foam tea drinks and will only be available for one week of the launch (from mid to end of June). Other highlights include a bright and citrusy lemon bar, and a rich and luscious Neapolitan cake – Baked Indulgence’s first whole cake. Baked Indulgence will also serve a selection of drinks at their pop-up store including lattes, mochas, cold brews, and more to pair with their sweet

To celebrate International Burger Day on May 28, local burger joint Honbo and celebrated condiment brand Heinz are collaborating for the first time to create a unique Heinz Tomato Ketchup Burger ($157) which is inspired by their iconic tomato sauce, recognised the world over. Available for three days only at all Honbo branches, from May 28 to 30, the Heinz Tomato Ketchup Burger will sandwich two patties of USDA Double Gold Standard beef mixed with sliced onions, followed by a beef fat-fried crispy golden hash brown and finished with lashings of Heinz Tomato Ketchup, all in a flavourful garlic herb bun. They also have the bottle of Heinz Tomato Ketchup at the restaurant so you can squeeze as much as you like! Honbo x Heinz t-shirt or apron The first 57 customers (in relation to the slogan '57 varieties' on the bottle) that purchase the Ketchup Burger at each Honbo venue will receive a limited-edition Honbo x Heinz t-shirt or apron. So, if you're a fan of the famous red sauce, you better make sure you're one of the first in line.

Giving Hong Kong a taste of Thailand this summer, Chachawan is popping up for the first time at Tong Chong Street Market (TCSM) from May 31 to July 2 on Mondays to Fridays from 11am to 3pm. The pop-up menu offers a variety of Chachawan's most popular dishes that feature the super-additive sweet-salty-sour-spicy flavour profile that we have all come to love, as well as sweet treats and refreshing drinks. Highlights include the pounded green papaya salad, or Som dtum Thai ($35); the Pad kra prao moo ($78) with minced pork, basil and garlic stir fry on Thai jasmine rice; Phad Thai ($88) noodles with prawns and tofu; and the grilled marinated chicken thigh with jasmine rice, or Gai Yang ($98), which are all perfect for a hearty Thai lunch. They're also offering a dish called Kheaw wan nuer ($88) which is a green curry made with beef, peas, aubergine, and coconut cream on rice which is available exclusively at TCSM. Complete the meal with classic mango sticky rice ($68) and transport yourself to Thailand instantly.  Add ons are also available with the main dishes, including fried egg ($10). You can also quench your thirst with their menu of drinks including Thai iced milk tea (+$10 add on; $38 a la carte), fresh lime soda (+$10 add on; $25 a la carte), Longan nahn (+$20 add on; $38 a la carte), and fresh young coconut (+$30 add on; $45 a la carte).

Grain, in partnership with one of Hong Kong’s top craft brewers Gweilo, is a restaurant and bar offering gastropub food for weekend brunch (a la carte), Sunday roast ($280 per person), lunch, and dinner seven days a week, with beers and drinks to match.  Grain also houses a research and development brewing facility called Gweilo Brewlab, which will allow beer lovers to try out newly developed brews before they’re released, as well as an area to host beer workshops and tastings to learn more about brewing beer. Offering a total of 24 taps, Grain will serve a rotating selection of craft beers by Gweilo and other breweries, along with a dedicated bar snack menu. They will also have tap-served cocktails including refreshing pineapple mojitos, Pampelle spritzes, and gin and tonic made with Gweilo Gin and Capi Tonic. The food menu, led by head chef Matthew Ziemski whose experience spans well-known establishments in the UK such as Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, focuses on a modern gastropub-style of cuisine with comforting flavours driven by seasonal ingredients, many of which are used in the beer brewing process. Think pork and beer malt sausages served with burnt apple ketchup and celeriac remoulade, Scotch eggs with beer mustard, slow-cooked ox cheek and stout beer pie with bone marrow and mashed potato, and a series of Roman-style Pinsa pizza with a focaccia base. Not forgetting the desserts, diners can also indulge in sweet treats including a Millionaire Chocolate Tart with salte

McDonald’s Hong Kong, which has over 245 branches across the city, announced in a Facebook post that it will temporarily close 38 outlets due to the severity of the Covid-19 pandemic in Hong Kong. About 90 other McDonald's venues will only open until 6pm, while the remaining restaurants will also shorten their business hours. Waiting time for orders to be picked up and delivered will also be affected and longer than usual. The fast-food chain joins a number of other venues and restaurants that have chosen to temporarily close during this time. In the social media post, McDonald's Hong Kong stated that its operations are facing unprecedented difficulties, with manpower and supplies greatly affected during this time. From March 7, 2022, McDonald's will push their evening deals earlier to 5pm to allow more people to enjoy the discount. For the latest McDonald's restaurant operating hours, visit their official website. Want to hear the latest city news and learn about what's happening in the city? Subscribe to our newsletter and be the first to get the news.

The Hong Kong MTR Corporation has announced the reduction of weekday services of eight railway lines (East Rail, Tsuen Wan, Kwun Tong, Island, South Island, Tseung Kwan O, Tung Chung, and Tuen Ma lines) during peak and non-peak hours starting Friday, March 4, 2022. Train frequencies of the East Rail Line during weekends and public holidays will also be slightly adjusted. As a result, passengers will have to wait one to four minutes longer for trains, almost double the wait time for some lines. More specifically, the waiting time during the morning peak hours (from 7.30am to 9.30am) on the East Rail line will go up from 2.9 to 3.5 minutes to 6 to 7 minutes; Tsuen Wan line will increase from 2 minutes to 3 to 3.6 minutes; and the Island line will go up from 1.9-2.9 minutes to 3.4-3.6 minutes. As cited by the MTR Corporation, the adjustment is the result of a drastic reduction in passengers due to the pandemic and operations staff shortage. Passenger numbers dropped in the second half of February 2022, and ridership during weekday peak hours was less than half of that in December 2021. The same goes for weekends and public holidays, which saw a decline of about 60 percent from last December. The number of MTR operations, maintenance, and contractor staff, who could not go to work because they tested positive for Covid-19 amassed to about 1,500, creating a workforce shortage and challenges to train operations.  Passengers are advised to check and consider whether their travels wi

You may not be a typical Hong Kong foodie who snaps 20 different angles of their morning cereal, but you can’t deny that food triggers emotion. At the very least, you’ll get a little irritated when you’re hungry. Others will reach for that tub of ice cream when they’re sad, or gravitate towards a heartwarming bowl of soup and feel-good carbs when they’ve had a bad day at work. Whatever it is for you, comfort food is timeless. It’s a mood-enhancing food – not necessarily indulgent or calorific – that feeds the soul. In Hong Kong, there are about a million and one different dopamine-triggering foods to enjoy, but street food is undoubtedly a top contender. Cheung fun, a simple Cantonese dish, is well-loved in this city and collectively, we eat it like it’s going out of fashion. You can get plain ju cheung fun (named for its resemblance to ‘pig’s intestines’ apparently) which is a blank canvas for the sweet, savoury, and spicy sauces; the filled variety which wraps the rice noodle around beef, pork, seafood, and more; stir-fried versions with aromatic xo sauce; the wrinkled kind that is scraped off the pan to create folds for more sauce to hold on to; and there are even colourful, sweet versions filled with cream and durian. The list goes on and on. Some Hong Kong restaurants create their own renditions, adding unexpected flavour and ingredients for a new style of cheung fun, but the traditional type, well that’s where the comfort comes in. Photograph: Fontaine ChengGrabbing a

Ahead of the Michelin Guide Hong Kong and Macau 2022 virtual award ceremony, which takes place on January 19 at 3pm (Hong Kong time), this year’s Bib Gourmand selection of value-for-money eateries has been announced. This comprises 64 venues in Hong Kong including seven new additions, which are new or newly promoted, as well as seven in Macau too. The Bib Gourmand distinction is awarded to venues that offer high-quality food at budget-friendly prices. More specifically, this means that we can enjoy a high-quality three-course meal (excluding drinks) for a maximum price of $400 in Hong Kong. The selection of eateries covers a variety of cuisine with more than 20 different styles across Hong Kong and Macau including not only restaurants but also street food shops that reflect the culinary traditions of both Hong Kong and Macau. Three of the new Bib Gourmand eateries in Hong Kong offer traditional Cantonese and Chiu Chow flavours which have been passed down through generations or carry flavours, techniques and culinary known-how that have been sharpened through the years. The other four venues offer Hong Kong's beloved comfort food that you typically get at the city's best street vendors. The seven new Bib Gourmand eateries in Hong Kong include:  Chan Kan Kee Chiu Chow This 70-year-old Chiu Chow restaurant is one of the oldest in Hong Kong but closed its Sheung Wan location to open up in Lohas Park. They have continued their culinary traditions here and remains well-loved for th

There are many ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year. Go out for a lunch date, send your boo flowers, keep them sweet with some chocs, or you can take them to Pane e Latte in Stanley and buy one of their Lover’s Croissant Bombolonis. You never know, you might find an 18K white gold diamond ring inside. Yes, you read that right, the Italian bakery and gelateria is stuffing expensive jewellery (worth $14,000 mind you!) inside a pastry so one lucky person can win some bling on February 14, 2022. The rest of us, well, we can still enjoy the croissant bomboloni, a hybrid invention of crisp, flaky pastry with a soft, pillowy centre filled with orange blossom crema.  Photograph: Courtesy Emphasis JewelleryFind this ring in a croissant bomboloni at Pane e Latte on February 14 The elegant 18K white gold diamond ring, in large size, is from Emphasis Jewellery’s Mystique Collection and features marquise-cut brilliant diamonds (total carat weight 0.26 ct) surrounding the centre princess-cut, square modified brilliant, diamond (total carat weight 0.11 ct, colour G-H, clarity SI1-SI2). There is, of course, other baked goods, creamy gelato, and all-day breakfast to enjoy, but I already know what I’m going to order. Photograph: Courtesy Pane e LatteWill you try your luck at Pane e Latte this Valentine's Day? Pane e LatteG/F, U-c Court, 25 Stanley Market Rd, Stanley Want to hear about the latest restaurant openings and learn about the most happening events in the city? Subscribe to

The Year of the Tiger is just around the corner (Tuesday, February 1) and in keeping with tradition, Hong Kong is lighting up with bright and colourful Chinese New Year displays. Sure, social distancing restrictions remain, but that doesn't mean we can't celebrate in style and what better way to get into the CNY spirit than to inject a little festive flair into your home.  Enter Ikea's brand new Chinese New Year decorations, the Kungstiger collection, which includes everything from lanterns, rugs, cushions, tableware, and other home accessories to usher in all the good luck and fortune we need for the new year. The collection also has some adorable tiger-shaped products as well as auspicious floral items and multicoloured designs.   Photograph: Courtesy IkeaIkea's Kungstiger collection for Chinese New Year Homeware  Find comfort in lucky red tiger cushions ($149.90) as well as cute mini plushies that draw inspiration from the traditional Chinese children tiger-head shoes in white, green and red ($34.90). Hong Kong exclusives come in the form of a red tiger doormat ($49.90) and cushions with blossoming peony designs ($79.90-$99.90), along with interior decorations like magnets or wall stickers ($12.90-$24.90).  Photograph: Courtesy IkeaJazz up your home with CNY accessories from Ikea Lighting options include the more traditional looking red pendant lamp shade ($279.9) or the contemporary style peony lampshade ($129.90). There's even an artificial potted mandarin plant ($3

In his first international match since the Tokyo Olympic summer games last year, Hong Kong’s star fencer and world number four Edgar Cheung Ka-long made Hong Kong history again, beating Italy's Edoardo Luperi in the final for men’s individual foil at the FIE (International Fencing Federation) World Cup in Paris on January 16 and claiming gold with a score of 15-12. Photograph: Facebook/FIE.org Cheung, who is now the city's first-ever men's fencing World Cup winner, made Hong Kong proud throughout the competition and also defeated the world number one and former world champion Alessio Foconi at 15-4 in their semi-finals. The future is extremely bright for the Hong Kong fencer and Cheung is expected to go on to achieve a higher world ranking. 🙌 Ka Long CHEUN, le champion olympique de @Tokyo2020, est le nouveau vainqueur du #CIPfleuret 2022 ! Il bat l’Italien, Edoardo LUPERI, 15 à 12 ! Bravo 🎉 pic.twitter.com/Gd9e5GwdRt — Fédération Française d'Escrime (@ffescrime) January 15, 2022 Meanwhile, Cheung’s Hong Kong teammate and world number eleven Ryan Choi Chun-yin narrowly lost to Foconi in the quarter-finals at 15-14, and Shawn Cheung Siu-lun reached the last 64 having outperformed teammate Cheung Ngo-chun. Want to hear more about the latest news or events and find out what's happening in Hong Kong? Subscribe to our newsletter and be the first to get the news!

We've got a lot of love for British restaurant Roganic, which has left its mark – a green one at that – on Hong Kong's dining scene since opening in 2019. The one-Michelin-starred and Michelin-green-starred restaurant is a British import created by chef Simon Rogan which continues to wow us with its creative and sustainable cuisine. Now, the team are opening a new venture in Hong Kong: The Baker & The Bottleman. Reflecting the same sustainable values, the new shop is a bakery by day and wine bar by night, offering gourmet British bakes and natural wines on Lee Tung Avenue in Wan Chai.  Photograph: Courtesy The Baker & The Bottleman The bakery, led by executive chef Oli Marlow and his team of chefs and bakers, will deliver an assortment of baked goods that are made from scratch on-site, all the while working with local suppliers and premium ingredients that embrace seasonality.  Photograph: Courtesy The Baker & The Bottleman The menu will feature British bakes including pastries, scones, cakes, bread, sandwiches, cookies and more, as well as locally-sourced coffee, soft drinks, juices, and loose-leaf teas from a boutique tea merchant in Hong Kong. There's even soft-serve ice cream, with flavours such as vanilla and English tea.  Photograph: Courtesy The Baker & The Bottleman The shop also features an upstairs space (opening soon) to enjoy your goodies while you're there. This will then transform into a casual wine bar in the evening that serves natural wines, curated by

Gingko House, a social enterprise that advocates senior employment and supports local communities in Hong Kong, has launched the ‘Share Love’ store to help those in need during the winter. We took a moment to chat with Kenneth Choi, director of business development at Gingko House and executive director of registered charity Everbright Concern Action Limited (ECA), to find out more about the store and how we can pitch in too. Photograph: Courtesy Gingko HouseKenneth Choi (far left) with staff and volunteers at the store What is the store all about? The ‘Share Love’ store gives away donated goods to those in need, free of charge. It is orchestrated by us but powered by you.  The venue was donated to us by a generous landlord, Lofter Group (樂風集團), who answered our call when we sent out a message on our Facebook page, and the goods are kindly donated by our supporters. Run mainly by volunteers, the shop serves individuals in need within our community. The aim is not only to give away these things, but we want to share the warm feeling of love with everyone involved. Photograph: Courtesy Gingko HouseThe store categorises clothing for shoppers to easily find what they're looking for What are you trying to achieve? The ‘Share Love’ store works towards a number of things: We want to encourage recycling by redistributing gently-used goods We want to promote the importance of volunteer work We want to employ and empower those in need to help others in need (some staff members are

Watch our first look video of Auntie Āyi: Created by the same team behind last year’s pop-up restaurant 888 Fatfatfat, Auntie Āyi is a new Chinese restaurant that has opened in Pacific Place mall. It’s part of a multi-dining concept called Wellwellwell, yes that’s three wells to represent three different brands under the brand, and Auntie Āyi is the first to launch. The restaurant offers regional Chinese food in a retro-futuristic dining room that has been designed to resemble a time-travelling spaceship. Yes, we realise there are a number of things to wrap your head around here, so let’s start with the restaurant’s name. Photograph: Courtesy Auntie ĀyiAuntie Āyi’s sesame candy chicken If you’re wondering why it’s called Auntie Āyi, well, it’s all about the humble home kitchen where life-long traditions and crafts are passed down generations. It’s also a homage to ‘Ma Jeh’ or 馬姐 in reference to female domestic helpers in the 1930s that had long plaited hair, never married and took the vow of celibacy – you’ll spot her in the restaurant’s logo. While this history and nostalgia are beautifully memorialised, Auntie Āyi also aims to look to the future, blending old and new in both the restaurant’s interior and menu. Photograph: Courtesy Auntie ĀyiTwo-way stuffed crab claws The restaurant is decked out in plush mulberry and pine green furnishings with contemporary curved edges while mandarin chairs, tasselled lamps, and so-called artefacts in capsules on the wall (supposedly

What do you get when you cross a classic French pastry and barbecue from a local roaster in Hong Kong? A char siu and egg croissant of course! Well, that is the case at least for Dang Wen Li, a French bakery created by celebrated chef and cruffin mastermind, Dominique Ansel. The bakery aims to use local culinary traditions to create new and innovative pastries and this season, Dang Wen Li is collaborating with one of the city's top roast meat shops Sun Kwai Heung (新桂香燒臘) to create a char siu and egg croissant ($68). The local roaster, best known for its Cantonese-style barbecue items including their beautifully charred and caramelised char siu that people still make trips to Chai Wan for, will be sending the French bakery some of their best roast pork cuts to create the new savoury pastry.   Photograph: Courtesy Dang Wen Li by Dominique AnselOmniPork luncheon and egg croissant ($58)   Sandwiched within a freshly baked, crisp yet airy croissant are tender pieces of char siu layered with soft French-style omelette and homemade honey mayonnaise. The char siu and egg combo will only be available at Dang Wen Li's flagship store in H Queen's and at Harbour City with limited servings on a daily basis. For those not into char siu, an OmniPork Luncheon and egg croissant ($58) version is also available with plant-based luncheon meat and homemade vegetarian char siu sauce. Dang Wen Li is also launching other savoury dishes for autumn which are inspired by classic Hong Kong flavours. T

Black Sheep Restaurants, the group behind big hitters such as Belon and crowd favourites like La Vache and The Last Resort bar, is opening something a little different this time around and moving on to the sweet world of gelato in a partnership with Australian brand Messina. The new gelateria will be Messina's first fixed foray in Hong Kong, as some of you may remember their little guest appearance at Taste of Hong Kong in 2019.    Photograph: Cara HungChoose from 40 freshly churned gelato flavours   Beloved for its freshly churned and unique gelato flavours, as well as rotating specials, Messina is well known for making all of its desserts from scratch – even to the point of raising their own Jersey cows for milk and establishing hazelnut and strawberry farms. The result of which means that Hong Kong can taste top-quality gelato that is made fresh every day in their onsite kitchen. We went to Messina to taste test all the gelato because, well, someone has to. Here's a sneak peek of what we found. The 2,000sq ft store is located near the top of Pottinger Street and offers 35 signature gelato flavours that are permanently available. From the ultimate classics of pistachio, tiramisu, and hazelnut gelato to fun Messina creations such as Nicky Glasses (coffee and salted caramel with whipped cream) and Hokey Pokey (honey gelato with chocolate-covered honeycomb). There are also fruity and refreshing sorbets such as strawberry, lemon, and the popular salted coconut