TREASURE TROVE OF FORGOTTEN 70s LIQUORS UNVEILED AT FISHSTERIA

A COLLECTION OF VINTAGE LIQUORS AND COCKTAILS NOW AVAILABLE AT FISHSTERA

This week Fishsteria unveils a cache of rare vintage liquors in their quirky ground floor bar. The curated collection of liquors, procured throughout Italy from a combination of collectors, producers and shuttered bars, offers spirits-lovers a unique taste of history. The collection includes a prestige selection of Vermouth, Bitters, Amaro, and Gin. Master mixologist, Matteo Stefani has also fashioned a list of 1970’s vintage cocktails that emphasise the unique and rare characteristics of each bottle.   

Highlights of the collection include pristine bottles of Cora Stavei Vermouth Apertivo since 1970 (HK$1540 per bottle, HK$95 per serving), Campari Cordial Campari since 1888 (HK$3,205 per bottle, HK$190 per serving), Amaro Gambarotta since 1832 (HK$2,790 per bottle, HK$160 per serving), and a rare bottle of Beefeater London Gin since 1820 (HK$1125 per bottle, HK$78 per serving).

Cocktail connoisseurs will also delight in the time-capsule cocktails crafted by master of mixology, Matteo Stefani. The offerings include an Americano (HK$398) with Pilla Bitter, Pinzano Vermouth Rosso and Soda, Negroni (HK$598) comprised of Cora Bitter, Martini Vermouth Rosso, and Beefeater Gin, and the classic throwback, a Harvey Wallbanger (HK$398) made with Beefeater Gin, Galliano, Orange Juice, and Lemon Bitters. The cocktail list provides a glimpse into the history of cocktail culture and an elevated experience of classic cocktails.

In addition to Fishsteria’s infamous Oyster Hour which offers imported oysters for only HK$10, they now offer a new selection of well-appointed small-plates including: a traditional Lobster Roll (HK$168) made from fresh, never frozen, lobster and served on a toasted brioche roll accompanied by potato salad, Caviar Burrata (HK$98) which pairs fresh Burrata cheese with caviar and shaved bottarga, Cantabrico Nardin Anchovies (HK$138), and fresh Mediterranean Ceviche (HK$118) made from generous portions of Shrimp, Hamachi and Tuna. 

HONG KONG’S BEST BAR TEAM CROWNED AT THE FIRST ABSOLUT INVITE BARTENDING COMPETITION

CREATIVE ABSOLUT COCKTAILS NOW ON OFFER FROM ABSOLUT INVITE FINALISTS

Absolut is pleased to announce the winners of Hong Kong’s first ABSOLUT INVITE BARTENDING COMPETITION- TEAM EDITION: Bryson Rivera and Vikky Ma of Bar Q88 in the JW Marriott Hotel.

The Absolut Company has celebrated the outstanding creativity and knowledge amongst the world’s top bartenders since 25 years back, however the Absolut Invite competition steps away from the traditional formats of bar competitions, and instead presents bar teams with unique challenges that are set to test their teamwork skills at a high pace with a race to the very finish.

On 30 April, 8 of Hong Kong and Macau’s best bar teams competed at PLAY Club and around LKF in a series of challenges that tested their creativity, knowledge, speed and teamwork. Teams were included from: Bibo, Skye, Bar Q88, Flint Grill & Bar, PLAY Club, Club Cubic, The Macallan Whisky Bar & Lounge, and Heart Bar. After an exhilarating speed challenge where competitors needed to break record times while accurately concocting a variety of ten cocktails, the judges conferred and crowned Bar Q88 victorious, with the team from Flint Bar & Grill as a first runner-up. Both teams will travel to Stockholm Sweden, with the team from Bar Q88 vying to be crowned the world’s best bar team at the Absolut Invite Global Finals this June.

Rico Dynan said of Absolut Invite: “First and foremost, this competition is about bartending, not mixology. Mixology is a component of bartending, but bartending is a sum of more parts. Absolut Invite tests the many challenges that bartenders face behind the bar. The teams in Hong Kong showed incredible creativity and determination and I am excited to bring some of them to the global stage.”

 From June, in celebration of their achievements, a selection of creative cocktails are now on offer from Absolut Invite finalists. The winning cocktail, Andy “Absolut” Warhol Fizz (HK$130), a mix of Absolut with earl grey tea, bergamot, rhubarb and lemonade is now offered at Q88; the team from Flint Bar and Grill presents the Sakura Tera (HK$130), inspired by the Zen of Japanese gardens and featuring the flavors of yuzu, sakura, and cranberry; Bibo offers an ode to the Swedish word for cheers, with their cocktail, Skål (HK$130), comprised of Absolut Elyx, cucumber syrup, homemade rosemary and jalapeno syrup, cucumber bitters garnished with passionfruit tea jelly and rosemary; SKYE presents the Absolut Driver (HK$140) highlighting the flavors of fresh orange, apricot, and caramelized orange. 

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’Room Service’ An Absolut Art Bar by João Vasco Paiva Hong Kong Art Week 2017

Absolut is pleased to present a new collaboration with Portuguese-born, Hong Kong-based artist João Vasco Paiva on a site-specific Art Bar titled Room Service. Open daily from 17 March – 2 April 2017 at Potato Head during Hong Kong Art Week, Room Service is the artist’s vision of a timeless oasis where the contemporary world and nature coincide.

The installation is inspired by the opening scene of Terrence Malick’s 1998 film A Thin Red Line, in which Sargent Witt wanders around a desert island. This intimate moment between man and nature forms the basis for his Art Bar as Paiva melds it with his own fascination with the urban environment to redefine the convention of a retreat. Featuring a series of sculptures, film projections along with resting nets, Room Service places a contemporary spin on the concept of sanctuary.

Taking reference from Hindu vernacular architecture such as ancient temples and sacred sites as well as motifs of residential buildings from present-day life, Paiva coalesces the past with the present. Projection screens made of semi-transparent glass and fabric hang from the ceiling and permeate the space. These screens inundate spectators with videos of abandoned places in Hong Kong – from ruins of villages that have been recaptured by nature to daily commodities displayed in shop fronts.

Paiva further creates the ambience of retreat and the merging of artificiality with the natural by placing fans throughout the space. These emit a light breeze and move the projection screens, fabricating the motion of trees swaying in the wind. Room Service is a place where time stands still – transporting visitors from the mundane to the mystical, from daily life to the immersive realm of nature.

The Absolut Art Bar features a series of Artist Cocktails created by João Vasco Paiva in collaboration with a Potato Head mixologist, Kamil Foltanto, reflect the theme of retreat. Each cocktail (HK$128+ 10% servc.) is inspired by fictional and real castaways such as Private Witt, Fletcher Christian and Paddy Button. Using ingredients including Sichuan pepper infused maple syrup, peat bitters, basil and lemongrass, Paiva aims to encapsulate the states of mind of these castaways in his cocktails.

Room Service also includes a diverse programme of music which aims to highlight the contrast between day and night through acoustic and digital sets. The afternoon programme includes a line-up of live acoustic performances while the evening sees a variety of electronic acts and DJ sets.

“Room Service is a moment in time in which visitors will have the opportunity to escape their daily realities and be immersed in a new world. A workd that bared both idyllic imagery of deserted islands, and traces of urbanisation,” says João Vasco Paiva.

“We are thrilled to be collaborating with João Vasco Paiva who has emerged as one of Hong Kong’s most exciting, young contemporary artists. We look forward to experiencing his vision for his Absolut Art Bar to create the ultimate retreat during Hong Kong’s Art Week,” says Saskia Neuman, Global Art Manager, Absolut.

VALENTINE’S DAY MENUS: SINGLE OR COUPLED, GOING OUT OR STAYING IN- FISHSTERIA, GIANDO, GIA TRATTORIA, AND MERCATO BY GIANDO HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE THIS FEBRUARY

THIS 14 FEBRUARY, FISHSTERIA LAUNCHES BEST CATCH TUESDAYS FOR SINGLES, GIANDO OFFERS SEMI-PRIVATE BOOTHS WITH BLACK TRUFFLES, GIA PROVIDES WATERFRONT VIEWS WITH A LA CARTE OR SHARING OPTIONS, AND MERCATO BY GIANDO PROVIDES EVERYTHING NEEDED FOR A ROMATIC FEAST-IN, WITH NO MINIMUM SPEND

Fishsteria, Giando, Già Trattoria, and Mercato by Giando four of Hong Kong’s most acclaimed authorities on Italian cuisine, are offering four very unique experiences this Valentine’s Day. Ranging from an evening catered to singles, with Fishsteria’s brand new Best Catch Tuesdays and Giando’s modern take on Black Truffles partnered with intimate semi-private tables, to traditional with Già Trattoria’s classically Valentines romantic a la carte options and sharing menus and Mercato by Giando’s curated selection of Italian delicacies the four spots have something to satisfy every appetite on the special day.

FISHSTERIA: Best Catch Tuesdays

14 February (and every Tuesday thereafter) will see the ground floor cocktail and oyster lounge of upscale Italian seafood restaurant, Fishsteria launching Best Catch Tuesdays, a new evening celebrating the too often overlooked single ladies and gentlemen. This new evening offers a refreshing approach to Valentine’s Day, an evening that traditionally offers few options for those not part of a pair. Alongside their infamous Oyster Hours (HK$10 Oysters, 5-7.30p), Fishsteria offers those still on the lookout for love free-flow Ayala Brut Majeur NV Champagne and hand crafted Bombay Gin and Tonics for only HK$188 (6-8p). The lounge will play host to a fun series of dynamic ice-breaker games which offer the opportunity to mix and mingle alongside chances to win a dinner for two upstairs. For those who catch their match, Fishsteria is offering a seafood dinner for two at a special price (HK$888) when booking during Best Catch Tuesdays. The sustainable seafood restaurant is offering those ready to take the dinner plunge an exceptional sharing menu featuring a raw seafood platter, their infamous lobster macaroni, and with a nod to future success, a dessert to-go.

GIANDO: Black Truffles and semi-private rooms

Giando, located on picturesque Star Street, alongside their modern Italian A la Carte menu offers a bevvy of seasonal Black Truffle dishes, which can be served in the restaurant’s intimate semi-private rooms. Special to Giando’s menu will be seasonal dishes including: a homemade gnocchi with pumpkin puree, mixed wild mushrooms and topped with a generous shaving of black truffles (HK$398), Jerusalem Artichoke risotto with black truffles (HK$398), a perfectly prepared Italian egg topped with black truffles (HK$238), and a refreshing appetizer of fresh stracciatella cheese topped with prawn carpaccio and dusted with bottarga (HK$238). Giando’s Valentine’s Day specials will be on offer throughout the month of February.  A minimum spend of HK$2000 is required for the semi-private rooms.

GIÀ TRATTORIA: Classic Italian fare and Harbour-front views

Già Trattoria, nestled in Fenwick Pier and boasting expansive views of Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour, is dishing up classically romantic Italian fare this Valentine’s Day with no minimum charge. Couples looking to create their own iconic Lady & The Tramp moment will be delighted with a vast array of a la carte menu items made from the finest imported-fresh ingredients. Già’s rustic menu features an array of fresh vegetables, homemade pastas, and cracker-thin pizzas including: Burrata with mixed Italian tomatoes (HK$188), Pasta Paglia e Fieno al Ragu’ di Salsiccia Straw and hay pasta with an Italian sausage ragu sauce (HK$188), and a sharing portion of Fiorentina Toscana, Italian Porter Chianina beef (approx. 1.2kg) served with grilled vegetables and potatoes (HK$1188).

MERCATO BY GIANDO: Everything needed for a romantic evening-in

Mercato by Giando, Hong Kong’s most authentic Italian market, offers bespoke gourmet experiences for those looking to stay-in this Valentine’s Day. Whether customers are looking for a complicated DIY meal, or a simpler turnkey option, Mercato provides an array of gourmet Italian offerings found in Hong Kong exclusively at Mercato. In addition to an indulgent selection of fresh produce, cheeses, and meats imported directly from Italy, Mercato offers a plethora of ready-made Giando signature sauces, fresh homemade pastas, desserts and fresh gelato. Everything hopeful lovebirds need for a successful Netflix and Chill is available at Mercato by Giando. 

#ELYXTOUR: ABSOLUT ELYX, THE WORLD’S FIRST LUXURY VODKA, TOURS HONG KONG’S TOP BARS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON WITH CURATED LISTS OF EXCEPTIONAL COCKTAILS

Absolut Elyx now available for take-home from Watson’s Wine

Absolut Elyx, the world’s first vodka created specifically for sipping, is touring Hong Kong this holiday season with handcrafted cocktails from a selection of the city’s most prestigious bars. This exceptionally smooth vodka is now being artfully prepared at Blue Butcher, Fish and Meat, Mercedes me, Mott 32, Potato Head, Q88, Seafood Room, and Zuma. The Elyx experience is now also available for take-home from Watson’s Wine (HK458).

Absolut Elyx is the result of manual processes, authentic craftsmanship, and human supervision through every detail of production. “Only a few people have the skills and knowledge to properly operate the old copper still used in its production. Every handle, knob and lever is adjusted manually. Creating a vodka this way is very time-consuming, but when you taste Absolut Elyx, you know it’s worth the effort,” explains Gareth Evans, Absolut Elyx’s Global Brand Ambassador, who recently visited Hong Kong to host a series of Master Classes. Evans went on to explain, “flashy and ostentatious displays are becoming more and more passé in our modern society where consumers are now thirsty for authenticity and true quality.” This silky-smooth vodka is a unique combination of traditional handcraft, copper distillation and cutting-edge design. The copper naturally catalyzes trace compounds in the spirit, purifying the vodka and adding a highly prized silky texture and taste. Crafted from single-estate wheat, from seed to bottle everything is done within a 15-mile radius of the distillery in Ahus, Sweden; this ensures quality control and perfection in every detail.

When it comes to making great cocktails, it’s the same passion, expertise, craftsmanship and attention to detail that produces outstanding results every time. While the smooth nature of Absolut Elyx lends itself perfectly to sipping on the rock, or a dry martini, its subtle flavors and smoothness also play well in the finest cocktails. A selection of Hong Kong’s finest establishments now offer the refined luxury of Absolut Elyx in a series of well-crafted cocktails. Blue Butcher tantalizes guests with the Grind, an inspired take on the infamous Breakfast Martini, this cocktail offers a tangy and floral explosion with a citrusy finish; Fish and Meat offers the Pepperonchini, a beautifully simplistic cocktail composed of Absolut Elyx, Lilet Blanc, lime juice, cucumber, and jalapeño; Luxuriously designed, Mott 32, dazzles guests with Nashi, inspired by Asian flavors, with a hint of spice, this light and refreshing cocktail pairs perfectly with the restaurant’s luxe Asian fare; Hong Kong’s newest chill spot, Potato Head, refreshes guests with the Butterfly, a mix of Jasmine Tea, orange blossoms, and fresh lemon; newly revamped Q88 entices guests with the Black & Copper, a combination of Elyx, peppercorn wine reduction, and salted Lillet Blanc; guests of the ever-popular Seafood Room* will enjoy the Flamingo, made for sharing, this punch is a combination of freshly muddled strawberries, lime, and pineapple; at Mercedes me cocktail connoisseurs will delight in the Vodka Sake, a pairing of Elyx with sake, lime, and kiwi that results in a light and fruity drink that packs a punch;  ZUMA, an enduring Hong Kong favorite, offers the Equinox Bloom Martini, created by master perfumer, Olivier Cresp, this cocktail plays with the olfactory palette inspired by the delights of high tea and is a mix of Dekopon orange, Baileys and toasted bread essence. All eight cocktails are visually stunning, some being served in Absolut Elyx signature copper pineapples. The pineapple has been the international symbol of hospitality, friendship and a warm welcome for many years. Absolut Elyx has appropriated this warm symbol and emboldened it with copper, reminiscent of Elyx's distillation process, to house premium-cocktails, which offers drinkers the same warm welcome. 

While at Mott32, Evans, also advised on pairing Absolut Elyx with Chinese cuisine.  He asserted that due to the quality and texture of this single-estate vodka, it pairs uniquely well with classic dishes such as Crispy Abalone, Short Ribs, and Fried Rice. Lovers of Chinese cuisine and cocktails are encouraged to try these delicacies at Mott32, or at home after purchasing a bottle of handcrafted Absolut Elyx from Watson’s Wine.

James Ostrer: ‘Guru Jimmy's Absolut Ashram of Spirituality’ Art Central & ZUMA 2016, Hong Kong

Absolut is pleased to present a new collaboration with the prominent Guru Jimmy – artist James Ostrer’s spiritual guide – on two site-specific Art Bars in Hong Kong. Both titled ‘Guru Jimmy’s Absolut Ashram of Spirituality’, the Art Bars will premiere at Art Central and ZUMA Hong Kong in March 2016.

Art Central, Hong Kong’s newest contemporary art fair on Hong Kong’s Central Harbour front, will host the Art Bar daily from 21-26 March. The ZUMA edition of the Art Bar will be open from 12pm daily on 21-28 March, making ZUMA the perfect place to relax after visiting the fair.

Following his celebrated appearance at the 2015 Venice Biennale, Guru Jimmy has been given carte blanche to fully conceptualise and create his Art Bar, from drinks to décor, and entertainment to ambience. Inspired by his own outlook that the future is not a given, and that all people should have the right to create their own, Guru Jimmy has imagined an Art Bar that gives way to a type of spiritual transcendence that he feels should be available to the masses. Art Central’s installation clearly demonstrates this, and consists of a technicolour dream-state complete with beanbag chairs, ‘material wealth’ rugs, and other spiritual endeavours, making it the ideal location for replenishment, relaxation and reflection. 

Guru Jimmy has collaborated with some of Hong Kong’s top mixologists from both Maximal Concepts and ZUMA, resulting in seven brightly coloured cocktails that each resemble a colour of the rainbow. The Art Bar at Art Central will serve the blue, violet and yellow coloured cocktails. It’s All About Me is a violet hued cocktail comprised of violet blossom liqueur, lemon, and ginger, which reflects imagination and spirituality, whilst the blue concoction, Absolut Clarity, using blended orange, lime, and a homemade citrus cordial, symbolises the qualities of creativity and intelligence. The three vibrant cocktails will be available through April at Limewood.

ZUMA represents the energy of the colour red with, the Happy Inner Selfie, a cocktail infused with pomegranate, cinnamon and yuzu, whilst the balance and harmony of the colour green is characterised in, Liquid Assets, a kiwi and pandan-based cocktail. The four cocktails on offer at ZUMA are sweetened only by the fruits’ natural sugars, paying tribute to Ostrer’s battle with sugar addiction as represented in his body of work Wotsit All About. ZUMA, recently named one of Asia’s Top 50 Bars, also promises to enlighten visitors through the various meanings of colour with an extensive food-pairing menu featuring colourful maki, sushi, and interpretative fruit platters. The bar and lounge will feature a live DJ from 7pm throughout the week and a special Art Session on Saturday, 26 March from 2.30pm.

Guru Jimmy will journey between the two venues, offering visitors a glimpse into his colourful world as well as presenting opportunities for ‘happy inner selfies’ for those looking to attain the ultimate happiness. To enhance his vibe of chilled tranquillity, Guru Jimmy will also travel between venues with his specially curated playlist of electro, funk and pop music.

The artist’s Art Bars are reminiscent of Absolut’s newest limited edition bottle design, Absolut Mix, which builds on the six colours of pride in a unique way, allowing the colours to mix together when the bottle is moved while still maintaining their individuality. The new bottle reflects Absolut and Guru Jimmy’s shared beliefs in an inclusive world that allows people to connect without labels. Absolut Mix will be available in Hong Kong this summer.

Additionally, Art Central hosts Ostrer’s latest body of work, Ego Systems, an amalgamation of celebrity icons who seduce their onlookers through traditional and social media with their promises of success, beauty and glamour. ZUMA concurrently hosts Ostrer's critically acclaimed body of work Wotsit All About, a photo series referencing icons of contemporary sugar worship, the artist’s imagined result of a corrupted globalisation and increasingly dangerous methods of food production.

‘Guru Jimmy’s Absolut Ashram of Spirituality’ is the latest in a series of collaborations between Absolut and leading contemporary artists to create Art Bar installations – ambitious sculptural environments which double as fully operational pop-up nightspots. This installation follows critically-acclaimed installations by SANGREE at Material Art Fair in Mexico City (2016); John Kørner at Chart Art Fair, Copenhagen, Denmark; Yazan Khalili at Art Dubai (2015); and Nadim Abbas at Art Basel (2014) in Hong Kong.

“It is Guru Jimmy’s greatest delight to help, support and empower people to mix up the emotions of absolute fun, friendship, music and art,” said James Ostrer.

“We are excited to be working with both Guru Jimmy and James Ostrer on ‘Guru Jimmy’s Absolut Ashram of Spirituality’. The Art Bars will be unique spaces where people can come together and relax, and we look forward to bringing both Art Bars to life in Hong Kong,” says Saskia Neuman, Global Art Manager, Absolut.

Cocktails

All of the below cocktails are crafted with Absolut Vodka:

RED: Guru Jimmy’s Happy Inner Selfie

Pomegranate, cinnamon, and yuzu

ORANGE: Guru Jimmy’s Happy Ending

Kumquat

YELLOW: Guru Jimmy’s Inevitable Joy

Pineapple, passion fruit, spice syrup, black pepper, mint

GREEN: Guru Jimmy’s Liquid Asset

Kiwi, pandan leaf

BLUE Guru Jimmy’s Absolut Clarity

Blended orange & peel liquer, lime, homemade citrus cordial

INDIGO: Guru Jimmy’s Absolut Spirituality

Infused flower, blueberry, cardamom

VIOLET: Guru Jimmy’s It’s All About Me

Violet blossom liqueur, lemon, ginger beer