Cecconi's New Menu

Cecconi's has introduced a new menu for summer, which includes favourite dishes and new introductions. Menu items include Warm Salad of Goat's Cheese and Crispy Arrolatta; Stuzzicarelli with Porcini, Confit Garlic and Truffled Pecorino; Prawn, Preserved Lemon and Basil Risotto; Pancetta wrapped Chicken Breast stuffed with Cream Cheese and Garlic, with Braised Leek; and Caramel Mousse with Candied Walnuts.

Chefs Online

An online guide to the world's leading chefs and their restaurants has been launched by Relais & Châteaux. The website www.grandschefs.com showcases 160 of the world's culinary elite from five continents and over 350 Michelin stars. Each chef is profiled along with their signature recipes and restaurants -- with links to book tables at them. The profiles also detail their videos, books and DVDs, with links to their online shops.

The legendary chefs are in cities from New York, Geneva and Sydney to Tokyo, London and Paris -- and also in countryside inns and seaside resorts.They include such eponymous names as Patrick Henriroux in Vienne, Michel Bras in Laguiole, Michel Roux Jr. in London, Jean-Georges in New York, Jean-Pierre Vigato in Paris, Annie Féolde in Florence, Emile Jung in Strasbourg, Tetsuya Wakuda in Australia and Kiyomi Mikuni in Japan, Thomas Keller in New York and California. Closer to home, Grand Chefs in Asia include Ivan Li in Shanghai, Som Khuan Wandee in Malaysia and Emmanuel Stroobant in Singapore, Joel Robuchon in Tokyo. So far no chefs from Hong Kong have made the grade.

Roka's Set Dinner

ROKA's new simple and easy ‘set dinner' menu is priced at $638 including a selection that is perfect for groups larger than two and features 13 matched courses. The menu samples the restaurant's favourite signature dishes - without the stress of deciding what to order!

Starting with a selection of premium sashimi and sushi, guests are presented with salmon tartar, spicy tuna maki, seaweed salad and even more sashimi.  The menu then moves onto hot white or red miso soup, spicy beef and pickled cabbage dumplings, lobster tempura and eggplant in mirin, ginger and soy.

Straight from the robata grill comes hot pepper lamb cutlets and black cod skewers which introduce a rice hot pot choice of either king crab or nameko, eryngii, shimeji and enoki mushrooms. The feast is completed with a platter of desserts and fruit.

Chic Afternoon Tea

Langham Place has launched a series of four contemporary chic afternoon teas, "perfect for urban socialites looking to spice up their afternoons". Each afternoon tea has been named to reflect its style: There's Sinful for the sweet-tooth, Tomorrow for the ultra-sophisticate, East for an oriental flavour and Forever for a timeless treat.

Sinful (M-F $189 for 2, weekend and public holidays $209 for two) includes an indulgent selection of éclairs, cupcakes, cheesecakes, macaroons, white and dark chocolate dipped strawberries, Nanaimo bars and Valrhona chocolates.

Tomorrow (M-Fri $249 for two, weekend and public holidays $269 for two) is a collection of "haute cuisine" including duck liver terrine, Serrano ham on pumpkin chutney, spiced salmon tartar in a papadum cone, beet and French goat cheese ravioli, seafood ceviche in gazpacho sauce...and sweet goodness such as pavlovas, sweet mango sushi and beet jelly with dark chocolate.

East (M-F $229 for two, weekend and public holidays $249 for two) is a medley of freshly steamed char siu and siu mai, tandori mini chicken wraps, Peking roasted duck rice rolls, curried crab meat and pink grapefruit on cucumber, cold soba noodles, curry puffs, mango and sago soup, cupcakes and green tea crème brulée.

Forever (M-F $199 for two, weekend and public holidays $249 for two) is a decadent arrangement of smoked salmon, truffled egg, tomato, brie and smoked duck finger sandwiches, scones, French pastries and Valrhona chocolates.

The afternoon tea is available from 3-5.30pm and is served in Portal - Work and Play. 

$98 Aqua Lunch

Aqua has introduce a two-course set lunch for only $98 per person. Choose from a range of Italian and Japanese dishes. Available Monday through Saturday from 12 till 2.30pm.