Hong Kong, Shanghai

Forget about picking at your hairy crabs and digging out bits of meat and roe. At Shanghai Min in Hong Kong, it's all done for you, and some. The exclusive Shanghainese restaurant is offering a modern twist on traditional hairy crab dishes, and these include a crab cream soup, steamed hairy crab in rice wine sauce, and an opulent hairy crab cream steamed with shrimp balls and silken tofu. Feast in style from Oct 1 to mid-December.

Shanghai Min Tsim Sha Tsui, 10/F, One Peking, 1 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. 852-2527-8899. - Pauline D. Loh

Food with fireworks

Get a ring-side view of the National Day fireworks display at Victoria Harbor with a table stacked with gourmet tapas at Sevva, that seen-and-be-seen eatery perched atop the penthouse of Central's Princes Building. It's going to be champagne and a stylish selection which includes corn fritters with Mexican salsa, persimmon wrapped with Iberian ham, prawn salad on crispy sushi, Scottish smoked salmon and creme fraiche, foie gras with onion marmalade. The one-hour session from 7:30 to 8:30 pm on Oct 1 is priced at HK$680 ($88) per person. The fireworks display is free.

Sevva, 25/F Prince's Building, 10 Chater Road, Central, Hong Kong. 852-2537-1388. - Pauline D. Loh

Time for tea

Spend an afternoon sipping tea at Cafe Gray Deluxe at The Upper House in Hong Kong. From now until the end of the month, Cafe Gray Deluxe is serving a special afternoon tea set inspired by cosmetic brand, Cle de Peau Beaute. Savories are warm short rib curry puff, cool poached shrimp cucumber and mango roll, and grilled mini pastrami Reubens. Sweet delights include bright blue elderflower blueberry macaroons, slightly tart lemon quark cheesecakes, and creamy pink rose and strawberry Swiss rolls. Great for girlfriend get-togethers.

Cafe Gray Deluxe, 49/F The Upper House, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong. 852-3968-1106. - Donna Mah

Cool flavors

It's not too chilly yet, so grab a large cup of ice cream before autumn catches up. Le Creme Milano is a cozy, stylish Italian-style shop selling handcrafted ice cream offering the most stunning flavors. Mango is a big hit, and you can actually see and taste fruit pulp in it. If you are after more adult tastes, go for the ice cream.

434 Shaanxi Road South, Shanghai. 021-6433-5208. - Li Xinzhu

Undo ordinary

Kim Crawford is a New Zealand winemaker well known for his clean, fruity whites such as the signature Sauvignon Blanc. Find out more about his wines as Chinese distributor ASC works with the vineyard in a wine dinner at the delightful Yi House Restaurant. On hand with all the tasting notes will be Kim Crawford's chief winemaker Anthony Walkenhorst. Sept 27 at 6 pm.

Yi House Restaurant, Grace Beijing, 2, Jiuxiangqiao North Road, 798 Arts Zone, Beijing. 010-6436-1818. - Pauline D. Loh

Go Korean

Beijing Bistro at the Beijing Marriott Hotel is showcasing Korean cuisine from now till the end of the month. Chef Lee Sang-chul from the Renaissance Seoul Hotel is the guest chef who will demonstrate a selection of popular Korean delicacies including soups, cold and hot dishes and desserts. Lunch costs 228 yuan ($36) plus 15 percent surcharge, dinner costs 268 yuan or 368 yuan per head, with 15 percent surcharge.

2/F, Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast, A 26 Xiaoyun Lu, Chaoyang district, Beijing. 010-5927-8888. Daily, 11:30 am-2:30 pm, 6-9 pm. - Ye Jun

(China Daily 09/22/2012 page12)