Showing posts with label Anthony Arrigo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Anthony Arrigo. Show all posts

Tuesday, 19 September 2017

Food Hong Kong- Review Classifieds and Press Room Central


Hong Kong and food go hand in hand in this dynamic city that truly is east meets west in style culture, fun, love and money! A classic example of this is the rapid or should I say rabid proliferation of restaurants (I use the term loosely) perhaps eateries is a better term. One such duo of establishments is Press Room and Classifieds on Hollywood Road Central. Both only two years young it seems that time has still not done any justice to either. While I will go into more detail on the Press Room later; today I would like to focus on Classifieds their sister Brassiere for the glitterati of HK and locals / expats living near by. (Sadly I just fall into the latter) First it must be said it's well laid out, with top marks for style, niche, product and presentation. That also sadly is where the good points end. This lunch time was another entertaining event, my very good friend G and I braved the waters to satisfy our food cravings. Simply put I will just state the details. Drinks: We ordered Ice tea and a Latte, simple enough and they got this right but I was somewhat bemused to find my ice tea served in wine glass. Food: Soup of the day Minestrone, Greek Salad and Wild Mushroom Risotto were ordered. This is where it gets really interesting. 1. The soup- watery, tasteless and as far from Minestrone as it could ever be. Greek Salad-Troy himself would have slayed to avoid this one! No lettuce of any type, all Cucumber and onion however, we did manage to find one lone tinned black olive. Risotto,-great flavor, creamy and well presented, shame the rice was not properly cooked. One may wonder why we go back....well often because it's near by but lately mostly because we just want to give them one more try and to see what else they can truly muck up while passing themselves off as high end. Please note these comments are my personal thoughts only based on genuine paid dining experiences. Also note that I have been involved in the Hospitality industry for 15+ years. Next blog La Piazzetta opening party!

Monday, 5 October 2009

Divine Wine - Review The Pawn Wanchai-Hong Kong, by Anthony Arrigo


Divine Wine - Massimo Gavina, the newly installed General Manager of The Pawn in Wanchai, is most certainly the best thing to happen to the place since it opened! Massimo now having found his way back to the right side of Hong Kong after 24 months over at the dark side (i.e. Kowloon) is set to make his mark at this landmark establishment. There is no dark side to Massimo and his welcoming personality makes one feel more at home that just out on the town. Now more places in Hong Kong need more people like him to give places a dose of reality, lift their game and put some meaning to the term “Asia’s world city” that’s often over used to describe Hong Kong.

The Pawn is unique in Hong Kong as it’s located in a colonial building, being one of those rarely preserved venues and was in fact a old Pawn brokers shop, hence the name and established way back when in 1888. Originally with the shop front located at ground level and housing residential living on upper floors of this three story building. It is now lovingly restored and offering a comfy and stylish respite to some of Wanchai’s “other” bars.

Last night The Pawn held an inaugural wine tasting evening, instigated by Massimo the event both worked well and was a real treat. At the event where Mo, Tin and his lovely wife Gloria, George fresh off the plane from Prague joined later adding even more fun along the way. The “Tasting Menu” of wine and cocktails, featured both old and new world wines (French and Australian) The former being a simply delicious Sauvignon Blanc by Alain Brumont along with South Australian wines by The Lackey, additionally some nice Shiraz and Merlot as well. While these were served with limited “Tapas” the intention and thought behind the event was well received. It was a good example of adding value to the guest experience while at the same time enhancing and building on loyalty. Top marks to Massimo and his team and looking forward to spending more time over that way in the coming weeks.

Anthony Arrigo is a resident expat in Hong Kong, living and working in Asia for 15 years.