Making sure you have the very best taste

3 of the best: Christmas lunches

1 Zuma
Free-flowing champers, sake and bellinis – that’s what Christmas should be all about, no? Zuma agrees, and will be hosting its famous brunches from 25-27 December at just HK$550 a pop. Take your pick from sushi, sashimi, plus all manner of treats from the robata grill. Children under 12 eat for free, and can play in the kids’ corner while mum and dad get merry. www.zumarestaurant.com

2 寶雅座
Munch your way through six courses and MOP888 of top quality nosh this Christmas Eve and Christmas Day – or pay MOP1,276 to glug it down with first class wine. If you can face anything else after that, each table gets a free box of choccies specially designed by the MGM Grand. Bon Appetit! www.mgmgrandmacau.com

3 Cepage
Nothing planned for Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve? Dig into a five-course French dinner including Balik smoked salmon and Oscietre caviar, and pan-seared scallop with Alaskan crab. Sommelier John Chan will guide guests through the wine cellar – ensuring you bring in next year with a sore head. www.starstreet.com.hk

new in town

Posto Pubblico
Set up by a group of ‘community-driven’ entrepreneurs, Posto Pubblico aims to use locally sourced ingredients in its New York-Italian-style kitchen. The result is fresh and nutritious food – tastier than the imported stuff many Western restaurants use in Hong Kong. Visit for good old-fashioned comfort food in cosy surroundings.
28 Elgin St, Soho, HK

Bo-lo’Gne
Carbs, anyone? This new launch serves bread and not much else. On the menu you’ll find toast with a variety of toppings from plain old jam to vanilla ice cream. Get there early though; as soon as the fresh bread runs out, they close their doors.
41 Aberdeen St, Soho, Hong Kong +852 2950 0600

Food for thought

We speak to Mr Real of Portuguese restaurant tromba Rija. For the month of december, Mr Real and his team will be creating a special Christmas buffet at 360 Café, Macau tower.

What would you say is the ultimate Portuguese food?
Everything in Tromba Rija is very Portuguese. We have more than 70 different appetisers on the menu every day, most of which we would eat today in our homes.

Are you a fan of Chinese food?
I love Chinese food but especially Macanese cuisine. Much like in Portuguese restaurants, you can all share a few different dishes at once.

What is the secret to being a successful restaurant entrepreneur?
You must have true passion for what you do. You must have good social skills to get a loyal customer base. Of course, you mustn’t be afraid of hard work.

What are your favourite things about Macau?
I fell in love with this place the first time I visited, for just a few hours, more than 15 years ago. I then came back again about 10 years ago – and in 2005, 2006 and 2007! Macau is like one big monument. There is a heap of history here.

The best country in the world for food?
For me, the best country in the world regarding the food is Italy. And I say it with heart, because I spent a long time there.

Finally – what tips would you give a budding cook who wants to try making a Portuguese dish for the first time?

Typical Portuguese dishes often have cod as a main ingredient. People say that there are over 1,000 different ways to cook it. The trick is that the cod, specifically the Gadus Morhua, doesn’t have a weight of less than 3kg, and is soaked in water at a temperature of 7-8°C. Follow a recipe and you can’t go wrong.

Find Mr Real and sample his culinary delights at 360 Café in the Macau Tower from 10 December to 1 January. The buffet dinner is MOP288 per person (MOP188 for children), and on 24,25,26 & 31 December it is MOP368 per person (MOP268 for children). www.macautower.com.mo