TORONTO — The Hong Kong Tourism Board’s ‘online & offline’ format for The Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival continues, giving audiences at home and abroad a new gastronomic experience not bound by time and geographical constraints.
On now through Dec. 15, the festival features a wealth of online experiences, including an Online Wine Cellar, Gourmet at Home Menus and live-streamed cookery and wine-tasting masterclasses on a new one-stop online platform.
The series of 34 online masterclasses, which viewers can see for free no matter where they are, are live-streamed on WineDineFestival.DiscoverHongKong.com for three consecutive Saturdays and Sundays from Nov. 21 to Dec. 6. They cover a wide range of topics, from wine and spirits trends to fine dining, healthy eating, and the art of food plating.
Meanwhile, wine talks by Hong Kong-based, internationally acclaimed critic James Suckling and Master of Wine Debra Meiburg, include recommendations on everything from ‘New Wave Bordeaux’ to ‘The Pacific West’.
For foodies looking to hone their skills in the kitchen, live cooking demonstrations – led by celebrated Hong Kong chefs such as Shane Osborn, of Arcane and Cornerstone, and Vicky Cheng, of VEA Restaurant & Lounge – offer an opportunity to learn new tips and tricks.
Also coming up, on Nov. 28 the ‘Lady’s Talk’ features five influencers on Hong Kong’s food and beverage scene, who will each host a masterclass to share a unique take on their own expertise. The influencers include: Shirley Kwok, founder of vegan bakery The Cakery; Chef Vicky Lau of TATE Dining Room; certified sake sommelier Jamie Lo; Master of Wine Sarah Heller; and actress-turned-winemaker Bernice Liu.
“Although the HKTB’s mega events have been suspended for some time, we are drawing on our ingenuity and resources to optimize and adapt promotions against the backdrop of a pandemic that will be with us for some time,” says HKTB Chairman, Dr YK Pang. “That’s why we have decided to resume the staging of mega events, and adopt a new ‘online + offline’ format for the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival 2020. It is a new venture designed for the new normal in which we find ourselves. The HKTB is doing this to ensure people can join this annual event in spite of the pandemic, and to help our hard-hit businesses to promote their products and open up new business opportunities in these challenging times.”
Dr Pang added: “Our objective is to continue giving the Hong Kong economy a boost. It sends out a positive message to the world that Hong Kong’s can-do spirit and love of life have not been dampened in any way by the pandemic. We can use our innovation to stage our signature events while we prepare to welcome visitors back to our city.”
Detailed information on the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival 2020 and the online masterclasses are available at WineDineFestival.DiscoverHongKong.com.
