Food & Beverage
Art Central is mostly about art, but it is also about food. Now in its fifth year, Art Central is one of the highlights of Hong Kong Arts Month, which takes place every year in March. Check out this Art Central food guide for what chefs at several restaurants have planned.
In This Post
Art Central 101
Art Central is held every year concurrently with Art Basel Hong Kong. It is a celebration of Asia’s diverse and increasingly vibrant arts scene.
But there is more to the festival than a breathtaking exhibition of paintings and sculptures.
There are also interactive performances, informative talks, large-scale installations, and interactive workshops. And FOOD!!!
Gastronomy at Art Central
Gastronomy has always played an important role in Art Central, and this year more so than ever!
A sort of pop-up food court will be set up in an air-conditioned tent next to the exhibition galleries.
Several of Hong Kong’s top kitchens will serve up yummy snacks, favourite dishes, and signature desserts to exhibitors and fair-goers alike.
You can expect caloric comfort food such as juicy hamburgers with all the trimmings.
You can expect mouthwatering Southeast Asian desserts such as sticky rice washed down with Thai-style milk tea.
You can expect refreshing Western desserts such as home-made gelato.
New This Year – Fine Dining!
This year’s Art Central is adding a mouth-watering new element that is the talk of the town.
For the first time, a world-renowned chef is creating a fine-dining concept especially for Art Central.
Introducing Daniele Sperindio, whose Scarpetta di Daniele Sperindio will serve traditional Italian dishes with a modern twist.
The menu will run from yummy snacks and starters to innovative main courses and decadent desserts.
Let’s take at look at what will be on the menu …
What you won’t find at this temporary ristorante italiano are look-alike dishes modeled after Pizza Hut or Spaghetti House!
Instead expect the kind of food you would expect to be served at a fine-dining Italian restaurant.
The menu will include egg-based fresh tagliatelle pasta served with mud crab and Thai red curry sauce; Paccheri pasta served with blue foot mushrooms, Stilton cheese and balsamic; risotto roasted pumpkin, beef cheek brasato, and smoked milk ice cream with palmer’s brownie.
Chef Daniele got his start in Genoa, Italy. He trained under Michelin starred chefs Grant Achatz in Chicago and Yoshihiro Narisawa in Tokyo. Most recently, Daniele directed the culinary program as executive chef at Atlasbar in Singapore.
Art Central Food Court Guide
As in previous years, a more informal eating experience will be offered at The Terrace, where exhibitors and fair goers can do a crawl of some of Hong Kong’s most popular tables.
Here’s a quick preview of what will be on offer at the pop-up food court …
Beef & Liberty
Famous for its burgers and beer, Beef and Liberty will be serving cheese burgers, BBQ ribs, and corn-on-the-cob. Not to mention their unexpected vegan option, the Impossible Black Pepper Burger, which is targeted at vegans.
Bread & Beast
Famous for its artisanal sandwiches, Bread and Beast will have two mouth-watering options.
Kimoji Ciabatta will be made with 24-hour pulled smoked brisket and topped with melted Swiss, kimchi and lemon aioli.
The Helter Crab Cheesy Cheung Fun will be made wit butter fried super lump crab, crispy cheung fun, and topped with with X.O. cheese sauce and shelter spice crumbs.
Brickhouse
Famous for its Mexico City-style street food, Brickhouse will be serving four tacos inspired by the following iconic artists: Yayoi Kusama, Ai Weiwei, Andy Warhol, and Jackson Pollock.
The Kusama is made with roasted pumpkin, the Weiwei is made with spice braised duck, the Warhol is made with Guajillo braised beef cheek, and the Pollock is made with grilled shrimp.
A taco platter with four tacos will also be served, and it can be shared with friends.
Samsen
Famous for its Thai-style street food, Samsen is participating in Art Central for the first time this year.
Dishes will include Khao Soi! Chicken and Khao Soi! Beef, which have been created especially for Art Central.
Other dishes will include Wok Fried Rice of Crabmeat, made with spring onions and crispy garlic.
Save room for dessert! The Michelin Gourmand Restaurant will also be serving at Thai Mango Sticky Rice with Thai Milk Tea set dessert.
West Bay Kitchen and Bar
The newly opened West Bay Kitchen and Bar will be serving international dishes such as Lobster Roll, Lobster Bisque, Creamy Lobster Ozro Pasta, Foie Gras Pineapple Sliders, Seared Tuna Mango Poke Bowls, and Aburi Salmon Avocado Poke Bowls.
XTC Gelato
If you want dessert or just want to rest your feet for a few minutes, stop by XTC Gelato, which will be serving Chocolate XTC, Fresh Fruit Ice Pops, Gelato Cookie Sandwiches, with no artificial additives, and Hong Kong Milk Tea
Art Central Schedule
Art Central will run from Wednesday 27 March to Sunday 31 March 2019.
VIP Preview & First Night will be held on Tuesday 26 March.
Location of Art Central
Art Central – Central Harbourfront Event Space, 9 Lung Wo Road, Central, Hong Kong Island.
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