Cover Asaya Kitchen's charred octopus (Photo: Asaya Kitchen)

The food and drink happenings that you should know about this week

Italian restaurants seem to be having a moment lately, with the opening of Crust Italian, Pazzi Isshokenmei, and now, news of the imminent arrival of Radicalchic. This comes amid other exciting openings, pop-ups and new menus for the week ahead. Read on to find out more.

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Radicalchic, Serving "Innovative" Italian Cuisine, To Open Atop ICC

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Above The restaurant interior (Photo: Radicalchic)

No, it's not the latest makeup brand to know—Radicalchic is Hong Kong's newest Italian restaurant slated to open in late July that aims to innovate in a cuisine that has already been sliced and dissected every which way. Taking over the former Tenku Ryugin space on the 101st floor of the International Commerce Centre (ICC), it certainly has the pride of place, with an interior that was designed to resemble a museum art gallery. The kitchen is helmed by Andrea Tarini, former protegé of Mauro Uliassi at three-Michelin-starred Uliassi in Italy, and Heinz Beck of three-Michelin-starred Taste of Italy in Dubai.

Styling itself as "refined and radical", the restaurant's ethos will be displayed in a signature 10-course degustation menu that will change according to the seasons. Stay tuned for more on this opening in the coming weeks.

Radicalchic, Shop B1, Level 101, International Commerce Center, 1 Austin Road, West Kowloon, Hong Kong

Related: Argo At Four Seasons Hong Kong Is One Of 2021's Most Ambitious Bar Openings

Hjem Brings A Slice of Scandinavia To Sheung Wan

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Above A selection of smørrebrød (Photo: Hjem)

Club Rangoon's sister cafe, Hjem, is opening its doors on July 12, in the same month as the former venue's one-year anniversary. As the second brand under the newly-formed Common Abode hospitality group, Hjem (meaning 'home' in Norwegian) continues in the same vein as Club Rangoon of highlighting cuisines less familiar to Hongkongers, this time by spotlighting co-founder Elin Fu's childhood home of Norway. Expect Nordic comfort food like smørrebrød (open-faced sandwiches) topped with Arctic prawn, asparagus, and Baltic herring, alongside classics like meatballs and mash, wiener sausages with French fries, healthy salads and Nordic cheese platters. 

Baked goods and coffee will also be highlighted as specialties at Hjem—we're looking forward to pairing a honey milk golden latte with the giant cardamom bun roll—while group beverage consultant Chanel Adams has ideated a number of low-ABV cocktails in line with the cafe's ethos of clean living. “Hjem is a way of keeping home close to me wherever I may be," says Fu. "I wanted to share with guests the same comfort that I felt growing up with Nordic cuisine as I trace my roots through authentic Nordic delights, with the hope that everybody can call Hjem home.”

Hjem, 161 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

Asaya Kitchen At Rosewood Hong Kong Reopens As Pescatarian Restaurant

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Above Lobster bouillabaise (Photo: Asaya Kitchen)

Adjacent to Rosewood Hong Kong's Asaya wellness centre, Asaya Kitchen was, since the hotel's opening, focused on healthy eating that "is centered around wellness but not deprived of pleasure." Since then, it's gone through a rebranding, ultimately shedding the wellness angle and moving the needle more towards Mediterranean and pescatarian fare.

Now helmed by chef Fabio Nompleggio, Asaya Kitchen's menu focuses on wholesome recipes and seasonal ingredients sourced from local farmers and fisheries. Highlights include a delicate king crab tart with roasted beets and dill, red prawn bouillabaisse with rouille sauce and baby greens, and sustainably-sourced Glacier 51 toothfish with zucchini mint cream, tomato crust, and watercress oil. These dishes and more can be ordered a la carte, or as part of the weekday and weekend lunch and dinner set menus.

Related: Where Chefs Are Excited to Eat In Hong Kong: July 2021

Asaya Kitchen
Mediterranean   |   $ $

6/F Rosewood Hong Kong, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

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Cookie DPT Pops Up At Landmark Again

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Above Photo: Cookie DPT

Cookie DPT is back yet again at Landmark with another pop-up store until September 30. This time, alongside the classics, the pop-up will also make available the Death by Chocolate S'mores flavour for the launch week only, as well as Landmark exclusives like cinnamon, rolls, fudge brownies, and Basque burnt cheesecakes. Sweets lovers will also delight in the Cyclone, a vanilla soft-serve hand-spun with the cookie of your choice.

Over the next few months, the pop-up will also be the site of several collaborations. The first partnership with Pici will see the introduction of a special lunch set (HK$100) that includes a serving of spinach pappardelle with spicy pork ragu and a tiramisu cookie, only from 12-3pm between July 8 and July 15.

Cookie DPT pop-up, Shop 350, 3/F, Landmark Atrium, 15 Queen's Road Central, Central, Hong Kong

Awa Awa Introduces Weekend Brunch Menu

Newly-opened Okinawan neighbourhood bar Awa Awa is debuting a new brunch offering to whisk diners away to the isles of the southern Japanese archipelago. For HK$288 per person from 12-4pm every Saturday and Sunday, tuck into four family-style starters of kakiage, salad, sashimi and a bonus dish, one entrée and one dessert per person. Although Awa Awa's alcohol license is still pending, visitors can BYOB, with a 10 percent discount for booze from Sake Central.

Awa Awa, Shop E&F, UG/F, 42 & 44 Peel St, Central, Hong Kong

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