A Taste of Hong Kong Cuisine with Fine Wine in Chicago

For more information, please contact:
Melissa Ng /David Hsieh at 212-752-3320
Daniel McAtee at 202-238-6360
Wing Yan Tong at 415-835-9315

Some 180 special guests from the Chicago area were treated to the delights of Hong Kong’s renowned cuisine at this evening’s (May 18, Chicago time) “Champagne, Wine, Dim Sum.......and MORE: The Joy of Wine and Hong Kong Cuisine” event. They also learned about Hong Kong’s growing reputation as a wine-distribution center at this unique dim sum and wine pairing event.

Hong Kong Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs, USA Mr. Donald Tong, said the unique reception enabled guests to “taste a unique fusion of palate, blending the renowned cuisine from Hong Kong of the East with the fine wine from the West.”

TV host and Master Sommelier Alpana Singh was on hand to demonstrate the fine art of wine and dim sum pairing.

“Hong Kong – a gourmet’s paradise – prides itself in its diverse culinary tradition. Its streets are lined with restaurants offering customers with cuisines originating from every corner of the globe, from Beijing to Paris, from Tokyo to Sydney, from New York to New Delhi. You name it, Hong Kong has it! ” said Mr. Tong.

He pointed out that Hong Kong is one of the first Michelin cities in China with the publication of the first Michelin Guide for Hong Kong last year. The Guide includes more than 200 eateries in Hong Kong and awards coveted Michelin stars to 22 of them.

“Indeed, our culinary excellence is vindicated by the latest results of the CNN global Travel & Tourism survey. Not only are we grouped among the most tourist-friendly destinations, we are also considered one of the best for “good food” in the region,” said Mr. Tong.

The Commissioner said that apart from the culinary experience, Hong Kong also offers choices of the best wine in the world at the most competitive prices.

“With the scrapping of the entire 40 percent wine tax last year, Hong Kong is now the first duty-free wine port among major economies,” he said. “In the 10 months that followed the abolition of wine duties - from March to December 2008 - Hong Kong's global wine imports increased more than 80%, year-on-year, at the tune of some $350 million. In the same period, US wine exports to Hong Kong reached $18 million, more than double that in 2007.”

Mr. Tong pointed out that Hong Kong, with its modern infrastructure, world-class services and decades of experience in cracking the Mainland market, is well placed to facilitate the growth of the wine market in Asia, particularly Mainland China.

In the past year, Hong Kong has hosted 10 wine auctions - the first such sales in the city for more than a decade – including some conducted by such U.S. auction houses as Zachys Wine & Liquor Store and Acker Merrall & Condit. One of the Acker sales set a new Asian record, fetching $8.2 million.

Several US wine firms have already set up offices in Hong Kong in the past year. They include wine trading - California Grape International and Vinx Asia; and wine-storage companies, such as Vinfolio. Some US companies also took part in the first International Wine and Spirits Fair in Hong Kong and achieved good results.

“We are working closely with the US Government on wine promotion and look forward to seeing more US companies taking part in the Fair in November this year,” said Mr. Tong.

“Champagne, Wine, Dim Sum.......and MORE: The Joy of Wine and Hong Kong Cuisine” is organized by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York and supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Board and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. It is one of the key programs of the “Hong Kong Comes to Chicago 2009” festival, held in conjunction with Chicago’s month-long celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, throughout the month of May.