CEBU, Philippines - An invitation to visit Hong Kong was extended to Cebu residents by Patsy Chan, the Director of Communications of Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel. All members of the local Lifestyle print media were recently invited to a sumptuous lunch at the Acqua Italian Restaurant of the Shangri-La Mactan Resort. Later, I learned that the same invite to visit Hong Kong was given to online journalists and social media personalities by Director of Communications Cassandra Cuevas.In the past, when a Cebuano goes abroad for the first time, Hong Kong would be the most popular destination because of its proximity and due to budgetary constraints. I visited Hong Kong, before the Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel opened in 1981. Today, travellers have more countries to choose like Singapore, Thailand and lately Japan, because of affordable air fares on budget-friendly airlines.

Kowloon Shangri-La Hong Kong stands in the heart of the shopping and commercial district of Tsim Sha Tsui East and commands a fabulous view of the world famous Victoria Harbour. Everything is just minutes away from the hotel, including the Airport Express Station, Mass Transit Railway East Rail to mainland China and the ubiquitous Star Ferry. Very convenient indeed!

The hotel has 688 guestrooms and suites with 6 restaurants offering a wide selection of cuisines like the Angelini 69 (Italian), Café Kool & Déli Kool (International & delicatessen), Nadaman 138 (Japanese), Tapas Bar 121 (tapas & wines), Lobby Lounge 144 (Snacks & drinks) and the Michelin two-starred – excuse me – Shang Palace Chinese Restaurant.

For the media lunch at Acqua, in Shangri-la Mactan, Chef de Cuisine Andrea Burzio prepared a four-course meal, which opened with the Salmon and Tuna Carpacio Duo, Oranges, Kalamata Olives, Italian Pickles and Citronette. Oranges, pickles and Citronette (salad dressing with fruit juices) that all added to the clean and tangy taste of the fishes. This was followed by the Lemon Risotto with Pesto Seafood Salad, both dishes served in generous portions. I always loved the taste of pesto alla Genovese with garlic, pine nuts, basil, salt, cheese and olive oil with elements of seafood.

Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel’s Patsy Chan explained that while in Hong Kong guests are given assistance to explore Tim Sha Tsui’s cultural heritage which consists of the first Catholic Church in Kowloon, the city’s oldest military facility, the primary school of Kung Fu legend Bruce Lee, and others sites.

As an incentive, MICE organizers who book a qualified group in the hotel can get a free iPhone 7! The hotel has partners that give shopping and dining offers to shoppers at the T Galleria by DFS, TSTE store on Mody Road and Harbour City on Canton Road.

The third dish at the Acqua lunch was Cernia in Tomato and Capers Sicilian Sauce. The word “cernia” is Italian for grouper or stone bass and the dish had a dominating tangy and savory taste. Dessert was a classic, the Aqua Tiramisu, but the presentation – a pot with earth and a growing plant – was an eyeful. (FREEMAN)