We welcome with love…The Tonno! Home to the legendary Tonnochy Ballroom in the 1960s, this three story, multi-faceted 35,000 square foot building has been revamped and renovated by nightlife tycoon Steven Lo and is now redefined as the Renaissance of Glamour. And it’s easy to see why. This sleek and sultry hot spot now boasts a hip and casual bar, a sweeping outdoor terrace decked with lounge cabanas, a live music bar and a karaoke club with 31 individual rooms where guests are invited to sing their heart out to classic favourites. The highlight? Tonno Kitchen, the stunning restaurant serving up authentic and divine Shanghainese cuisine (must try the sumptuous Lion’s Head and pork and vegetable dumplings!). This in-house restaurant, run by Jackson Ng of former dragon-i fame, serves up delectable preparations of fresh and fiery Shanghainese favourites, which can be enjoyed anywhere in the venue. This is exactly what Wanchai (and your nights out!) have been missing. Don your best Shanghai Chic as we’re off to Shanghai, baby… well, the next best thing at least!

The Tonno
5 Tonnochy Road
Wanchai, Hong Kong
+852 3125 3888

Made the “nice” list this year? If you’ve been good and we mean really, really good, we have the ultimate gift that will have you sparkling all the way into 2012 and beyond…a one-of-a-kind piece from Chow Tai Fook’s ‘Danseuse de Ballet’ Diamond Collection.  Inspired by the timeless beauty of ballet during the Renaissance, the never-been-seen-before fancy diamonds collection features a stunning selection of extremely rare and expertly designed pink and yellow diamond jewellery.  The collection was first revealed to the world in a decadently delightful afternoon tea and jewellery show at the Grand Hyatt’s glass encased poolside featuring Hong Kong’s top supermodels alongside some of the world’s most accomplished ballerinas.  Turning heads from center stage to the city streets, ‘Danseuse de Ballet’ boasts more than 200 custom-designed timeless pieces, including bejeweled rings, bracelets and necklaces, which can be gracefully passed from generation to generation.

It’s time to call in a favor at the North Pole…

Chow Tai Fook ‘Danseuse de Ballet’
Pricing and Availability Upon Request
+852 2526 8649
www.chowtaifook.com

Stop, collaborate and listen, Cochine’s back with a brand new invention… By this, we mean the launch of the new warming and intoxicatingly rich Vanille & Tabac Noir scent by much adored Hong Kong-based, Vietnamese-made fragrance brand, Cochine. Launched just in time for the holidays, the Vanille & Tabac Noir Candle in its magnificent mirrored glass is the ultimate luxurious hostess gift and the ideal piece to accent your own stunning festive décor.  Want to spread the scent of the holidays throughout your home?  The Vanille & Tabac Noir fragrance is also available as a gorgeous Reed Diffuser, or an indulgent Fine Liquid Hand Wash and Hand & Body Cream.  Looking for the perfect present for the friend who has it all? Selling out on the shelves from Harrods in London to Harvey Nic’s in HK, Cochine has just launched the Votive Candle Gift Set featuring three of their top fragrances, White Jasmine & Gardenia, Water Hyacinth & Lime Blossom, and Vietnamese Rose & Delentii, and packaged to perfection in their signature elegant style. Available online with complimentary gift-wrap and delivery straight to your door, HK’s Christmas wish lists just got a whole lot cooler.

Ice, Ice, Baby…

Cochine
Available at Harvey Nichols Hong Kong, Indigo Living or online at:
www.cochine.com

Now filling the front rows at Fashion Weeks from Paris to New York, the world’s top fashion bloggers are bringing style, design, and global trends to the masses.  One of Hong Kong’s hottest, Christing of Fashion Hedonism has taken her much-loved personal style straight from the web and onto the streets, with the opening of her namesake womenswear boutique, Christing C. Styled as an edgy, urban loft space warmed up with unique personal touches, the shop features a carefully edited collection of dresses, tops, skirts and accessories from young cult Australian, Swedish, and American designers.  True to her roots, all of the stunning pieces from the boutique are all available online, with same day delivery throughout HK. But for the full experience, pop up to the shop on Wyndham Street to check out the latest hot to trot numbers firsthand, or you can even book an appointment to be shown around and styled by the fashion-maven herself.

Looking for a sparkly show-stopper for NYE? Christing recommends Aje’s exclusive resort collection featuring the brand’s famous handmade matte sequin dresses (available in store only) or Rachel Gilbert dresses, a celebrity favourite and perfect for party season.

**Exclusive Reader Discount**: Christing C. is offering Dim Sum & Then Some readers an amazing 40% discount on everything in her store, from now until January 8, 2012.  Just mention “Dim Sum” in-store or type in code “DSTS” online to take advantage of this very special offer.

Christing C.
3/F, 13 Wyndham Street
Central, Hong Kong
+852 6907 5053
http://www.christingc.com

The art of giving just got a whole lot more loving, warm and snuggly.  Lane Crawford, in collaboration with Club Monaco this season launched the charity initiative “Wrapped with Love,” calling to Hong Kong’s busy urbanites to help those in need by knitting squares to create patchwork blankets, which will all be donated to the Crossroads Foundation and distributed to families in need.  Encouraging sharing, caring and good will, this initiative seeks to bring the city’s local community together with one common goal, helping spread love and provide warmth and comfort to those in need.  Partners for this collaboration include 2000 students from 25 different local schools, support from LC brand ambassadors, celebrities, Hong Kong’s top companies and more than 2400 internal staff at Lane Crawford and Club Monaco to create over 20,000 knitted squares and more than 3000 blankets this holiday season to keep families warm. Want to help?  From now until December 25th, knitting kits will be available in Lane Crawford stores containing yarn and bamboo knitting needles and experts will be on hand to help you get started.  A series of in-store events will take place at Lane Crawford IFC Mall including animated workshops led by local celebrities.  On December 10th, blankets will be showcased and the “most creative blanket” will be chosen and announced.   It may be so rewarding you’ll be knitting well into the New Year!

Wrapped with Love
Lane Crawford Stores
Until December 25th 2011

All Aboard! Shoppers in The Landmark this holiday season will be transported to a snowcapped mountain village by a stunning antique train exhibition, featuring ten vintage locomotives and valued at over HK$20 million. The trains have been shipped over from Berlin and will be making their debut upon a majestic winter scene-scape created by interior designer to the stars Preston Bailey, whose A-list fans include Oprah and Catherine Zeta Jones and who most recently designed Coco Lee and Bruce Rockowitz’s wedding space in HK.

Ready for another Christmas adventure? Head downstairs to the Classified Christmas Market, a fabulously festive pop up store featuring home-baked holiday favourites from hearty mince pies to hand decorated gingerbread men, along with wines, cheeses, unique Holiday Hampers and more.  Plus, every Wednesday and Thursday evening, the Christmas Market will host a 90-minute gourmet cheese and wine class, with a different topic each evening , ranging from Winter Cheeses to Passion for Pinot (HK$220).

First stop, The Landmark, next stop The North Pole!

Antique Train Exhibition
1st to 31st December 2011
2/F, The Landmark

Classified Christmas Market
November – December 2011
Shop B23, The Landmark
+852 2522 3444

Food Lovers, reach for your phones and get ready to start dialing! The Michelin 2012 Guide Restaurants were just announced yesterday and your favourite standby home away from home may now have a one-month waiting list.  Is the apple of your eye on the too hot-to-trot list?  Let’s find out…  8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA has been awarded three stars making it the only three Michelin star Italian restaurant outside of Italy.  L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon has joined its sister restaurant in Macau with a dazzling three star rating.  Lung King Heen and Caprice at the Four Seasons have both retained their three star rating making the Four Seasons Hong Kong the only hotel in the world to have two three Michelin star restaurants.  SPOON by Alain Ducasse at the InterContinental Hong Kong has been award two Michelin stars and Yan Toh Heen has retained their one.  Tin Lung Heen at the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong received its first Michelin star, as did St George at Hullett House.  The Mandarin Grill retained its one Michelin star and Pierre retained its two, while Man Wah received its first making the Mandarin Oriental the only hotel in Hong Kong to house three Michelin stared restaurants.  Wanchai will be feeling very pleased with its culinary accolades as Bo Innovation received two stars and Mirror one, while NoHo’s The Chairman also made the one-star cut.  Fancy a meal at one of the above restaurants?  It may take a while, but good things come to those who wait.

The Michelin Guide Hong Kong Macau 2012
HK$188
Available Dec 2, 2011 in Hong Kong
Available Dec 5, 2011 in Macau

Information this precious doesn’t come by easily.  But ‘tis the season of giving so we’re going to let you in on a little secret.  We may have found the best tacos in Hong Kong.  We’re talking palm-sized homemade fresh corn tortillas topped with mouthwatering bites of culinary euphoria.  Introducing Heirloom Eatery.  Home to these sumptuous bundles of perfection, Heirloom recently opened its pretty vintage doors off Hollywood Road.  Brimming with charm and character from its beautifully chic mismatched furniture, to its delicate tea sets to the colourful flowers on the tables and luscious plants on the walls and its towering cake stands filled with freshly baked treats, this is the unique and cosy dining spot packed full with soul that Hong Kong has been waiting for.  Along with the spectacular tacos (slow braised pork or Balinese fish), favourites include the pomegranate topped guacamole, the melt-in-your-mouth chili with homemade cornbread, coriander kaffir lime glazed Mexican street corn and the DIY s’mores with chunks of chocolate and homemade graham crackers.  It is no doubt a feast for both the eyes and tummy.  Now serving breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, with a side of love.

Tom-ayto, Tom-aahtoh, Pot-ayto, Pot-aahto, let’s call the whole thing… Hot.

Heirloom Eatery
226 Hollywood Road
Sheng Wan
+852 2547 8008
www.heirloomhk.com

C’mon babe, why don’t we paint the town? And if you’re going out, there’s no one cooler or more fun to have by your side than style-setter and restaurateur cum music producer Bonnie Gokson.  The next best thing?  Her recently released album SEVVA Sounds, which launched last week, with a live Jazz extravaganza on the twinkling terrace at SEVVA.  The restaurant’s debut album (Ms. Gokson’s 2nd) is a collection of sophisticated, mood tracks, ranging from classic jazz to funky bossa nova, featuring unique renditions and rare arrangements by some of the world’s most gifted artists from Pamela Joy and Sandy Sasso to Aaron Neville and Vince Jones.  In celebration of the collection launch, SEVVA will be holding a series of Jazz nights, featuring various live performers over the next few weeks.  Ending October on a high note on October 29th and 30th will be two special dinner concerts by Cuban jazz pianist Alfredo Rodrigues – who has been hailed as “an absolute genius” by the legendary Quincy Jones – along with jazz bassist, guitarist and vocalist Richard Bona.

Start the car, I know a whoopee spot, where the gin is cold, but the piano’s hot…And All That Jazz!

SEVVA Sounds
HK$168, Available at SEVVA and www.sevva.hk
along with various music and lifestyle stores

Jazz Concerts Featuring Alfredo Rodrigues and Richard Bona
Saturday, October 29: Dinner + Show – HK$2,200, Welcome Champagne + Show  – $1,200
Sunday October 30: Tapas Dinner + Show – HK$1,600

SEVVA
25/F Prince’s Building
10 Chater Road
Central, Hong Kong
+852 2537 1388
www.sevva.hk

Your back-up plan has always included a vineyard, an extensive wine cellar and some Californian sunshine.  Still a while away from retreating to life in the sunshine state?  Head over to the next best thing.  From 31 October to 4 November 2011, The JW Marriott will be celebrating the World Wine Tour 2011.  Over the course of the week, five spectacular wine dinners will be held at Man Ho Chinese restaurant, JW’s California, The Lounge and Fish Bar & Grill.  Each of these delectable feasts will feature a selection of creative chef masterpieces paired to perfection with the best wines from 52 of the world’s finest wineries.  Among the exciting lineup, enjoy a sumptuous 4 course set dinner menu at the Fish Bar & Grill, which will be accompanied with award winning champagnes and sparkling wines (Monday 31 October, HK$680 pp), a Grand Tasting affair of over 200 premium wines from around the world at The Lounge (Tuesday 1 November, HK$280), and a 6 course set dinner menu at JW’s California which will be complemented with premium wines (Thursday 3 November, HK$1280 pp) .   Get ready for an unforgettable wine experience and exquisite culinary fare.  Napa may just have to wait a while!

World Wine Tour 2011
From 31 October to 4 November 2011
JW Marriott Hong Kong
+852  2810 8366