Beijing

Pie Month at Writers Bar

Writers Bar at Raffles Beijing Hotel offers a wide range of sophisticated comfort food, a well-deserved retreat after a day's work. This month, executive chef Riaan Burger and his culinary team create a pie feast for your senses: sweet, fruity or savory, the pies are bite-sized treats to share with family and friends. Choose from traditional recipes and innovative combinations. Tasty chef's specials include the chicken-and-mushroom (whole roast chicken with Yunnan mushrooms) pot pie, the Writers Bar signature five-spice confit duck pastry pie, and shepherd's pie with lamb and traditional vegetables simmered for 24 hours. The cost is 68 yuan ($10) per item, or 98 yuan for a main course and one dessert.

- Ye Jun

Writers Bar, 1/F Raffles Beijing Hotel, Heritage Building, East 33 Chang'an Dajie, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-6526-3388 Ext 4181.

Shanghai

Sips of spring

The city's hopping brunch spot Madison is introducing a brand-new cocktail menu for the spring. Bartender Jackie Lo from Hong Kong gives some classics a "modern twist": The Bloody Farmer, for example, is the "Madison version of Bloody Mary", with arugula (rocket) and duck fat and bacon dipped in vodka, "reminiscent of the rustic but rough farmers", says Lo. The special drink for April is the London Spring, with gin, ginger water, cucumber and a touch of Earl Grey.

- Xu Junqian

1F, Block 2, 3 Fenyang Lu (Road), Shanghai. 021-6437-0136. Happy hour at Madison starts from 4 to 7 pm, Mon-Fri. Cocktail drinks are all priced at 50 yuan by the glass.

Hong Kong

Afternoon tea

With inspiration from the colorful designs by Cath Kidston, the modern vintage British fashion and lifestyle brand, the afternoon tea currently being served at Feast manages to retain the fun of the designer bags and tableware. Items served for tea are most definitely English, says executive chef David Parkin. Enjoy finger sandwiches filled with English honey-glazed ham and mustard, tea-smoked salmon and cucumber, and duck egg with mayonnaise and watercress. Other savories include sun-blushed tomato palmiers, quiche Lorraine, and asparagus wrapped in Gorgonzola and cured English ham. The sweet part of the tea includes fruit scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, plus a number of beautifully decorated pastries inspired by award-winning cake designer Penney Pang.

- Donna Mah

Feast, East hotel, Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong. HK $195 ($25) per person on weekends; HK $228 for two people on weekdays. 852-3968-3777.

Spring bubbles

Spring is in the air and boutique Champagne house Perrier-Jouet has brought its limited-edition Belle Epoque 2007 to Hong Kong. Only available from April to June, the Champagne is an ideal companion to spring menus, especially light and delicate dishes. Perrier-Jouet cellar master Herve Deschamps says, "Freshness and sophistication are the essence of this latest limited-edition for tasting exclusively in spring as an ode to the beauty of nature."

- Donna Mah

Available until June at Watson's wine cellar outlets for HK $2,088, or by the glass at Duddell's, Levels 3 & 4, Shanghai Tang Mansion, 1 Duddell Street, Central.

(China Daily 04/13/2014 page8)