AUTUMN
2015
THE SPOTLIGHT
Food enthusiasts and market goers can experience trendsetting food and beverage first hand at Tong Chong Street Market.
TAIKOO PLACE COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO EVOLVE Created in partnership with the young social enterprise, Honestly Green, the market is a unique platform that allows home chefs to buy fresh produce grown by local organic farmers certified by the Hong Kong Organic Resource Centre. Exchange of dialogues between customers and food vendors are happening here and there in the market while epicureans have the chance to sample signature street food and cocktails created exclusively for the market by ten emerging culinary entrepreneurs, namely 3/3rds, Boomshack, Bread & Beast, Common Ground, Grassroots Pantry, Pololi, Teakha, The Woods, Via Tokyo and TAP – The Ale Project. Feeling the heat in scramble for talents of all sort, Taikoo Place is strengthening its compelling edges to create a more diverse and vibrant community. Its latest move in attracting a troop of food heroes to the community has brought a new scene to the neighbourhood. Walk down the pedestrian and dog-friendly street in Hong Kong on Sundays and be greeted by 40 vendors selling an incredible array of food along the two sides, as well as the original stall designs by a local design duo MIRO, and multi-faceted street art by START from ZERO. Meet this new member of Taikoo Place Community – Tong Chong Street Market, a gastronomic hub where emerging entrepreneurs offer trendsetting dishes and drinks and where market-goers can shop for sustainably produced food, raising food-cycle awareness.
only the first step. It is anticipated that the collaborative community will continue to evolve organically as it establishes itself in the future, encouraging the public to make more conscious decisions about food that will benefit individuals and communities.
The crossovers of the food enthusiasts inspire creation of new recipes that are waiting to surprise all, but this is
Fresh produce grown by local organic farmers are available for home chefs.
Some of the signatures created exclusively for the market (From top to bottom): Nitro Coffee by Common Ground, Blooming Hibiscus by The Woods and Market Fish on Hash Browns with Poached Egg and Horseradish Crème Fraîche by 3/3rds.
Vox-pop with participants joining PROJECT AFTER 6: Executive Chef
MEET THE EPICUREANS OF TAIKOO PLACE JF-Raymond J.P.Morgan
Q: How did you find out about the programme?
Judging panel (from left to right): Aileen Chan (General Manager, Taikoo Place); Janice Leung Hayes (Founder of Honestly Green); Kandy Wong (Known by her stage name “Tong Mui”); Christian Yang (Chef & TV Host)
PROJECT AFTER 6: EXECUTIVE CHEF By day, their tools of the trade are spreadsheets and smartphones, but after hours, they wield chopping boards and graters like pros.
A: It was very well marketed with the creative stencil art by Start From Zero that was visible from the Quarry Bay MTR station to the office lobbies in Taikoo Place. Being a foodie myself, the programme’s tagline – “The Street Food Revolution” – definitely caught my attention.
Imogen Short MetLife Hong Kong
Q: What aspects of this programme appealed to you?
A: It’s a great idea because it brings together people with the same interests from different buildings, and I think it’s nice to meet people in the same community. I’m really looking forward to exploring some unique culinary approaches across the different teams!
Say hello to the participants of PROJECT AFTER 6: Executive Chef. Marking the second edition of PROJECT AFTER 6, Taikoo Place’s tenant engagement programme, Executive Chef furthers the programme’s mission of strengthening connections between office executives by bringing culinary art into their work environments, unleashing their talents, as well as creating a positive impact on their productivity. Not only that, but Executive Chef also offers the perfect complement to Tong Chong Street Market.
Stella Chu Bluebell Hong Kong Limited
In late September, 60 office employees from over 40 Taikoo Place and Cityplaza office tenants took part in the audition that judged their cooking skills and creativity in developing new dishes. 18 aspiring “executive chefs” were selected, representing a cross-section of companies, including J.P.Morgan, DBS, AXA Asia, MetLife, Wyeth and more.
A: The whole package! I have been fascinated by street markets ever since my school years in France. The programme will not only give me the chance to learn from the masters, but it will also fulfil my long-time dream of managing a food stall.
Q: What do you most look forward to about this programme?
The chefs-to-be are in the midst of two months of training, including sessions led by chef mentors, a visit to food rescue and food assistance programme Food Angel that promotes food cycle awareness, and a primer on running a successful restaurant led by some of Tong Chong Street Market’s entrepreneurs. At the end of the training, the participants will have the opportunity to host a food stall of their own at the market on 6 and 13 December. Don’t miss it!
Stencil art appears at unexpected corner to recruit “executive chefs“
Taikoo Place News/Autumn 2015 THE NEWBIES
THE LATEST ADDITIONS TO HONG KONG’S MOST VIBRANT NEIGHBOURHOOD You can venture further down the street and discover more evidence of Taikoo Place’s ongoing transformation to become a destination for all the senses to be utilised at the fullest.
TAIKOO PLACE APARTMENTS PUTS YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF IT ALL TAIKOO PLACE APARTMENTS, located at 23 Tong Chong Street, includes 111 suites spanning from studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments, to elegant penthouses – all complemented by an exclusive clubhouse with a host of services and amenities, including a reading lounge, outdoor terraces, spa and gym. This intimate, exclusive serviced residence offers easy access to Taikoo Place and all that the place has to offer. For leasing enquiry, please visit website www. taikooplaceapartments.com.hk.
TAIKOO PLACE’S NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD HANGOUT One of the best things about TAIKOO PLACE APARTMENTS is that its lower floors house Mr & Mrs Fox, Swire Restaurants’ playful, beautifully designed new dining concept. Spread over 12,000 sq ft, this three-storey restaurant blends industrial chic with old world charm. Enter first the domain of the hospitable Mrs Fox – a soaring, open space where music and conversation flow with locally craft beer and wine beneath exposed copper pipes. The middle floor is Mr Fox’s 110-seat restaurant where diners can savour some of the menu’s hearty (and meaty) dishes; and the top floor is the Den, a private 24-seat dining room accessed through a secret passageway – a bit of speakeasy intrigue in the heart of Taikoo Place.
Talking with Executive Chef Joey Sergentakis Chef Joey Sergentakis, who was previously Chef de Cuisine at Café Gray Deluxe, offers his thoughts on Mr and Mrs Fox. “The fun idea behind the restaurant gave us lots of room to be creative. Also, having three different floors in our venue means three concepts and three different menus, allowing diners to choose between distinct dining experiences.
Chef Joey Sergentakis
The restaurant is truly a neighbourhood hangout that is part of the local community: a florist around the corner supplies flowers, dogs are welcome in the restaurant’s outdoor area on the weekends, and startups at Swire Properties’ blueprint accelerator – which is housed in Taikoo Place – helped us create the restaurant’s logo and menu designs. At the core, though, the most important thing at Mr and Mrs Fox is the food. We always cook with seasonal ingredients and focus on finding the best products that we can.”
AND ALSO... Here’s a warm welcome to the offices and retailers who recently joined the Taikoo Place community: New World Dynamics Limited and Oliver’s Super Sandwiches. We are happy to announce that Broadway, Chow Sang Sang, FANCL and H&M have re-opened their outlet in Cityplaza with a refreshing look after renovation or relocation.
Taikoo Place News/Autumn 2015 ALL THINGS EVENTFUL
THURSDAY LIVE AT VIA FIORI
Via Fiori, One Island East, 1pm on Thursdays from now until 26 November.
This fall at Via Fiori, the landscaped garden outside One Island East, treat yourself to the ultimate Taikoo-Place-only lunch experience with live music, a picnic blanket, delectable food with good friends, and (for the especially cheeky ones) perhaps even a bottle of wine. Lunchtime has never been more fun! Join us in this green oasis at Taikoo Place every Thursday lunchtime from now until end of November for a series of concerts by seven emerging musical acts. Themed “Crossovers”, this season’s concerts feature different artists jamming on stage with new creations for the first time, resulting in a medley of unique crossover performances. Concertgoers will be treated to complimentary snacks from nood food, whose freshly made organic juices, superfood smoothies and healthy food will set your good mood for the diverse music, as well as Sift Patisserie, whose refined, gourmet cupcakes will bring you sweetness that last all day.
TAIKOO PLACE AQUATHON 17.3 POST-RACE PARTY
SWIRE PROPERTIES WHITE CHRISTMAS STREET FAIR 2015
Supported by Swire Properties’ Taikoo Place, this 17.3-kilometre race combines openwater swimming, trail and road running from serene South Bay Beach to Tong Chong Street. It is an opportunity for adventure minded athletes to come together and compete in a race whilst raising funds for Beam International Foundation. Party awaits racers and the public alike right after the finish line. Come check out the sporty vibe at the post-race party! Visit www.revolution-asia.com/taikoo-place-aquathon-17-3.html to find out more!
Ho ho ho! Kick-start the festive season at this annual three-day Christmas street fair that aims to raise funds for charity campaign Operation Santa Claus. Themed “Ice and Cosy”, highlights include Hong Kong’s only outdoor ice bar, the augmented reality “Icy Experience” featuring 3D animated Artic creatures, as well as “Taikoo Place Santathon 2015 – Frozen Challenge”. Free public access. Please visit www.facebook.com/SwireXmasFair.
Tong Chong Street, Taikoo Place, 10am-3pm on 14 November.
© Swire Properties Limited
Tong Chong Street, Taikoo Place, 3–5 December.
For enquiries about the information in the newsletter, please contact taikooplace@swireproperties.com