環球之旅:香港人新年前夜吃什麼?

If high-end restaurant bookings are a leading indicator of upscale consumer confidence, things are looking rosy in Hong Kong.

如果說高檔餐廳的預定情況是衡量高端消費者信心的主要指標，那香港的情況看起來不錯。

A quick check with some of the S.A.R.'s leading western restaurants, including Michelin-starred establishments, showed that most were fully booked, with waiting lists, several weeks in advance of New Year's Eve.

我把香港特區的主要西餐廳，甚至包括米其林星級餐廳都打聽了一圈兒，才發現大多數餐廳的新年前夜套餐提前幾周就已經預訂滿了，現在只能排隊等候。

The standard New Year's Eve menu among these elite restaurants is a 6-9 course gastronomic dinner.

這類高檔餐廳的新年前夜套餐一般包括六至九道美味珍饈。

At the Island Shangrila's Petrus, the price per person for a 6-course set menu was HK$3,988 plus 10% service charge. To secure a reservation requires submitting a signed credit card authorization form at least ten days in advance, with the applicable condition that no refund is possible once the reservation is confirmed.

港島香格里拉飯店的珀翠餐廳（Petrus）推出了六道菜的套餐，定價爲每位3,988港幣，外加10%的服務費。若要確保預定，還要提前十天簽署並提交一份信用卡授權表，承諾一旦預定，概不退費。

Over at the Mandarin Oriental Landmark's Amber, the 6-course gastronomic dinner costs HK$3,888 per person, plus 10% service charge. A 5-glass wine pairing option would cost an additional HK$2,012 per person, plus 10% service charge.

香港置地文華東方酒店Amber餐廳的套餐價格（6道菜）爲每位3,888港幣，加收10%的服務費。另可搭配紅酒，每位收費2,012港幣，另加10%的服務費，每人限飲5杯。

Amber's booking form states that "Children under 12 are not recommended". (It’s open to interpretation whether that refers to having them at all, or just bringing them to dinner here.)

Amber餐廳的預定表上赫然寫着：“不鼓勵12歲以下小童。”（也不知應該理解爲壓根兒不該有這樣小的孩子，還是指不該帶他們到這兒吃飯。）

Amber's offering includes a live jazz band providing musical accompaniment. Like Petrus, a signed credit card authorization form is required to secure the reservation at least ten days in advance. Also like Petrus, customers are advised that bringing bottles of wine from outside is not permitted on special occasions like this.

Amber餐廳的年夜飯還包含爵士樂隊現場表演。和珀翠一樣，他們也要求提前十天通過信用卡授權爲預定擔保，還謝絕客人在這類節日自帶酒水。

The Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong's Pierre restaurant offers a New Year's Eve banquet complete with starting cocktails, canapés and a glass of champagne for HK$4,388 per person plus 10% service charge. Their message on children is clearer: "We welcome children age 12 and older." Guests are requested not to wear sandals, shorts, trainers or T-shirts.

香港文華東方酒店Pierre餐廳的新年前夜盛宴從餐前雞尾酒開始，包括小吃和一杯香檳，每位定價4,388港幣，加收10%的服務費。他們對待兒童的態度比較明朗：“歡迎12歲及以上兒童就餐。”餐廳對穿拖鞋、短褲、運動鞋或T恤的客人恕不接待。

At Michelin 3-star rated L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, the per person tariff for dinner is only $3,680 plus 10% service charge, for a seat at a table. A seat at the bar counter offers dinner at a lower price per person.

米其林三星餐廳L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon的定價是餐檯席位每位3,680港幣，加收10%的服務費；吧檯用餐席位還要更便宜些。

It's interesting how high-end Western restaurants in Hong Kong all seem to incorporate lucky Chinese numbers ("8", "6") in their pricing.

有趣的是，香港的高檔西餐廳在定價時似乎都結合了中國的吉祥數字“8”和“6”。

That's smart marketing, considering this is Hong Kong, where East celebrates West, and vice versa.

這種營銷策略很高明，畢竟這裏是香港，是中外節日並重、東西融匯之地。

Speaking of the annual Michelin ratings, which are not without some controversy, China currently boasts 5 restaurants in the coveted 3-star category, which is the highest grade Michelin gives out. Of these, 4 are in Hong Kong and 1 is in Macau.

另外，說起每年總能引發一些口水戰的米其林星級評定，現在中國共有5家餐廳榮膺米其林三星餐廳，是米其林評定的最高級別，其中4家在香港，1家在澳門。