If you ask a transplanted New Yorker, what’s the best pizza in Hong Kong? They’ll surely answer: there isn’t any!

Not all pizzas were created equal
Though pizza originated in Naples, Italy, it was popularized, internationalized and significantly innovated on by Italian immigrants who settled in New York. Selling pizza by the slice for example, is a New World creation. The standard New York pizza of today is sort of a larger, more affluent cousin to the pizza from Naples.

While endless varieties of pizza exist, the measuring stick of modern pizza is New York pizza. And it is New York pizza that is astonishingly absent from Hong Kong.

You call that pizza?
The type of pizza offered in Hong Kong won’t even fit a New Yorker’s standard definition of pizza. If they see it, they’ll begin to rattle off a string of adjectives just to help them classify the limp, ultra-thin, Italian-style pizzas, or things like the “personal pizza”. To them, this is not real pizza.

New Yorkers think of pizza either by the pie or by the slice. Typical pies come in either small or large sizes and are at least around 18″ inches round in diameter. Slices are derived from these pies.

There’s even a special way to eat it – by folding a slice in half and holding it in one hand. Want to eat two slices at once? No problem! Have a look at John Travolta doing just that in the opening sequence of Saturday Night Fever! (Fast forward to 50 seconds if you want to skip to the point!)

The jerks took away the music… “Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk, I’m a woman’s man, no time to talk…”

While Hong Kong has numerous chains and individual restaurants that offer “pizza”, there’s not a single place in town that can satisfy your craving for a decent slice. (While a few of them look the part, they fail miserably with poor quality cheese and sauce.)

What’s the secret ingredient to New York pizza?
The judge of a real pizza is a basic Margherita slice with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and a little basil – none of this Perking duck or gourmet stuff. Pizza is simply dough, mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce, olive oil and a few seasonings. Again, it’s like with burgers, you don’t need all sorts of fancy stuff if you use good quality basic ingredients.

So why is it so difficult to replicate? Let’s take a step back into time. Traditionally, the pizzeria was a family business. The name of the place was usually the name of the proprietor – i.e. Sal’s, Carmine’s, Joe & Pat’s etc. No Italian wants someone saying bad things about them or their family, so they had to do a good job!

In contrast, restaurants offering Italian food in Hong Kong exist mostly as “concepts”. This means the owner is a restaurant group looking to open a new space. They don’t actually have a commitment or deep knowledge of the type of cuisine they’re offering.

I’d say that the two missing ingredients are the invisible qualities of pride and love. There’s no love or pride that goes into the pizza here. Restaurants peddling Western food such as pizza are simply broken down into a formula to make money, and as a result of that, you lose the hidden qualities that often accompany a business carrying a family name. Soho is rife with concepts that just apply the same formula to different ethnic cuisines. The result is often mediocre food, with little authenticity, and people hovering over you asking “still or sparkling?”

Pizza by the slice – the perfect urban food?
The slice actually fits Hong Kong’s on-the-run lifestyle perfectly. Like the hot-dog, it can be eaten on-the-go. To open a successful pizza place, perhaps the strategy should be re-engineered. Selling pizza by the slice in a take-away format could emulate the recent success of “bubble tea” stands, and match how places like Ireland’s Potatoes do business.

One could open up a counter in a high foot traffic location such as Causeway Bay or Mongkok, and instead of offering a sit-down, eat-in restaurant, just have take-out. If your pizza is good enough, people will drive to your restaurant just to pick up their pies. Unless you’re in a neighborhood with cheap rent, it’s hard to justify the square feet for the price of a slice. Switch to the take-away equation, and you may find an easier road to profitability.

An opportunity for entrepreneurs?
While all the copycats were busy opening up burger joints around town last year, how come no one thought to open up a new pizza place? Pizza is actually conducive to building a business around. It’s a several ingredient food, that can be broken down into a simple menu. This allows restaurateurs the ability to streamline the process, and to buy ingredients in bulk. You can also create pies that will meet multiple tastes. Toppings allow customization at the final stage and are relatively easy to do.

Slices of pizza are also marketable in ’sets’. I can imagine something like two (real) slices and a Coke for $78 HKD.

Life without good pizza…
For people in H.K. that have been exposed to good pizza and grown accustomed to it, this is a major flaw in the city’s quality of life. In fact, there are some who say that until this pizza problem is resolved, Hong Kong can’t claim to be an international city.

Magnetic Soul, Hong Kong’s Drum N Bass powerhouse has been running a series of parties in Macau. This Saturday, March 6th, they are bringing Drum and Bass legends LTJ Bukem and M.C. Conrad. These are two top, seasoned artists and you can be sure of an intense show.

But don’t just believe me, check out a video of a recent LTJ Bukem / M.C. Conrad performance!

The party on Saturday takes place at the Blue Frog inside the Venetian in Macau. Magnetic Soul has organized everything to make the trip easy. You can purchase packages that include round-trip ferry tickets or even a hotel room!

Those who went to the 2 Many DJs event last month know that the trip to Macau is virtually hassle-free, and helps to weed-out the lame people not really into the music. What you get instead is an enthusiastic crowd that respects the music and just wants to have fun. The result is an atmosphere way better than Hong Kong’s clubs.

Check out more information on packages here.

LJT Bukem and M.C. Conrad live! Presented by Magnetic Soul
Saturday, March 6th, 2010 10:30 PM to 06:00 AM on Sunday
Blue Frog
The Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel, Shop 1037, Level 1 Grand Canal Shoppes
Cotai, Macau

Supporting D.J.s include: Fat Demon, Saiyan along with M.C. Capas and V.J. Ocular

Tickets start at $260 HKD
Cotai Jet ferry plus party tickets go for $500 HKD
Adding a hotel is just $608 HKD
Check out the packages.

A party called MTR?
If you’re into Drum N Bass and other forms of bass-heavy music, next weekend, Saturday the 13th, is the second edition of MTR. MTR is a new party broken down into two rooms. The first is devoted to Drum and Bass and Dubstep; the other into Bassline / UK Funky.

The first room will feature DJs: Liquid A from Manila, Redman, Stinks, Darkside, and Blooddunza
The second room: Enso, Drafus, and Yao

MTR
Saturday March 13th
Ashtray
3/F, Ho Lee Building,
38-44 D’Aguilar Street (in Lan Kwai Fong, just above Volar)

$120 HKD includes one drink

Saturday night, Gary “Mani” Mounfield, bass player for the legendary Stone Roses and Primal Scream, will be playing a special d.j. set. The event is hosted by Supersonic, one of Hong Kong’s ongoing Rock nights.

Supersonic feat. Mani from Stone Roses / Primal Scream
Saturday, March 6th, 2010 at 10pm
2/F, Rockschool, The Phoenix, 21-25 Luard Road and 93 Jaffe Road
Wanchai, Hong Kong

$220 HKD cover includes a free Chang beer

You won’t find any of the standard pool hall cliches at Tazmania Ballroom. In fact, on some nights, you might only see one pool table!

With a specially designed system that allows them to lift away two of their three tables (and suspend them from the ceiling,) Tazmania Ballroom is anything but traditional!

From the entrance alone, it’s apparent that this place is heavy on style. Climbing a dark staircase, you emerge into a glamorous, contemporary space that includes ample seating, an elevated booth, a billiards area, a long bar, and a good-sized outdoor balcony.

Though Tazmania Ballroom is referred to as a pool hall, it’s similar to Dragon-i in that it’s actually a smart, multi-functional space. Just as Dragon-i can transform from restaurant to club over the course of the night, Tazmania Ballroom can go from pool hall to club in a matter of minutes. In fact, with two of the pool tables suspended in the air, Tazmania Ballroom features one of the largest dancefloors in Central.

A view of two of the suspended pool tables from below

The massive crowd at the soft opening, standing below the pool tables

Attention to details
The team behind Dragon-i and Tazmania Ballroom have higher standards than other clubs around town. You never see pipes hanging or hastily spray painted corners. It’s this attention to details that makes their properties world-class.

Designed by a lighting designer who recently made the switch to interiors, there are indeed some extravagant touches.

A unique light installation above the dance floor

One detail that caught my eye immediately were the multiple textured walls. Near the d.j. booth, the wall is covered in shapes that pop out into the room. The space’s high ceilings accentuate the effect. Other walls receive a similar treatment with different patterns, making the space all the more interesting.

The pool tables themselves are decadently wrapped in plated gold. This adds a certain glitz to the place that is enhanced by the warm lighting. Even the bottom of the tables are draped in gold.

Tazmania Ballroom – pool hall, club, or both?
Though there was lots of talk about competition in the pool hall space, Tazmania Ballroom comes across to me more as a club modifiable into a pool hall. On a slow night, without big crowds, the space can still be enjoyed due to having an activity.

With its large dancefloor, Tazmania Ballroom has the potential to become an important new player in Hong Kong’s nightlife scene. In the near future I can see the space becoming a new venue for visiting international d.j.s.

What does the addition of Tazmania Ballroom mean to Central’s other pool hall – Racks M.D.B.? Not much. The two nightspots have totally different vibes. Let’s just say I can’t see anyone playing ‘beer-pong’ on the gold tables!

Tazmania Ballroom
1/F, LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham Street
Central, Hong Kong
Located in the same building as LKF Hotel. The entrance is on Wyndham Street, just down from the hotel entrance.
2801-5009

Answer: An art exhibition titled “Wham Bam, Thank You M’am” opening in Hong Kong!

Thursday, February 25th, marks the launch of Above Second, a new art gallery in Sai Ying Pun. Above Second is christening their space with a show by Wu Yue, a Paris-based illustrator who has worked with diverse personalities including Kid Cudi and Lebron James.

The exhibition is a collaboration with gallery co-founder, Jasper Wong. Jasper’s known for his use of the color pink, as well as for inserting Mr.T and Superman into his artwork. This should be interesting!

Above 2nd Gallery
“Wham Bam, Thank You M’am” featuring Wu Yu and Jasper Wong
Thursday, February 25th, from 6pm
31 Eastern Street
Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong
RSVP to: info@above-second.com

Will Barras, Jahan Loh, and Pat Lee at Garage Works

On Friday the 26th, London-based artist Will Barras will be participating in a live collaborative painting session alongside Taiwanese graffiti artist Jahan, and Wu Yue. The show takes place at Garage Works, also in Sai Ying Pun.

If you haven’t already, please check out the artist’s sites linked above. Each has a very different style and it will be interesting to witness how they paint together.

Pat Lee, well-known comic artist, will also be unveiling a new series of paintings at the event.

Garage Works gallery
Friday, February 26th, 7pm to 11
G/F, 257 Des Voeux Road West
Kush
Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong
RSVP to: jian.ko@garageworksindustries.com

If you’ve been hibernating over the Chinese New Year holiday, you now have a good reason to venture out of your cave.

D.J. Rafik grew up surrounded by classical music, but at some point, he put down his cello and decided to take up the turntables as his instrument of choice. Six awards later, Rafik is a major D.M.C. champion, and has d.j.ed around the world alongside big names in dance music.

But does his background in classical music influence his d.j. sets?

This Friday Rafik headlines Hype Nasty, Volar’s night of underground electronic dance music featuring rising stars from the international club circuit. The night is curated by the able d.j.s, Kid Fresh and Enso, the duo behind the Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy series.

DJ Rafik was selected as the headliner for Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy’s one-year anniversary last Summer.

Friday will see Rafik and Kid Fresh reunited on four turntables for an extravagant mix of music.

If you’ve been looking to rejoin civilization again and shake off the Chinese New Year lull, Friday’s event should provide an ample soundtrack.

Hype Nasty featuring DJ Rafik vs. Kid Fresh
Volar
Basement, 38-44 D’Aguilar Street
Lan Kwai Fong
Central, Hong Kong

Free for members, $300 HKD for non-members includes two drinks

Last year I missed the Chinese New Year market in Victoria Park. This year, I was back again with a vengeance, making the trip two nights in a row.

Stepping out of the MTR station on the first night, the streets were literally overflowing with people. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Causeway Bay more crowded.

Jumping into the fray, I cut a path straight towards Victoria Park, the site of the yearly market.

What’s the attraction? Why is it worth visiting? Why go back every year?

For those of you who’ve never been, the Chinese New Year fair is a unique experience. The location runs across Victoria Park from Causeway Bay all the way to Tin Hau. It’s a crowded, chaotic atmosphere with people yelling and hawking all sorts of merchandise simultaneously.

If you’re searching for peace and quiet, this is definitely not the place!

The experience is almost like being in a weird sort of parade, as you wrap your way down different aisles checking out the items for sale and being enticed to either side by people shouting at the top of their lungs, waving their merchandise at you.

I wouldn’t recommend the market for the claustrophobic, for very young children, or those in a rush. If you choose the wrong aisle you could easily be trapped in standstill traffic for 30 minutes, with strangers pressed up onto you. The place even proves popular after 1am in bad weather, so it’s difficult to suggest a time when it’s less hectic. If you navigate the different aisles carefully, it’s possible to work your way around to most places in the market.

This year was particularly packed, despite the rain on the final night.

Except for large plants, which are kept in the last aisle, most things for sale are inexpensive, with prices below $50 HKD. On the final night, on the eve of Chinese New Year, the prices drop as hawkers look to get rid of their inventory.

There’s a huge assortment of objects corresponding to the particular year (animal) of the Chinese zodiac. Therefore it changes every year, on a twelve-year cycle, often with creative new additions.

The items for sale fall into a few different categories: traditional, lucky, cute, and sometimes, just plain funny. An example of classic, more traditional items are things like over-sized pinwheels, small orange trees, flowers such as peach blossoms (’to fa’,) and willows.

These are thought to bring luck in one form or another. Some target relationships, while others are for business or wealth. Occasionally, you also find the type of stuff sold on infomercials, such as stain-removers, shoe trees and other miscellaneous objects.

Less plastic and more plush
With this being the tiger year, there was a huge assortment of tiger-themed merchandise for sale including hats, costumes, claws, paws and stuffed animals.

Most of them were created using furry plush, rather than the blow-up plastics commonly used in the last few years.

As usual there were some extraneous cute items – though nothing as standout as the giant ‘gai daan jai’, ice cream, or Chupa Chups from previous years. Maneuvering through the thick crowds I spotted a giant egg tart with a re-arrangeable face, and a nearly meter long McDonald’s pie.

This camera was one of the few non-tiger blow-ups I spotted

One item that perhaps only proved popular on the final night (when it was raining,) were the ‘acid-proof’ umbrellas.

These reference a few unfortunate incidents of someone throwing acid from buildings onto crowded pedestrian streets over the last year. Not sure how tasteful or auspicious they are however…

Especially popular were the many different styles of tiger hats, as well as varieties of giant soft tiger claws. Some even made a noise (more like a monkey than a tiger actually,) when a particular spot was pressed.

Have a look at photos from previous Chinese New Year posts: 2006, 2007, 2008, (also from 2008), and 2009.

Best wishes from Hong Kong Hustle to you in year of the tiger!

A few weeks ago, before it officially opened, I stopped by Brother & Sister, a new project by real-life brother and sister duo, Gilbert and Cindy Yeung. The combination boutique and cafe was still in the earliest stages of development, with not much yet on the shelves.

Located in the 1881 Heritage development, just opposite the Cultural Centre, Brother and Sister is at the very start of Canton Road. But don’t look for a large sign for Brother & Sister on the ground floor. One first needs to enter via the Emperor Jewellery flagship store, and then proceed down two escalators to the basement.

While most would think of this location deep inside Emperor Jewellery as a supreme disadvantage, I believe just the opposite – that Brother and Sister’s position within Emperor Jewellery is an immense strength. Here’s why…

Wealthy tourists from Mainland China are a main driver of luxury sales in Hong Kong. These consumers buy watches and jewelry in H.K. to avoid a duty on luxury items in China, as well as to be certain of the authenticity of the merchandise.

Emperor Jewellery flagship store, Canton Road

Emperor Jewelry is a trusted name in selling luxury watches and jewelry. Being located inside such a well-known purveyor of upscale brands is like giving the shopper a guarantee of the quality of the merchandise inside.

And this is essential because of the type of brands carried by Brother & Sister. Compared to the blue-chip names showcased by Emperor Jewellery, Brother & Sister highlights smaller, funkier, less conventional brands.

Taking the shop’s location into consideration, Brother and Sister is in a rare position to sell alternative luxury products to a crowd that wouldn’t intentionally enter a Justin Davis or Rock Candy store. They can reach a wider audience precisely because the customers will be initially drawn by the classic brands offered by Emperor.

In this sense, Brother and Sister provides an excellent opportunity to introduce specialty brands to well-heeled shoppers. The big question here is – do Mainland consumers only buy well-known luxury brands because they want others to recognize their status and give them face? Or will they consider purchasing items based on other factors such as style and design?

Brother & Sister boutique and cafe
Basement, Shop B-02, 1881 Heritage
2A Canton Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

1881 Heritage at night

Hong Kong’s bad-boy jewelry brand, Rock Candy, relocated from Soho to shopping haven Causeway Bay last week. The new store is just one floor below the well-known boutique Juice, on Paterson Street.

What makes this change of venue such a smart move?

Rock Candy’s first branch was on Elgin Street near Hollywood Road in Soho. Although it was a well designed store with a cool location, the Soho neighborhood isn’t a shopping destination for stylish young consumers – the brand’s target audience.

Affluent young shoppers looking for something upscale with a little attitude would likely head to Causeway Bay.

Juice’s new neighbor…
Being located one floor down from Juice, has its advantages. The two stores may in fact develop a symbiotic relationship. Juice is already a destination shop for its limited edition CLOT merchandise and exclusive collaborations. Because both Rock Candy and Juice offer elite local brands, shoppers who desire something high-end, yet only available in Hong Kong are now more likely to make a pilgrimage to the building.

The two are not in direct competition. Though Rock Candy has dabbled in clothing, their main focus is on diamond jewelry. Juice, on the other hand is strong with clothing, shoes, and accessories.

The two can actually help draw traffic for one another. Shoppers that go to one store are now likely to visit both. For shoppers with little time on their hands, the fact that they can now catch two interesting local stores at one spot makes this a more attractive destination.

The new Rock Candy store

The store itself boasts a contemporary design, with raw interiors offset by sharp modern touches.

The support columns are naked cement, while the cabinets are gleaming glass boxes.

Lest we forget the brand’s music-themed merchandise and motifs, an entire wall of the shop is made up of real speakers!

Rock Candy store
1/F, Hyde Park Mansion
53 Paterson Street
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s CLOT crew often take a creative approach to generating buzz for their high-end street wear. Over the years they have proven masterful at fermenting interest in their brand by playing with the perceived value of limited edition items.

The Juice Secret Box Store, which launched last week and will close after February 4th, is the latest incarnation of this formula.

Stopping by on a recent afternoon, the fully enclosed shop is located in a small, cordoned-off area of LCX in Causeway Bay. At the time of my visit there was a line of people waiting to get in.

A method of standing out and driving traffic
The project is a smart move for LCX, which still hasn’t defined itself as a destination in shop-saturated Causeway Bay.

The Juice Secret Box store, stocked with rare items, is a good way to differentiate LCX and provide an increase in foot-traffic. Even if just temporary, the Juice Secret Box store adds something to their mix that shoppers can’t find anywhere else in the city.

Feeling lucky?
If a pop-up shop packed with exclusive merchandise still isn’t enough, there’s also a smart little Hong Kong twist to the equation that adds extra excitement. It arrives in the form of the Secret Box lucky draw.

The lucky draw is a Hong Kong favorite and a staple attraction that can be found at nearly every type of function in the city. (Hong Kong loves a good old-fashioned something-for-nothing give-away.)

In a traditional lucky draw, when consumers purchase something, they qualify for a chance to win a prize. (Lucky draws by the way, are also an excellent way of grabbing contact information from consumers.) After a certain time period, a winner is chosen randomly and a prize is handed out. However, this special Secret Box Lucky Draw allows shoppers to purchase the box blindly, and gives them the opportunity to receive surprise items inside.

A giant secret box?
The store itself has an air of mystery. The four walls around it are covered floor-to-ceiling in a graphic that makes it resemble a giant cardboard box. Shoppers are let in, only a handful at a time, and exit from the opposite side of the structure.

Juice Secret Box Store
LCX – Causeway Bay
1/F, 9 Kingston Street
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong