A piece of Switzerland in the heart of Hong Kong
By Jean-François Genoud, February 12th 2016
Created in 1928, and Hong Kong's oldest hotel, the legendary "Grande Dame of the Far East" continues to set hotel standards worldwide, offering a blend of the best Eastern and Western hospitality in an atmosphere of unmatched classical grandeur and timeless elegance. A stay at the hotel allows you to re-live the glamour of travel of a by-gone era and explore the many antiques and historical artifacts on display around the hotel. The hotel also boasts 14 bespoke Rolls-Royce Phantoms.
Like all great hotels around the world, the Peninsula offers various cuisines including a Swiss restaurant: the Chesa, which has been successful for fifty years and whose cuisine is overseen by chef Lo Wing Keung.
Reminiscent of a cosy Alpine chalet and serving authentic Swiss food and wines in a relaxed setting, the place has been unaltered since 1965. Chesa is a heaven for lovers of raclette and cheese fondue, the menu also features classic Swiss favourites, such as veal "Zurichoise", hand-made sausages with rösti, spätzle and other delectable delights.
For Chinese new year the chef prepared a menu inspired by the Swiss region of Valais, home to the Matterhorn and the chic alpine destination of Zermatt, served with wines grown from the upper Rhône valley vineyards.
Among the traditional items on display at the restaurant there is a perpetual motion clock, a painted wedding chest presumed to be fashioned by a farmer in 1723 and several old pewter spoons and wooden wine casks discovered in the basement of a Zurich restaurant.
