Harbour Crossing

Chris on the MTR

Hello, Friends!

"Too many creases," Chris frowned, smoothing his palms over his shirt.

"Looks OK," I assured him as I adjusted his collar. "You look great."

I hadn't realized that preparing to have dinner in Felix would be fraught with anxiety of any sort.

Felix lobby, The Peninsula Hong Kong

Felix is famous for three reasons. It was designed by Philippe Starck, it is located in the legendary Peninsula Hong Kong hotel, and it has got an enviable view of the city's iconic skyline. In my almost seven years here, I have never before dined in Felix. Lucky that I got a 5-course dinner for two gift cert for having hosted the Open Mic Night at Salon de Ning.

"We've got an excellent table for you," the manager greeted us at the reception. French, I assumed, from the accent. He seated us on a table with a glorious harbour view, seen from a quiet corner with perfect visibility of the entire restaurant. Best of all, my chair hovered above "Cagayon" (sic), the province in the Philippines where I grew up. Felix's floor is covered in what looked like an ancient cartographical representation of Southeast Asia.

Felix's carpet

"We'll have a bottle of Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir," Chris informed our server. The wine was ruby-red, approachable and pleasant with every dish.

Chris and I rarely indulge in pomp and circumstance. Dinners at Queen Street Cooked Food Market satisfy us well enough. It's oddly comforting to dine on a greasy linoleum table, under blinding fluorescent lights, amidst a hungry crowd's deafening chatter. Conversation is never contrived simply because any type of conversation is impossible.

"Do you wanna grab a cocktail at the Salon?" I asked Chris after we finished our 5-star meal.

"Sure."

"Champagne OK?" Eli, Salon de Ning's stunning doyenne, greeted us.

"Fine," Chris dimpled.

"I'm grateful that you barely flinched when I asked you to introduce me as The Hyperactive Gay Boy at the last Open Mic," I told Eli.

"Honey," Eli touched my hand, "I was the only woman among the hotel's F&B managers when I started here. More than that, I was the only black person in the entire team," she shared. "I wasn't Beyonce-black or Halle Berry-black. I was black-black. And I didn't have any hair. I," Eli raised her index finger for emphasis, "had a shaved head."

HGB busts a tune

"So having an openly gay host for our Open Mic is less intense than you might imagine. The Pen's progressive. I'm proud to have a career in luxury hospitality here."

"Any song requests?" the resident singer leaned over my shoulder.

"Anything Rihanna," I replied.

She sang Rude Boy.

Then the lead guitarist took the mic and dished a mean cover of Santana's Maria Maria. I know that song well... it was the song that relegated me to a runner-up finish on a popular TV talent show years ago.

"More drinks?" Eli enquired, snapping me out of my reverie.

"What would you suggest?" I asked.

"For you," she said, looking at Chris, "a classic lychee martini. And for you," she considered me for a second, "one of signature cocktails - The Peacock."

The Peacock / Salon de Ning

With Affection,
James


PS
The Hyperactive Gay Boy™ is once again hosting Salon de Ning's next Open Mic.



Is your star on the ascendant?

Take to the stage and prove it at
Salon de Ning's Open Mic Night
Wednesday, 30 November 2011 from 7:00pm to 11:00pm

* Performers receive complimentary drinks all night
* Rounds of shooters for fans and fabulous prizes throughout the evening