Pretty as a picture

A flower painting inspires a colorful dish at Barolo in Beijing. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Hong Kong has been doing art-food events for years in the spring, thanks in part to the city's Art Basel event, which has attracted an average of more than 60,000 visitors since it launched in 2013 with 245 top galleries from 35 countries and territories. This year's Art Basel runs from March 25 to 27, but related events are slated before and after the official three days. In fact, March is now the annual Hong Kong Arts Month.

Armani/Aqua brings art to its Central restaurant location with the art-inspired dish Tapestry on a Plate and a cocktail billed as the perfect artistic aperitif. Both the dish and cocktail are available together for HK$398 ($51) all month. The featured plate mimics the bright hues in the works of Katharina Grosse: Orbetello sea bass carpaccio is layered with avocado, seasonal vegetables and toasted hazelnuts, and decorated with lemon foam (HK$268). The complementing cocktail takes inspiration from artist Hiroshige's muted tones and Japanese iconography. Dubbed Geisha's Encounter, the drink combines Tanqueray gin, Cocchi Rosa, yuzu and fresh lemon, shaken with peach matcha and egg white (HK$138). A delicate piece of traditional Japanese rice paper tapestry overlays the glass.