Cover Chefs Simon So and Olivier Elzer (Photo: Clarence)

The Central restaurant will present a blend of French techniques and Asian cooking methods—including a patented “Yakifrenchy” concept

Against all the odds, chef Olivier Elzer has announced the imminent launch of his personal restaurant project, Clarence in Central’s H Code building. Opening in a time where Hong Kong is going through its most intense wave of Covid-19 and experiencing its resulting restrictions (including the ban on dine-ins after 6pm and the introduction of vaccine passports), the team are nevertheless charging ahead and are ready to present a multifaceted restaurant that is inspired by Elzer's 13 years of working and living in Asia and overlaid with his extensive French fine dining experience. 

Clarence, opening in March 2022. will be helmed by chef Simon So, who Elzer describes as his protégé—So has worked alongside him for over a decade as sous and also chef de cuisine at restaurants including L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Seasons, and L’Envol. He also founded and briefly ran Bellis, a modest cafe in a Chai Wan industrial estate, where he offered freshly baked croissants as well as burgers and all-day breakfasts. He joins Clarence as executive chef, where he will be responsible for bringing to life Elzer’s vision of boundary-breaking French cuisine.

See also: 7 of the Most Luxurious Chocolates in the World

The project sounds immensely ambitious; the space at H Code will be divided into four sections including a raw and wine bar, a sommelier room, the main dining room with an open kitchen, and a lounge. Inspired by his adopted home in Hong Kong with its abundance of quality Asian restaurants, Elzer has created—and patented—a concept he calls “Yakifrenchy”, where classic French dishes such as Challans duck confit, frogs’ legs pastis, snails Burgundy and ratatouille are transformed into snackable skewers and cooked over a Japanese robata grill. At the raw bar, diners can experience the familiarity of a sushi bar with a distinctive Gallic twist, as well as having the spoils of Clarence’s extensive wine cellar in close proximity. Clarence will also offer a menu of large format sharing dishes, such as whole poultry and fish.

The Sommelier Room will surround diners with floor-to-ceiling wine fridges filled with an enviable collection of rare and iconic wines, as well as curated selections from rising stars of the wine world. A private back cellar has been designed for true oenophiles or the wine-curious, where guests can peruse the collection of some of the most covetable labels in the world. Here, the food is guided by the wine on offer in the form of pairings.

Clarence will officially open in March 2022.

Clarence, 25/F, H Code, 45 Pottinger Street, Central, Hong Kong, +852 3568 1397, clarencehk.com