Asia’s highest honours named

The 2026 Black Pearl Restaurant Guide’s full list was first released on Jan. 27 and included 263 restaurants drawn from 32 mainland Chinese cities across 45 cuisines. (eeo.news) Black Pearl is published by Meituan and combines anonymous expert judging with Meituan’s big‑data signals as part of its three‑diamond evaluation system, a methodology the guide says aims to localize fine‑dining standards. (blackpearl.meituan.com) Meituan executives flagged a consumer shift from “extrinsic” to “intrinsic” dining motivations in the guide’s 2026 analysis, noting younger diners (born after 1995) now make up roughly 37% of the market and that customers over 60 surged by about 115% in recent data. (newsglobenow.com) At the March 23 awards week events held around Hong Kong — days after Michelin’s March 19 reveal — commercial groups such as Melco publicly highlighted results, with Melco reporting six Black Pearl diamonds across its properties. (scmp.com) Chef Vicky Cheng’s brands foreground paired drinks: VEA markets a “Chinese x French” tasting experience with optional cocktail (≈HK$680) and wine pairing (≈HK$780) add‑ons alongside its standard tasting menu, while Wing promotes seasonal tasting courses supported by a premium wine list and tea program. (vea.hk) Amber’s chef‑de‑cuisine Terry Ho, who rose through kitchens including Joël Robuchon and now leads Amber’s brigade, works at a restaurant that the MICHELIN Guide lists among Hong Kong’s three‑star venues and that retains a Michelin Green Star for sustainability — facts institutions reference when framing seasonal tasting menus. (harpersbazaar.com.hk) Regent Hong Kong’s Lai Ching Heen traces its dining identity to a legacy dating from 1984, led by Executive Chef Lau Yiu Fai and Head Chef Cheng Man Sang, and its current menus feature classic Cantonese signatures such as lobster‑and‑crabmeat dumplings and other premium dim sum and banquet sequences. (hongkong.regenthotels.com)