Hong Kong's wine and dine mardi gras

The Hong Kong Food and Wine Year continues with the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival to be held October 30 to November 8. I know what you're thinking -- but, seriously, this is not going to be a week of stuffy wine tastings and cheese plates with snoozy jazz bands.

Hong Kong is now the second-largest wine market in the world, and with 10 days of gourmet events starting next week, the city hopes to cement its epicurious reputation.

The festival will be a hedonistic binge on fine wines and great food. Kicking off the Wine & Dine Festival, attendees will drink wines at the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade against a heady backdrop of Hong Kong skyline.

"Not only can participants taste approximately 300 brands of wines from 15 'old world' and 'new world' countries, as well as over 150 local food items, but they can also enjoy Hong Kong's first-ever, outdoor 3-D multimedia show, a large-scale art installation by local artists, and an array of live performances with different themes,'' said a clearly excited Hong Kong Tourism Board Chairman James Tien.

Other events include food promotions for visitors to Hong Kong, special cooking classes, a wine walk, and a full-on street carnival in Lan Kwai Fong and Soho.

Get full details and ticket purchasing information at www.discoverhongkong.com/hkfoodandwineyear.