A new contemporary, authentic Chinese restaurant boasting world-class design, impressive ambience and traditional cuisine with a modern twist, will open its doors in SKYCITY Auckland’s award-winning Federal Street dining precinct in July.
Photography Babiche Martens
Huami draws inspiration from old Shanghai during the French Concession period, transporting classic Chinese elements in to the 21st century.
Graeme Stephens, SKYCITY Entertainment Group CEO, says SKYCITY saw an opportunity for a premium yet authentic Chinese dining experience.
“SKYCITY is pleased to be delivering a ninth restaurant to our successful Federal Street dining precinct. Huami will provide an experience for our customers that tells the story of old Shanghai, merging all that makes the Chinese culture so unique – a fusion of traditional and contemporary,” he says.
Well-known Kiwi chef Nic Watt, of Masu on Federal Street, has collaborated with SKYCITY on the project and together with esteemed executive chef Jeff Tan, who has an impressive career running some of the finest restaurant kitchens in Asia and the Middle East, will deliver Huami’s incredible food offering.
Huami’s menu will highlight exceptional dishes from regional provinces across China including Canton, Sichuan, Huaiyang and Beijing. The focus is on using fresh seasonal produce and bold flavours, featuring signature dishes including wood-fired Peking duck, hand crafted dim sums, braised New Zealand abalone, and crayfish.
The design of the restuarant pays homage to classic Chinese influences in a contemporary style with the use of old brick work, ceramic tiles, dark wood and stone finishes. Huge bi-folding glass screen doors open directly onto Federal Street, while deluxe Chinese screens are used to help break up the main dining room creating a restaurant of exploration and discovery.
New Zealand’s first wood fired duck oven will also stand proud as a feature of the restaurant with an open stone counter. All cooking spaces are open to allow guests to enjoy the theatre of Chinese cooking and the sights, sounds and smells of Huami. Guests can also perch at the finger bar which showcases a refined cocktail menu, plus a premium whiskey wall displaying some of the finest Cognac and Armagnac available in New Zealand. Huami also boasts an extensive wine list with a wine cellar holding up to 2500 bottles.
Huami will be open for lunch and dinner from Saturday 1 July 2017.
