THIS summer, Japanese chef Koichi Izumi, owner of the renowned pastry shop Asterisque and the culinary school Callebaut Ambassador, brings his singular sweet vision to afternoon tea at The Lounge, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong. Izumi holds an impressive list of pastry credentials — in 2008 and 2006 he won the World’s Pastry Championship and in 2005 he scored third place in World Chocolate Masters. Asterisque, located in the Shibuya neighborhood of Tokyo, attracts avid dessert lovers from near and far. Dessert lovers in Hong Kong do not need to fly to Tokyo to get a taste of the master’s work as he brings his creations to Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong for the month of August. His family undoubtedly influenced Izumi’s refined taste. He is the third-generation owner of a traditional wagashi shop -- a Japanese confectionary inspired by motifs celebrating the beauty of nature and seasons. His Japanese roots and shrewd eye for precision are reflected in his sublime French pastries that are colorful and visually stunning.(Maggie Tang) | 