Clockenflap’s not just about the music, there’s also art, a handicraft market and the festival’s food offerings are growing year by year. 2017’s line-up includes some of the Hong Kong food scene’s biggest names. There’s everything from burgers and tacos to lobster rolls and yet more burgers. Here’s a comprehensive guide to what’s on offer...
Beef & Liberty
You’ll find Clockenflap regular Beef and Liberty near the main stage doing what it does best: serving up juicy burgers and crispy fries to hungry ‘Flappers. Its signature bacon cheese burger is on the menu and for veggies there’s the Leaves and Liberty falafel burger.
Bien Jamon
The first of many porky offerings, Bien Jamon is serving up only the finest wafer thin slices of melt-in-the-mouth iberico ham straight from the Spanish homeland as well as other high-end offerings.
Big Fernand
The best bites from this French burger joint are its signature Bartholome – a beef patty with raclette cheese – and Philibert – a chicken burger with tomme cheese fresh from the French Alps. Perfect to enjoy while watching French post-rock band Totorro on the Your Mum Stage this Friday night.
Blue Butcher
More burgers! Meat specialist Blue Butcher is bring to the fest their eponymous Blue Burger, which is really much more brown, especially with its golden brioche bun. Inside is a top-quality beef patty, smoked cheddar, caramelised onions and Blue’s enigmatic secret sauce.
Café Siam
Much loved for its no-messing-about authentic Thai curries and snacks, Café Siam offers an alternative to all the burgers and pork with, uh, its pork neck bun. Maybe not then. But seriously, they’re doing Thai nibbles like rice paper rolls with tofu and red beef curry too.
Cali-Mex
Love it or hate it Mexican chain Cali-Mex have two locations at Clockenflap this year, one by the main stage and one by the Acorn/Robot stage. There are chicken, beef or mixed bean tacos to tuck into and burritos, nachos and quesadillas too. The ice cream tortilla sandwich is brilliant if you’re after something sweet.
Golden Pig
Premium meat supplier Golden pig is dishing up some meaty buns and claim to be supplying headline acts Massive Attack, The Prodigy and Kaiser Chiefs with their comestibles. Meaty treats on offer include the British pork and apple burger with Bury black pudding and Melton Mowbray pork pies, as well as award-winning British hotdogs.
Hotshot
Repulse Bay’s very own surf-shack café is bringing the beachside vibes to the ’Flap with favourites including its famous lobster rolls as well as charcoal bun burgers with fries. You can pick that up next to the Second Stage.
Initial Fashion
Fashion brand Initial has a pop-up is offering blue ice cream. Ideal for chilling out after watching firestarters The Prodigy.
Kuuchi Café by Camper
If excessive alliteration is your thing, head to Kuuchi Café by Camper at Clockenflap for coffee and cupcakes. Its large covered space has plenty of seating, making it a good place to regroup before heading back out into the fray.
La Paloma
Clockenflap debutants La Paloma has a selection of its ever-popular tapas plates starting at $50. If only Paloma Faith was headlining – the fun we could have had.
Lobster Pot
Ship Street’s Lobster Pot is bringing its crustacean-based concept to the festival, giving music fans a welcome alternative to all that meat. The three cheese lobster mac is available for all those who like their shellfish served in a more casual manner.
Mana!
Vegan-friendly, environmentally conscious and the purveyors of some of the best salads and wraps in the city – Mana is serving its range of veggie wraps and salads to the more health conscious festival goers out there.
Mavericks
Pui O beach ‘board shack’ Mavericks is making the trip over to Central Harbourfront to bring ‘Flappers a taste of South Lantau’s laidback surf culture including its 12-hour hickory smoked beef brisket burger and the brutus salad – home smoked salmon, kale, romaine lettuce, parmesan, smoked anchovies, garlic croutons and a poached egg. You’ll find them by the main stage.
Momojein
For lovers of Korean cuisine, Wan Chai’s Momojein is returning for its second year and is serving its signature kalbi hotteok – marinated beef wrapped in a housemade pan-seared crepe bun – as well as the classic Korean noodle dish japchae – sweet potato stir-fried with soy sauce and julienned vegetables.
Pizza Express
You know what to expect. Pizza plus music equals good times.
Poké Co
If you fancy Hawaiian fusion with Japanese and Korean influences, Poké Co should be your foodie stop. The brand’s bringing special dishes to Clockenflap including a Hawaiian hot dog made with homemade pineapple relish.
Reserva Iberica
With a new store and restaurant on Ship Street, Catalonian ham experts Reserva Iberica is now bringing its top quality cured and air dried pork to Clockenflap with special sandwiches like the Serrano ham and mozzarella baguette.
The Salted Pig
TST pork merchant The Salted Pig is crossing the harbour to bring you ‘porkalicious’ snacks, the highlights including the likes of cheesy garlic bread, meat ‘amazeballzzzzz’ sliders – that’s right, five Zs – and even, awesomely, cheesecake on a stick with chocolate, maple syrup and crispy bacon.
The Roundhouse
Known for its craft beer and top-notch fried chicken, The Roundhouse is providing quintessential festival food in the shape of Texas barbecue – think pulled pork sandwiches, smoked brisket, buffalo wings, mac ‘n’ cheese and so on – to keep you flapping this year.
XTC Gelato
Okay, even if the weather’s gotten cooler it’s always a good time for ice cream. Causeway Bay gelato and frozen yoghurt maestros XTC Gelato are going to be roaming their way through the festival, so you’ll have to grab them when you see them. Flavours include cookie crunch, mango coconut and madagascan vanilla or grab a raspberry or mango ice pop. Sam Sinha