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American Morning

Hong Kong Restaurant Simulates Russian Winter

Aired February 28, 2002 - 09:52   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: From Hong Kong this morning, at a restaurant catering to fans of Russian food and drink, patrants are saying -- or patrons, that is, are saying "nyet" to hot weather, exchanging their bikinis for furs.

That story from CNN's Andrew Brown.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDREW BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The weather is gorgeous this time of year in Hong Kong. Clear skies ideal for sunbathing. The only other thing you need to enjoy this city is a fur coat. Yes, that's what Hong Kong people are wearing these days, at least at the Russian restaurant Balalaika.

All year-round, you need to wrap up warmer at Balalaika, it is also a good idea to bring your own ice ax. The temperature in this fridge is about minus 20 centigrade. That's minus four Fahrenheit. Every evening, diners take turns inside this fridge, which simulates the Russian winter. The management serves customers vodka, sending them into a kind of subzero ecstasy.

(on camera): Do you feel warm?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

(LAUGHTER)

BROWN (voice-over): Even though Balalaika is not for the faint- hearted...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, it's very cold.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it will get a bit solid after a while in here.

BROWN: The restaurant is still doing a brisk trade, and seems to have insulated itself from the recession.

JODY CHEUNG, BALALAIKA: We do depend on a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) like this because it brings more business into our restaurant.

BROWN: And brings in more resilient customers.

(on camera): How would you describe the temperature in here, sir?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's okay.

BROWN: If you ask really nicely, one of the band members will serenade you. There's nothing like Russian music to get the circulation going.

Do you think you can stay in there for longer than 30 seconds?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah, yeah. Definitely. Definitely. We can just move and move and move, you know,and then keep drinking.

BROWN: How long do you think you could stay in this room for?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How much vodka have they got?

BROWN: It is absolute torture staying in here for long. I am going to have to leave -- as soon as I finish my drinks.

(voice-over): Andrew Brown, CNN. Hong Kong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: So maybe Andrew should have thought about putting on an overcoat.

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