Recommendations from the major: chef Vicky Lau’s guide to Hong Kong

This short article is aspect of a guideline to Hong Kong from FT Globetrotter

I was born and raised in Hong Kong right until the age of 15, when I moved to the United States for faculty, and stayed to study at New York University. I had a profession as a graphic designer, and just before I made the decision to go after the culinary arts, I experienced hoped to return to Hong Kong to operate with my sister in promotion.

But it was a different path that led me back to the city. Next my instruction at Le Cordon Bleu in Bangkok, I returned to Hong Kong to function under the tutelage of chef Sebastien Lepinoy at the Michelin-starred Cépage. In 2012, I opened my cafe, TATE Dining Area, where by I provide French-encouraged dishes with Chinese influences from my upbringing right here.

As a chef, I relish dwelling and doing the job in Hong Kong. We are spoiled with a fantastic food items and ground breaking eating scene, and the metropolis itself is vivid, thrilling and energetic. Below I have shared with you a blend of some of my favorite spots to eat and drink, along with a number of instructed cultural functions, markets to visit and more.

Food stuff & Drink 

The Diplomat

LG/F, H Code, 45 Pottinger Avenue, Central, Hong Kong

The Diplomat reminds me of a excellent New York-type cocktail bar where you can appreciate classic beverages with innovative twist. A night out in this article with pals is guaranteed to be a superior time.

I have tried using the overall cocktail menu (and it’s all tasty) but my all-time favourite drink below is Tarling — pandan-infused gin, white port, baking spices, clarified orange juice and coconut h2o. It is so refreshing and comforting.

The meals on offer you accompanies the drinks listing perfectly. The Diplomat Burger is my favourite, and is done correctly with a great bun-and-meat ratio, and the pulled-pork cubano sandwich has the most tasty, moreish sauce.

Howard’s Connoisseur

5/F, CCB Tower, 3 Connaught Street, Central, Hong Kong

At Howard’s Gourmet, you will appreciate special and distinctive present day Chinese cuisine in a cosy setting. I enjoy how chef Howard Cai creates light-weight and refined plates of food based on classic basic Chiu Chow substances and dishes. The warm-and-bitter noodle soup listed here is a thing I crave all the time — the base has a good deal of depth, and the sourness will come from lemon, which is incredibly refreshing. The crispy pork knuckle is also excellent: correctly juicy and smooth on the inside of and crispy on the exterior, demonstrating the skill and method of the chef.

Yuen Kee Dessert

32 Centre Avenue, Sai Wan, Hong Kong

Yuen Kee Dessert, proven a lot more than 130 decades back, serves tong sui, Cantonese dessert soups — sweet, warm soups or custard served at the conclusion of a food, manufactured using a common stone grind. One particular that you must test is sweet mulberry mistletoe-tea soup with lotus seeds and egg — it is these a vintage dish but not lots of destinations however make it. The sweet almond and sesame soup in this article is also delectable.

Cultural pursuits

Liang Yi Museum

181-199 Hollywood Highway, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

Liang Yi is the major private museum of style and design, craftsmanship and heritage in Hong Kong. You can come across earth-class collections of Chinese and European antiques listed here. Its exhibitions are rotated each individual 6 months, and the themes are usually properly thought out and cleverly curated. The museum gives excursions by appointment only, in which you can interact with the shows in an personal and boutique setting. It gives you a exclusive prospect to recognize the background, style and design and cultural significance of the collections. 

Attractiveness

INUF Spa

21/F Penthouse, MW Plaza, 40 Kimberley Street, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

INUF (I By no means Use Basis) is a mindful and Earth-aware way of life strategy shop and spa that delivers 100 per cent plant-based formulas. Its all-organic products are free of charge from damaging substances and the packaging is negligible and produced of recycled elements. The hydrating B5 Gel is an critical component of my each day regimen.

The spa can be booked completely for private appointments, which is a pretty way to deal with a spouse, spouse and children member or pal for a particular situation. I also enjoy to indulge with one of their encounter or entire body therapies. My favorite is the English Rose Miracle, a facial cure that assists soften and nourish my skin, and comes with a back massage far too.

Matters to do

Lantau Island

Lantau Island, the biggest outlying island in Hong Kong, is effectively value a take a look at for its wonderful shorelines, landmarks this sort of as the Tian Tan Buddha, unspoilt countryside and fantastic bars and restaurants. For individuals who appreciate out of doors actions, Lantau has significantly to supply, with a lovely landscape to hike across, waterfalls to see and peaks to obstacle you. Depending on in which you’re coming from and which part of the island you are heading to, Lantau can be arrived at by ferry or the MTR.

Tai O Fishing Village is just one of my favorite places in Lantau. Renowned for its traditional Chinese stilt residences, it is 1 of the handful of remaining fishing villages in Hong Kong. You can expend a entire working day listed here discovering its compact streets, tasting contemporary seafood and snacks and getting photos. I advise seeking the street food items from the old-fashioned stalls, these types of as the giant fish ball with chilli sauce, tofu pudding and cha guo (tea dumplings).

Ap Lei Chau Market

8 Hung Shing Road, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong

Soaked markets are necessary spaces for the Hong Kong group. Ap Lei Chau Current market is value a stop by. There’s a pier proper following to it, so you can obtain the freshest and best selection of seafood right here. The wide range is dependent on the capture of the working day, but it is usually broader than at most wet markets in Hong Kong. I love strolling around to discover what the sea has to offer, and bringing household contemporary or appealing ingredients to develop a new dish.

Vicky Lau is owner and chef of the two-Michelin-star TATE Dining Place in Hong Kong

What are your Hong Kong highlights? Convey to us in the comments

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