Hong Kong-born Kiri Sinclair is the founder and CEO of marketing and public relations firm, Sinclair Communications, which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. She spoke to Andrew Sun.
I grew up in the New Territories in Hong Kong. Eating at my local traditional dai pai dong street stalls or noodle shop was the norm for us. I eat and enjoy most things, but Cantonese is my favourite, followed by anything Asian. I couldn’t live without rice.
Run by friend Pekki Lam, this island-casual restaurant serves the best seafood thanks to chef Alan Cheung Wai-lun. After lunch, walk around the island and meet the resident cows grazing up on the hill.
When I lived in Sha Tin in the 1980s and 1990s, we often went to Shatin Inn Restaurant (7.5 milestone, Tai Po Road, Sha Tin. Tel: 2691 1425) on Sundays and watched Hong Kong’s well-minted roll up in their expensive cars, wearing tennis whites and with dog in tow.
Shatin Inn is the place I go after a walk in Kam Shan Country Park. The best dishes are gado-gado, rendang daging, curry chicken and, of course, the satay. Actually, every dish is amazing. Close your eyes and imagine 60 or more years back before the highways and urban planning.
![Satay skewers at Shatin Inn Restaurant. Photo: Facebook/Tak Shing Chan](https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/07/26/6629d5b1-cba7-4859-b65c-486117c78e6c_81361d19.jpg)
Now it’s a lot more high-end, yet somehow seems to have kept its feeling of tradition intact. The service team are lovely too.
In Sai Kung, my dim sum go-to spot is Chuen Kee Seafood Restaurant (87-93 Man Nin Street, Sai Kung. Tel: 2791 1195). Originally with Chinese-Thai heritage, the fresh seafood here is fantastic for lunch or dinner alike. I like to sit outside to enjoy the views over Sai Kung harbour.
![Dim sum at Dim Sum Square Kitchen. Photo: Google Maps](https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/07/26/a9234826-612b-4a87-9604-62ebc1f08db1_54cacbef.jpg)
My office is in Sheung Wan and I go to Dim Sum Square Kitchen (LG/F, Tern Centre Tower 2, 78 Jervois Street, Sheung Wan. Tel: 3521 0868) a lot.
If I’m on my own, I go for the set lunch – fried beef or pork noodles and an iced lemon tea. If I’m with colleagues, we fight over what to order and always end up with a feast. This is a family-run place where the quality of food is outstanding, and they always have a smile ready to greet me.
I’m a casual person at heart, but for a splurge we head for Spices (G/F, The Arcade, 109 Repulse Bay Road, Repulse Bay. Tel: 2292 2821). The menu is a love affair with the spices of Asia, celebrating dishes from India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam.
I recommend bringing a group so you can try a bit of everything. If you have to choose one dish, go for the green barramundi curry.