“Being hospitable and courteous is our way of welcoming you into our home, because we’re feeding you,” says Tara Margarita, head chef of Bourke’s, a new wine bar and restaurant in Hong Kong Island’s bustling SoHo area. “It’s plain, simple, human love, and that’s all I’ve wanted to do.” Inspired by the liveliness of Bourke … Read more
Christian Le Squer is something of a legend in fine-dining circles. For 22 years, the chef at Le Cinq, at Paris’ Four Seasons George V Hotel, has maintained the restaurant’s vaunted three-Michelin-star status. During that time, lesser chefs have turned themselves into global brands, but the unassuming Le Squer has mostly stayed kitchen-bound. That is … Read more
The week before Sam Aisbett opened Akuna in Ho Chi Minh City, in southern Vietnam, he panicked. “I said, ‘What the hell am I doing? What an idiot,’” recalled the Australian chef of the July 2023 opening. There was no way his restaurant, with a menu price of 3.9 million dong (US$155) – at least … Read more
It is no secret that Hong Kong’s restaurant and bar industry is facing challenges – thank competition from nearby cities like Shenzhen and an uptick in post-Covid revenge travel for that. Because of this, Hong Kong residents do not seem to be have much left to spend in the city’s restaurants, especially the fine-dining ones. … Read more
A Michelin-starred eatery is slapping a minimum £135 corkage fee on customers who bring their own booze. The trendy Dorian restaurant, nestled in London’s Notting Hill, has become a viral sensation with nearly 50,000 followers on Instagram. However, the restaurant’s owner admits that it’s struggling to make ends meet from food sales alone. To help … Read more
Oliver Li does not take the easy route, you could say. While most fine-dining chefs and restaurateurs might ease into a new opening by introducing one dinner service, Li’s restaurant Jee in Hong Kong’s Central district launched right into opening six days a week, serving lunch and dinner. On top of this, Li is serving … Read more
“When I don’t have a scheduled appointment, I try not to eat out. If I have two appointments in a week, I see it as a red flag and adjust accordingly,” Choi says. Young Koreans are increasingly spending less on dining out. Photo: Shutterstock An increasing number of young Koreans like Choi are minimising their … Read more
Esteemed etiquette guru William Hanson stirred up quite a debate among his Instagram followers after schooling them on the art of eating long pasta with finesse. William knows a thing or two about savouring life’s delicacies, regularly sharing that wisdom with his impressive following of 2.9 million people. Famous for hosting the ‘Help I Sexted … Read more
A favourite is Orka (G/F, 36 Wyndham Street, Central. Tel: 3489 1217). This casual eatery focuses on delicious food sourced responsibly, served in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Dishes at Orka. Photo: Orka I love the communal vibe, perfect for triggering the parasympathetic response (“rest and digest”). The must-try is the Salmon BLT Blaze. Bonus … Read more
WHY DO RESTAURANTS CHARGE FOR WATER? WHY CAN’T THEY SERVE COMPLIMENTARY TAP WATER? “We understand some diners prefer water with their meal instead of wine or beer. However, tap water can negatively alter the delicate taste of live oysters. To ensure a pleasant dining experience, we serve unlimited premium Nordaq water. However, we do not … Read more
