Hong Kong-born and Vancouver-raised Flora Ma is the co-founder of Only Beverages, the sugar-free, carb-free premium vodka soda brand produced in Hong Kong. She spoke to Andrew Sun.
I was born in Hong Kong and moved to Vancouver at a very young age, where I grew up enjoying traditional Chinese dishes at home. However, as I grew older, my taste expanded to include a wide variety of dishes from around the world, with a particular love for Japanese.
Tokio Joe (16 Lan Kwai Fong, Central. Tel: 2525 1889) and Sushi Kuu (1/F, M88, Wellington Place, 2-8 Wellington Street, Central. Tel: 2971 0180) are other favourites for their relaxed environment, excellent sushi and lunch sets.
Restaurants on heavy rotation for dinner include Carbone (9/F, Lan Kwai Fong Tower, 33 Wyndham Street, Central. Tel: 2593 2593), which I love for its charming decor and ambience, and its legendary whole branzino and spicy rigatoni vodka.
Yardbird (154-158 Wing Lok Street, Sheung Wan. Tel: 2547 9273) is known for its lively atmosphere and a menu that makes you want to order everything. My personal favourites are the furai-o fish and Korean fried cauliflower.
Don’t miss the tomatini at LPM Restaurant & Bar (Shop 1, UG, H Queen’s, 23-29 Stanley Street, Central. Tel: 2887 1113); it’s a must-try. Their escargots are also one of the city’s bests.
I recommend the omakase menu and adding other dishes on top like the crispy rice with spicy tuna.
When taking a new visitor out in Hong Kong, I like to offer them an experience that captures the essence of the city. For lunch, I’d recommend a visit to Hutong (18/F, H Zentre, 15 Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. Tel: 3428 8342), with its modern Chinese cuisine and stunning Victoria Harbour views.
It’s an experience they won’t forget.
For dinner, instead of tourist hotspots, I like to take them to a restaurant I’d go to on a regular night out but with more of a local vibe like Ho Lee Fook (1-5 Elgin Street, SoHo. Tel: 2810 0860). It is an excellent choice with its funky decor, and creative and distinct Cantonese food.
Outside Hong Kong, one of my favourite destinations for cuisine is Positano, Italy. During a stay at the Le Sirenuse hotel for my honeymoon, we dined at the enchanting La Sponda (Via Colombo 30, Positano. Tel: +39 089 875066) for breakfast and dinner, and its views make it one of the most memorable dining experiences.
The food was equally memorable, celebrating Mediterranean flavours with a strong focus on locally sourced ingredients. The pasta dishes were particularly delicious and unique, and we enjoyed our fair share of wine too.