Do you miss any Hong Kong foods when you travel? 'Yes, when I am in Europe I miss the Japanese food from Tokio Joe in Lan Kwai Fong. They have lots of wonderful sushi and sashimi, and I love the California rolls and cones.'

Do you bring back any food from your travels? 'When I go to Europe, I'll buy cheese for Swiss fondue and raclette. I love Swiss [melted-cheese] specialities.'

What are your favourite restaurants in the world? 'Robuchon a Galera in Macau; it's a French restaurant. The pan-fried sweetbreads served with white truffle and risotto with parmesan is wonderful. Another favourite is El Bulli in Spain near the French border and the Mediterranean coast; I love the white sorbet with sun-dried tomato topped with olive oil crackers. The red beetroot pasta is terrific too.'

What junk food do you like? 'Usually I avoid it, or I'll put on lots of weight. But health aside, I do like spicy chips, salted pistachios and honey-roasted almonds.'

Do you cook at home? 'Usually my wife does the cooking, but when I cook I like to do it with my kids. We make pizzas, quiches, apple tarts and cakes together and it's great fun.'

What do you like most about your job? 'I enjoy tasting and looking at new products, and meeting our customers.'

And the most difficult part? 'I have a staff of 180 people in Hong Kong to manage, and we are looking forward to expanding our production to the mainland. It's challenging, but that's fine. My job is my passion.'

Describe your perfect meal. 'It would be at home on the roof-top with my family. We could bake something together, or have a barbecue and some nice wine, of course. That would be my perfect meal.'