Mark Peaker loves art so much he left a career in banking to become a gallery owner. Two years ago, with a partner, he opened Hong Kong Island's largest contemporary art gallery, 3812 Contemporary Art Projects. He is also an avid foodie, part-time restaurant reviewer, and enjoys holding dinner parties.
A perfect evening means good friends, food, wine and conversation. I also enjoy the cooking, shopping for ingredients and making everything from scratch, including bread, which I make most weekends. While I regularly have people over for a casual meal, I have a larger dinner party for around 14 guests once every couple of months, with up to five courses. The highest accolade for me is when friends ask me to cook at their dinner parties.
I like French cuisine as I like to make sauces, which I start to prep two days in advance. I also enjoy cooking shellfish, for example scallops with a hazelnut and mint butter. A favourite is my tomato consommé; it takes several hundred tomatoes and days of preparation. I once served it with lavender-infused ice cubes - it was a big hit. I am also a big meat eater. I hold an annual beef and Bordeaux night. I cook a large joint of beef on the bone and lots of roast potatoes in lard and guests bring a bottle of Bordeaux.