I Know a Place: Denice Wai, 6 Senses Cooking Studio
I eat almost everything that is put in front of me, but when I cook for myself, I prefer healthier dishes. I like Spanish, Japanese, Italian and Chinese cuisines, and I insist on fresh ingredients. Aside from that, all I ask for is a neat, stylish decor, with a friendly and quiet environment so I can relax and enjoy my meal.
One of my regular eating out places is the (1/F Gloucester Luk Kwok Hotel, 72 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2866 3806). This is always my first choice because the Gloucester Luk Kwok Hotel has a personal meaning to me. My late parents used to visit the hotel regularly when it was just called the Luk Kwok. The food and the environment make me feel at home but the most important factor is chef William Ma's delicious and creative dishes. They are a big hit with anyone I take there.
For fancier places, I like the (Level 3, Mira Moon Hotel, 388 Jaffe Road, Causeway Bay, tel: 2643 8875). The dishes by executive chef Guillermo Delavault, who is from Barcelona, are exciting and very appealing.
For first-time guests in Hong Kong, I always encourage them to visit (2/F Java Road Municipal Services Building, 99 Java Road, North Point, tel: 2880 5224). The restaurant is located inside the wet market building and the environment is like a dai pai dong but with air conditioning. The menu is very creative, the price is reasonable and the food is good. That's why there is always a long queue [although you can book]. The other notable thing they do is serve beer in a Chinese bowl instead of a glass. It's well worth a try.
A nice casual place is (17 Elgin Street, SoHo, tel: 3104 0890). It's very much a homestyle kind of place — every dish is made by the owner's wife. Signature dishes include pan-fried homestyle fishcake (a secret recipe from the owner's mother), prawns and vermicelli hot pot (they use house-made stock) and egg white and ginger stir-fried rice.
Another place I quite like when I don't feel like cooking is (71 Third Street, Sai Ying Pun, tel: 2857 0818, and other locations). It's a tiny store and it only offers roast chicken and a few house-made desserts, but it's all good.
