Source:
https://scmp.com/magazines/48hrs/article/1437271/i-know-place-sommelier-con-nie-likes-her-big-mac-without-meat
Magazines/ 48 Hours

I know a place: sommelier Con Nie likes her Big Mac “without the meat”

Andrew Sun

Andrew Sun
Andrew Sun

Updated: 11:11pm, 5 Mar, 2014

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Con Nie is the wine sommelier of signaturefrenchwines.com

 

It's very difficult to decide where my favourite places to eat in Hong Kong are, as I am a vegetarian. But Italian is my favourite cuisine, as it has many delicious vegetarian dishes, such as burrata cheese, penne arrabiata, pizza margherita, and pasta with truffle.

Restaurants like Grissini (2/F Grand Hyatt, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2584 7722), Isola (Podium 3 & 4, IFC Mall, 1 Harbour View Street, Central, tel: 2383 8765), and some small places such as Sole Mio (47A Elgin Street, SoHo, tel: 2869 6522) or DiVino (73 Wyndham Street, Central, tel: 2167 8883) are favourites.

Restoration (1/F 63 Wyndham Street, Central, tel: 2536 0183) is another place I love, for the wine and Creole food. Of course, I love Chinese restaurants like Pure Veggie House (3/F Coda Plaza, 51 Garden Road, Mid-Levels, tel: 2525 0552), a vegetarian restaurant with high quality food and a lovely ambience. For spicy food I go to Qi House of Sichuan (Shop 12, 2/F J Senses, 60 Johnston Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2527 7117).

I am impressed by the wine list at Cafe Gray Deluxe (Level 49, The Upper House, 88 Queensway, Pacific Place, Admiralty, tel: 3968 1106), and I am a fan of the Champagne Bar (Lobby, Grand Hyatt, Wan Chai, tel: 2584 7722). There's also an amazing cocktail bar called b.a.r. Executive Bar (27/F Bartlock Centre, 3 Yiu Wa Street, Causeway Bay, tel: 2893 2080) run by Ichiro Hiidome, who meticulously crafts each cocktail.

For visitors, Hong Kong must seem like a food and wine heaven. I like taking my guests to restaurants with a nice view, so they can enjoy the beautiful harbour.

The Michelin one-star Nanhai No 1 (Shop 3001, 30/F iSquare, 63 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2487 3688) is a favourite place to take friends who are visiting for the first time. The view is spectacular and the service makes guests feel special. The contemporary Chinese cuisine and the fresh seafood are delicious.

For a casual bite, I sometimes grab a salad from Life Cafe (10 Shelley Street, SoHo, tel: 2810 9777) or Veggie SF (10/F 11 Stanley Street, Central, tel: 3902 3902). They are good for a quick lunch. In the evening, I drop by Noodle Mi (2 Bonham Strand, Sheung Wan, tel: 2253 1113) for veggie pho noodles and a chilled glass of the No 1 Rose.

I go to Tsui Wah (15-19 Wellington Street, Central, tel: 2525 6338) for a quick bite. If I get a craving for junk food, I have been known to go to McDonald's and order a Big Mac without meat. It's yummy.