Jean Paul Gauci Born and bred in London, the half-Corsican, half-Chilean chef-turned-restaurateur lived in France before leaving for Asia. After working in Taipei and Hong Kong, Gauci, 35, moved to Japan, before returning to Hong Kong in 1993 to work at the Park Lane Hotel. He opened his and Staunton Street's first restaurant, Casa Lisboa (now on Elgin Street), in 1994. Since then he has opened Cafe Au Lac, Cubana, Cafe Noir, La Belle Epoque and the Euromart delicatessen. He is also chairman of the SoHo Association, comprising business owners.
Where are you most likely to be at 10am on a Sunday? Wherever my dreams take me. When I get up, usually before 12, I'll start making arrangements for a boat trip or an outing to Sai Kung with my family and friends. I'll have Cafe Noir prepare some food for me or pick up a picnic from Euromart.
Where are you most likely to be at 10pm on a Friday? 10pm on Friday is when I finish work and my weekend begins. I usually go somewhere for dinner or fun with friends not far from Cubana, so I can look after its salsa party when necessary.
Where do you live? Caine Road, just above SoHo. I don't particularly like Caine Road but it is convenient. Ideally I'd love to live somewhere remote and next to the sea. When I open my next restaurant, which will be somewhere in the South China Sea and reachable by boat only, I'll have the opportunity.
Where do you go to escape in Hong Kong? My boat, and the little 24-hour cafes at Deep Water Bay. It's a relaxing place to chat with friends. And it's so near Central - just a 20-minute taxi ride away.
Where do you go for dim sum? After a big night out, when I'm hot and starving, I usually chill out to early-morning dim sum at Kwai Yu on Elgin Street or Man Far Hung on Hollywood Road.
