Bernice Chan

Hong Kong

Bernice Chan

Senior Writer on the Culture Desk

Bernice Chan is a senior writer on the Culture desk. She samples more than her share of dishes around Hong Kong and writes about people and issues that make an impact on the city.

Show more

Latest from Bernice Chan

Ana Ros, the world’s best female chef 2017, on how skiing and dancing inform her cooking

A childhood of competing in adrenaline-fuelled sporting events proved fundamental for the innovative, self-taught Slovenian chef.

18 Mar 2020 - 6:45AM

A childhood of competing in adrenaline-fuelled sporting events proved fundamental for the innovative, self-taught Slovenian chef.

Ana Ros, the world’s best female chef 2017, on how skiing and dancing inform her cooking
Next-level pizza in Hong Kong: restaurants ditch the usual dough and play with toppings to create new experiences

How do you put a new spin on something as simple as pizza? New Hong Kong restaurants roll out sourdough pizzas, pies whose base incorporates ancient grain emmer, and toppings you’d expect on a plate of linguine.

13 Mar 2020 - 12:28PM

How do you put a new spin on something as simple as pizza? New Hong Kong restaurants roll out sourdough pizzas, pies whose base incorporates ancient grain emmer, and toppings you’d expect on a plate of linguine.

Next-level pizza in Hong Kong: restaurants ditch the usual dough and play with toppings to create new experiences
Alain Ducasse’s Michelin-star Hong Kong restaurant shuts amid coronavirus pandemic and protests

Rech by Alain Ducasse, a one-Michelin-star fine-dining restaurant at the InterContinental hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui, has closed, hit by a downturn in trade caused by the coronavirus pandemic and anti-government protests.

12 Mar 2020 - 10:52AM

Rech by Alain Ducasse, a one-Michelin-star fine-dining restaurant at the InterContinental hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui, has closed, hit by a downturn in trade caused by the coronavirus pandemic and anti-government protests.

Alain Ducasse’s Michelin-star Hong Kong restaurant shuts amid coronavirus pandemic and protests
‘Life is too short to be ordinary’: raped and murdered Chinese student remembered in moving documentary

Finding Yingying is a heartbreaking documentary that tells the story of Zhang Yingying, who went to the US from China to study but was abducted, raped and murdered, and of her family’s unrelenting attempts to get to the truth.

12 Mar 2020 - 7:53PM

Finding Yingying is a heartbreaking documentary that tells the story of Zhang Yingying, who went to the US from China to study but was abducted, raped and murdered, and of her family’s unrelenting attempts to get to the truth.

‘Life is too short to be ordinary’: raped and murdered Chinese student remembered in moving documentary
The Spanish chef helping to redefine luxury in the Philippines using local ingredients

Luis ‘Chele’ Gonzalez, chef-owner of Manila’s Gallery by Chele, has helped pioneer a Philippine movement that champions national produce over imported goods.

19 Mar 2020 - 12:27AM

Luis ‘Chele’ Gonzalez, chef-owner of Manila’s Gallery by Chele, has helped pioneer a Philippine movement that champions national produce over imported goods.

The Spanish chef helping to redefine luxury in the Philippines using local ingredients
Gray Kunz: passionate chef, fan of flavours, and a leader in the kitchen who loved Hong Kong

Singapore-born Swiss chef who spent decades working in Hong Kong, and had success in New York, remembered for his focus on flavours and textures of dishes, and for his drive, leadership and vision.

7 Mar 2020 - 10:45PM

Singapore-born Swiss chef who spent decades working in Hong Kong, and had success in New York, remembered for his focus on flavours and textures of dishes, and for his drive, leadership and vision.

Gray Kunz: passionate chef, fan of flavours, and a leader in the kitchen who loved Hong Kong
Hong Kong orchestra posts videos of players making music on social media amid coronavirus epidemic that’s shut concert halls

Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have become vehicles for Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra players to reach their fans amid the coronavirus epidemic that’s shut city concert halls, via posts of them making music at home.

7 Mar 2020 - 6:59PM

Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have become vehicles for Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra players to reach their fans amid the coronavirus epidemic that’s shut city concert halls, via posts of them making music at home.

Hong Kong orchestra posts videos of players making music on social media amid coronavirus epidemic that’s shut concert halls
Little Bao chef May Chow on how diet and exercise changed her life, and helped her remain calm during turbulent times

Little Bao chef May Chow hit the gym and switched to a keto diet after changes in her work and personal life – and she says it’s given her the strength and clarity to remain positive even as protests and the coronavirus have affected her restaurants.

8 Mar 2020 - 4:29PM

Little Bao chef May Chow hit the gym and switched to a keto diet after changes in her work and personal life – and she says it’s given her the strength and clarity to remain positive even as protests and the coronavirus have affected her restaurants.

Little Bao chef May Chow on how diet and exercise changed her life, and helped her remain calm during turbulent times
Netflix series Restaurants on the Edge visits funky Tai O outlet in Hong Kong to give it a revamp

The Netflix series travels the world visiting restaurants with amazing views, that need a revamp. Tai O Banyan Tree in a small fishing village in Hong Kong is the only Asian destination.

2 Mar 2020 - 12:15PM

The Netflix series travels the world visiting restaurants with amazing views, that need a revamp. Tai O Banyan Tree in a small fishing village in Hong Kong is the only Asian destination.

Netflix series Restaurants on the Edge visits funky Tai O outlet in Hong Kong to give it a revamp
‘Hong Kong is another world’: Italian chef Antonia Klugmann on her first trip to the city

Recognition from Michelin ‘is so important for a little restaurant in the middle of nowhere’, says Antonia Klugmann.

29 Feb 2020 - 12:15PM

Recognition from Michelin ‘is so important for a little restaurant in the middle of nowhere’, says Antonia Klugmann.

‘Hong Kong is another world’: Italian chef Antonia Klugmann on her first trip to the city
Coronavirus outbreak sees two major Asian food events cancelled

The Great Chefs of Hong Kong fundraiser at the Grand Hyatt and Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants show in Kyushu, Japan, have both been shelved in the wake of the spreading coronavirus outbreak.

27 Feb 2020 - 2:22PM

The Great Chefs of Hong Kong fundraiser at the Grand Hyatt and Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants show in Kyushu, Japan, have both been shelved in the wake of the spreading coronavirus outbreak.

Coronavirus outbreak sees two major Asian food events cancelled
Ricardo Chaneton wanted to be a doctor, instead he became a chef, much to his father’s distaste

The Venezuelan chef Ricardo Chaneton worked at Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe before coming to Hong Kong, where he recently opened his own restaurant, Mono, in Central.

12 Feb 2020 - 3:00PM

The Venezuelan chef Ricardo Chaneton worked at Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe before coming to Hong Kong, where he recently opened his own restaurant, Mono, in Central.

Ricardo Chaneton wanted to be a doctor, instead he became a chef, much to his father’s distaste
‘I look at their ability, not their disability’: Dignity Kitchen founder on training his Hong Kong workforce

Most of the staff at Dignity Kitchen are physically or mentally disabled, and they are serving up some of the best Singapore hawker food in Hong Kong. Founder Koh Seng Choon talks about the challenges they had to overcome.

18 Feb 2020 - 8:33AM

Most of the staff at Dignity Kitchen are physically or mentally disabled, and they are serving up some of the best Singapore hawker food in Hong Kong. Founder Koh Seng Choon talks about the challenges they had to overcome.

‘I look at their ability, not their disability’: Dignity Kitchen founder on training his Hong Kong workforce
Cinnabon finally in Hong Kong, opens in Olympic: franchise owner talks about his love of the famous cinnamon roll and what millennials really want

Possibly no other company has perfected the cinnamon roll like Cinnabon has – and the US-based company now has a franchise store in Hong Kong in Olympian City.

11 Feb 2020 - 8:17PM

Possibly no other company has perfected the cinnamon roll like Cinnabon has – and the US-based company now has a franchise store in Hong Kong in Olympian City.

Cinnabon finally in Hong Kong, opens in Olympic: franchise owner talks about his love of the famous cinnamon roll and what millennials really want
Diner’s Diary | Coronavirus: top hotel restaurants in Hong Kong forced to close their doors before Valentine’s Day

Restaurants in some top Hong Kong hotels have temporarily shut their doors ahead of February 14 because the coronavirus outbreak has caused a slump in business.

6 Feb 2020 - 11:09AM

Restaurants in some top Hong Kong hotels have temporarily shut their doors ahead of February 14 because the coronavirus outbreak has caused a slump in business.

Coronavirus: top hotel restaurants in Hong Kong forced to close their doors before Valentine’s Day
How Hong Kong-born chef Kwanghi Chan found found cooking, and fame, in Ireland

Kwanghi Chan, the Hong Kong-born Irish chef and owner of Bowls by Kwanghi Chan, in Dublin, talks about overcoming a difficult childhood.

3 Feb 2020 - 3:32PM

Kwanghi Chan, the Hong Kong-born Irish chef and owner of Bowls by Kwanghi Chan, in Dublin, talks about overcoming a difficult childhood.

How Hong Kong-born chef Kwanghi Chan found found cooking, and fame, in Ireland
Chinese New Year: how to make Grandma’s sugar rings, the addictive festive treat

A Chinese New Year snack, sugar rings are crispy addictive, and pastry chef Ringo Chan learned how to make them from his grandmother. He shows us how to make perfect sugar rings.

23 Jan 2020 - 6:20PM

A Chinese New Year snack, sugar rings are crispy addictive, and pastry chef Ringo Chan learned how to make them from his grandmother. He shows us how to make perfect sugar rings.

Chinese New Year: how to make Grandma’s sugar rings, the addictive festive treat
Sugar rings: Hong Kong pastry chef’s grandmother inspiration for Lunar New Year treat

Lunar New Year is traditionally a time for enjoying family, and of course food including sweet snacks prepared with care for relatives and friends. Ringo Chan, executive pastry chef at the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, shows the SCMP’s Bernice Chan how to make sugar rings, his favourite holiday treat, using his grandmother's simple recipe.

23 Jan 2020 - 5:30PM

Lunar New Year is traditionally a time for enjoying family, and of course food including sweet snacks prepared with care for relatives and friends. Ringo Chan, executive pastry chef at the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, shows the SCMP’s Bernice Chan how to make sugar rings, his favourite holiday treat, using his grandmother's simple recipe.

Sugar rings: Hong Kong pastry chef’s grandmother inspiration for Lunar New Year treat
Dutch chef Sergio Herman’s one wish: to get back in the kitchen and start cooking again

The prolific restaurateur, who has achieved considerable Michelin-acclaim, hopes to open a small restaurant where he will be able to feed his passion.

22 Jan 2020 - 6:00PM

The prolific restaurateur, who has achieved considerable Michelin-acclaim, hopes to open a small restaurant where he will be able to feed his passion.

Dutch chef Sergio Herman’s one wish: to get back in the kitchen and start cooking again
Hong Kong protests will inspire world even if they fail, history professor writes in book about unrest, the city’s culture and its past

Author Jeff Wasserstrom, a University of California professor, draws comparisons between 2014 and 2019 Hong Kong protests, and between police repression now and in China in 1989, but agrees with Mark Twain that ‘history doesn’t repeat itself’.

23 Jan 2020 - 12:27AM

Author Jeff Wasserstrom, a University of California professor, draws comparisons between 2014 and 2019 Hong Kong protests, and between police repression now and in China in 1989, but agrees with Mark Twain that ‘history doesn’t repeat itself’.

Hong Kong protests will inspire world even if they fail, history professor writes in book about unrest, the city’s culture and its past
Swimwear and underwear targeting gay men gets boost in Asia as newcomers enter the niche industry

Men’s underwear and swimwear targeting gay men is nothing new in the West, but now newcomers based in Asia like Tight Tams and U-Touch are making forays into this niche industry with often daring and colourful designs.

18 Jan 2020 - 11:30PM

Men’s underwear and swimwear targeting gay men is nothing new in the West, but now newcomers based in Asia like Tight Tams and U-Touch are making forays into this niche industry with often daring and colourful designs.

Swimwear and underwear targeting gay men gets boost in Asia as newcomers enter the niche industry
New Chinese New Year pudding flavours: healthy, low-sugar, vegan, gingery – we put them to the test

From Lung King Heen’s burdock and snow fungus pudding with red dates and jasmine to Cuisine Cuisine’s ginger honey and sea coconut pudding, here are some of the newest Chinese New Year puddings available in Hong Kong.

18 Jan 2020 - 7:03PM

From Lung King Heen’s burdock and snow fungus pudding with red dates and jasmine to Cuisine Cuisine’s ginger honey and sea coconut pudding, here are some of the newest Chinese New Year puddings available in Hong Kong.

New Chinese New Year pudding flavours: healthy, low-sugar, vegan, gingery – we put them to the test
‘Us women need to make some noise,’ says chef Valeria Piccini, of two-Michelin star Italian restaurant

Valeria Piccini, the chef-owner of Michelin two-star Caino, in Tuscany, grew up around food and has always loved cooking.

14 Jan 2020 - 3:00PM

Valeria Piccini, the chef-owner of Michelin two-star Caino, in Tuscany, grew up around food and has always loved cooking.

‘Us women need to make some noise,’ says chef Valeria Piccini, of two-Michelin star Italian restaurant
Wagyumafia chef Hisato Hamada on how he befriended David Beckham, Jack Dorsey

Hisato Hamada, the chef and co-founder of the Tokyo and Hong Kong restaurants, talks about his circuitous route to cooking.

9 Jan 2020 - 12:56PM

Hisato Hamada, the chef and co-founder of the Tokyo and Hong Kong restaurants, talks about his circuitous route to cooking.

Wagyumafia chef Hisato Hamada on how he befriended David Beckham, Jack Dorsey
‘Long hours, yelling and bad salary’ almost made Dutch chef quit his career

Eelke Plasmeijer, the chef and co-owner of Locavore, in Ubud, has found his happy place in Bali.

30 Dec 2019 - 3:43PM

Eelke Plasmeijer, the chef and co-owner of Locavore, in Ubud, has found his happy place in Bali.

‘Long hours, yelling and bad salary’ almost made Dutch chef quit his career
Chinese food isn’t fried rice and chow mein – or is it? The stories behind Chinese-Canadian cuisine and the people who sell it

Chinatown restaurants in Canada sell fried rice, chow mein and chop suey – dishes with a long and rich history behind them, even if they aren’t authentically Chinese.

27 Dec 2019 - 5:54PM

Chinatown restaurants in Canada sell fried rice, chow mein and chop suey – dishes with a long and rich history behind them, even if they aren’t authentically Chinese.

Chinese food isn’t fried rice and chow mein – or is it? The stories behind Chinese-Canadian cuisine and the people who sell it
How a Hong Kong chef lost his restaurant but gained a new, healthy and happy life

Chef Nate Green was drinking heavily to deal with the stress of owning a restaurant in Hong Kong. Since he closed Rhoda and started working for other restaurants, Green is drinking less, working out, and eating and sleeping better.

21 Dec 2019 - 7:43PM

Chef Nate Green was drinking heavily to deal with the stress of owning a restaurant in Hong Kong. Since he closed Rhoda and started working for other restaurants, Green is drinking less, working out, and eating and sleeping better.

How a Hong Kong chef lost his restaurant but gained a new, healthy and happy life
Michelin Guide Hong Kong and Macau awards first stars to newcomers Louise, Rùn, Roganic, L’Envol and Andre Chiang’s Sichuan Moon

Five restaurants that opened in 2019 – Louise at PMQ, Roganic, and L’Envol and Run at the St Regis in Hong Kong, each with one star, and Andre Chiang’s Sichuan Moon in Macau, with two – win recognition in new Michelin Guide, while Uwe Opocensky earns Petrus first star.

17 Dec 2019 - 11:16PM

Five restaurants that opened in 2019 – Louise at PMQ, Roganic, and L’Envol and Run at the St Regis in Hong Kong, each with one star, and Andre Chiang’s Sichuan Moon in Macau, with two – win recognition in new Michelin Guide, while Uwe Opocensky earns Petrus first star.

Michelin Guide Hong Kong and Macau awards first stars to newcomers Louise, Rùn, Roganic, L’Envol and Andre Chiang’s Sichuan Moon
Censored by China, deleted social media posts live on in Hong Kong

Online censorship is rife on Chinese social media platforms like Weibo and WeChat, but one University of Hong Kong team is tracking deleted posts, preserving them and looking for patterns to determine why they were removed.

15 Dec 2019 - 7:00PM

Online censorship is rife on Chinese social media platforms like Weibo and WeChat, but one University of Hong Kong team is tracking deleted posts, preserving them and looking for patterns to determine why they were removed.

Censored by China, deleted social media posts live on in Hong Kong
From a giant rubber duck and Kaws’ Companion to 1,600 papier mache pandas: this man knows what Hong Kong people like

Lam Shu-kam, founder of design studio AllRightsReserved, brought Florentijn Hofman’s giant rubber duck to Hong Kong, as well as Kaws’ Companion and Paulo Grangeon’s 1,600 pandas. More recently he has turned to Japanese artists.

11 Dec 2019 - 6:39PM

Lam Shu-kam, founder of design studio AllRightsReserved, brought Florentijn Hofman’s giant rubber duck to Hong Kong, as well as Kaws’ Companion and Paulo Grangeon’s 1,600 pandas. More recently he has turned to Japanese artists.

From a giant rubber duck and Kaws’ Companion to 1,600 papier mache pandas: this man knows what Hong Kong people like