Favourite restaurants of an Italian in Hong Kong – for spaghetti, congee, and refined Cantonese cuisine – and dining tips for London, New York and his native Turin

Fabio Rossi, who runs an art gallery, is an inclusive eater, equally at home in a congee shop, a sushi joint, or washing down a steak with good French wine

He loves Neighborhood for its simple French cooking with a Cantonese twist, Kin’s Kitchen for its traditional dishes, and Tung Po when he has overseas visitors

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Fabio Rossi, a native of Turin in northern Italy, operates art gallery Rossi & Rossi in Hong Kong’s Wong Chuk Hang neighbourhood. Photo: Fabio Rossi

Published: 3:15pm, 30 Sep 2020Updated: 6:35pm, 1 Oct 2020

A native of Turin in northern Italy, Fabio Rossi, and his mother operate art gallery Rossi & Rossi (Unit 3C, Yally Industrial Building, 6 Yip Fat Street, Wong Chuk Hang). From October 3 to November 14 they will present photography by Elisa Sighicelli as part of the Italia Mia Festival.

As a young kid, I was lucky that my mother took me on her travels to Asia – from Afghanistan to Taiwan – and I was able to experience a great diversity of cuisines.

I enjoy food that reconnects me with my Italian roots, but I am also willing to experiment and experience different flavours, whether that’s in one of Tokyo’s fish markets in Japan or a family-run congee place in Tai Hang on Hong Kong Island. I consider myself very inclusive in my eating habits.

In Hong Kong, I very much enjoy Neighborhood (61-63 Hollywood Road, Central, tel: 2617 0891) for the freshness of their produce and their rendition of simple French cooking with a Cantonese twist. The locally farmed salt-baked chicken with rice is exquisite and, if you have the chance, their Hokkaido kinki fish paella is a show-stopper. Don’t forget the canelés at the end!

Go to Neighborhood for their rendition of simple French cooking with a Cantonese twist. Photo: SCMP

Kin’s Kitchen is dedicated to reviving old recipes. Photo: SCMP

Another favourite is Da Domenico (Guardian House, 32 Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2882 8013), which is by far the best Italian restaurant in Hong Kong – though you are unlikely to find it in any food guides. The spaghetti with bottarga is a must and even a simple dish like grilled sausages will surprise you.