Born and raised in the United States, Vance Lee has been the assistant principal bassoonist at the Hong Kong Philharmonic since 2000. The orchestra has restarted performing again, including this weekend (October 16 and 17) as part of its Beethoven Festival. I play music. And I play golf. What do these two passions of mine have in common? I get hungry playing both. With the recent social distancing rules in Hong Kong, I’ve tried to support restaurants in my neighbourhood – Quarry Bay. The palak paneer, baingan bharta and black dal at Tulsi Indian Restaurant (Hoi Kwong Court, 13-15 Hoi Kwong Street, Quarry Bay, tel: 2561 2968) are my usual orders and qualify as the most comforting comfort food. The spring onion ramen at Shugetsu (30 Hoi Kwong Street, Quarry Bay, tel: 2336 7888) is my favourite bowl of noodles in town. The combination of firm noodles, tasty soup, gooey egg yolk and a ridiculous heap of spring onions is perfect from first bite to last pick-up-the-bowl-and-slurp drop. These two restaurants have other locations around town, but the staff in Quarry Bay know I’m a neighbour. If Tiger Woods visits Hong Kong, I’d take him to Honjo (1/F, 77-91 Queen’s Road West, Sheung Wan, tel: 2663 3772). We would sit at the ostrich skin tables in front of the sushi bar, start with a white negroni and wagyu tataki and hope we have enough stomach space to try everything else on the menu. Brut (1 Second Street, Sai Ying Pun, tel: 3460 5863) had an amazing Valentine’s Day Menu this year, and my wife and I hope to celebrate other occasions at their intimately chic location. Their barramundi was delicately crispy on the outside and moist and tender on the inside. I look forward to travelling again, and Australia may be the first destination. But like other times I’ve gone, I’ll probably return an inch or two wider in the waist. Maybe it’s the Vegemite and butter on Turkish toast at Bill and Toni’s (72-74 Stanley Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, tel: +61 2 9360 4702) in Sydney. Maybe it’s the smashed egg and avocado on sourdough – with salt crystals! – at Room 10 (10 Llankelly Place, Potts Point, Sydney, NSW 2011, tel: +61 432 445 342). Maybe it’s a hot meat pie at the Patio Café Bar at Moore Park Golf Course (Cleveland Street, Moore Park, Sydney, NSW 2021). Speaking of meat pies in Australia, the Harry’s Cafe de Wheels in Woolloomooloo (Cowper Wharf Road and Dowling Street corner, Sydney, NSW 2011, tel: +61 2 9357 3074) is my all-time favourite post-concert restaurant. It’s home to a unique pie experience. And in Hong Kong, Wooloomooloo Steakhouse (two locations, including G7-8 & UG 17-18, Tsim Sha Tsui Centre, 66 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, tel: 2722 7050) happens to be [another] favourite post-concert restaurant. To me, any place with eight “o’s” in its name has got to be a fun place. They have great steak, wine list and a nice view. Like on the golf course, you can enjoy a cigar on the outdoor patio.