Vegetarian dim sum, pizza and wonton soup in Hong Kong: an Italian’s picks
- Stefano Fossati, director of the Italian Cultural Institute of Hong Kong, has been vegetarian for more than 30 years
- He also suggests where to find a great paneer tikka in India, as well as top-level restaurants in Turin and where he goes for soba in Japan
Stefano Fossati, a native of Turin in northern Italy, is the director of the Italian Cultural Institute of Hong Kong.
I’ve been vegetarian for more than 30 years. I have lived in India, Japan, Australia and – since September 2019 – Hong Kong. My wife is Japanese and my seven-year-old son, who was born in Rome, loves pizza, udon and hamburgers.
When I want Italian, I go to Divino Patio (Shop 11, 1/F, Brim 28, 28 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2877 3552). Non-vegetarians can enjoy a real Italian-style lasagne. I like also the Grand Café (Lobby, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2584 7722) for its recently introduced falafel pita sandwich – a mild introduction to Middle Eastern cuisine.
When I have special guests, I take them to Summer Palace (5/F, Island Shangri-La, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, tel: 2820 8552). What I like is the great vegetarian wonton soup and vegetarian brown fried rice. You can also order just one single portion of brown rice.
For my work, I have to host formal events so for celebrations I prefer to forgo the formalities. In this sense, I find Mickey B Pizza Co. (two branches including Shop 13, 1/F, Brim 28, 28 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, tel: 3100 0478) a treat. It has good pizza, decent wine and low prices.