Pho in Paris, oysters in Bordeaux – places a wine lover and former restaurateur cannot wait to eat at again when travel to Europe is possible

Wilson Kwok bounces between two Vietnamese restaurants on the same street in Paris, in France, for two differing styles of pho

In Bordeaux, he knows just the place for a plate of oysters, prawns, crabs and snails. In Hong Kong his ‘canteens’ include Sushi Hiro

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Wilson Kwok visits Europe at least once a year and there are many restaurants there that are his comfort food destinations. Photo: Wilson Kwok

Published: 5:15pm, 21 Apr 2021Updated: 11:03pm, 21 Apr 2021

Wilson Kwok, former restaurateur and ex-convenor of Slow Food Hong Kong, is enrolled in a wine-related MBA programme through a school in Germany, which, until last year, gave him a great excuse to visit Europe on a regular basis, tour wineries and attend oenological events. He spoke to Andrew Sun.

I visit Europe at least once a year and there are many restaurants there that are my comfort food destinations. I get really emotional and nostalgic missing all the cities and towns that I visit and the food there. My nightly prayer is: “Please allow me to travel as soon as possible.”

In Mussbach, the small German town where my school is based, Zöhre’s Pfalz Kebab (An der Eselshaut 42, 67435 Neustadt an der Weinstrasse, Germany, tel: +49 6321 9547518) is a Turkish snack restaurant with delicious lamb kebab with home-made bread and margherita pizza.

In Paris in France, I always stop by Chinatown in the 13th district for a big bowl of pho at Pho Banh Cuon 14 (129 Avenue de Choisy, 75013, Paris, tel: +33 1 45 83 61 15). If there is a queue, I go next door to Le Kok (129 bis Avenue de Choisy, 75013, Paris, tel: +33 1 45 84 10 48). They serve pho quite differently. Pho Banh Cuon 14 has a better broth but Le Kok offers a plate of brisket and bones from the broth for free.

I always stop by Chinatown in the 13th district for a big bowl of pho at Pho Banh Cuon 14. Photo: Facebook/Pho Banh Cuon 14

I like chef David Rathgeber’s down-to-earth bistro, L’Assiette (181 Rue du Château, 75014, Paris, tel: +33 1 43 22 64 86). He’s popular on television for cooking traditional home-made dishes even though he could be a high-end star chef. His principle is to stick to the best produce for honest dishes like cassoulet, pâté, pigeon and marinated mackerel.

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