For an ‘authentic, down-and-dirty’ Hong Kong seafood experience, this American heads to dai pai dong Sing Kee in Central and Under Bridge Spicy Crab

Tom Schmidt, an architect and illustrator who sketches his food porn, likes to show visitors the raucous, street alley ambience of Central dai pai dong Sing Kee

If he wants to impress he takes them to Yung Kee; he likes Caprice for celebrations, and can’t wait to hit Taipei night markets and Penang hawker centres again

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Squid in salt and pepper from Sing Kee in Central. American architect and illustrator Tom Schmidt takes visitors there for an authentic Hong Kong street food experience. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Published: 2:45pm, 22 Sep 2021

American architect, illustrator, and occasional stand-up comedian, Tom Schmidt is the founder of hospitality design firm Sepia Design Consultants, and author and illustrator of the award-winning Bumbling Traveller Adventure Series of graphic novels. He talks to Andrew Sun.

I tend to be a detail-oriented, analytical and visual person. I’m intrigued by the plating and presentation of foods, in addition to the process behind the preparation. When I travel, I keep a sketchbook to draw interesting foods and dishes I come across. It’s my alternative to food pics.

Hong Kong is truly a foodie paradise. I am constantly amazed at the variety available and love to try new cuisines. A new place I like is Musubi Hiro (37 Cochrane Street, Central, tel: 5597 6911), which revolves around art and graffiti and offers a new twist on traditional cuisine.

With a young daughter, one of our regular family restaurants is Dan Ryan’s Chicago Grill (Shop 311, 3/F Cityplaza, 18 Taikoo Shing Road, Tai Koo, tel: 2845 4600) since we can draw on paper tablecloths and play games while we wait for our food. There’s usually something on the menu that appeals to everyone, too.

Musubi Hiro offers a new twist on traditional spam musubi.

If I’m eating on my own, I’m a regular at Frites Belgium On Tap (Oxford House, 979 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, tel: 2250 5188), as the pub atmosphere and music selection is very relaxing to enjoy nice Belgian beers and hearty solo meals.

For a visitor, if it’s a formal business meal with someone I don’t know well, I might bring them to a five-star hotel or to Yung Kee (32-40 Wellington Street, Central, tel: 2522 1624) to impart a good impression of our city.