‘Mac and cheese as good as my mum’s’: a Canadian in Hong Kong’s favourite sustainable restaurant, bakeries, and where to dine with water buffalo in Lantau
- Kinzie is the founder of well-being platform HK Heartbeat. She enjoys restaurants that source ingredients locally and remind her of home
- The long-time Lantau resident shares her favourite places to eat on the island and elsewhere in the city, including spots for char siu and Chinese pastries
Canada-born former marketing and PR executive Kinzie, who goes by a single name, is the founder of HK Heartbeat, an independent network promoting health, well-being and sustainable living. She spoke to Andrew Sun.
I grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan, in Canada, where everything we ate was grown within an arm’s length of where we were – so I was a food slob in terms of ingredients.
My trip down memory lane begins in 1992. The first man I dated here loved fine dining, so I was introduced to Amigo (79A Wong Nai Chung, Happy Valley. Tel: 2577 2202).
I still remember the ambience and food – so intimate and cosy – with friendly service, and cuisine that reminded me of when I lived in Alsace, in northeastern France, and the French Riviera, with rich flavours from sauces with plenty of cream and butter. It’s a wonderful special occasion place.
Honolulu Coffee Shop (176-178 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai. Tel: 2575 1823) is where I’ve gone for comfort favourites like wife cakes and red bean pastries for decades. The flavours and textures of the fillings are satisfying.
The pastry is always flaky, not too sweet. It’s a bonus to arrive when a fresh tray is pulled hot from the oven.
I recently discovered Dragon State Kitchen Restaurant (Shop 38B, Bonham Strand, Sheung Wan. Tel: 2342 3189) while running errands on an empty stomach, and saw their char siu.
The meat is tender and juicy, with just enough fat and a crunch that is delicious and perfect. They now know me as a regular who can say “mm goi” (thank you) when they give me ginger scallion sauce.
Dining is as much about ingredients and people as the dishes. Fini’s (49 Elgin Street, Central. Tel: 2387 6338) always satisfies on all fronts.
The farm girl in me gets the feels knowing that their ingredients are sourced locally, and the welcoming team lend themselves beautifully to my HK Heartbeat Soulfood gatherings, where conversations about how we can positively impact the world take place.
I’ve taken out a large sausage pizza for dinner – and breakfast and lunch the next day. Lunch in the restaurant’s back booth is always fun. The mac and cheese is almost as good as my mum’s.
It’s a seasonal restaurant open on weekends, so a quick phone call is recommended to check the hours in advance.
Other favourites on Lantau Island include Kebab Korner (Shop F, Seaview Building, 1 Ngan Wan Road, Mui Wo. Tel: 6429 3507) for the best falafel kebabs.
The yummiest hummus I have ever tasted is at Bahce Turkish (Shop 19, 3 Ngan Wan Road, Mui Wo, Lantau Island. Tel: 2984 0222).
I always devour a pear tart on the way home after picking up sourdough rye from Village Bakery (Shop 2, Lucky Court, 16 Mui Wo Ferry Pier Road, Lantau Island. Tel: 2980 3344).
When I need some love, the lunch buffet at Garden Café (Shop 11A, Lo Wai Tsuen, Pui O, Lantau Island. Tel: 2984 2233) is fresh and delicious and always served with a smile.
