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Curation Team

1. Tara Margarita of Bourke’s wine bar in Hong Kong on putting simple human love back into cooking
Margarita, head chef of Bourke’s in SoHo, shares her journey from corporate life to the culinary arts, emphasising simple, refined bar food. Avoiding the burnout so often found in fine-dining kitchens, she is now fostering a positive kitchen culture but with a touch of finesse at her new bar.
2. Discover 5 of Hong Kong’s top foodie spots to try this weekend: Plumcot pop-up, Japanese cheesecake and even a coffee tour
Check out our quick guide to some of Hong Kong’s culinary delights to experience this weekend, featuring cheesecakes, French pastries, local grocery brands and a coffee farm tour, all perfect for the festive season.
3. Sake brewers target Unesco heritage listing to boost Japanese rice wine’s global appeal
Japan’s sake brewers are aiming for Intangible Cultural Heritage status to increase overseas recognition and exports, highlighting the traditional brewing techniques and cultural significance of this iconic rice wine. Exports reached US$265 million in 2023, driven by a rising interest in Japanese cuisine worldwide.

4. Ukrainian chefs find fresh hope at Thierry Marx’s Michelin-starred cooking school in France
In a tale of resilience and revival, Ukrainian chefs have left the war at home behind them to learn French culinary arts at renowned chef Marx’s cooking school in Toulouse. As they absorb the classic techniques from the Michelin-starred maestro, they prepare for a future helping to rebuild their communities in Ukraine.
5. Discover the ancient traditions behind why Chinese wedding invites come with cake vouchers
Explore the centuries-old tradition of including cake vouchers in Chinese wedding invitations, the historical origins that go back over 2,000 years and the diverse types of traditional wedding cakes across different regions. A fascinating history lies behind the story of the wedding cake voucher.
Part of this article was produced with the assistance of generative AI.


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Tara Margarita’s culinary love story, sake brewers’ Unesco bid: 5 food & drink stories

Tara Margarita, head chef at Bourke’s in Hong Kong, reflects on why she cooks with “human love” and how she nurtures a better kitchen culture. Photo: Bourke’s/Gideon de Kock


Vitalii Aheiev (front) prepares food at an event in Toulouse, France. A training school in the city offers hope to Ukrainians who are looking forward to the day that the war with Russia ends. Photo: AFP

Lifestyle

Food & Drink

From Hong Kong culinary gems to Unesco ambitions for sake and China’s ancient wedding cake customs, explore some of our latest stories from the world of food and drink


From Hong Kong culinary gems to Unesco ambitions for sake and China’s ancient wedding cake customs, explore some of our latest stories from the world of food and drink.


1. .css-jfmysa{display:inline;word-break:break-word;}.css-1ankfgb{cursor:pointer;display:inline;word-break:break-word;}Tara Margarita of Bourke’s wine bar in Hong Kong on putting simple human love back into cooking

2. Discover 5 of Hong Kong’s top foodie spots to try this weekend: Plumcot pop-up, Japanese cheesecake and even a coffee tour

1. Tara Margarita of Bourke’s wine bar in Hong Kong on putting simple human love back into cooking