Inside the Fook Lam Moon family feud that spawned Seventh Son
A family feud has divided the Chui restaurant empire, pitting one brother against the other in rival outlets,writes Bernice Chan
The signature crispy chicken looks darker than most, but the skin is delicate and crunchy, while the barbecued suckling pig is a caramelised shade of matte russet, the meat tender and flavourful.
Although the food tastes similar to that of the venerable Fook Lam Moon, the decor is more contemporary, and the restaurant - Seventh Son, on Tonnochy Road in Wan Chai - is new.
A three-year court battle has divided members of the Chui family behind Fook Lam Moon, the restaurant chain founded by Chui Fook-chuen.
One of the founder's sons, "Brother Five" Chui Pui-kun, used to manage the restaurants, while another, "Brother Seven" Chui Wai-kwan, worked in the kitchen for 50 years.
Now they have gone their separate ways: Pui-kun is looking to diversify Fook Lam Moon and Wai-kwan is hoping to build a new empire.
The feud began in November 2009 when Pui-kun filed a defamation suit against his younger brother, accusing Wai-kwan of circulating libellous letters to shareholders and directors. They filed petitions to take over each other's shares until finally settling out of court in December.