Hong Kong chef’s photos of ‘forgotten’ restaurants – from Japanese to Middle Eastern – shine a spotlight on some under-represented gems
- Edgard Sanuy, the culinary director for Epicurean restaurant group, is also a photographer with a passion for capturing grass-roots culinary culture in the city
- Disillusioned by the lack of representation for independent restaurants, his ‘The 50 Forgotten’ project covers little-known gems serving a range of cuisines
Most chefs have Instagram feeds full of picture-perfect dishes, behind-the-scenes snaps of how their menus are prepared in the kitchen, or even meals they’ve enjoyed at other restaurants.
However, chef Edgard Sanuy’s Instagram feed captures everyday life on the streets of Hong Kong: a ginger cat crouched in an alley, trays of condiments in a cha chaan teng and schoolchildren riding bicycles.
Three years ago the Spanish-born chef picked up a camera and started taking photos. His commutes to and from work were spent watching YouTube videos on photography. Before long his interest turned into a passion.
“I like the feeling of looking at an image. I had the same feeling when I started cooking and tried to replicate dishes,” says Sanuy, the 37-year-old culinary director of Hong Kong restaurant group Epicurean.
Once a week, on one of his days off, Sanuy heads out with his Leica SL2 camera. “I walk around – it brings me peace. I disconnect and focus on taking pictures,” he says. “It helps me to slow down.”