Hong Kong’s Harbour City just got another restaurant from a Michelin-starred chef – the modern European Amelia by Paulo Airaudo
Rising culinary star Paulo Airaudo opens his first restaurant in Hong Kong next week in Harbour City, where Al Molo was previously located.
Amelia is the Italian-Argentinian chef’s second restaurant of the same name, following his first in San Sebastián, a gastronomic destination in the Basque region of Spain. The restaurant is named after his daughter, Amélie, and serves modern European food with Italian flare using seasonal ingredients.
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Airaudo has worked across Mexico, Peru and many European countries, picking up ideas and techniques along the way. He also worked in renowned restaurants such as three-Michelin star Arzak in Spain, Heston Blumenthal’s three-Michelin star The Fat Duck in the UK and one-Michelin star Magnolia in Italy, before opening his first restaurant, a modern Italian trattoria La Bottega in Geneva in 2015. The restaurant earned a Michelin star within five months of opening.
Earlier this year, Airaudo opened Da Terra in London, which serves Latin American-inspired cuisine with an Italian twist. The restaurant attracted gourmands from around the world and recently earned a Michelin star.
We chatted with Airaudo to learn more about him and his new Hong Kong-based restaurant.
Why did you decide to open up in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong is a melting pot of international cuisines with a great gastronomic variety. Unlike any other location in the world, one can easily find high-quality restaurants serving food of different countries by top chefs in close vicinity. From casual eateries to fine-dining restaurants, street foods to local gourmets, Hong Kong is a city full of opportunities for restaurateurs. Hong Kong also enjoys a great supply of fresh and quality ingredients from neighbouring countries such as Japan. Hence, if I have to pick the first Asian spot for my very own restaurant Amelia, Hong Kong is definitely a top choice.
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How would you describe your style of cooking?
I was born in an Italian family that later moved to Argentina. I developed an interest in cooking since my childhood, when I was always beside my grandparents when they cooked. I then further developed my interest into a lifelong career working in different countries [and cities] including Mexico, Peru, Magnolia [in Italy], Geneva and London, to name a few, before opening Amelia in Hong Kong. My cooking is modern European cuisine with an Italian finesse and I only use high-quality ingredients in season for my dishes.
How would you describe your menu here in Hong Kong, and is it the same menu as Amelia in San Sebastián, or have you adapted dishes to local tastes?
Amelia Hong Kong will offer a menu featuring 13 to 18 great choices in which some dishes will be changed on a monthly basis. Not only do we want to keep the little surprises for returning guests, we want to make sure we are only serving the ingredients in season. Unlike the fine dining experience in San Sebastián’s Amelia – which features a 10-course tasting menu – the experience in Hong Kong’s spot will be more relaxed, while maintaining a touch of elegance and Italian finesse. There is a wine menu with close to 200 selections here in Hong Kong, [all of which] can be served by the glass, alongside the sommelier’s recommendation.
Which chefs have influenced you most?
I have several references, as a person and professional … Mauro Colagreco, Alain Ducasse, the Arzak family and there are many colleagues who do admirable work.
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Have you visited Hong Kong before? And if so, do you like the local cuisine?
I have visited Hong Kong many times and I really like the local cuisine.
What is your favourite city in the world for food – and why?
Hong Kong, New York, London … for their gastronomic diversity. It is not hard to find a good restaurant offering different experiences in any of these cities.
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We chatted with Michelin-starred chef Paulo Airaudo about his modern European menu and why he chose Hong Kong as the spot for his next restaurant