Hong Kong's Vicky Lau named Asia's best female chef

A Hongkonger's tasty mix of French and Asian cuisines has seen her awarded the title of Asia's best female chef by a panel of 300 industry experts from across the continent.

Vicky Lau, founder of Tate Dining Room & Bar in SoHo, Central, earned the accolade, sponsored by Veuve Clicquot, as part of the annual Asia's 50 Best Restaurants study. And Lau said the victory was a testament to the hard work she had put in.

"As an independent chef working in a very competitive environment, being named Asia's best female chef is a validation of the hard work I've put in," the 34-year-old said. "Having grown up in Hong Kong and been educated in the West, I feel my work is infused with a variety of culinary influences."

Lau's career could have turned out different. She studied graphic communication at New York University, but soon realised a career as a graphic designer was not quite what she wanted.

Fuelled by her passion for food and culinary arts, she decided to find a different outlet for her creative talents, enrolling in classes at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu school in Bangkok.

After working at the Michelin-starred Cépage in Wan Chai, Lau opened her 26-seat restaurant in 2012 and has created a buzz in the city's dining scene. She says each of her menus is based around a common theme, sparked by a simple abstract thought or story. She describes the resulting meals as "edible stories".