https://www.scmp.com/rss/512660/feed Charmaine Mok is the Deputy Culture Editor at SCMP and the desk's food and wine specialist. She has been working in food media since 2007, and most memorably drank 50 coffees over three days in the name of research. She’s devoted to telling unexpected stories of the dining scene in Asia and those who shape it, and is always in the mood for noodles and/or a cheeky beverage. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Food influencers, once derided for loving everything and hating nothing, are apparently now trying to stand out by doing the opposite. In particular, a content creator by the name of Cian Abion – whose account Life of Cian has more than 3 million followers on TikTok and more than 600,000 on Instagram – has gone viral in the last week for his uncouth take on foods sampled on a trip to Japan. In a since-deleted clip, he complained that a creme caramel served at a long-standing Japanese cafe was... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3353376/influencer-who-spat-out-food-japan-trip-leaves-bad-taste-mouth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3353376/influencer-who-spat-out-food-japan-trip-leaves-bad-taste-mouth?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 00:15:05 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Several of Hong Kong’s leading coffee specialists have opened new branches alongside some intriguing newcomers. Read on for our pick of the five new cafes to visit in May. 1. Artista Perfetto While Hollywood Road may be better known for nightlife with its collection of bars and fast-food shops under the Mid-Levels Escalator, a new addition offers early birds a quality fuelling stop. The third branch of Artista Perfetto is its tiniest yet, with enough room for just a few customers to stand and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3351939/5-new-cafes-and-coffee-shops-try-hong-kong-may-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3351939/5-new-cafes-and-coffee-shops-try-hong-kong-may-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Several years ago, I opined about the misguided hate towards Chinese desserts, and how a subset of Hongkongers were attempting to buck the stereotype of sweet soups and puddings as boring, one-dimensional or too sweet. In the time since, the usual wave of sugary trends has waxed and waned: from croffle madness to the rise and fall of doughnut shops to the dominance of Dubai chocolate and all of its iterations. Now, Hong Kong is seeing a resurgence of dessert specialists that are honing in on... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3351779/chinese-desserts-red-bean-black-sesame-and-sago-soups-are-having-their-moment-again?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3351779/chinese-desserts-red-bean-black-sesame-and-sago-soups-are-having-their-moment-again?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:15:08 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok I often think that we take rice for granted. It is seen as a boring blank canvas for a far more exciting palette of flavours coming from side dishes and main proteins of myriad tastes and textures. In some circles, rice is villainised, painted as a low-value carb that offers calories, a food coma, and not much else. We often forget that rice was once a luxury – a fact I was reminded of recently when I saw a well-preserved rice ration card, issued during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350141/hong-kong-has-how-many-rice-varieties-one-womans-drive-celebrate-them-all?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350141/hong-kong-has-how-many-rice-varieties-one-womans-drive-celebrate-them-all?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:15:09 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Some people run for endorphins, others to lose weight. Now, add making and enjoying your own artisanal butter to the list of things you could benefit from after running a good few kilometres. Confused? Recently, social media has been churning with excitement over the age-old technique of butter-making, with a sporty twist. People have been storing double-bagged portions of double cream in their running vests, and somewhere between warming up and struggling through their last hundred metres, they... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348604/why-making-butter-while-you-run-has-got-social-media-churning-excitement?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348604/why-making-butter-while-you-run-has-got-social-media-churning-excitement?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:15:07 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok The Easter long weekend marks the perfect time to check out a number of Hong Kong’s latest coffee shops, although if you work in Sheung Wan or Kwun Tong you will definitely want to mark some of these down for when you need a break from the office. Apart from enjoying these five new openings, coffee fans should take note of this weekend (April 3-6), which sees the return of Coffee HK at West Kowloon. More than 80 international coffee and cafe brands – including Shanghai’s Captain George Flavor... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348394/5-new-cafes-and-coffee-shops-try-hong-kong-april-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348394/5-new-cafes-and-coffee-shops-try-hong-kong-april-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:15:07 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Two Hong Kong restaurants received top honours at the annual Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants awards. The event was held in Hong Kong for the first time, taking place in the grand ballroom of the Kerry Hotel in Hung Hom on the evening of March 25. The Chairman received the top billing at No 1 while Wing came in at No 2. It is the second time that The Chairman, a Cantonese restaurant in Central founded by Danny Yip, has earned the accolade, after it defied the odds to become Asia’s Best Restaurant in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347900/asias-50-best-restaurants-2026-hong-kongs-chairman-no-1-wing-no-2?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347900/asias-50-best-restaurants-2026-hong-kongs-chairman-no-1-wing-no-2?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:10:14 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok China’s 2026 Black Pearl Restaurant Guide awards were announced on March 23, just days after the star rankings for the Michelin Guide Hong Kong and Macau were unveiled on March 19, and before the coming ceremony for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants to be held in Hong Kong on March 25. The guide, often referred to as China’s answer to France’s century-old restaurant ranking system, awards venues using a three-tiered “diamond” system as opposed to Michelin’s star ratings. Similarly, Black Pearl... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347594/2026-black-pearl-restaurant-guide-awards-hong-kongs-chefs-top-honours?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347594/2026-black-pearl-restaurant-guide-awards-hong-kongs-chefs-top-honours?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:34:58 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok The Oscars were announced on March 15, but the performance of the season might just go to the social media post featuring fallen chef Rene Redzepi, published on the Noma restaurant account on March 11. For those outside the storm in a teacup that has been brewing for weeks, a quick recap: three-Michelin-star Noma, which has topped the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list on multiple occasions, had been preparing to launch an audaciously priced yet sold-out pop-up in Los Angeles starting March 11,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3346956/noma-chef-rene-redzepis-instagram-apology-over-abuse-allegations-worthy-oscar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3346956/noma-chef-rene-redzepis-instagram-apology-over-abuse-allegations-worthy-oscar?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 00:15:07 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok As we enter into Hong Kong’s typically humid and mega-event-filled March, having a reliable hit list of cafes and coffee shops to duck into for a breather is always a good idea. From a coffee spot located on the outer edge of a major park to a tea lover’s sanctuary in the heart of the city, here are some new places to head to this month. 1. Back To… Just past the northwest edge of Victoria Park in Tin Hau is this fresh opening that has proven a hotspot for dog-watching, especially if you snag... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3344451/5-new-cafes-and-coffee-shops-try-hong-kong-march-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3344451/5-new-cafes-and-coffee-shops-try-hong-kong-march-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 04:45:08 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok The Eleocharis dulcis, or water chestnut, is widely known as ma tai – “horse’s hoof” – in Cantonese and ma ti in Mandarin. The moniker may derive from its dark, glossy exterior that resembles the rough contours of an equine hoof, but thankfully, there is nothing gamy about this ingredient. Its corm – or bulb – is edible and can be consumed raw, as long as you peel away its thick and woody exterior, much like you would a real chestnut. Its flavour is sweet and mild, while its true draw is its... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3343788/why-do-chinese-love-water-chestnuts-all-about-lucky-horses-hoof?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3343788/why-do-chinese-love-water-chestnuts-all-about-lucky-horses-hoof?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 03:15:07 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok It is a strange, reflective time to be a Chinese millennial woman. This week, as we celebrated the Lunar New Year, the holiday coincided with the release of the Netflix documentary Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model. Watching it felt like a collision of two very different, yet equally judgmental worlds. The documentary is a brutal postmortem of a popular reality competition created by former supermodel Tyra Banks in 2003. For 24 seasons, supermodel hopefuls were pitted against one... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3343876/too-fat-how-americas-next-top-model-and-our-chinese-aunties-gave-us-body-image-issues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3343876/too-fat-how-americas-next-top-model-and-our-chinese-aunties-gave-us-body-image-issues?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 00:15:08 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok The recent craze that sees white people eagerly claiming that they are “becoming Chinese” is not something we would have ever predicted back in 2020 when very similar people were lambasting Chinese people for eating bats and setting off a global pandemic. This latest trend, epitomised by the performative appreciation for drinking boiled water à la “Chinese baddies”, shows just how the tables have turned. (A “Chinese baddie” is someone who respectfully adopts Chinese traditions to improve their... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3342360/how-become-real-chinese-baddie-its-lot-more-just-drinking-hot-water?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3342360/how-become-real-chinese-baddie-its-lot-more-just-drinking-hot-water?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 00:15:35 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok The Year of the Horse 2026 is just around the corner, and for many, this means it is time to work hard before enjoying a break. Coffee shops are good for relaxing and recharging, but also make for great places to get work done. Take note of these new cafes across Hong Kong so you can drop in the next time you find yourself close by. 1. EN Coffee The original EN Coffee on Shin Hing Street in Sheung Wan enjoys a bit of a cult following, and passers-by will often see the steps outside crowded with... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3342047/6-new-hong-kong-coffee-shops-welcome-year-horse-february-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3342047/6-new-hong-kong-coffee-shops-welcome-year-horse-february-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 09:15:07 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok In Brussels, few things are as they seem. As the Belgian city’s famed son René Magritte once said, “everything we see hides another thing”. I think of the surrealist painter, best known for hauntingly simple works such as The Treachery of Images (This is Not a Pipe) (1929) and The Son of Man (1964), often on this trip to Brussels. It is 8am when our flight from Hong Kong touches down, yet the sky is still inky, the air bone-chillingly cold. There is an eeriness to the streets as our car meanders... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3340827/craft-beers-dim-sum-chinese-hotpot-and-more-culinary-trip-through-brussels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3340827/craft-beers-dim-sum-chinese-hotpot-and-more-culinary-trip-through-brussels?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 04:15:08 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Every new year brings fresh waves of nostalgia for past ones, but 2026 has so far felt particularly steeped in them, with social media awash with throwback posts about 2016. After the horror and heartbreak of Hong Kong’s 2025, from the Tai Po fire tragedy to the closing of so many beloved restaurants, it’s understandable why many have jumped on the bandwagon to reminisce about how our lives looked 10 years ago. In Hong Kong’s food scene, that was a year of big dining projects and flashy... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3340655/2016-was-great-time-hong-kongs-restaurant-scene-which-openings-survived?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3340655/2016-was-great-time-hong-kongs-restaurant-scene-which-openings-survived?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:15:07 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Growing up in a Chinese household, I never found it hard to eat my greens. That is why, even as a child, I never understood the mass hatred towards broccoli and carrots – until I saw how they were being boiled to a mush, stripping them not only of flavour but of any discernible form. Some people enjoy broccoli when it is masked in a cauldron of melted cheese, but I will have it stir-fried in a flashing hot wok with plenty of garlic any day. As for carrots, I was never a fan of the cooked... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3338908/2026-year-cabbage-how-vegetable-being-hailed-online?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3338908/2026-year-cabbage-how-vegetable-being-hailed-online?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 00:15:07 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok The coffee shop is the perfect space to start off 2026, whether you are in dire need of a post-party dose of caffeine or you are looking for a calm spot to write down your new year goals over a cappuccino. Here are five new coffee spots to add to your list for the month. 1. Mason Pocket Apart from coffee, this spacious new cafe on the corner of Queen Street in Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island offers plenty of natural sunlight and an inviting array of pastries that are baked in-house. Queen’s... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3338249/5-new-hong-kong-coffee-shops-which-start-new-year-january-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3338249/5-new-hong-kong-coffee-shops-which-start-new-year-january-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 04:15:08 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok This year’s Clockenflap music festival took place just over a week after the tragic fire in Tai Po and, understandably, there were mixed emotions. Many artists paid tribute to the lives lost before starting their sets, while festival organisers themselves made a number of changes: 100 per cent of profits from official merchandise were donated to Tai Po relief funds operated by the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and Mind HK, and certain stage effects and sounds were adjusted. Two things can be true... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3335893/hong-kong-food-heroes-tamjai-and-chicken-egg-boy-stars-clockenflaps-eating-options?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3335893/hong-kong-food-heroes-tamjai-and-chicken-egg-boy-stars-clockenflaps-eating-options?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 00:15:08 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok As 2025 winds down, it is an ideal time to settle down at a cosy coffee shop and reflect on the year gone by. Whether catching up with old friends or family members, or choosing to indulge in a form of solo self-care, these new cafes can offer solace as well as a great cup of coffee. Book & Pillow Launched by the team behind cult lifestyle goods shop Chang Chang Good Store, Book & Pillow is a soothing space offering antiques, home goods and books as well as quality coffee, tea and cake. Shop... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3334510/5-new-hong-kong-coffee-shops-snuggle-down-december-2025?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3334510/5-new-hong-kong-coffee-shops-snuggle-down-december-2025?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Nov 2025 23:15:15 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Every so often, I get the chance to share my opinion on the trends that defined the year and what may be on the horizon. This year, my two cents were included in Marriott International’s Future of Food 2026 report, released last month. The comprehensive 41-page dossier is a compendium of insightful and challenging perspectives on where dining and food culture is headed, peppered with the opinions of thought leaders and industry experts, including hoteliers, chefs, journalists and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3334207/future-food-asia-about-comfort-dishes-accessibility-trumps-exclusivity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3334207/future-food-asia-about-comfort-dishes-accessibility-trumps-exclusivity?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Nov 2025 00:15:09 +0000 Lisa Cam,Charmaine Mok Lisa Cam,Charmaine Mok Hairy crab season is here, and while you can enjoy the seasonal delicacy at home, restaurants are coming up with all sorts of exciting dishes that feature the crab and its illustrious fat. This year, Hong Kong chefs have pulled out all the stops with classic and regional Chinese dishes and even hairy crab pasta and pizza. Read on to see which of the following take your fancy. 1. Ah Yung For crab connoisseurs, the limited-time hairy crab special menu (HK$980) at Ah Yung, available until December... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3333892/11-best-hong-kong-restaurants-eat-hairy-crab-2025-yat-tung-heen-pici?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3333892/11-best-hong-kong-restaurants-eat-hairy-crab-2025-yat-tung-heen-pici?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Nov 2025 23:15:09 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Forget Labubu. Not a week goes by without a brand – luxury, mainstream or otherwise – dropping their latest set of cute, anthropomorphic character plushies and keychains. The trend for most of 2025 has definitely been accessorising one’s bag with all manner of collectibles, but also the rise of British soft toy brand Jellycat. The company has been around since 1999, but only seriously blew up worldwide in the last year thanks to a simple-but-clever marketing shtick: creating a diner set up to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3332489/lee-kum-kee-vitasoy-brands-are-obsessed-creating-cute-jellycat-trinkets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3332489/lee-kum-kee-vitasoy-brands-are-obsessed-creating-cute-jellycat-trinkets?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2025 00:15:08 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Look up the highest-rated bars in Seoul, and you will find many of them clustered in Cheongdam, an affluent neighbourhood near Apgujeong and Gangnam in the South Korean capital. Venues such as Zest, Alice and Le Chamber – all ranked highly in the annual Asia’s 50 Best Bars list – are peppered along Dosan-daero street, making easy work for barflies eager to tick each one off their bucket list in one boozy evening. Hidden among them is the lesser-known – at least for now – Kiez, a discreet... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3331942/how-losing-50kg-gave-korean-bartender-strength-open-place-his-own?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3331942/how-losing-50kg-gave-korean-bartender-strength-open-place-his-own?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Nov 2025 04:15:08 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok This weekend marks the return of the city’s biggest coffee festival, Coffee Agenda, at PMQ in Central on Hong Kong Island. The event, which kicked off on October 31 and runs until November 2, brings together dozens of top cafes and coffee brands who are showcasing their roasts, award-winning baristas hosting workshops and talks, and plenty to eat, drink and buy. For your coffee fix the rest of the month, check out these fresh new coffee shops dotted around town – from The Peak to hideaway... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3330893/5-new-coffee-shops-hong-kong-give-you-boost-november?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3330893/5-new-coffee-shops-hong-kong-give-you-boost-november?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Nov 2025 08:15:08 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok There is something very satisfying about eating things on sticks – everything from the candyfloss I ate in my youth to lurid yellow curry fishballs I enjoy now. It is also one of my favourite restaurant formats in Japan. Whether it is a kushiyaki or a yakitori joint, the absence of cutlery and the almost primal act of tearing food off a skewer make it impossible for it to feel anything but convivial – no matter how pricey or highly ranked the restaurant may be. I love a good yakitori restaurant,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3330707/why-hong-kong-might-be-best-place-world-japanese-yakitori-right-now?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3330707/why-hong-kong-might-be-best-place-world-japanese-yakitori-right-now?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:15:08 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Antonio Neves Coelho, the chef and founder of the restaurant Antonio’s in Macau, has died at the age of 77. His death on October 12 was announced by his wife Mercy in a public social media post. “Our family is deeply saddened to inform you that my beloved husband, Antonio, passed away last Sunday,” she wrote. “I cannot express the grief that we are feeling at the loss of such a great man in the family and to everyone else.” Coelho, who opened his iconic restaurant in Macau’s Taipa Village in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3329401/life-antonio-coelho-founder-antonios-macau-who-died-aged-77?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3329401/life-antonio-coelho-founder-antonios-macau-who-died-aged-77?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2025 09:26:04 +0000 Lisa Cam,Charmaine Mok Lisa Cam,Charmaine Mok While daytime temperatures continue to rise over 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) in Hong Kong, there has been a small shift in the weather following the Mid-Autumn Festival and there seems to be more of a breeze in the air. Before the madness of the Christmas holiday season kicks off, it is a great time to catch up with friends and family over a relaxed weekend meal. Here are some fresh brunches for you to try, from special anniversary offerings to celebrity chef creations. 1.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3329059/9-best-new-brunches-hong-kong-autumn-2025-celebrity-4-hands-fusion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3329059/9-best-new-brunches-hong-kong-autumn-2025-celebrity-4-hands-fusion?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2025 04:15:08 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok I have recently taken up running again, which, of course, means that the whole world will now need to hear about it. It all started with being peer-pressured into doing a 10k race next month at Hong Kong Disneyland. The last time I ran such a distance was nearly a decade ago. Ah, to be young and not know what sural neuritis is. Begrudgingly, I realised I probably needed to get my cardiovascular system up to scratch to survive the ordeal. And strangely enough, the most peculiar thing happened:... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3329058/runners-hong-kong-what-kind-carbs-are-you-eating-newbie-wants-know?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3329058/runners-hong-kong-what-kind-carbs-are-you-eating-newbie-wants-know?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2025 00:15:08 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Before becoming a chef and restaurateur with more than 30 venues in major cities around the world – including his new eponymous restaurant at The Henderson in Hong Kong’s Admiralty neighbourhood – Akira Back was an extremely picky eater. “I didn’t like kimchi until I was 26,” says the Korean-American chef, who was born in Seoul and moved with his family to Aspen, in the US state of Colorado, when he was 13. “My nickname when I was growing up was ‘Peach’, because that was the thing I ate the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3328183/how-korean-american-celebrity-chef-akira-backs-family-inspires-new-hong-kong-restaurant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3328183/how-korean-american-celebrity-chef-akira-backs-family-inspires-new-hong-kong-restaurant?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Oct 2025 23:15:08 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Summer is starting to draw to a close, and so too are the season’s viral food trends. Pineapple buns, Dubai chocolate and gelato may have defined the year thus far, but it appears that something a little more homestyle is bubbling away for the autumn. It’s all about pasta, apparently. Over the span of a few months, a number of new Italian restaurants – many of them jazz-handing about their house-made pasta – have opened in Hong Kong. I’m convinced that this trend is an economic indicator. In the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3327467/how-pasta-new-hong-kong-food-trend-autumn-2025-it-economic-indicator?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3327467/how-pasta-new-hong-kong-food-trend-autumn-2025-it-economic-indicator?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 00:15:08 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok For Mamoru Hayashi, the closure of Metropol – the Cantonese restaurant his family has run for the past 35 years in Hong Kong’s Admiralty area – on September 27 is not something he views with sadness. Unlike many recent restaurant closures – often lacking notice or completely unannounced – the sunsetting of Metropol was sealed months prior, in July, with news of the venue being acquired by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) for HK$354.4 million (US$45 million). It is the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3326806/how-hong-kong-dim-sum-restaurant-metropol-kept-cantonese-food-tradition-going-35-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3326806/how-hong-kong-dim-sum-restaurant-metropol-kept-cantonese-food-tradition-going-35-years?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Sep 2025 09:15:08 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Venner, a Nordic-style cafe in Sheung Wan, recently came under fire from guests angered by their “no laptops on weekends” policy, leading them to leave one-star reviews on Google. “We completely understand how important laptops can be, but our policy is to keep weekends laptop-free so that everyone can slow down, enjoy their meals and disconnect a little,” the Venner team wrote in response. “It’s part of how we try to encourage a healthy work-life balance for both our guests and our team.” To be... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3325832/hey-digital-nomads-coffee-shops-are-not-your-personal-office?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3325832/hey-digital-nomads-coffee-shops-are-not-your-personal-office?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 00:15:08 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok With binoculars in hand, I am gazing out over the London skyline from an entirely new perspective. The shimmering pods of the London Eye slowly churn, while the iconic spire of St Martin-in-the-Fields Church stands in contrast to the striking glass skyscraper known as The Shard. Shifting my view to the streets below, tiny figures bustle down St Martin’s Street and Orange Street, possibly on their way to the nearby National Gallery and Trafalgar Square. My vantage point is about six floors up... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3324490/best-places-eat-near-londons-leicester-square-and-history-area?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3324490/best-places-eat-near-londons-leicester-square-and-history-area?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Sep 2025 09:15:13 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok I love salty fries and other such greasy bar snacks as much as the next person, but after a short sojourn to Taipei last month, where a friend took me around three unique Taiwanese bars in one evening, I am convinced that they know exactly what drinkers need instead. It is soup. Hot soup. As an aspiring Chinese auntie, I fully recognise that my new-found appreciation for consuming hot and nourishing liquids creates a bit of a bias. But hear me out: drinking cold, icy cocktails, with their... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3324161/taiwan-bars-serve-drinkers-warming-soup-pinnacle-hospitality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3324161/taiwan-bars-serve-drinkers-warming-soup-pinnacle-hospitality?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 00:15:07 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Serious coffee drinkers are never left wanting in Hong Kong, with each month bringing a new set of cafes to try. This month, there are fresh brews to be had all over the city, from Hong Kong Island to the airport – perfect for those early morning flights. Read on to find out more. 1. Kactus Koffee Kactus Koffee, the original branch of which is in Jordan, has opened an even bigger second branch in Sheung Wan. The new two-level location offers something that few cafes in Hong Kong can: plenty of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3323882/5-new-coffee-shops-hong-kong-try-september-airport-wan-chai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3323882/5-new-coffee-shops-hong-kong-try-september-airport-wan-chai?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Sep 2025 08:18:06 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok When it comes to how the Chinese cook duck, most diners around the world may be familiar with two main methods: that of Peking duck, with its theatrical tableside carving, crispy skin, and traditional accoutrements of thin pancakes, hoi sin sauce and vegetables; and Cantonese roast duck, a mainstay of the classic siu mei shop, expertly chopped up and served with a sweet plum sauce. Pipa duck, which employs an altogether more unique preparation method, is not quite as well known. That may soon... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3322595/chinese-chef-singapores-new-age-cantonese-cuisine-mixes-tradition-modernity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3322595/chinese-chef-singapores-new-age-cantonese-cuisine-mixes-tradition-modernity?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Aug 2025 23:15:08 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok It would be an understatement to declare that Noma in Copenhagen, one of the world’s most famous restaurants, has a cult following. Founded by René Redzepi in 2003, it remains at the top of many foodie-travellers’ bucket lists and brought Nordic cuisine and ingredients into the international spotlight. I myself was booked to go in April 2020, before a certain virus put a stop to that particular journey. Somehow, years later, I never quite felt the urge to make another booking. Perhaps I was... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3322447/why-nomas-taipei-pop-didnt-pop-me-its-surprisingly-balance-meal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3322447/why-nomas-taipei-pop-didnt-pop-me-its-surprisingly-balance-meal?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Aug 2025 00:15:07 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok There has been a much-documented global shortage of matcha over the past year, with many reports pointing the finger at a certain set of vacuous, superficial influencers for the drink’s surge in popularity. I don’t think I’ve seen such rage and navel-gazing over a cup of tea since early 2024, when an American chemist enraged Brits by saying the best way to brew tea was to add a pinch of salt to it. Some of the macha huffing and puffing that has been circulating on my side of the internet... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3320962/japanese-matcha-has-social-media-froth-can-we-all-just-calm-down-bit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3320962/japanese-matcha-has-social-media-froth-can-we-all-just-calm-down-bit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Aug 2025 23:45:07 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok The ninth edition of the Michelin Guide for Singapore was unveiled at the Marina Bay Sands hotel in the Lion City on July 24, recognising 288 establishments across the city. The biggest news was Sushi Sakuta, helmed by chef Yoshio Sakuta, joining the ranks of the city state’s two-Michelin-star restaurants after achieving one-Michelin-star status in the past two editions of the guide. Sakuta, whose eponymous sushi bar is located in The Capitol Kempinski Hotel in the city centre, was seen crying... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3319544/michelin-guide-singapore-2025-unveiled-japanese-restaurants-biggest-gainers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3319544/michelin-guide-singapore-2025-unveiled-japanese-restaurants-biggest-gainers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Jul 2025 05:15:07 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Bar Leone, an Italian cocktail spot in Hong Kong, has maintained its number-one ranking in the Asia’s 50 Best bars list for the second year in a row. In 2024, the Sheung Wan bar made a shocking debut on the list at number one – the only time in the history of the list that a new venue had grabbed the top spot in its first year. The 2025 rankings, compiled through votes by a panel of industry players from the Asia region, were announced in the evening of July 15 at an awards ceremony held at the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3318366/asias-50-best-bars-2025-list-sees-hong-kongs-bar-leone-take-number-one-spot-again?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3318366/asias-50-best-bars-2025-list-sees-hong-kongs-bar-leone-take-number-one-spot-again?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Jul 2025 02:46:00 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok If there is one good thing about these sticky, sweaty summers in Hong Kong it is the sweet promise of lychee season, with bunches of the ripe fruit stacked high on every market corner and grocery store. Such a sight would probably have pleased the great Chinese poet and gourmet Su Shi, better known under his pen name Su Dongpo, who famously gave his name to the famous pork belly dish he so loved. He was also a lychee fanatic – he declared once that he would not mind being a southerner if he... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3317498/why-hermes-and-chanel-chinese-lychees-are-so-sought-after?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3317498/why-hermes-and-chanel-chinese-lychees-are-so-sought-after?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Jul 2025 00:45:07 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Quentin Luk has just made a margarita that is sure to change his life. The 32-year-old bartender’s preparation of the classic cocktail won him a nail-biting tiebreaker session at the Diageo World Class Hong Kong and Macau 2025 finals to crown him this year’s champion following a rigorous day-long competition. Luk, who was representing the Regent Hong Kong hotel’s Qura Bar, squared off with Soho House’s John Patrick Poon in the unscheduled tiebreaker. Despite displaying visible nerves behind the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3316928/qura-bartender-wins-2025-hong-kong-and-macau-cocktail-competition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3316928/qura-bartender-wins-2025-hong-kong-and-macau-cocktail-competition?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Jul 2025 09:15:07 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok As we enter the height of summer, remember to stay hydrated and out of the sun – and what better way to replenish your energy than with an iced coffee or two at one of these new cafes around town? From Hong Kong Island to the New Territories, coffee lovers have plenty of new spots to discover. Read on to find out more. 1. No Title A new independent coffee bar with a unique point of view, No Title has taken over the space that used to be Hakawa Chocolate on Gough Street in Central. One of its... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3315581/5-new-coffee-shops-hong-kong-visit-july-2025-dozy-noc-doppio?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3315581/5-new-coffee-shops-hong-kong-visit-july-2025-dozy-noc-doppio?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Jun 2025 23:15:07 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok For the 2025 edition of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards, the annual event was held for the first time in Italy, at the historic Auditorium Giovanni Agnelli at the Lingotto Fiere exhibition centre in Turin. Maido, a Nikkei (Peruvian-Japanese) fine-dining spot in Lima helmed by chef Mitsuharu “Micha” Tsumura, took home the top honour. The restaurant is no stranger to accolades from the 50 Best universe, having received top ranking four times on the Latin America edition of the list. “I... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3315142/maido-peru-tops-worlds-50-best-restaurants-list-hong-kongs-wing-chairman-place?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3315142/maido-peru-tops-worlds-50-best-restaurants-list-hong-kongs-wing-chairman-place?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Jun 2025 03:05:37 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok I’m the first person to refuse dessert at the end of a meal and, like many Asians, consider “not too sweet” the finest compliment I can bestow upon a cake or its brethren. So many found it odd that I spent some time in Hokkaido recently with the main aim of attending a sweets festival. Japan’s National Confectionery Exposition has been held since 1911 to promote the country’s sweets trade. It occurs once every four years but, owing to the pandemic, was cancelled in 2021 and last held in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3314024/how-incredible-vegetable-desserts-japan-changed-my-mind-about-sweets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3314024/how-incredible-vegetable-desserts-japan-changed-my-mind-about-sweets?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Jun 2025 23:45:07 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok If you are chronically online like I am, then it is likely that in the past month or so you have been fed the shenanigans of Darshen and Dr Samuel, two Singaporean content creators who have gone viral for their adorable dynamic. The two besties – many have been openly wishing for the two to announce their relationship as romantic, not platonic – have hit on a formula for their viral travel videos: the calm Dr Samuel starting each reel with the line “My name is Samuel, and I [insert act of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3312095/there-are-two-types-traveller-just-look-darshen-and-dr-samuel-instagram?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3312095/there-are-two-types-traveller-just-look-darshen-and-dr-samuel-instagram?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 May 2025 23:45:07 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok As a child of the 90s, I distinctly remember cottage cheese being the frumpiest of foods, peddled as a miracle ingredient for those on restrictive Weight Watchers-style diets. High in protein and low in salt and fat, it was often suggested as an accompaniment to that other ghastly anti-gourmet product: rice cakes. Not the deliciously savoury, soy-glazed roasted rice crackers you might buy in a Japanese snack aisle, though – we are talking those squeaky, puffy discs of what could otherwise pass... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3310241/hong-kongs-newest-obsession-isnt-viral-pastries-its-bland-and-boring-cottage-cheese?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3310241/hong-kongs-newest-obsession-isnt-viral-pastries-its-bland-and-boring-cottage-cheese?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 May 2025 23:45:10 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok When chef Son Jong-won of Seoul’s one-Michelin-star Eatanic Garden was asked recently about the one ingredient he felt could be better represented outside Korea, he did not hesitate. “If you go to Italy, you know that olive oil is a staple that represents the country,” he says. The chef, who was speaking about the evolution and expansion of hansik, or Korean cuisine, said: “Perilla oil is something we use [in Korea] that should be known more.” The golden oil, known in Korea as deulgireum, is... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3308511/why-koreas-olive-oil-perilla-seed-oil-deserves-be-trending-around-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3308511/why-koreas-olive-oil-perilla-seed-oil-deserves-be-trending-around-world?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 May 2025 23:45:07 +0000 Lisa Cam,Charmaine Mok Lisa Cam,Charmaine Mok May in Hong Kong is all about relaxed and casual restaurants serving comfort food and traditional fare, from Thai soup noodles and Japanese udon to marinated goose from a famed Taiwanese brand, as well as Singaporean-style chicken rice from a Lion City stalwart. Over in Macau, there is an exciting new food hall presenting trending names and restaurants. Read on to see which new places are set to tickle your palate this May. 1. Yakiniku Sho The latest addition to Central’s line-up of yakiniku, or... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3308464/12-best-new-places-eat-hong-kong-macau-may-2025-and-one-keep-eye?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3308464/12-best-new-places-eat-hong-kong-macau-may-2025-and-one-keep-eye?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 May 2025 04:45:08 +0000