Hazel Cheung is the owner and executive chef of Ali Oli Bakery Cafe, which has been in Sai Kung since 1986. She is a fully fledged student of the culinary arts who has studied gelato making in Italy, curry in Sri Lanka, and breads and pastries across Europe.
I think I am a person who lives to eat. I enjoy everything from roast beef, fried chicken and fatty pork belly to puddings, but I believe in having a good, balanced diet. You can eat everything as long as you eat a fair amount of fruit, vegetables, good protein and not too much of the naughty stuff. Also, I want to be able to enjoy every meal even though it could take just 15 minutes.
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I like to hunt around for good eateries. I don’t have a favourite but I do choose carefully for the food, ambience, service and the whole experience. I think Vea Restaurant and Lounge (29/F-30/F, The Wellington, 198 Wellington Street, Central, tel: 2711 8639) is quite impressive, with the dishes featuring exotic, unusual ingredients that are used to create fun and delicious food.
I like taking visitors to Hong Kong to try Chinese hotpot. Bamboo Garden Chongqing Chicken Pot (Shop CF3, 2/F Java Road Municipal Services Building, 99 Java Road, North Point, tel: 3486 6313) is a good option. Also Chiu Fook Steam Stone Pot (various branches, including 1/F, 5-6 Hau Fook Street, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2723 2781) has a good selection, the ingredients are very fresh and it is good value for money.
I enjoy a casual lunch at The Flying Pan (two locations including 1/F David House, 37-39 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2528 9997) and Pirata (29/F-30/F, 239 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2887 0270). My family likes going to Branto (1/F, 9-11 Lock Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2366 8171) for vegetarian Indian food. Their dosa is our all-time favourite. However, we eat too much every time we go.
I haven’t been to weekend brunch for a long time, since I took up the bakery business. But my family likes going to Lobster Bar and Grill (6/F, Island Shangri-La, Two Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, tel: 2820 8560) for brunch. The place is very comfortable and while there is not a huge parade of selections, excellent quality is what we’re after.
I also like Cafe Gray Deluxe (L49, The Upper House, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, tel: 3968 1106) and Man Ho Chinese Restaurant (3/F JW Marriott Hotel, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, tel: 2810 8366) for their excellent dishes and service.
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