https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/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-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok As someone who lived in London in the late 2000s, when Asian food was not as popular, accessible or unburdened by tradition as it is now, Wagamama was one of the early options for a little taste of Japan. Founded in 1992 by Hong Kong-born British restaurateur Alan Yau Tak-wai, the Tokyo ramen bar-inspired restaurant quickly ballooned into a nationwide chain – despite the liberties it would take with flavour. I had forgotten about this brand until recently, when a little storm in a teacup began... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3370951/wagamamas-fish-and-chip-ramen-stirs-storm-online-and-it-all-started-fake-news https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3370951/wagamamas-fish-and-chip-ramen-stirs-storm-online-and-it-all-started-fake-news Thu, 15 Oct 2026 05:18:02 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Hong Kong’s Bar Leone has been named the world’s best bar for the second consecutive year, following its No 3 placement in the Asia edition of The 50 Best Bars list in July. The Italian cocktail bar, founded by Lorenzo Antinori and Justin Shun Wah in 2023, is known for its convivial atmosphere and impeccably made drinks rooted in classic mixology. The results for the global ranking of The 50 Best Bars – now in its 18th edition – were announced during a live ceremony held in Milan, Italy, on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3370143/worlds-50-best-bars-2026-hong-kongs-bar-leone-retains-top-spot-second-year-row https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3370143/worlds-50-best-bars-2026-hong-kongs-bar-leone-retains-top-spot-second-year-row Thu, 08 Oct 2026 06:15:14 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Every month in Hong Kong brings a fresh line-up of cafes and coffee shops, but this October will see brew nerds even more caffeinated than ever. International Coffee Day kicks things off on October 1, a day that also sees two new coffee festivals begin: one held across multiple districts over three consecutive weekends, and one focusing on Japan-based roasters and cafes. The weeks after are filled with opportunities to try new beans and blends from new coffee shops, while drinkers can also look... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3369273/5-new-hong-kong-cafes-and-coffee-shops-try-october-2026-plus-must-visit-events https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3369273/5-new-hong-kong-cafes-and-coffee-shops-try-october-2026-plus-must-visit-events Wed, 30 Sep 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok As symbolic of the Mid-Autumn Festival as the legend of Chang’e and the Jade Rabbit, mooncakes have a history dating back centuries, with their first mention during the Song dynasty (960-1279) in author Wu Zimu’s Dreaming of Grain. Early mooncakes were a far cry from the creative and intricate designs we see today. The rudimentary cakes were flat and round, with a thin outer crust and fillings such as lotus seed paste or the auspicious five kernels. During the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368),... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3368460/history-mooncake-moulds-and-their-designs-and-those-preserving-craft https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3368460/history-mooncake-moulds-and-their-designs-and-those-preserving-craft Wed, 23 Sep 2026 04:59:27 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok I was at a dinner the other night when a guest excitedly asked: “Did you know Bar Leone just opened in New York City?” The original Bar Leone is a famed Hong Kong cocktail bar on Bridges Street in Sheung Wan. Opened in 2023 by Italian bartender Lorenzo Antinori, the popular watering hole has already been named Asia’s Best Bar twice (2024-5) by 50 Best and is its current World’s Best Bar. Last year, it opened its second location in Shanghai’s Huangpu district. In March, the team served cocktails... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3367801/new-yorks-bar-leone-copycat-hong-kongs-worlds-best-original https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3367801/new-yorks-bar-leone-copycat-hong-kongs-worlds-best-original Thu, 17 Sep 2026 05:16:30 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok I don’t know who needs to hear this, but sometimes it is OK to be ordinary. I am talking about restaurants that make great food and create a comfortable environment for its diners, but have neither the ambition nor the so-called skill to gain a spot on the multiple award lists around the world, or to – God forbid – land itself in a well-meaning reel of the influencer du jour. Or maybe put it this way: I am bored with everything being touted as the next viral moment, the must-try, the “run, don’t... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3366167/im-my-just-fine-dining-era-and-no-fuss-neighbourhood-restaurants-are-all-i-need https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3366167/im-my-just-fine-dining-era-and-no-fuss-neighbourhood-restaurants-are-all-i-need Thu, 03 Sep 2026 04:15:11 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok This month, Hong Kong’s cafe scene welcomes the return of a decade-old favourite to its original neighbourhood, as well as new establishments in Sai Ying Pun and Tai Hang. Several new openings blend concepts, including a coffee shop set up in a former pawn shop and a cafe collaboration with a cult car-tuning company from Japan. Here are five new coffee shop openings to visit in Hong Kong this September. 1. How Dept How Dept – which now has branches in Hysan Place, K11 Art Mall and other malls –... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3365274/5-new-hong-kong-cafes-and-coffee-shops-try-september-2026 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3365274/5-new-hong-kong-cafes-and-coffee-shops-try-september-2026 Fri, 28 Aug 2026 08:15:05 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Shenzhen made its debut in the Michelin Guide on August 18, with seven restaurants earning the southern Chinese city’s first Michelin stars. The selection was unveiled at an event announcing the Michelin Guide Guangzhou & Shenzhen 2026, held at the Grand Hyatt Shenzhen in Luohu district. Two Shenzhen restaurants – The Bay by Chef Fei and Yun Jing – received two Michelin stars while five earned one star each. Neither Shenzhen nor Guangzhou, however, claimed the guide’s highest honour: three... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3364554/7-shenzhen-restaurants-earn-stars-citys-michelin-guide-debut https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3364554/7-shenzhen-restaurants-earn-stars-citys-michelin-guide-debut Wed, 19 Aug 2026 12:23:50 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok In the world of fine dining, the amuse-bouche is arguably one of the most important mouthfuls a chef can serve their patrons. As a taste of what is to come, it has the potential to pack a world of information in a single bite. In this respect, the opening act for the sold-out A Taste of Home, by Windmill Grass Theatre – the troupe behind the hit Black Comedy Di-Dar – is one of its weaker moments, like a broth that needs more time to develop flavour. Moving across the stage while pushing glowing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3363881/taste-home-wonderful-bittersweet-tribute-hong-kongs-food-culture https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3363881/taste-home-wonderful-bittersweet-tribute-hong-kongs-food-culture Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:15:06 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Christopher Nolan’s reimagining of Homer’s The Odyssey is the very definition of a visual feast, an epic tale that has one thinking about it long after leaving the cinema. While there has been plenty of dialogue about its ambitious and creative retelling of the Greek classic, from casting decisions to its audacious use of 70mm IMAX film (leading to its own mountain of memes), I naturally gravitated towards the culinary symbolism throughout the screening. There is, of course, that grotesque... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3363120/what-odyssey-tells-us-about-age-old-concept-hospitality-and-respect-others https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3363120/what-odyssey-tells-us-about-age-old-concept-hospitality-and-respect-others Thu, 06 Aug 2026 05:26:36 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok As we enter the height of Hong Kong summer, ducking into a pleasantly air-conditioned cafe to enjoy a cold brew or two continues to be one of our favourite ways to beat the heat. This month, the options for new places to try are plentiful, with new branches of existing favourites as well as newcomers in neighbourhoods including Sai Kung, Tin Hau, Causeway Bay and Sham Shui Po. 1. Islet Coffee Lab The third location of Islet Coffee Lab is its first on the Kowloon side. To celebrate, the cafe is... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3362480/6-new-cafes-and-coffee-shops-try-hong-kong-august-2026-avoid-summer-heat https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3362480/6-new-cafes-and-coffee-shops-try-hong-kong-august-2026-avoid-summer-heat Fri, 31 Jul 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Like many, I recently watched the Spain vs Argentina final of the Fifa World Cup 2026. For all that the former’s solid sense of teamwork shone through the 120-plus minutes, the game was ultimately blighted by some of the worst examples of sportsmanship (or lack thereof) from the Argentine squad. There was a collective sense of Schadenfreude as Enzo Fernandez was sent off for his brutish antics on the pitch, but that was not the end of the aggression. Argentina’s lasting legacy from this... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3361409/how-argentinas-2026-world-cup-meltdowns-over-losing-echo-restaurant-award-tantrums https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3361409/how-argentinas-2026-world-cup-meltdowns-over-losing-echo-restaurant-award-tantrums Thu, 23 Jul 2026 04:15:05 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Chef Vicky Lau’s Tate Dining Room, which first opened in 2012 on Elgin Street in SoHo, on Hong Kong Island, has survived plenty over the years, riding waves of food trends and challenges both social and economic. It transformed from a small bistro-like venue, where its “edible stories” concept was outsize for its square footage and 26 covers, to a sweeping, 2,200 sq ft two-tiered space on Hollywood Road. Just three years after launching, Lau was named Asia’s Best Female Chef in the 2015 edition... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3359802/its-goodbye-chef-vicky-laus-tate-dining-room-not-long https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3359802/its-goodbye-chef-vicky-laus-tate-dining-room-not-long Thu, 09 Jul 2026 03:15:06 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Hong Kong’s coffee scene is most certainly one of the finest in the world, with a growing number of cafes that go beyond superficiality to bring top-tier coffee sourcing, refined technique and unique drinking experiences. The speed at which cafes open, too, is enough to give you whiplash. The city has its fair share of international names, from California’s Blue Bottle Coffee to Dubai’s Roasters Specialty Coffee House, which recently opened in Central on Hong Kong Island. But this month, we are... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3358833/5-new-cafes-and-coffee-shops-try-hong-kong-july-2026-drinks-local-roots https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3358833/5-new-cafes-and-coffee-shops-try-hong-kong-july-2026-drinks-local-roots Tue, 30 Jun 2026 23:15:09 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok The recent summer solstice on June 21 was brutal, with a temperature high of 33 degrees Celsius (91.4 degrees Fahrenheit). I have always been impressed by friends of mine who, on the hottest days of the year, can pass up a glass of iced water in favour of their usual mug of warm water. I, on the other hand, having arrived at a restaurant that day half-human, half-puddle, needed about three full tumblers of the most chilled liquid available to resume my usual solid form. But, as many traditional... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3358128/how-wrong-food-offers-me-cold-comfort-during-hot-hong-kong-summer https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3358128/how-wrong-food-offers-me-cold-comfort-during-hot-hong-kong-summer Thu, 25 Jun 2026 04:15:04 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok In a split second, things went south for John Patrick Poon. The bartender from Mius, in Hong Kong’s Central neighbourhood, was in the middle of preparing his station for the final round of the Diageo World Class Hong Kong and Macau cocktail competition on June 17, when his knife suddenly slipped and sliced open his thumb. The competition was put on hold while Poon, the last contestant in the top four to present, received medical attention. Returning to the stage 30 minutes later with a gloved... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3357562/mius-bartender-wins-2026-diageo-world-class-hong-kong-and-macau-cocktail-competition https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3357562/mius-bartender-wins-2026-diageo-world-class-hong-kong-and-macau-cocktail-competition Thu, 18 Jun 2026 11:15:04 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Everyone loves the idea of being a food journalist, but few see the downsides: the countless mediocre meals fatly sandwiching the exceptional ones, the weight gain, the late nights, and the most dreaded of all: the inevitable bouts of gastroenteritis. I am usually quite disciplined about not eating out – or at least not eating risky dishes – days before an important engagement or holiday. But this time, things did not quite work out. At a dinner, an oyster-led dish was presented. It occurred to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3356505/how-one-bite-oyster-hong-kong-ruined-food-trip-taught-valuable-lessons https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3356505/how-one-bite-oyster-hong-kong-ruined-food-trip-taught-valuable-lessons Thu, 11 Jun 2026 03:15:05 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Nine Chinese photographers have triumphed in the annual World Food Photography Awards, with 12 finalist images and one category winner chosen from a competitive pool of 9,000 entries from 50 countries. Song Pingyao won the Food for Celebration category with an image titled “The Festival of Food Enthusiasts”, depicting diners gathered for a communal banquet. Taken from a bird’s-eye view, dozens of tables laid out with simmering hotpot and plates of fresh ingredients such as beef, tofu and tripe... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3355955/chinese-photographers-serve-visual-feast-world-food-photography-awards-2026 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3355955/chinese-photographers-serve-visual-feast-world-food-photography-awards-2026 Sun, 07 Jun 2026 23:15:09 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Scorching weather has arrived in Hong Kong, which means it is time to enjoy the iciest drinks in the coolest spaces. New cafe openings in Hong Kong include some ensconced in the air-conditioned paradise of airports and shopping malls, while others may require a short walk under the sun. Either way, your reward – in the form of deliciously cooling caffeine – will be waiting. 1. Blue Bottle Coffee The newest Blue Bottle Coffee cafe takes over a space with high foot traffic in the middle of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3355305/5-new-cafes-and-coffee-shops-try-hong-kong-june-2026-beat-summer-heat https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3355305/5-new-cafes-and-coffee-shops-try-hong-kong-june-2026-beat-summer-heat Sun, 31 May 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok “You’ll hear the word ‘nourishing’ a lot during this meal,” Vicky Cheng tells us as we sit down for a preview meal at Estuary, his new restaurant at Macau’s Capella hotel that officially opens on May 29. It is an accurate note – the dinner is a sophisticated calibration of temperature and seasonality, where ingredients seem chosen for their healing properties as much as flavour and prestige. We leave feeling satisfied, but not bogged down. As French meals go, this is as far as it gets from the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3355001/vicky-chengs-new-estuary-restaurant-macau-french-dining-not-we-know-it https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3355001/vicky-chengs-new-estuary-restaurant-macau-french-dining-not-we-know-it Thu, 28 May 2026 00:15:04 +0000 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3353376/influencer-who-spat-out-food-japan-trip-leaves-bad-taste-mouth https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3353376/influencer-who-spat-out-food-japan-trip-leaves-bad-taste-mouth 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3351939/5-new-cafes-and-coffee-shops-try-hong-kong-may-2026 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3351939/5-new-cafes-and-coffee-shops-try-hong-kong-may-2026 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3351779/chinese-desserts-red-bean-black-sesame-and-sago-soups-are-having-their-moment-again https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3351779/chinese-desserts-red-bean-black-sesame-and-sago-soups-are-having-their-moment-again 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350141/hong-kong-has-how-many-rice-varieties-one-womans-drive-celebrate-them-all https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350141/hong-kong-has-how-many-rice-varieties-one-womans-drive-celebrate-them-all 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348604/why-making-butter-while-you-run-has-got-social-media-churning-excitement https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348604/why-making-butter-while-you-run-has-got-social-media-churning-excitement 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348394/5-new-cafes-and-coffee-shops-try-hong-kong-april-2026 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348394/5-new-cafes-and-coffee-shops-try-hong-kong-april-2026 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347900/asias-50-best-restaurants-2026-hong-kongs-chairman-no-1-wing-no-2 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347900/asias-50-best-restaurants-2026-hong-kongs-chairman-no-1-wing-no-2 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347594/2026-black-pearl-restaurant-guide-awards-hong-kongs-chefs-top-honours https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3347594/2026-black-pearl-restaurant-guide-awards-hong-kongs-chefs-top-honours 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3346956/noma-chef-rene-redzepis-instagram-apology-over-abuse-allegations-worthy-oscar https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3346956/noma-chef-rene-redzepis-instagram-apology-over-abuse-allegations-worthy-oscar 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3344451/5-new-cafes-and-coffee-shops-try-hong-kong-march-2026 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3344451/5-new-cafes-and-coffee-shops-try-hong-kong-march-2026 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3343788/why-do-chinese-love-water-chestnuts-all-about-lucky-horses-hoof https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3343788/why-do-chinese-love-water-chestnuts-all-about-lucky-horses-hoof 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3343876/too-fat-how-americas-next-top-model-and-our-chinese-aunties-gave-us-body-image-issues https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3343876/too-fat-how-americas-next-top-model-and-our-chinese-aunties-gave-us-body-image-issues 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3342360/how-become-real-chinese-baddie-its-lot-more-just-drinking-hot-water https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3342360/how-become-real-chinese-baddie-its-lot-more-just-drinking-hot-water 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3342047/6-new-hong-kong-coffee-shops-welcome-year-horse-february-2026 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3342047/6-new-hong-kong-coffee-shops-welcome-year-horse-february-2026 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3340827/craft-beers-dim-sum-chinese-hotpot-and-more-culinary-trip-through-brussels https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3340827/craft-beers-dim-sum-chinese-hotpot-and-more-culinary-trip-through-brussels 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3340655/2016-was-great-time-hong-kongs-restaurant-scene-which-openings-survived https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3340655/2016-was-great-time-hong-kongs-restaurant-scene-which-openings-survived 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3338908/2026-year-cabbage-how-vegetable-being-hailed-online https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3338908/2026-year-cabbage-how-vegetable-being-hailed-online 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3338249/5-new-hong-kong-coffee-shops-which-start-new-year-january-2026 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3338249/5-new-hong-kong-coffee-shops-which-start-new-year-january-2026 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3335893/hong-kong-food-heroes-tamjai-and-chicken-egg-boy-stars-clockenflaps-eating-options https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3335893/hong-kong-food-heroes-tamjai-and-chicken-egg-boy-stars-clockenflaps-eating-options 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3334510/5-new-hong-kong-coffee-shops-snuggle-down-december-2025 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3334510/5-new-hong-kong-coffee-shops-snuggle-down-december-2025 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3334207/future-food-asia-about-comfort-dishes-accessibility-trumps-exclusivity https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3334207/future-food-asia-about-comfort-dishes-accessibility-trumps-exclusivity 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3333892/11-best-hong-kong-restaurants-eat-hairy-crab-2025-yat-tung-heen-pici https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3333892/11-best-hong-kong-restaurants-eat-hairy-crab-2025-yat-tung-heen-pici 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3332489/lee-kum-kee-vitasoy-brands-are-obsessed-creating-cute-jellycat-trinkets https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3332489/lee-kum-kee-vitasoy-brands-are-obsessed-creating-cute-jellycat-trinkets 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3331942/how-losing-50kg-gave-korean-bartender-strength-open-place-his-own https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3331942/how-losing-50kg-gave-korean-bartender-strength-open-place-his-own 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3330893/5-new-coffee-shops-hong-kong-give-you-boost-november https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3330893/5-new-coffee-shops-hong-kong-give-you-boost-november 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3330707/why-hong-kong-might-be-best-place-world-japanese-yakitori-right-now https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3330707/why-hong-kong-might-be-best-place-world-japanese-yakitori-right-now 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3329401/life-antonio-coelho-founder-antonios-macau-who-died-aged-77 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3329401/life-antonio-coelho-founder-antonios-macau-who-died-aged-77 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3329059/9-best-new-brunches-hong-kong-autumn-2025-celebrity-4-hands-fusion https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3329059/9-best-new-brunches-hong-kong-autumn-2025-celebrity-4-hands-fusion 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3329058/runners-hong-kong-what-kind-carbs-are-you-eating-newbie-wants-know https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3329058/runners-hong-kong-what-kind-carbs-are-you-eating-newbie-wants-know 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3328183/how-korean-american-celebrity-chef-akira-backs-family-inspires-new-hong-kong-restaurant https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3328183/how-korean-american-celebrity-chef-akira-backs-family-inspires-new-hong-kong-restaurant Thu, 09 Oct 2025 23:15:08 +0000