Of the various roles you play, which do you enjoy most? 'At the moment, I enjoy the wine trips the most. It's relaxing and happy. Participants expect the trip to be fun.'
What's special about the wine trips? 'We go as a group of about 20 and have meals in the vineyards. I'm good at ordering dishes, which we drink with wine that I pair them with. I take participants to Michelin- starred restaurants and places such as local bistros, chateaux and my friends' houses. My advantage is that I studied in Bordeaux and I'm still in touch with friends there from 18 years ago. I love the way I can bridge the two cultures through these trips and let the others feel what I experienced when I was in France.'
Does being a polyglot help? 'I've learnt eight languages but I'm not fluent in all of them. It definitely helps, as I'm more familiar with various cultures and can serve as a translator. I published a book last month called The Sound of French Wine, teaching readers how to pronounce, in French, the names of vineyards, species of grape and regions. When you scan the reading pen over a term, it will play the pronunciation in my voice. It serves as an aid for professionals whose language skills are not very good.'
How did you become an enthusiast of the Slow Food movement? 'Many chefs in Hong Kong do not select their ingredients wisely. Some of the produce from China is genetically modified, injected with steroids and has many problems. I'm not very at ease when I'm eating in Hong Kong and what I eat here is limited. But I always eat to my heart's content in foreign countries, especially Europe, where many farmers do not focus just on the quantity of crops but respect the climate and natural environment. I became very interested in the Slow Food movement after I read about it in a newspaper and asked an Italian friend how to join. He then invited me to be the founder of the Hong Kong chapter. I was the leader for seven years. Although I stepped down a few years ago, I'm still a very active member. In October, I organised a tour to the Slow Food Fair in Torino [Italy]. It's important for people to know what they are eating.'
