A world traveller's best of the best Hong Kong food guide

I believe in giving myself the best possible option when it comes to food and beverage. If I want a bowl of wonton noodles, I would single out the place that does the best job. My top priority is fresh ingredients. I love to share my culinary discoveries with those around me. Part of my job takes me searching the globe for unique or artisanal products with history and heritage for our company properties. This is a pleasure, as I have done this on my own for many years.

Some of my much-loved eats are served in small shops run by people who are passionate about their food. To get my coffee fix, I need to travel all the way to Tai O Solo Cafe (86 Kat Hing St, Tai O, Lantau, tel: 9153 7453). The owner is a coffee expert from a local Tai O family that has lived there for generations. He has strict standards, serving hand-dripped coffee with beans imported from Brazil, Ethiopia and Colombia. And to get my favourite fish ball snacks I need to go to Kam Wing Tai Fish Ball(106 San Hing St, Cheung Chau, tel: 2981 3050). Chef Kam and her family make their preservative-free fish balls every day with the important ingredient of white eels.

An old hand at the craft for artisanal Chinese snacks is Tai Tung Bakery (57 Fo Choi Street, Yuen Long, tel: 2476 2630). I really appreciate their wife cakes and range of old-school Chinese cookies and cakes. The shop is a great example of a third-generation family business upholding Hong Kong handcrafted food traditions.

Congee is my comfort food of choice and for that I go to a wet market food stall called Mui Kee Congee (shop 11-12, 4/F, Fa Yuen Street Market, Mong Kok, tel: 2789 0198) for the freshest fish congee I can find. I admire the owners’ continuous efforts to give their customers the freshest ingredients and best taste they can offer.