Why a European in Asia rarely eats Chinese food unless he has guests to entertain
- Boss of a Hong Kong gelato brand, Matthias Karl sticks to what he knows – food from his native Switzerland and nearby. The bones in Chinese food put him off
- He likes a fancy place with a view for guests, but takes more adventurous visitors for a wet market dinner at Tung Po in North Point
Swiss native Matthias Karl is the managing director of Hong Kong’s first gelato brand, XTC
I’m not too adventurous in terms of food. I am quite a picky eater and prefer mostly what I already know. My favourite cuisines are European, with Italian being on the top, followed by Swiss, Austrian and German food. I also like comfort food, stuff with lots of fat and sugar, especially in winter.
I do like selective Asian foods – Indian dishes with creamy gravies, and Japanese food.
The reason I don’t eat Chinese much is that I was taught to swallow everything I put into my mouth. Coming to China required me to learn to spit out bones.
I love a good pizza so Emmer Pizzeria (Shop 407, Level 4, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, tel: 2780 1110) is among my top choices. Their pizza margherita is simple but very tasty, with a light, crisp base. They also have a nice sandwiches – another favourite of mine, but the bread must be fresh and crisp.
