The most 'Hong Kong' Michelin Guide so far
New guide surrounded by superlatives and controversies, much like Hong Kong's dining culture
The Michelin Guide Hong Kong Macau 2011 just came out and the choices are more intriguing than ever. Their "three-star shark's fin restaurant" and the new "cheapest Michelin star" have Hong Kong foodies buzzing.
Despite a backlash from green groups, anti-shark's fin campaigners and many consumers, the decision of awarding three stars to a "shark's fin restaurant" seems to accurately reflect the old school Cantonese dining values that still persist in Hong Kong.
The restaurant in question is Sun Tong Lok, an establishment with four decades of history and traditionally the default restaurant for splashing out on lavish meals for political and business entertaining.
At the other end of the price spectrum, Michelin has awarded more stars to Hong Kong's cheap eats. The crown for "world's cheapest Michelin restaurant" is now on Yuen Long's Ho To Tai noodle shack (number 23 on 40 foods we can't live without) where a meal of wonton noodles can be had for HK$16 a bowl.
Ho To Tai has been in operation since 1949 and is an institution of traditional Cantonese egg noodles -- made fresh daily.
Perhaps the most daring choice though was to award one star to Hin Ho Curry in Shau Kei Wan where they serve popular Indian curries that have been adjusted to suit local tastes.
Owner Tse Tim Fong says: "I have never been to India. I know little about the country."
Originally an interior designer, Tse is a picky gourmand who knows what Hong Kong people like to eat. His adjusted curry recipes are evidence of that.
The guide has come a long way since the first one for the region launched to great criticism just three years ago. Hong Kong now has 60 starred restaurants, compared to Paris' 63 and New York's 57.
