British Chefs Hit Hong Kong

The Hong Kong fine dining scene is undergoing one of its most exciting periods in years with a British invasion, as a slew of celebrity chefs open restaurants across the territory.

Essex's finest, Jamie Oliver, kicked things off with Jamie's Italian in the buzzing shopping cauldron of Causeway Bay. In true Hong Kong style, people have been waiting in line for hours to sample his classic, casual Italian dishes that have already wowed diners from London to St. Petersburg to Singapore. Jamie also won over fans in Hong Kong by attempting to speak the local Cantonese dialect, making a hash of the pronunciation and saying he wanted to open what actually translates as a "submarine."

The shy and soft-spoken Gordon Ramsay is also looking to take a slice of the Hong Kong pie with the forthcoming opening of Bread Street Kitchen in the city's Lan Kwai Fong Hotel. An incarnation of his successful London restaurant of the same name, it will deliver comfort food in the form of a British-European menu. Michelin-starred Ramsay came to Hong Kong for his opening, which was one of the hottest opening night parties in town.

Other British chefs to hit Hong Kong may not have the same name recognition, but they certainly carry culinary clout. Jason Atherton is already a veteran, with a number of restaurants to his name in the city, including his recent addition, Aberdeen Street Social. Tom Aikens, the mercurial chef from London and the youngest ever to win two Michelin stars, is set to take over the city's iconic Pawn building in Wan Chai. Rowley Leigh is also getting in on the action with the forthcoming Continental in the city's swanky Pacific Place complex. Leigh brings serious form from his time at classic London eateries including Le Café Anglais and Kensington Place.

All told, this fall the British culinary flag is being waved high and proud in Hong Kong.

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