With the city facing a fifth wave of Covid, it looks like it’s going to be a while longer before Hong Kongers can take to the skies again. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned from these years of being grounded, it is to not take travel for granted. So while we wait for the borders to reopen, now’s the time to get planning: whether that means finally going on that long overdue second honeymoon, visiting relatives in far-flung destinations, or revisiting that tiny taco shack in Baja you haven’t stopped raving about ever since.
Travel, and the exploration of cultures and cuisines has always been a cornerstone of Black Sheep Restaurants, and our diverse roster of chefs hail from all over the world, often bringing inspiration and stories from their hometowns to share on the plate. So to help those who are eagerly planning their first post-pandemic trip—whether it is to the sandy shores of Colombo or the buzzy metropolis of Manhattan—we asked our chefs for hot tips on the places they love the most back home, and where they’ll be heading to first as soon as they step off the tarmac.
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Patricia Yeo, Head of Culinary [Hometown: New York City]
One of my favourite places in New York City is the Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum—I particularly love it in the fall or when there is fresh snowfall in winter. There is something very peaceful about sitting there looking out onto Central Park through the floor-to-ceiling windows. On Thursday afternoons during summer you’ll find me at the MoMA’s Sculpture Garden; there’s usually a string quartet performing and I like to sneak in a Negroni (in a thermos) and enjoy the performance. (It is a terribly New York thing to do.)
In my opinion, the Staten Island Ferry is one of the best and least expensive attractions in NYC, costing the trip of a subway ride. The ferry takes you past the Statue of Liberty and on the return trip (I don’t usually get off) there’s a dazzling view of the Manhattan skyline. For food, Katz’s Deli on Houston Street is iconic, with the best matzo ball soup, corned beef and pastrami sandwiches in the city. Other favourite meals include brunch at Sylvia’s in Harlem, and Jing Fong in Chinatown for late-night eats.
Tony Ferreira, Operations Wan Chai [Hometown: Vancouver]
You might not think of Vancouver as a food capital, but my hometown has a lot to offer, from bars to top 100 restaurants. I’m a big fan of Kirin Restaurant for dim sum and lobster dinners. Le Crocodile is an institution for French fine dining; it has been operating since 1983, and a good choice for special occasions. Phnom Penh Restaurant is another place that locals flock to in the heart of Chinatown. It’s a little rough around the edges, but the delicious Cambodian and Vietnamese food has stood the test of time. Finally, every Vancouverite has their favourite ramen shop, mine is Ramen Butcher!
Chef Palash Mitra, New Punjab Club [Hometown: Calcutta, Mumbai]
My first stop in Calcutta is Peter Cat: It’s where my wife took me on our first date! The menu is a mix of Iranian and Anglo-Indian food; the dishes are delightfully rustic while the setting is very refined. In the entertainment district of the city you’ll find Aminia, which serves Mughlai food and is famous for its delicious kormas, niharis, naans and biryanis. For the best kebab rolls, butter chicken and more, you can’t go wrong with Nizam’s.
In Mumbai, Trishna is exceedingly popular. They serve the biggest, juiciest crabs here with super garlicky and herby naans. The service is also top notch with the captains controlling the flow of the tables with the smoothness of a salsa dancer. I took [Founder] Chris Mark here and he refused to go anywhere else for the rest of our stay in Mumbai. For sightseeing in Mumbai, I’d recommend Marine Drive, Chowpatty Beach (with its stalls of street food), and Elephanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the ‘city of caves’.
Chef ArChan Chan, Ho Lee Fook [Hometown: Hong Kong]
Since I’ve been back in Hong Kong, I’ve been busy rediscovering the local dining scene. I love Tuen Mun Sam Shing Village for fresh seafood. You can buy any type of live seafood, take it to the nearby restaurant and ask them to cook it the way you like—you can’t find better value for live seafood dishes! I like to visit the dai pai dongs around Sham Shui Po as I grew up in that area, and it is getting harder and harder to have that experience of enjoying traditional ‘wok hei’ dishes on the streets of Hong Kong.
Lin Heung Tea House is where I take out-of-town visitors for an old-school experience that reminds you of what yum cha was like in Hong Kong 30 years ago. For Chinese food, The Chairman is number one in Hong Kong—the flavours are really out of this world. I was lucky enough to dine there recently, and hands down it was one of the most delicious meals ever.
Chef Gizzy Alesbrook, Hotal Colombo [Hometown: Colombo]
There is so much to see and do in my hometown of Colombo. For delicious seafood, I’d recommend Ministry of Crab—this is top-end dining, and while not a very ‘local’ spot, it’s hard to resist the beautiful setting while you tuck into platters of crab. On the local end, Upali’s serves very traditional Sri Lankan fare. I took our Black Sheep team there when they visited and the food was absolutely amazing. Another great place is The Dutch Burgher Union: It’s a meeting spot for the Dutch Burgher community (an ethnic minority in Sri Lanka) and the food blends local delicacies with Dutch influences. Don’t miss the signature lamprais, a dish consisting of rice and meats wrapped in a banana leaf.
Chef Karys Logue, Butter [Hometown: Tucson, New York City]
In Tucson, Arizona (where I was born), Villa is one of my favourite places to eat. It’s a Sonoran Mexican restaurant and the first thing you notice when you walk in is the large flat top where ladies are making fresh flour tortillas. It always smells of spicy, sizzling fajitas, and there is never a shortage of fresh and perfectly seasoned guacamole.
In Manhattan, where I’ve spent a lot of time, Murray’s Bagels is my go-to for the best bagel in the city and black coffee—quick-paced New York perfection. Also Stumptown Coffee at Ace Hotel is great for coffee and people watching. Grab an espresso, and chill in the super plush lobby for the perfect way to spend a morning.
For a unique experience in NYC, Sleep No More is interactive theatre to the max. It’s a production of Macbeth, but housed in a multi-floor warehouse that creates a new format of choose-your-own-adventure theatre. Intense, a bit macabre, and totally unforgettable. Other favourite places to visit are The High Line, the Whitney Museum, Marie’s Crisis, Stonewall Inn, Wilfie and Nell, and Roberta’s.
Chef Kumaran Balaji, Rajasthan Rifles [Hometown: Chennai]
I hail from Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu in southern India. Every time I go home, I head to the same restaurants: they’re nothing fancy, but each has a story to tell. I’ll always stop by Ratna Café South Indian; it’s a fast food chain and one of the longest-standing restaurants in Chennai. Junior Kuppanna is an iconic pit-stop for an afternoon lunch—don’t miss the appams, fish pallipalayam, thalai kari mutton fry and kaadai roast.
Buhari Hotel, Anna Salai has stood in its original location sine 1951. It was the first restaurant to open in an independent Madras and was a pioneer of the fine-dining scene as one of the first upscale dining experiences. The Chicken 65 (created in the year 1965) is still one of the most popular crowd favourites, along with biryani, Chicken 90 and samosas.
Chef John Nguyen, Chôm Chôm [Hometown: Orange County]
My first stop will be Pho 79, winner of a James Beard Award and a place I’ve been frequenting ever since I was young. Mi La Clay is a must-try for its homemade egg noodles and the fried shrimp. I grew up on the West Coast so I’m a big In-N-Out fan for a fresh and affordable burger—I’ve lived in NYC for many years, but Shake Shack can’t even come close! Finally, Avila’s El Ranchito for a breakfast burrito or late-night tacos. Mexican is one of my favourite cuisines and California has some of the best in the world.
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