‘Excellent’ dumplings, Spanish tapas, Indian: Hong Kong hotel manager’s favourite restaurants
Julian Wipper shares where he eats dim sum and Catalan sandwiches, and top spots for casual Asian bites near his hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui East
Germany-born Julian Wipper is the general manager of the New World Millennium Hong Kong Hotel in the city’s Tsim Sha Tsui East neighbourhood. He spoke to Andrew Sun.
Food always played an important role in my family. I recall my grandmother cooking for the entire family while I helped in the kitchen. Even today, I can remember the smell of a Sunday roast fresh out of the oven.
My mother, however, developed a preference for Mediterranean cuisine, so Italian, Spanish or even Greek dishes were part of my upbringing. Being in Southeast Asia for over 20 years has allowed me to indulge and learn about other culinary cultures.
For a snack, I recently discovered Casa Iberica (18B Tai Ping Shan Road, Sheung Wan. Tel: 5236 4696). It is a walk-in kitchen that opens out to a little plaza, where it serves very authentic Spanish tapas, platters and cocas catalanas – Catalan-style open sandwiches. The outdoor seating area on the street is very inviting for a warm summer evening drink.