Whenever my family travels to Hong Kong, my personal agenda is usually to shop left and right. But since we are a Chinese family, we also eat unconditionally at all times of the day.

Aside from our traditional Kowloon go-to’s, my aunts and uncles tend to experiment and try new restaurants here and there. One of the places they tried was Tosca, located at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel—a bit farther than where we usually stayed. I decided to give up an afternoon of full-on shopping and join them for a lunch at the famous Southern-Italian restaurant.

The ambiance at the 102nd floor resto was beyond impeccable, from the breathtaking view of the city to the classy, modern

interiors. Such a fancy setting made me excited to try all the different meals.

As they were served, it was apparent that each presentation was plated very well. I had the roasted rack of sea bass, stew cheek tomato spaghetto, baby prawn biscuits and spinach cream

sauce. The varied textures and flavors were interesting, and I enjoyed everything along with small bites from my family members’ plates.

While enjoying our individual main courses, we were visited by Tosca’s 2-star Michelin chef, Pino Lavarra. It was great to put a face to all the contemporary meals we got to devour. His hospitality toward our family was gratifying, and his leadership reflects on his staff as well.

It was a good decision to step away from my norm of indulging in shopping that day and join this culinary experience. Not only was I fortunate enough to try new dishes, but the entire aura of the place definitely captured a different vibe and culture—something always refreshing to experience when one gets to travel abroad.