Page 15 - Collection Oct 2019

P RO F I L E 人物

Rain or shine, Christopher finds solace in food. Last year,
he opened an Italian seafood restaurant in Sheung Wan,
partnering with the well-acclaimed Milan-based, 40-year-
old Trattoria del Pescatore, to bring Italy’s trattoria culture 就因為這種全身投入的工作態度，讓Christopher 每天都
to Hong Kong. Working hand in hand with his head chef, 手機不離手。「我的work life balance 確實做得不太好，基本
Christopher is active in brainstorming ideas and creating 上是24/7工作，每每一想到甚麼便立即做，哪一天手機沒有收
new dishes to add on to Chris’ Specials Menu, bringing new 到電郵，便會懷疑手機訊號有問題。不過personal enjoyment
surprises to the table on a monthly basis. Although novelty in of life是自己找出來的，例如去外遊公幹途中找到一間好吃的
dining is important to trend-sensitive Hong Kong consumers, 餐廳去吃個飯，已經是一種work life balance的體現。」
無論開心不開心都喜歡吃的Christopher ，去年於上
環開設了意大利海鲜餐廳，與米蘭40 年的老字號 Trattoria
「 親人對我非常重要，因為他們是 del Pescatore合作，希望將意大利的trattoria 文化帶到香
港。Christopher 經常會跟餐廳主廚鑽研新菜式，每月都將這
最忠誠的，所有關係都可以變， 些新創作放到他的Chris’ Specials Menu 上。雖然新鮮感對
香港一眾老饕很重要，但Christopher 卻將餐廳的重點專注於
唯獨親情是永遠不變的一種關係。」 食物質素：「一家好餐廳最重要是食物質素的consistency，不
能一餐好吃一餐不好吃。我第一天便跟我的主廚說，不用每道
Christopher places emphasis on quality, “A good restaurant is 菜都很出眾，有一兩項招牌菜式已經足夠，但必須保持到每一
synonymous with the consistency in the quality of the dishes 餐的水準一致。」餐廳與Trattoria del Pescatore已於八月底
it serves. Having one great meal then being disappointed by 結束，但隨即轉型為Chris’ Common Room 繼續推行意大利
another is unacceptable. On day one, I already told my head 悠閑飲食文化，其全新的菜單除了海鮮亦包含了肉類和素類菜
chef that we do not need to make every dish spectacular; one 式，重點採用優質食材，並以宜人的價格將餐廳推到最廣的層
or two signature dishes would suffice yet every dish we serve 面。Christopher 將這個餐廳的新概念形容為「Bringing Good
needs to always live up to a certain standard.” The restaurant’s Food & Good People Together 」。
collaboration with Trattoria del Pescatore has come to an Christopher 一星期七天都在打理廖創興企業的事務，包
end on 31 August but with its rebranding under the new name Christopher puts much 括旗下酒店以及其他國内和海外的地產項目，同時亦要分配
effort in running his
“Chris’ Common Room”, it will continue to promote trattoria restaurant and spends 「休息」時間，一方面留給與前妻同住的女兒，一方面幾乎每
dining culture in Hong Kong with a new menu that covers not his leisure time on 晚落場打點自己的餐廳。他坦言，自己經常要四出工幹，留在
just seafood but also meat and vegetarian dishes, featuring creating new dishes. He 家中的時間實在不多。故此，他在家中享受最多時間的地方順
is especially fond of the
quality ingredients at more friendly prices and aiming to Italian Trattoria culture, 理成章就是睡房和洗手間。「要數家中最舒適的角落，就是這
reach out for a more diverse clientele. Christopher sums up his which allows everyone to 兩處。我可以在其中靜思，思考出不少工作上的新意念。雖然很
new restaurant concept with the motto “Bringing Good Food indulge in the joy of dining, 多人沒有留意，但其實大家都愛窩在洗手間享受私人時間，所
amidst a cosy, friendly and
& Good People Together”. family-style enviroment. 以在我負責的酒店中，我都堅持洗手間的面積必須比其他競爭
Christopher works 7 days a week for Liu Chong Hing on Christopher 在經營自家餐 對手更大。」
his hotel as well as property projects in China and overseas, 廳投放了許多心血，工餘時 「有些人選擇將重點放在客廳的豪華裝修以供接待賓客，
whilst juggling his “down time” between his daughters who 間就把心思花在鑽研新菜式 但我就選擇簡約舒適。」硬件配套對Christopher 來說，遠遠不
上。他亦尤其喜愛意大利悠
live with his ex-wife and his restaurant where he is seen 閑飲食文化，讓每個人都可 及家庭來得更重要。「一個理想的家，最重要是一家人齊齊整
on most nights. He admits he often lives out of a suitcase 以在一個輕鬆和家庭式的環 整開開心心，親人對我非常重要，因為他們是最忠誠的，所有
from his frequent travels and spends too little time at home. 境下享受美食。 關係都可以變，唯獨親情是永遠不變的一種關係。」
When he is at home, it is perhaps not surprising that he is
mostly in his bedroom... or the bathroom. “Those are the
two most comfortable places in the house, where I get to
think and often come up with ideas for my work. You would
be surprised how much time people love to spend in the
bathroom without even noticing it, and that’s why I insisted
on making the bathrooms in my hotel more spacious and
comfortable than those of our competitors.”
“While some people prefer to focus on their living rooms and
make them grandiose for guest entertainment, I prefer simplicity
and comfort.” Christopher emphasizes that sophistication in
hardware is never comparable to the importance of the software
– the family. “A home is never ideal without a close and happy
family. My family is extremely important to me. Family members
are the most loyal and sincere people one can ever have in his/her
life. All relationships are subject to constant change except the
bond and love we share with our family – that lasts forever.”

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