A Swiss diplomat’s favourite Hong Kong restaurants, from spicy fare to fondue
A lover of bold flavours, Francoise Killias Zillweger reveals her go-to spots in the city, and the best place to eat fondue in her hometown
As deputy consul general of Switzerland in Hong Kong and Macau, Francoise Killias Zillweger will be celebrating Swiss National Day on August 1. She spoke to Andrew Sun.
I love bold flavours, especially with a bit of spice, so Asian cuisine has always been my first choice.
I grew up with an unusual combination of Swiss and Northern Chinese cuisine. Although my parents are Swiss, we lived in Beijing in the 1960s. My mother learned to cook Chinese dishes from the family cook. Those recipes remained part of our family meals even when we returned to Switzerland.
Without hesitation, my favourite restaurant is Sijie Sichuan Restaurant (171-172 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai. Tel: 2896 0070), a Sichuan restaurant run by an amazing lady I have known for 17 years. Every time I go, it feels like I am visiting family. She regularly goes home to Sichuan to stock up on spices, giving her dishes their wonderful depth of flavour. She also never misses a chance to ganbei with us over a cold beer, making every meal relaxed, lively and full of laughter.