3 new pastry chefs in Hong Kong who are redefining desserts with innovative twists on classics
Upon entering a restaurant,
the way you are greeted and seen to your table provides that vital first impression. But come the end of a meal, it is up to dessert to ensure diners leave on a high note, no matter what came before.
'It's the finale … a bad dessert can ruin the meal,' insisted Anne McManus, then executive pastry chef at Manhattan's Maloney & Porcelli, in an interview in 2000.
Since the pandemic, as
Hong Kong's F&B industry deals with a labour shortage and a change in dining habits, the role of many pastry chefs has shifted. No longer is their sole focus crafting plated desserts. Now, they are frequently a more involved member of the wider chef's team, responsible too for innovation and polishing recipes for takeaway.
Despite these changes, Hongkongers' fascination with sweet treats remains strong, and not all restaurants are abandoning the old ways. This summer, three new faces are making waves in the dessert scene, facing down the challenges and looking to leave a lasting impression.
Eve Minialai – Louise
Eve Minialai, head pastry chef at Louise. Photo: Jocelyn Tam
Born in Hong Kong but having relocated to France with her family at just one year old, Eve Minialai spent her formative years in Europe's culinary heartland.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
37 minutes ago
- South China Morning Post
Rare Labubu toy figures up for auction: Pharrell Williams' Joopiter site to offer Sacai-dressed special editions in collaboration with K-pop band Seventeen
The Labubu craze has reached new heights with a four-foot (1.2 metre) model of the plush toy fetching a price of 1.08 million yuan (US$150,260) at auction. On June 10, the teal character – 'the only piece of its kind in the world', according to Beijing Yongle International Auction, fetched the eye-watering sum at a sale held in China's capital. It was offered alongside other Labubu paraphernalia, including a brown model that sold for 820,000 yuan. An auctioneer takes bids from buyers for a Labubu figurine, during an auction by Yongle International Auction in Beijing, on June 10. Photo: Reuters Advertisement But these remarkable prices may be just the beginning as the viral toy is soon to make another appearance at auction through a collaboration involving Pharrell Williams , the K-pop group Seventeen and the Japanese fashion brand Sacai. The rabbit-like figures sporting mischievous toothy grins began as a character created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, and are made by Beijing-based toy brand Pop Mart. A Labubu toy hangs from a bidder's Hermès bag at an auction by Yongle International Auction in Beijing, on June 10. Photo: Reuters They have been endorsed by celebrities such as Rihanna and Dua Lipa , and fans have queued overnight outside stores hoping to snag one, with analysts pointing to the phenomenon as more evidence of China's growing soft power. The global frenzy for the figures is now to be further fuelled by the coming high fashion collaboration. The latest Labubu auction is a blind box limited to 14 pieces: 13 boxes contain Labubu dressed in beige Sacai jumpsuits, while the 14th box, kept secret, is decorated uniquely, paying homage to one of Pharrell Williams' favourite Sacai creations. Photo: Handout Pharrell Williams' digital platform Joopiter recently announced 'Joopiter presents: Sacai x Seventeen', a global auction marking the first time that Labubu has officially partnered with an international fashion house. The sale will feature 14 exclusive 'Pop Mart x How2work green edition' Labubus from The Monsters series, all dressed in Sacai, with 13 of them representing K-pop group Seventeen's members, plus one secret, Pharrell-inspired model.
South China Morning Post
5 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Why people love Hong Kong-style egg waffles and best places to eat them
Hong Kong-style egg waffles are one of the city's most beloved street snacks. Advertisement Called gai daan zai – 'little chicken eggs' – in Cantonese and also simply 'egg puffs' in English, these golden treats have been around in Hong Kong since the 1950s. Unlike Western waffles, which have a grid-like pattern, Hong Kong's egg waffles are covered in small oval-shaped bubbles, which may have inspired the name 'little eggs'. The batter is typically made with eggs, flour, sugar and evaporated milk. When cooked just right, the waffle has a thin, crispy layer on the outside and a deliciously contrasting soft and chewy texture inside, as well as little air pockets where the 'bubbles' are. An egg waffle from Master Low-Key in Shau Kei Wan. Photo: Instagram/master_low_key_food_shop The street snack is a uniquely Hong Kong one that occupies a special place in many Hongkongers' hearts. Advertisement 'I used to beg my mom for egg waffles after school,' says Queenie Chan, a 46-year-old Hongkonger who still buys them occasionally to relive her childhood memories.
South China Morning Post
5 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Thank you, Hong Kong, says pianist Aristo Sham after historic Van Cliburn competition win
Aristo Sham Ching-tao, the first pianist from Hong Kong to win the gold medal in the Van Cliburn Piano Competition, has expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support he received from the city following his victory in one of the world's toughest and most prestigious music competitions. Speaking from New York, Sham said: 'I am overwhelmed by the support in Hong Kong since the news of my win . I really did not expect that.' Born in Hong Kong, he left to study overseas at the age of 14, but remains closely connected to the city despite spending much of his time abroad. 'Nowadays, I am mostly based in New York and spend time in Sweden, where I studied with a professor since 2017, and come back to Hong Kong three to four times a year because my parents are [t]here,' he said at a news conference. Aristo Sham speaking in an online news conference on June 12, 2025. Photo: The Cliburn Sham said he had a tough time during the Covid-19 pandemic when concerts were cancelled and he had visa issues because of to different countries' border restrictions. He credits his decision to study at The Juilliard School in New York 2023 for the career restart that made him feel he was ready for the Van Cliburn competition.
